Page 47 of Storm's Embrace

Deidre had heard her as well, if the fleeting grin crossing her face was anything to go by. But Deidre’s interference in his life had to end, and end now. So, he ignored Miriam’s distress and the others’ baffled expressions. This was about to be settled once and for all.

“Are you okay?” He gave her what he hoped was a caring smile.

She lifted her gaze and nodded, and then patted the few tears on her cheeks.

“Dr. Storm. She—“

He held up his hand. “I’ve got this, Renee.” Having five sets of death glares zeroed in on him wasn’t a comfortable sensation, but he would just have to let them believe what they would for the moment. “I’m glad it wasn’t any worse than it was.”

“Oh, Eli,” she said with a tremulous smile as she sagged in his grip. “I knew she meant nothing to you.”

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath to keep from denying her words, only opening them at Miriam’s, “Excuse me,” as she hurriedly brushed past them. He tightened his grip on Deidre to keep from following after her like his heart was screaming for him to do.

“Dr. Storm.” He faced LaDonna, who if looks could kill he would have been impaled over a fire pit and roasting. “You’re not going after her?”

“I can’t right now.”

She pursed her lips, her dark eyes skewering him in place, but then looked past him when the exit door chimed. “You should be ashamed of yourself,” she said before dashing out of the room with a frowning Renee following close behind, who called out, “Miriam.”

“Oh, Dr. Storm,” Gail said, her eyes pooling with tears, while Sallie didn’t say anything directly to him. She didn’t have to. The hard set of Sallie’s face and refusal to look at him said enough as she grabbed Gail’s hand and told her, “Let’s go,” before they too left the room.

He couldn’t explain. Not yet.

The tightness in his chest eased as the exit door chimed again. Hopefully LaDonna and Renee would manage to get Miriam back in the building. But whether they could or not, he was going to have to handle this final business with Deidre fast.

He’d heard most of what Deidre had implied and he couldn’t have Miriam thinking he’d betrayed her. Unfortunately, he hadn’t made the situation any better by his actions the last few minutes. But this slight deception on his part was a necessary evil.

Miriam would understand. He hoped.

“I’m glad we’re alone because I need to tell you something.” Deidre was already a tall woman, and with her heels on she almost met him eye to eye. But he crouched and leaned into her so she would see how serious he was.

“Yes, Eli,” she said, her eyes going to his lips while she licked her own, their depths bright with anticipation when she met his gaze again.

“I’m in love with Miriam.”

Deidre’s face fell as her eyes narrowed and she opened her mouth, but he didn’t give her the chance to say anything.

“I’m going to marry her and start a family with her. So this ruse you refuse to let go of has to end.”

She shook her head, but he was determined she was going to listen, so he tightened his grip slightly.

“It’s no game,” she huffed, and then with a humorless laugh easily pulled herself from his grasp and backed away from him toward Miriam’s desk. “You’re making a mistake. Can’t you see that?”

“The only mistake I’ve made has been letting you manipulate me in this little twisted game you insist on playing. I should have called you out on it right away.” He scrubbed a hand down his face. “I wish to God I had.” He might have lost some patrons for the foundation, but he wouldn’t be in his current situation. “So this whole engagement nonsense stops now and youwillannounce it—today.”

Her features tightened. “I can’t and I won’t.”

“Why?”

“Because you are supposed to be mine,” she yelled, slapping her hand on Miriam’s desk. “And what’s mine, stays mine.” She glanced past him when the door chimed again and grimaced before meeting his gaze. “If you want to screw her on the side, have at it, but I’m not making any kind of public announcement.”

“I want you to understand something.” He took a step toward her. “Are you listening?” Her answer was to cross her arms and raise a brow. “You will do exactly as I’ve said. And you can glare at me and tighten your fists all you want, but it will happen.” It was time to play his trump card. He grinned. “Because, you see, when I saw your car here, I called your father.”

“My father?” Her brows snapped down as she dropped her crossed arms and bit at her bottom lip. “Why would you do that?”

“I haven’t been able to get through to you in the last three weeks on my own, so I thought he might have better luck.” He shouldn’t take pleasure in it, but watching Deidre squirm gave him a small measure of satisfaction. “So, I explained the situation to him. All of it. He wants you at his house as soon as you leave here.”

She nodded. “I see.” She smoothed down her dress as she cleared her throat, and then bent to grab the handles of her purse and straightened.

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