Page 38 of Storm's Embrace

Zoë’s interruption couldn’t have come at a better time. “Yes, baby?” She smiled at her daughter’s serious expression.

“When canIget a baby sister?”

10

“Um… Uh…”

Eli probably should have laughed at Miriam’s panicked expression and red stained cheeks as she looked from her daughter to him, and then back. But he couldn’t. The sudden image of Miriam pregnant with his child had affixed itself in his mind and it wouldn’t leave. After losing Matthew, having more children hadn’t been anything he’d considered. But now the idea filled him with an unexpected sense of anticipation.

“We’ll talk about that later,” Miriam finally told Zoë in a rushed whisper.

“M’kay.” Zoë squirmed in Eli’s arms, so he let her down, where she promptly went to Miriam. “Grams has chicken pot pie. Can we stay?”

Eli’s stomach growled. He hadn’t been interested in eating all day and was starving, but he had a feeling food wasn’t going to satisfy him at this point. He glanced at Miriam who raised her eyes to his for a split second before focusing back on her daughter.

No, his hunger was for something more than food.

“Grams says you can stay for dinner,” Miriam told Zoë. Eli tried to keep a smile from breaking out on his face when she added, “And then you get to spend the night.”

Zoë’s eyes lit up. “I do?”

“You sure do,” Miriam said, her quick glance going to his again, the red in her cheeks deepening.

“Guess what, Poppy?”

Eli tore his gaze away from Miriam to find her father walking in. “I’m eating pot pie and spending the night.”

“On a school night?” George asked, giving his granddaughter an indulgent smile before he frowned up at Miriam—his frown deepening after a quick perusal of her still slightly flushed face and kiss-plumped lips. He then turned his dark blue gaze on Eli, one brow raising as he held his stare. “Dr. Storm.”

Eli stepped forward and offered his hand, then held in a wince at the other man’s crushing handshake. Miriam’s father had to be in his late fifties, but he had a stronger grip than he’d anticipated.

“Eli, please.”

“Hmm.” The older man gave Eli a cursory nod before releasing his hand.

What’s that supposed to mean?

“Sweetie,” Miriam said, grabbing his attention as she crouched in front of Zoë. “Why don’t you go wash your hands and face? You got a little messy outside.”

“Okay, Mommy.”

Zoë took off, with Miriam calling out behind her as she stood, “No running in the house.” It slowed her daughter down, but not by much.

“So, I take ityou’renot staying for dinner.”

“George,” Jean said, shaking her head at her husband. “Be nice.”

Eli had met George Kirksey a handful of times, and had found the man to be open and friendly on those occasions. But with the slightly disapproving looks the man was throwing his way, this was starting to feel like the meeting he’d had with his senior prom date’s father. He just hoped Miriam’s father didn’t have a gun collection to show him.

Eli also wasn’t encouraged by George’s gruff reply of, “I am,” nor his slightly narrowed-eyed gaze at him before he turned a critical eye to Miriam.

“No, Dad.” She half-grinned at her father. “We need to talk about work.”

“I thought you quit,” her dad said with a glare in Eli’s direction. “For some verygoodreasons.”

Heat climbed up Eli’s neck but he refused to look away from the other man’s obvious hostility. It was clear her family knew more about why she had tried to quit than what she had let on to him.

And he’d bet all roads led to Deidre.

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