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Lucas held up both of his hands and took a step back. “Whoa, hold on a minute, now. I never agreed…” His eyes shifted to nowhere in particular and his conversation with Elijah flooded his thoughts. Lucas muttered a curse. This was part of Elijah’s plan. Wasn’t it bad enough that Monique had humiliatedhim when she turned him down? Elijah had to sit there and practically laugh at him over this, too?
His hands curled into fists. It was a good thing his brother wasn’t here right now, or they’d be on this floor wrestling like they had when they were teenagers.
“Mr. Keagan? Are you okay?”
Lucas’s eyes shot to Mayor Thompson’s. If he turned this down, it wouldn’t take long for the whole town to find out. What was worse was that they were bound to gossip about the whole thing and link it to Monique turning him down. Not only would he be labeled as a guy who couldn’t handle being denied a date, he’d be that guy who wasn’t willing to volunteer his time. That would be bound to get him in trouble with the ladies.
If there was one thing the girls liked, it was a guy who was good with his hands and willing to help out those who needed it. That came in third after being good with kids or puppies.
Lucas stifled a groan, then forced a smile. “Of course, I’m fine. I just needed a moment to go over a few things in my head. I want to make sure I can give you my full attention.”
The mayor’s smile returned. “Good man. I’ll admit, I had my doubts, but I’m not too proud to say when I’m wrong about someone.” He clapped his hand on Lucas’s shoulder again. “We’ll probably be working really closely over the next several months.”
“I’m sure we will.”
“This project will be great. Between you and Ella, I think the barn will turn out better than anyone could expect.”
For what felt like the hundredth time, Lucas froze. “Ella? As in your daughter?”
Thompson nodded before he pulled out a sheet of paper from a stack at the table beside them. “She went to college to study architecture and carpentry. I’ve called in a favor to have her come back to town and give us her professional opinion.”
The last time he’d seen Ella had been his senior year of high school. He couldn’t even remember what she looked like, but that wasn’t the strange thing. Most people who left Copper Creek tended to not return. Those lucky enough to find a life outside of this small town kept it that way.
Distracted, Lucas didn’t notice that Mayor Thompson had slipped away and was now conversing with another member of the city council. The man was surrounded by too many people. If Lucas had a chance to quietly duck out of the agreement he didn’t even mean to agree to, he would have. But there was simply no way to do so without drawing unnecessary attention.
He was stuck, and Elijah had known it.
For the first time in Lucas’s life, he wasn’t going to be able to get out of something he didn’t want to do, and it irritated him more than he would ever admit to anyone.
2
Ella Thompson
Ella pulled her glasses from her face and pinched the bridge of her nose. It was late. Her father had promised he’d be home before she arrived at the house, and yet here she was, alone. Thankfully, the key to the house was still under the painted rock beneath the rose bush out front. Otherwise she would have been going over her latest project on the porch surrounded by all the bugs that chirped and hummed at night.
The grandfather clock in the entryway chimed for the tenth time. The house she’d grown up in was modest compared to some of the larger ranch houses. It was situated on top of the hill in town. A cute blue house surrounded by a white picket fence.
For all intents and purposes, she should have had the perfect life. Her father provided for their family of five well. He’d always been in politics, and the town loved him. The town loved their whole family.
Well, except for her.
It wasn’t that the kids from her childhooddidn’tlike her. It was simply that when a group of kids wanted someone to pick on, they knew who their target was. That was the biggest reason Ella moved. She couldn’t stand living in the same town as her tormentors.
Her confidence had come a long way since she was a child. No longer would she allow herself to be dragged down by the opinions of others. At least that was what she told herself a million times as she drove into town. There was nothing wrong with being curvy. There was nothing wrong with the numbers on the scale. She worked out three times a week, for heaven’s sake. Less than half the people she knew had that kind of determination.
Still, sitting here in the dark of her old house brought back too many memories and she wasn’t certain she had what it would take to make it through the next four months. That’s how long she expected the project to last.
Why did she have to be such a softie? She should have just told her father no. Then he would have been forced to find someone else, and she wouldn’t have had to come back to the town where all her insecurities were born.
Ella sighed, placing her glasses on the coffee table. Leaning back on the couch, she glanced at the clock again. What on earth did her father have to do this late at night? She would have thought he’d be in before it got dark, at least. That’s what all men in their late fifties did, right? He should have been sitting in front of a glowing television asleep when she got here.
Her mouth stretched wide into a yawn and her eyes teared up before her lids drooped heavily. If her father didn’t show up soon, she might actually have to head off to bed without seeing him. Another yawn accosted her, and she let out a frustrated growl.
Once upon a time she was able to stay up until midnight without a second thought. Of course, back then she was also that kid who couldn’t get up in the morning. It was easier now. She preferred the early morning hours to the late ones. There was just something about getting in an early walk or grabbing a coffee and watching the sun rise.
From the looks of it, her father wasn’t going to be here any time soon, so it would suit her better to just head up to her old room and discuss the plans for the restoration in the morning.
She got up from the couch just as the door from the garage opened and closed.
