“Let me get my jacket and wallet,” she nodded and ran lightly up the stairs, joining him with a casual glance at the warm sheepskin jacket, jeans and boots. Mariah slid her hand into his, stopping him when he turned toward the outer door. Her free hand came up, one finger out to trace a long over the scar on his jaw, just beneath his ear. “What happened?”
“Drug dealer with bad aim,” Eli answered honestly, leading her to the car.
“We might want to take that,” Mariah pointed to the red SUV. “I want a Christmas tree. A real one…and I want to cover it with angels,” she announced firmly, taking out her phone and sending a quick note to Eloise. If there were any in storage, she would know.
Eli only smiled and opened the car door for her. “I’ve got an SUV…we’ll take this back to the apartment and get it…it’s on the way to the large shopping area anyway.”
At one Eli wrestled a large bluish green tree to the porch, shaved some of the trunk off and sunk it into a bucket of water Mariah had filled.
“I can manage this alone,” he growled when she got the end of the large cardboard box.
“Open it out here…I don’t need the cardboard,” she growled back, reaching into her boot and pulling a knife from an inside slot.
“I don’t even want to know where you had that hidden,” he said, his head shaking as she sliced neatly around the top of the large box.
Together, they maneuvered the large TV into the apartment, a satisfied look on Mariah’s face as she watched Eli set things up. He carried the monitor and speakers into the house, leaving them on the floor.
“Sorry you volunteered your muscles?” She asked softly, pulling the pink cap over her ears when they went back toward the car. “I have to get the furniture from the storage unit tomorrow.”
“What’s on the agenda later?” He asked, guiding the SUV along the highway toward the Emporium.
“I’m going to buy you lunch…then I promised I’d help Eloise with the kids party this afternoon. Gwen has to deal with her new restaurant at the resort. It’s only until about seven…we can have dinner after that,” Mariah said easily. “The Emporium has a great restaurant on the top level.”
“It’s a date,” he told her with a grin that remained in place for several hours. Then Mariah went off with Eloise to get changed for the party with the kids.
Morgan was waiting for the reaction two hours later. Eli stood scowling at the women striding into the huge carousel enclosure.
“You have got to be kidding me.” He felt his jaw drop, keenly trained detective eyes traveling in quick succession over the small heeled boots, red and white striped stockings held in place with a black garter and higher. The short deep red velvet skirt flared out with something stiff beneath it; the white and red corset that rose from the narrow waist was definitely straining a little at the ribbons. “I’m sure I’ve seen more on coffee baristas lately…”
“If you intend to hook up with Mariah….and from what I’ve heard she fits the stream of females in their sisterhood, adjust,” was his simple solution. Morgan sat back and kicked his feet up. “Might as well relax and enjoy the view. Have a beer. They’re independent, intelligent and stubborn as hell about some things. Being a female is one of them.”
“That’s the best part,” Eli accepted the bottle with a sigh and pulled a chair over, turning it to straddle and lean his arms across the back.
“Yeah…no kidding…girls who enjoy being girls…go figure…”
Mariah was having a good time playing with the little kids, helping with the presents, juice boxes and candies. She moved next to a mom who looked a little harried, with what looked like a two year old in a stroller and a five year old on one hand.
“Can I help?”
“She wants to ride…” the young woman looked down at the stroller. “But I can’t…”
“I’ll take this one,” Mariah dropped to her heels and opened the buckles on the stroller, lifting the eager little girl in her arms. “Which one do you want to ride?” She whispered, her free hand out and snagging a sturdy pole on the slow moving carousel. The little girl was quiet, but grinning happily as she held onto Mariah.
“I grew up believing in Santa,” Eli whispered as he came behind her on the carousel. “And I never…ever…saw an elf looking quite this sexy.”
Mariah felt a warmth spreading through her, cleared her throat and looked at the little girl. “How about a fish bowl?” She asked gaily, moving agilely among the various animals and vehicles on the slow moving floor of the carousel to the low fish bowl made of thick double layered Plexiglas. Multi-colored fish bobbed in the fluid between the panels with a comfortable, safe seat in the center for smaller children. She slid the little girl into the center, laughing at the excited hands reaching for the fish and rolling blue fluid.
“You’re having a good time,” Eli settled one palm on her waist, looking down into brown eyes that smiled back.
“I am…a friend told me the best way to crowd out the nightmares is to fill your head with all kinds of other things,” she leaned back against him. “I know it must have scared Eloise terribly, but…if it hadn’t happened, I wouldn’t have met her and her family…or you…so…”
“Oh, it would have happened…” Eli leaned against one of the unmoving support poles. “Morgan had already asked me to quietly ask some questions about the case. Hannah’s relatives were causing both of them some headaches.”
“Money does that,” Mariah said with a quiet nod, one hand dangling over the edge of the fish bowl. “What they do here for families who can’t afford much…” She felt her words catching in her throat. “Eloise wouldn’t take money for building me a computer, so I donated it to the family charity.”
“Oh…and for the record…I’ve gotten over being called a boyfriend,” Eli met the dark eyes with a smile behind his wink. “I’ll be waiting in the lounge with Morgan,” he bent quickly and kissed her. “Come find me when you’re finished.”
Mariah nodded, sighing to get herself breathing again and turning her attention to the child playing in front of her. She caught sight of the mother who was signaling her and put herself back into her elf role. Before long, she was dancing around with little kids and laughing as more joined them at the party.
Glitter clung to the long, free hanging dark hair as she entered the lounge with Eloise, discussing the party for the next night. Thirty families were invited each night until Christmas Eve when the Emporium closed at five until the day after Christmas.
“You know that donation you made was way more than the cost of the computer,” Eloise said with a frown.
“You know I don’t care,” Mariah said with a grin.
“I think older sisters can be a pain,” Eloise decided, sliding onto the bench seat next to Morgan.
“Yep…it’s our lot in life,” Mariah agreed cheerfully, holding her palm out. “I promised you dinner. Ready?”
“Starving…” Eli nodded to Eloise and Morgan. “See you later.”
“Don’t forget…breakfast at eightish,” Eloise called out happily.
“Breakfast?” Eli repeated, glancing at Mariah as she led him to the car. “Food?”
“Got tons of it at home. I want to start on my tree,” she answered excitedly. “It’s the first tree I’ve had in a place of my own in ages and ages. There never seemed to be any energy when I was in med school…”
“When’s the new job start?” He waited while she buckled in before heading them toward the apartment.
“Anytime…I’m going to visit some during the day next week and get things set up in my office…fill out tons of paperwork…”
“You’re excited.”
“Does it show that badly?” She asked with a wince. “I feel a little like a kid…so much is happening…”
“You wanted a crowded brain,” he replied with a chuckle.
“Pull around to the back…where the double doors are,” she directed, unaware of his grin at how she bounced a little in her s
eat as they neared the large sprawling home. “Eloise said she left me a nice, sturdy tree stand…what in the world?”
Eli laughed out loud, his head shaking.
“I think she left you more than just a tree stand,” he followed her to the large patio, several small boxes stacked along with a large square of wood with a tree stand mounted in the center. “Unlock and I’ll start hauling things inside…”
Mariah tapped in the code, peeking into one of the small boxes. “Angels! All types of angel ornaments!” She hurriedly carried the wooden platform into the house, setting it just where she wanted it before going back for all the small boxes. She watched anxiously while Eli trimmed the trunk and eased the full tree into the house, carefully holding it in place while Mariah dropped to the floor and tightened the bolts to hold it snugly in place before filling the well with water.
“Perfect,” She declared turning her attention to the small boxes, laying out ornaments all over the counter.
Eli was grinning at her excitement as he rummaged for food in the kitchen, taking a bite from the sandwich he made before lifting a box of lights and getting into the decorating spirit. He had several strands of lights in place and on before telling her she could put ornaments on finally.
An hour later, Eli sat on the sofa watching her declare it was complete.
“It’s the most beautiful tree in the world,” she breathed when she turned off the house lights and just stood staring at the tall tree decked out in angels and lights. She didn’t offer a protest when he reached up and tugged on the band of her jeans, pulling her down to the sofa to lean in his arms.
“I have to admit it is pretty spectacular…and the first one I’ve shared in quite a few years,” Eli let his chin rest on her head, the peaceful feeling of Mariah in his arms as amazing as the tree they had created. “You realize…that in three days, you have presented me with three vastly different images of Mariah Peyton logged forever in my brain?”
“Only three? I must seriously be slipping,” she teased back. “Wait till you see me at my authoritarian best in white coat in the ER yelling for things to happen,” she said with a chuckle. “It’ll seem weird not to have camo clothing…”
“You’ll adjust nicely. I had a burning party for mine,” Eli told her, his lips moving over her shoulder. A soft shiver raced through her, her head tipping slightly to grant him better access.
“I ripped the name tags off and tossed them in the nearest thrift shop bin,” she admitted, sighing and relaxing in his arms. “You’re very good at that,” came the soft compliment.
“I’m a little rusty…you don’t mind if I practice?” His breath whispered over the bare skin he’d just nibbled on.
“I probably should do the responsible thing and ask what your intentions are…”
“To make love to you spread out here on the floor in the glow of the Christmas tree,” he told her honestly, their eyes meeting when she shifted to face him, leaning back in his arms and staring at him.
“A perfect end to a wonderful day,” she said softly, her palm up, fingers that shook a little brushing the rampant hair from his forehead. “I don’t have birth control, Eli.”
“I considered that…and visited a pharmacy on my way here this morning…just in case,” he felt his heart thumping when she smiled and sat up.
“I’ll be right back,” she told him, disappearing up the stairs to the bedroom.
Eli frowned when he heard a couple thumps, then a grumble that made him look behind him. He grinned broadly at the arm load of blankets, quilts and pillows coming down the stairs, climbing to his feet and taking some of them off her hands. Together they created a comfortable pallet on the floor. He turned the dial on the fireplace and sat down to remove his own boots.
Mariah lay back on the pillows, watching the fire reflected in his eyes as he crawled over the blankets to join her. Neither had removed their clothing, yet she’d never felt so exposed in her life. She felt the butterflies in her stomach as if she were fifteen.
Eli leaned on his elbow as they lay facing one another for a long silent minute before his palm came up and brushed the long hair from her shoulder. Unsteady fingers caressed over her throat and against the back of her head, pulling her mouth down to his with a hungry, ragged sigh.
“Oh, Mariah Peyton…how did you manage to get inside my head?” Eli nudged her head to the side, his teeth nipping her ear sharply.
Mariah rolled to her back, her fingers curled around the edges of his shirt and dragged him over her.
“How…I don’t know…why…I don’t know…do you care, Eli?” Mariah kissed his mouth from one delectable edge to the other, pulling his lower lip between her teeth and settling down once more for a long, invasive kiss that had them both backing off to breathe.
“Questions now would be a very bad idea, Mariah,” he warned thickly, his palms pressing over her ribs, his fingers stopping when the bells began.
“I kiss you and hear bells…” she whispered, his hands freezing in place on her ribs.
”I’m not sure chimes qualify as bells,” he heard the words at the same time the sound repeated. Eli groaned aloud.
Mariah opened her mouth, her head swiveling when another, different set of chimes began. “That’s my phone…”
“Yeah…and that’s, mine…”
“No…no one has that number but you and Eloise and…Anya,” Mariah slid quickly from beneath him and went running up the stairs for her jacket and boots. She had a feeling what the call meant. “She wasn’t to call…” she patted pockets and growled. “Unless she needed an extra set of hands…damn it…This is Dr. Peyton….”
“Baker here…” Eli listened for several long minutes.
“I’ve got to…”
“There’s been an accident…”
Both of them stopped and drew in a long breath. Eli nodded to Mariah.
Chapter Five
“Anya needs my help at the center. There’s been an accident and the over flow is directed to the Health Center,” Mariah said quickly, pulling her boots on as she hopped and zipped from foot to foot.
“I’ll drop you off on my way to the accident…they’re short because of the holiday,” Eli was pulling his boots on, dropped his phone into his pocket and scanned the room for his jacket. He left a small plastic bag on the pile of blankets with a grin at Mariah. “For later…”
“Definitely,” Mariah ran to the counter and grabbed up her wallet, meeting him at the patio doors. “Alright…ready…”
Eli was positive his lips were still numb from her parting kiss as he drove toward the accident site, the light he put on the dash of the SUV blazing and warning through the darkness. But it certainly put a zing in his memory, he thought as he jumped from the SUV and went running to help the attending officers.
It was shortly before one when Eli wandered into the emergency room at the health center. Whatever had been going on, it seemed calm enough until he heard a familiar voice shouting from along the corridor.
“I want eyes on that room and I want them now!” Mariah came running toward the front and down the right side.
Eli didn’t bother to wait to be invited, taking off after her and catching her in the sprint. “What’s happened?”
“Alcohol and drugs…what else,” she growled, her palm up on her ear piece. “Yes…no…no, do not call the police…he’s already here…” boots accustomed to immediate response came to an abrupt halt outside an examining room. Mariah peered through the small glass window. “Mix together and add innocent hospital staff…and you ask why I go around armed…”
“Shooting patients probably is frowned upon…”
“Yeah…so I’m told…” Mariah exhaled and shrugged out of the less than clean white doctor’s coat, dropping it to the floor at the same time resort security appeared around the corner. “Happy Saturday…” And before anyone could react, she pushed the door inward and slipped inside, leaning her back against it and applying her best smile.
“Someone get me an ear piece!” Eli shouted with a menacing growl, his palm slapping the wall hard.
“Well…you aren’t supposed to be awake yet,” Mariah said calmly, glancing toward the young nurse being held firmly with an arm around her throat.
“I want out…”
“I’ll let you go…if you let her go…” Mariah offered, palms out and her eyes never leaving his hands, especially the one with the sharp knife next to the woman’s side.
“Yeah…I look that stupid…”
“What happened out there? Icy roads? Too much partying? Distracted driving…” Mariah moved slowly, very slowly to the side with the weapon. She’d been in enough situations like this to make her wary. “You know…I had a really nice evening going…”
“Get out of the way…”
“Let her go…” Mariah held her hands out to the sides. “I’m not armed. You’ve scared her…you don’t look like the kind of guy who likes scaring girls…”
“Who is she and what the hell’s she doing in there?” Demanded one of the resort guards.
“New physician and she’s doing her job,” Eli answered quietly, motioning people away from the window. “Don’t let him see anyone…back up…”
“I’ll stay…let her go…” Mariah saw his hand waver. She looked the woman in the eyes and motioned them to the side. “You go…out the door…”
“You come closer…” he grabbed her arm at the same time he shifted hands with the knife, the edge going very close to Mariah’s throat.
“So what kind of party was it…” She asked casually, exhaling slowly as the woman slipped from the room. “I’m a doctor….if you let me help…”
“Too many drug busts…I can’t stay here…you got a car?” He demanded roughly, his bulky arm circling her waist and dragging her toward the door. “Who’s out there?”
WindSwept Narrows: #11 Mariah Peyton Page 4
