Page 30 of Montana Groom of Convenience
Seems she was enjoying herself just a bit too much.
Well, he’d signed up for this marriage, and neither her dressing like a man nor cooking like an old cowboy was going to make him change his mind.
Besides, how bad could her cooking be?
Chapter 7
Carly had never had so much fun preparing a meal. She could barely contain her amusement as Sawyer passed through the kitchen, his mouth set in determination. Seems he was prepared to make the best of it no matter how bad her cooking turned out to be.
She’d really had to hustle to get the pork chops browned and in the oven stewing in gravy while he went out for the potatoes. Then she mixed up biscuits and got them in the oven while he attended to getting his room organized. Everything was ready. She couldn’t wait for him to see what she’d made for their meal.
Before she called them, she put the bowls of food on the table. Everything looked perfect. Mounds of creamy mashed potatoes, tender pork chops in rich brown gravy, and fluffy golden-brown biscuits. She’d heated a jar of beans from last summer.
“Come and get it,” she called. If Father wondered why she grinned so widely, he didn’t ask, but he watched everyone with keen interest.
She indicated Sawyer should sit on her right and Jill on her left. Father sat across the table as usual.
As Sawyer took his place, he looked at the food on the table, and his eyes widened. “You did this?”
She forced herself to stop smiling and nodded.
“It looks good. Smells good.”
“Proof is in the tasting. Don’t say you weren’t warned.”
“I’ll ask the blessing,” Father said after watching them a moment without comment.
Carly was a tad surprised Father kept his opinion to himself. She held Sawyer’s gaze until the last second before she bowed her head.
At Father’s amen, she passed the potatoes to him and then to Jill. Sawyer took a moderate amount, less even than Jill.
The rest of the food was passed from hand to hand and then Sawyer took up his fork.
Carly grinned at him. “Father and I are still alive, so you must know my cooking won’t kill you.”
He scooped up a forkful and lifted it to his mouth. His eyes widened, and he sighed. “You have been teasing me. You’re an excellent cook.”
“Aye, she is that.” Father gave her a scolding look. “Did ye lead the poor man to think otherwise?” He shook his head at her acknowledging shrug. “And yet he still entered into this arrangement of yours. Brave man he is.”
Brave or desperate? Seems they were both a bit of each.
Both Jill and Sawyer ate with much enthusiasm. And then she brought out the chocolate cake she had baked the day before.
Jill edged forward, her eyes wide. “I love chocolate cake.” Her expression went from eager to hard in a flash, and she sat back. “My mama made the best chocolate cake.”
Carly shot a quick glance at Sawyer. His hands had grown still. His face revealed nothing...or at least she guessed that’s what he hoped. But she detected a flicker of something in his eyes. Couldn’t say if it was sorrow or frustration. Perhaps both.
She turned back to Jill. “I know mine won’t be as good as your mama’s, but you might enjoy a small piece.”
Jill’s gaze went from Carly to the cake. “I guess I could try it.”
Carly cut off a big enough slice that she hoped would satisfy Jill’s desire for a sweet without making her feel disloyal to her mother’s memory. She put the plate holding the cake in front of the child. Jill had her hands stuffed under her thighs and stared at the treat.
Giving the child lots of time to fight her inner war, Carly served the others.
Sawyer took a bite and closed his eyes. A look of bliss filled his face.
Carly stared. For a man who claimed not to have any feelings left, he surely did know how to express appreciation for her baking.
