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Ella’s laughter died away and she frowned at him. “Seriously? Just because you’re nice to me doesn’t mean you get whatever you want. Let me guess. If I let you buy me dinner, then you deserve a kiss?”
“I never said that.”
She jumped to her feet, throwing her garbage into a nearby metal can. “I can’t believe it. You guys are all the same, aren’t you?”
“What are you talking about?”
“I hate to break it to you, Lucas, but you are not God’s gift to the female population. Just because you do something nice for someone doesn’t mean a dang thing.” She shook her head as she stormed toward the door. “I think you should leave.” Her fingers wrapped around the door and she grunted as she pulled on it.
The door didn’t move. She pulled again, then growled as she spun to face him. “Open this stupid old door and go home, Lucas.”
12
Ella
The heat in Ella’s face could have cooked an entire turkey dinner. The last ten minutes, it felt like she’d been thrown through the wringer. She still couldn’t comprehend what had happened. Lucas had made her a sandwich. It had been so sweet and one of those many things that infuriated her while making her like him even more.
But he’d only done it because he wanted something from her. Her hands balled into fists as she waited for Lucas to cross the barn to the door. Ella tapped her foot, beyond flustered over how their conversation had turned out and hating just how much she had wanted to tell him she’d love to go out with him.
Lucas didn’t appear angry. He didn’t even seem let down. She wanted to yell at him, to demand to know what he was trying to do when he’d asked her out. But she knew the answer already. This was Lucas. He was a player, and there was a reason he hadn’t settled down yet.
He grabbed the side of the door and pulled on it, but it didn’t move. Lucas stepped back and looked at it with a confused expression.
“Ha ha. Very funny,” she muttered. “I don’t buy it. You shut the darn thing. Open it so we can get out of here.”
Lucas grabbed at the door again, grunting as he pulled on it, but the wheels didn’t move on the track. His feet slipped against the concrete and his face turned beet-red. “It’s not budging.”
“Knock it off, Lucas. I’m not staying here all night.”
He stepped back and gestured toward it. “If you think you can do better, be my guest.”
She glanced from him to the door and then waved him off. Ignoring the smirk he wore, she pulled on the door as hard as she could. But just as before, it didn’t move even an inch. Adrenaline shot through her body, flowing through every artery and pumping her full of energy. “We can’t be stuck here. There has to be a way to get it open. Come on this side and push while I pull.” Ella got into position, but Lucas didn’t move. She glowered at him. “Well?”
He sighed and placed his hands on the metal door.
“On the count of three.” She took a few deep breaths and then nodded to him. “One… two… three!” She pulled with every ounce of strength she had. Lucas pushed, but still, it didn’t move. “You’re not pushing hard enough.”
He snorted. “I assure you I’m pushing it. The door is stuck. Our luck ran out. We should have just taken it off the tracks when I told you.”
“So now it’s my fault?”
Lucas shrugged. “You said it, not me.”
She gasped. “I can’t believe you.” Ella stormed away, patting her jacket and pants. “Where is my phone? We need to call for help.” Her eyes widened and she lifted her gaze to Lucas. “Shoot.”
“What?”
“I left it in my car to charge. I’d forgotten to charge it last night.” She snapped her fingers at him. “Give me yours.”
He rolled his eyes and dug into his pocket. Then another. Finally, after checking all his pockets, he glanced toward the door and groaned. Lucas dragged his hands through his hair and turned to face her. “Mine’s in my truck.”
“You’re kidding.”
“This isn’t something I’d joke about,” he said flatly. “Is there another door? These barns should have more than one entrance.” He glanced around but got his answer before she could give it to him. “This isn’t happening,” he muttered. “I refuse to let this happen.” He charged through the barn and headed straight for a bag of tools.
“What are you doing?”
“I’m looking for something that will help me pry open that door. What do you think?”
