Page 27 of Cozy Girl Fall
She nodded, mind whirling as she thought about the possibilities. It would be hard, but not impossible. “How long do I have?”
“Thirty minutes.” He chuckled at the disbelief on her face. “Starting now.”
Thirty minutes wasnothing. She would have used the majority of that time alone just searching the cupboards for equipment if Ethan hadn’t already laid out a collection for her. She washed her hands and then grabbed a tray, lining it with foil before ripping open the packet of ‘Smokey Fakon’ and laying out the thick strips before turning on his oven.
“What even is this stuff?” she muttered as she looked at the strips and jumped when Ethan replied.
“Quorn I think.”
She rinsed her hands and looked up at him where he watched her from his place on the opposite side of the counter. Seats ran along the length of the other side breakfast-bar style and she couldn’t ignore the prickle of awareness across her skin that came from knowing she was being watched. “Honey.”
“Sweetie.”
A startled laugh fell out of her and she rolled her eyes. “No, I need some honey. Do you have any?”
He rounded the counter and handed it to her from a cabinet up high near the stove; she could see there were other seasonings in there too beyond the basics and she couldn’t help wondering whether Ethan had become a decent cook thanks to his minor in culinary art. She drizzled the not-bacon with honey and then gestured for him to pass her some salt and pepper too before sticking the tray into the warm oven as he sat back down.
Then she set to work, chopping vegetables with wild abandon and pushing them into piles for later: peppers, mushrooms, zucchini. Once she was done, she grabbed a large pan and drizzled some oil into the bottom and allowed it to heat through before throwing in the vegetables.
“Time check?”
“You have fifteen minutes left.”
Crap.
Leaving the vegetables to brown, she checked on the fake-bacon and turned off the oven when she saw it was done. Then she stirred the vegetables and grabbed another bowl that she cracked all the eggs into, seasoned with salt and pepper, and set about whisking until it was ready to go in the pan with the vegetables. She lowered the heat and pushed the egg and vegetables together, leaving it to cook while she grabbed twoplates and another bowl, whipping up a quick side salad of lettuce and tomatoes with sesame oil and balsamic vinegar as dressing. All the while, Ethan watched her silently. She’d never cooked for him before, nothing beyond cakes or pies when they were growing up anyway, but the feeling wasn’t uncomfortable. Not many things were when it came to Ethan, Penny was realizing.
Omelet done, Penny folded it and then cut it in half, placing one piece on each plate and grabbing the warm honeyed veggie bacon to add atop the golden yellow wrap. Tongs in hand, she tossed the salad and added it to the plates before stepping back and raising her arms above her head in victory.
“Done. Time?”
“Five to spare.”
She grinned and it faded only when she saw the heated look in Ethan’s eyes. “Ah, good. Well, I guess I should get going.”
He raised an eyebrow, half smiling as he grabbed the plates and walked toward the adjacent dining room. “You’re kidding. After that performance? You have to at least eat the dinner with me. For all I know, it tastes awful. And you’ve already plated up for two, it would be a shame to let one go to waste.”
She spluttered, about to retort when his laughter reached her. “Fine.”
Not a date.This was still part of the interview. She just needed to eat a couple mouthfuls, and then get outof there. For some reason, now that the zone she got into while she cooked had passed, she was suddenly all the more aware that they were alone in Ethan’s house. Just them. With, presumably, a bed somewhere in this place. Teenage Penny would have been frothing at the mouth for such an opportunity.
Platonic. Platonic. Platonic.
“Do you want a drink?”
“Soda would be good if you have it.” The adrenaline was fading and the shakes would set in soon if she didn’t eat or get some sugar in her. She thanked him when he returned with a can in hand and some silverware.
“I won’t deduct any points for the lack of knives and forks. I imagine in a restaurant the customers already have those.” His eyes twinkled as he sat down next to her instead of opposite like she’d expected. Like everything else, the table was light brown oak and the walls were painted cream, but the little nook felt warm and cozy, separated as it was from the rest of the kitchen. A tall turquoise floor lamp in the corner gave the room a warm glow and full-length matching turquoise drapes covered the large window. The table could easily seat six, but he’d chosen to sit right beside her and she had to fight the urge to shiver whenever their arms brushed.
“There’s a points system now?” she said lightly, trying to keep things casual as she cracked open the can of fizz.
He shrugged. “Sure, why not. But don’t think you’llbe getting any bonus points for flirting with the judge. Shall we dig in before this gets cold?”
She gaped. “I wasnotflirting. I’m just making conversation. You know, that thing polite people do?” She huffed and waited for him to take the first bite before trying her own food, wanting to see his reaction.
“Keep telling yourself that, Pen. The only thing I’ve seen you ogling more than me is my kitchen set-up.” He chuckled at his own joke while she scowled and then placed a forkful of food in his mouth. His eyes popped wide at the first taste and he chewed quickly before looking at her in surprise. “That’s really good.”
“You could be a little less shocked,” she grumbled and then forked in some of her own food and nodded. Other than the weird veggie bacon, itwaspretty good. “Not bad for a half hour in an unfamiliar kitchen with a random list of ingredients.”
