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Tensing, Sarah’s shoulders squared. She stiffly and awkwardly put her empty plate down as she grabbed her own beer and pulled at the corners of the label. “I do. I don’t know if it’ll happen, but I do want kids.”
Eli kept her mouth shut, not quite sure what she’d say if Sarah asked her the question back, which she only assumed would be the normal response. Lightning flashed outside, illuminating the entire window. Eli held her breath as she waited for the thunder to sound next. Sarah had jumped at it, and while she’d wanted to say something calming, she didn’t. Eli raised a brow as soon as the room was still and quiet again and knocked her beer bottle toward the fire.
“You know, it’s pretty romantic up here, too. You could always bring a partner with you. I’m not exactly going to be judgmental of who you bring.”
Sarah’s lips parted in surprise, and Eli couldn’t quite tell, but she thought or maybe felt there might be a rebuttal on the tip of her tongue. Eventually, Sarah shook her head and smiled. “I’m not dating anyone, and it’s not exactly easy to be in a relationship with the hours at my job.”
Eli shrugged, but she couldn’t take her eyes off Sarah. Heat pooled in her stomach again, burning her up from the inside out as hope flared in her chest. No matter how much she wanted it to go away, it wouldn’t. “Their loss.”
Grinning, Sarah shook her head. “Who says I’m a good girlfriend?”
“You cook amazing meals. That’s about all I need to know.”
Sarah laughed, the trill sending shivers up Eli’s arms and spine. “I think it takes more than one’s ability to cook or not cook—” Sarah gave her a pointed look “—to determine if one is a good partner.”
“It’s a good start.” Eli set her empty bottle down and relaxed into the couch, staring at the flames as they licked the logs. She had successfully broken down the barrier Sarah had put up earlier.
“I could teach you, you know.”
“Teach me what?” Eli’s head swiveled from the fire to Sarah.
Sarah curled her legs under her after setting her bottle on the floor and leaned in so she was closer to Eli, a hand on her upper arm so soft and gentle that Eli wanted to close her eyes and revel in the feel, but she didn’t. She resisted.
“Teach you to cook.”
“Oh! Yeah. Maybe tomorrow.”
“I’ll teach you one dynamite meal to make that will impress any future girlfriends for you.”
Eli’s cheeks heated, and then she paled when she realized she hadn’t thought about a future partner, not since she’d been with Bridget, not since before she’d moved home to take over the family business. She inched her way closer to Sarah so they were only a breath apart when she answered. “I’d like that.”
If anything, maybe Eli’s flirting with Sarah would get her back on track to being open to a relationship eventually. Bridget had hurt her so much, far more deeply than she had fully realized, but being in the same room and flirting with Sarah was so easy.
“Good.” Sarah grinned as another flash of lightning lit up the sky. “Do you get a lot of storms like this?”
Sarah’s gaze didn’t move from Eli’s, and Eli was hesitant to break the moment. “Only really in winter and spring, more in spring.”
“I could learn to like storms. They’re so different here than in Dallas.”
“You can see them coming for miles out here.” Eli’s voice was almost a whisper, and her gaze kept moving down to Sarah’s thin lips before popping back to her dark brown eyes, eyes that swirled with temptation.
“Maybe that’s it.” Sarah’s voice was soft, barely loud enough to hear against the thunder as it roared.
Eli had to back up, had to move away, because she was pretty sure if they stayed sitting the way they were, she knew exactly what was going to happen. Slipping away, she grabbed her beer bottle and stood up. “Want another?”
“Sure.” Sarah reached down and chugged the last of her drink before handing it to Eli’s proffered hand.
When Eli reached the kitchen, she seriously thought about splashing ice-cold water on her face. She dropped the bottles into the bin and grabbed new ones before heading into the den. This time when she sat down, Sarah was immediately against her, head on her shoulder, hand on her thigh.
Eli swallowed and clenched her jaw. She had to stick to her plan as much as she could. She wouldn’t allow herself to have a fling for one week. That wasn’t what she wanted. But the question floated through her mind, whatdidshe want from Sarah?
Sarah’s lips surrounded the bottle as she took a long sip. Eli inwardly groaned and closed her eyes. She was done for. If Sarah asked, she knew she would jump, but Sarah hadn’t asked—she hadn’t said anything, pushed anything, or made a move even. Either something was holding her back on that front or she really didn’t want Eli in that way and was only searching for companionable friendship while she was there. She had offered to teach Eli to cook for a future date, so Eli figured it was most likely Sarah wanted nothing more than friendship. Settling into that thought, Eli relaxed and tried to enjoy the rest of the night as the rain and hail started down.
Chapter 15
Eli backedinto the lumber yard carefully and parked where she knew her load was going to be ready for pick up. Sarah stayed plastered to the front seat, surely lost on what she should be doing, but Eli didn’t care. The company to town had been nice, and Sarah had wanted to see town again before she left, and to be fair, she’d only seen it in the dark not in broad daylight.
Pulling down the tailgate, Eli moved to Sarah’s door and tapped her knuckle against the window. “I’ll just be a minute.”
