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“Any time. So you’re normally up all night?”
“Yes.” Sarah didn’t elaborate because if she did, it would be a dead giveaway as to who she was and what she did for a living. Even though concerts ended either a little before or right around midnight, the adrenaline rush often kept her up past dawn the next day, especially if they had to break down and move overnight.
Eli shrugged when Sarah didn’t expand, and she ignored it, sipping her coffee again. Eli turned and made them each another coffee in a travel mug she must have kept hidden somewhere special that Sarah had yet to find.
“Finish that up and we can go.”
“Okay. Is he really sitting in my lap?”
“It’s that or you have to scoot close to me.”
Sarah’s heart gave one loud, hard thump in her chest. She eyed Eli up and down as she set about making their coffees and closing the lids. She was clearly in her uniform for work—thick jeans, button down shirt shoved into her waistband, and her long golden hair in two braids down her back. Sarah wondered briefly if Eli had gone to sleep after she’d come back or if she just woke up looking that good.
The thought scared her, and she clenched her jaw to keep from saying anything stupid. When Eli straightened and stared directly at Sarah, she nearly dropped her mug. She couldn’t read her. It was either desire or annoyance. Either way, Sarah wanted nothing to do with it.
“You ready?”
“Uh…yeah,” Sarah whispered.
“Got a warmer jacket or better boots?”
Sarah shook her head.
“Hold on.”
Eli disappeared down into the basement and came back with a pair of boots and a thick jacket.
Sarah stared at her as she held the items out. “You want me to wear that?”
“You’re going to freeze otherwise. It’s nearing thirty outside.”
Sighing, Sarah sat on a stool and undid the ties on her own boots. She took the ones offered and shoved them onto her feet, noting they fit decently well. When she stood up and removed her jacket, Eli held out the second one for her to slip into. Eli’s hands were on her shoulders, smoothing out the material as she stood at Sarah’s back. She was so close.
Sarah dashed her tongue out to wet her lips, and when she turned around, she was pretty sure Eli was just as surprised as Sarah had been herself. They stared at each other, caught at a crossroads of what to do. Go or stay. Kiss or pull away. Sarah’s chest rose and fell rapidly as she side-stepped Eli, making it clear what she did not want, and grabbed her mug of coffee to finish the rest of it before they headed outside.
Eli took hold of the travel mugs and waited for Sarah silently at the back door. They walked down the path to the barn in silence. Eli moved to the truck, starting the engine and setting the coffee inside while Sarah stepped into the barn to find Buddy.
She got to his stall and was relieved. Whatever had happened in that kitchen was too much for her to figure out in the short walk down to the barn. Sarah reached in and scratched under Buddy’s chin as he immediately came up to her looking for attention.
Eli gripped the edge of the stall, startling Sarah out of her reverie. “If they don’t take to each other, we’ll feed him.”
“Did you feed him when you got back?”
“No. He needs to be hungry for this, and she needs to see that.”
“Oh.”
Eli moved into the stall and kneeled. Buddy came right up to her. “Grab the doors for me, would you?”
“Sure.” Sarah stood at the door to the stall and waited while Eli wrapped her arms around all four of Buddy’s legs. He tried to kick out at first, but then he melted into her as she drew him close to her chest.
Impressed, Sarah watched as Eli pushed off the ground, groaning as she went and holding Buddy in her arms tightly. “He’s gained weight.”
“Really?”
“Yeah,” Eli grunted. “Probably eighty pounds now.”
“Oh my gosh.” Sarah immediately opened the gate to the stall and stepped aside to let Eli move in front of her. They walked together to the front of the barn where Sarah opened the door. She hesitated at the passenger side of the truck, but Eli nodded.
