Page 37 of Storm's Embrace

“But first…”

Eli’s head swooped down, his lips capturing hers in a kiss that had her raising on her tiptoes and wrapping her arms around his neck. But they weren’t close enough for her liking, so she strained against him—his low groan answered with one of her own. They devoured each other’s mouths in a kiss unlike any other she’d ever had. And it was one that went on and on until she was lightheaded with desire and wishing they were anywhere else other than her parents’ living room.

He left her mouth, moaning, “Miriam,” against her skin as his lips trailed to her ear while she took in large gulps of air. “God, what you do to me.”

She let herself be lost as his lips and tongue explored her neck, while his hands moved over her back and to her behind where he pulled her into his lower body, leaving her in no doubt the effect their kiss was having on him.

And in that moment, nothing mattered—his engagement, her job, whether they were right or wrong.

Nothing.

That was until Zoë’s, “Come on, Poppy,” and laughter accompanied the sliding glass door to the back yard in the den opening. It was enough to jerk her back to reality and force her to disentangle herself from his arms.

“My family,” she whispered, clearing her throat and stepping away.

Eli let her go and blew out a long breath while scrubbing his hands over his face before still heated, but tender gaze fell on her. “I’m sorry. I wasn’t thinking.”

She gave him a half grin. “Neither was I.”

“Zoë,” her mom said, her voice growing closer as Miriam searched Eli’s face, his loving expression almost taking her breath. “Your mom should be here any… Miriam. When did you… Oh, hello Eli.”

Eli was the first to look away. “Hello, Jean. It’s good to see you.”

“Um, you too,” her mother said hesitantly as Miriam followed Eli’s gaze to the opening of the living room. Her mom’s questioning regard waffled between Miriam and Eli until she finally raised her brows and gave Miriam a pointed look.

Why did she feel like she’d been caught nearly undressed again?

“Mommy.” Zoë bounced past her mother into the living room and jumped up when Miriam reached for her—letting out a chuckling, “Oomph,” at the slight weight of her daughter hitting her body—before a loud kiss landed on her cheek. She held her daughter close and kept her eyes trained on Eli’s grinning face over Zoë’s head as her daughter turned in her arms. “Hey, Dr. Eli.”

“Hey, Zoë.” He patted her daughter’s shoulder. “How’s my favorite patient?”

“I got no front teeth. See,” she said, leaning over so far she tilted out of Miriam’s arms toward Eli who was quick enough to catch her.

“Whoa,” he exclaimed, laughing and gathering her up against his chest. “Careful. I think you scared your mom.”

She had, but it hadn’t seemed to phase Zoë one bit. “Sorry, Mommy,” she said, giving her a quick, gap-toothed smile before turning her attention back to Eli. “And guess what?”

“What?” His smile at Zoë was sweet and indulgent.

“I got a boyfriend.”

“You do,” he said, grinning at Miriam and then back at Zoë. “Aren’t you a little young for that?”

“Nah,” she said, and then broke into a story about thecutest boyin school and how much she liked him. Eli listened intently, rubbing a hand over her back and nodding and smiling in all the right places, while giving her an occasional, “Ah.”

Watching him with her daughter—seeing how he made her his focus and showed patience with her longwinded tale—had her heart doing a little flip flop. This was how he was with all the children in his practice. But they weren’t at his office right now. And while she’d seen him interact with her child before, something was different this time.

Something like the fact Zoë looked right being held in his arms.

“You staying for dinner?” her mom murmured, coming up beside her as Zoë had moved on to regale Eli with the story about one of her classmates having a new baby sister, and how the other little girl’s mom had brought her in for show and tell, but no one had been allowed to touch her or breathe on her—much to the consternation of heralways curious about everythingdaughter.

“Thanks. But…” Miriam threw a quick glance at Zoë, then leaned into her mom, whispering, “Eli and I need to have a talk about, um, my job.” She leaned back and looked into her mom’s twinkling eyes. “So, would it be a problem for Zoë to stay for dinner, and maybe for the night? I don’t know how long we’ll be talking.”

Jean Kirksey’s assessing gaze went between Eli and Miriam, with Miriam’s face filled with heat when her mom said, “Of course. You twotalkas long as you need to.”

“Oh, that’s all we’ll—“

“Mommy.”

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