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“He’sfine, Dad. Just send whoever you can as quickly as you can. I’d rather not have to spend another night on a pile of hay.” Ella ended the call after ensuring they’d be okay, and then she put the phone through the door.
Their delivery driver needed to get somewhere so he ended up stacking the wood by the side of the barn, leaving her alone with Lucas once again.
They stood close, lingering by the door as they waited for reinforcements to arrive.
“So…” he murmured.
“So…” she repeated.
“Last night.”
Ella nodded. “I think we need to figure out what to call this.”
“What to call this?” Lucas tilted his head, a hint of a smile touching his lips. “Now we’re putting a label on it?”
“I think we have to. I’m not going to be just one of your weekend flings.”
“Ouch, that one hurt.”
“Your silly grin disagrees.” Ella reached up and feathered her fingers through the hair at his temple. “But in all seriousness, I don’t want to put off a conversation that would be wise to have sooner rather than later.”
“I agree,” he whispered. “Maybe you should go first. What do you want this to be?”
Ella couldn’t bring herself to utter aloud the thing that she’d been thinking about so long last night that she’d lost countless hours of rest. Just like jealousy, desperation did not look good on her. Fortunately, she was striving to do better. “I’d like to see you again in a more official capacity.”
“Official meaning…”
“A date.”
“A date,” Lucas drawled. “Ella Thompson is willing to go on a date with me.”
“Maybe more than one.”
His brows lifted playfully. “More?”
“Maybe,” she emphasized.
“Hmm,” he said softly, his face closing in on hers. “I think I like that idea.”
Before he had a chance to steal another kiss, the sound of sirens filled the air. Her eyes widened and she moved to the open doorway. “He didn’t.”
“Yes, I think he did.” Lucas chuckled, taking her hand in his and brushing a kiss to her knuckles just as a firetruck pulled into view.
15
Lucas
Lucas whistled to himself as he stepped from the shower and dried off. Being stuck in a barn overnight with Ella could have gone a thousand different ways. Lucky for him, Ella couldn’t ignore his charms for long.
He glanced up in the mirror. Staring back at him was the face of a handsome man, one who could get any girl he wanted. At least that’s who he used to be. Ella had proven to be a challenge—but not one that wasn’t completely worth fighting for.
His grin faded as a sliver of doubt crept in among all that oozing confidence. Ella was something special. Her strength was something that still surprised him. The way she could snap back with a comment proved her wit was intact.
What if he took her on this date and she realized she’d made a mistake?
Lucas shook off the concern and turned away from the mirror. She’d spent the night in the barn with him. If that hadn’tdriven her away, then nothing could. Ella might be a lot of things, but even he could see she was a good judge of character. And if she could see the good in him, then who was he to argue?
Turning to face his reflection once more, Lucas reached for a comb and then hissed. The movement caused a sharp pain to shoot through his hand. The paramedic said the cut wasn’t deep enough for stitches, but it needed to be cleaned and glued. Certain movements still caused a fiery pain to overwhelm him, and not for the first time did Lucas regret trying to escape from the barn.
