Page 31 of Storm's Embrace

“But? I feel a but coming.” He braced himself for what he was afraid she was about to say.

“But,” she said, her voice slightly cracking, “I’m handing in my notice.”

If someone had gut-punched him he wouldn’t have felt as winded as he did at that moment. She was quitting?

“Why?”

She hesitated for a second, and then said, “Several reasons, but most of all because I think it’s the right thing for me to do.”

“Is it money?” If she needed more, he’d give it to her. “We can talk about that. I’m sure you’re due for a raise.”

“It has nothing to do with money.”

“You hate your job?” He’d thought she was happy in her work, but if she wasn’t he’d find a way to fix that. He didn’t know how, but he would.

“No. I—”

“Has someone been unkind to you?”

“Eli.” She reached out her hand, but then curled her fingers into her palm and pulled it back. “No. It’s nothing like that.” She pursed her lips, and then gripped the arm of her chair. “I love my job and you know how much everyone here means to me. They’ve all become good friends.”

“Then I don’t understand. Besides, you can’t just leave the practice.”You can’t leave me. “Not without another job.”

A blush rode up her cheeks as she quietly said, “I have one.”

He sat back in his seat and stared at her for several seconds as her blush deepened. “You do?”

“Mr. Simmons—”

“Tyler!” He jumped up from his seat and stared down into her wide-eyed, upturned face. “You’re going to work for Tyler Simmons?” Like hell she was working for him.

“Yes.”

“No.”

Her eyes narrowed before she scowled at him. “What do you mean, no?” She stood and faced him, then fisted her hands on her hips. “This isn’t your decision.”

“I won’t have you working for him, Miriam. I won’t.”

He’d never seen her truly angry, but that might be about to change as her jaw dropped slightly and she air-jabbed a finger at him. “You won’t have me…” Her voice raised when she threw her hands up in the air, saying, “Have you lost your mind?”

“No, but obviously you have. Do you know anything about his reputation?” He leaned into her space, ignoring her deep frown, his own words growing heated. “At all?” The man was well-respected in his profession, but he was known to go from woman to woman. Although not with his staff as far as he knew, but it didn’t mean he wouldn’t try something with Miriam. Especially after the other man’s comment about pursuing her. “And what does Rob say about this?”

“Rob?” Her brows drew down. “What does Rob have to do with anything?”

“I think your boyfriend might have a problem with you working for a man who has more of an interest in you than just an employee.”

Miriam’s lips tightened into a straight line, and then she turned away from him to take the few steps needed to walk behind her chair—effectively putting it between them—before pivoting toward him and grabbing the back of the seat. “Not that it’s any of your business, but Rob and I broke up a couple of weeks ago.”

“Well, thank God for that,” he muttered, relief filling him.

She grimaced before continuing. “I thought you and Mr. Simmons were friends,” she said, a slight hint of confusion coloring her voice.

“We are.” That was subject to change if he managed to steal Miriam away from him. “But friend or not, he’s not the kind of man you should consider working for.”

“I know he jokes around with me when he comes in the office, but during my interview with him he was nothing but friendly and professional.” He followed her gaze as she looked down at her fingers clenching into the leather fabric. “Anyhow, it’s a good job and he’s offering me more than what I make here.”

“What? I thought you said this wasn’t about money. And if it is, I can give you more.” A lot more. “All you had to do was say something.”

---