“All right.” Eli straightened her shoulders. “What is it then?”
“Stuffed chicken and scalloped potatoes.”
“From scratch?”
Sarah nodded.
“Dang, you’ve got talent.” Eli laughed. “You can cook any time. I don’t even care if you burn it. Anyone who knows how to do that without a recipe can cook anything any time they want in my kitchen.”
“You have a nice kitchen.”
Eli did give a full grin at that as she walked over to the wide double sink and turned the water on to wash her hands. “Thanks.”
“Do you have to go out again?”
“Not until middle of the night to check on the heifers.”
Sarah gnawed on her lower lip again as her head bobbed up and down. She couldn’t tear her gaze away from Eli. No matter how much she tried to tell herself to do it, she couldn’t. She was such an enigma. Her hair was in long braids down her back, and Sarah had to resist the urge to reach up and pull on one. Eli’s blue cotton button up hid everything underneath it well enough, but her jeans were tight and high on her hips with a dark black belt holding them in place.
When Eli turned around to grab the towel and dry her hands, Sarah turned her face to the ground as she knew a blush worked its way into her cheeks. She had just about been caught red handed ogling Eli, much like she’d caught Eli doing it the night before. She was better than this. She had to be.
Eli planted a hand on her hip and popped it out to the side as she stared Sarah down in the same look Sarah had received the night before. “I’m going to shower this nasty off me, but I’ll be back up in a bit for dinner. It sounds delicious.”
“I’m not guaranteeing anything.”
Laughing, Eli stepped toward the back door and opened a second door Sarah hadn’t noticed before. “It’ll be wonderful if only because I didn’t cook it, but I’m betting it’s good beyond that.”
She disappeared, and Sarah was left on her own, only this time, it didn’t seem quite as lonely.
True to her word, Eli came up the stairs about thirty minutes later. Her wet hair was strung down her back as she sported a clean shirt and baggy sweatpants. Eli’s shoulders were broad, her hips wider than Sarah had originally thought, but her dark eyes were right there, pulling her in.
“Should be ready in another twenty minutes.”
Eli nodded. “Good. We can go get your car tomorrow.”
“You said that.”
“Did I? Sorry. Lack of sleep.”
“Is there a store in town?” Sarah stayed in place at the counter in the center island.
Eli moved to the fridge and grabbed a glass bottle of beer, popping the top. She held it out to Sarah. Sarah took it, staring down at the label to see if she’d like it before shrugging and knocking back a good sip. Whatever it was, it was excellent. Eli grabbed another one after Sarah muttered her thanks.
“There is, but it’s small. You’re not going to find a whole lot there if you’re looking for something specific.”
“Caffeine.”
Eli chuckled. “Coffee not your thing?”
“No. I’ll drink it in a pinch, but I much prefer something a bit stronger.”
“They have some of that, but options will be limited.”
“I’m not picky.”
“So you said.” Eli leaned against the fridge, the beer bottle to her lips as she stared directly at Sarah, her gaze slipping up and down Sarah’s body. If Sarah didn’t expect otherwise, she’d say Eli was checking her out—again.
Repressing the shudder that wanted to move up and down her spine, Sarah took another sip of the beer. “Sorry I missed breakfast. I’m not much of a morning person.”