Page 54 of Hittin' the Right Note
Luke laughed, and something inside of him loosened up for the first time in years.
“Luke Carter,” Mikey asked, faking outrage, “are you laughing at me?”
Though he was tempted to tweak Mikey a bit and say yes, he decided he could tell the truth. Things were going so smoothly. He didn’t want to mess them up.
“No, I’m not laughing at you, Mr. Sensitive. I’m laughing at the fact we were just making out in my barn, and then the horses decided to rudely interrupt us. I’m also laughing because, in case you hadn’t noticed, there’s still a lot to do. We’ve got to make sure they have hay and water, and we’re got to make sure they’re brushed and their tack is in good order. Owning horses is not for the faint of heart.”
Mikey had the nerve to actually waggle his eyebrows at Luke, as if he could distract him from doing what they were supposed to be doing by using his charms.
The sad part was: it was almost working.
Inspiration stirred in the back of his mind, and the song he’d started with Mikey on the drive here came back to him. His attempts to wrestle the lyrics into some kind of sense hadn’t gone very far the night before, but now his brain was firing on all cylinders. He saw a way he could bring his love of West Virginia and the Ohio Valley together with his feelings for Mikey. It wasn’t quite gelling yet, but he had a feeling it would if he could get just the right ingredient.
I need to get Mikey in on this. If anyone knows about a love song, it’s him.
“I don’t want to put a pin in any more…um…kissing or whatnot, but let’s finish up here and go inside.”
Mikey smirked. “Oh yeah? And just what do you have planned for us inside, Luke Carter?”
“It’s nothing like that, or at least, not right away.” He hated to deny them a chance to kiss again, particularly since he was very much looking forward to more of it, but he knew when the inspiration struck it was always better to take advantage of it before it passed.
“No, listen,” he said, before Mikey could voice his objections or look any more disappointed, “it’s just…I do wanna keep kissing you, but there’s a song I need to write, and I want your help.”
The smirk abruptly turned to something even more predatory.
“Luke Carter is actually asking for my help when it comes to something musical? I never thought I’d see the day.”
Luke closed his eyes and tried to summon up the kind of patience he definitely wasn’t really feeling. He couldn’t deny he found this playful version of Mikeyveryappealing, sexy even, but that didn’t mean it was easy to work with. He was trying to be serious–even as they stood there, the lyrics for the song kept bouncing around inside of his head–and Mikey couldn’t settle himself for just a few minutes.
He breathed in deeply through his nose and out through his mouth for a few seconds, and then he opened his eyes again.
“Yes, I’m asking for your help. Don’t make me regret it, please.”
To his surprise, Mikey actually looked like he was taking what he said seriously.
“Okay, then,” he said. “Since you’re in a business frame of mind, I guess I can agree.”
They finished up the work with the horses. Luke was tempted to rush through it so he could have some more intimate time with Mikey after the music was finished, but Loretta and Reba deserved better. So, he made sure they got the food and water they deserved and the straw was laid out in their stalls just so,and he even took extra effort making sure they were properly brushed.
For all of his efforts, they thanked him by giving all of their attention to Mikey who, as it turned out, was pretty good with a horse brush.
“Traitors,” he muttered, and Mikey laughed.
“I’m telling you. I’m just a natural when it comes to animals. I can’t help it.”
The truth, of course, was Luke found it adorable and well-nigh irresistible.
Finally, though, they were finished–even the saddles and other gear had been oiled and put away–and now it was time to face the music.
Or, more precisely, write it.
“Is there anything left to do?” Mikey asked.
When Luke shook his head he grinned and said, simply, “Good.”
He started walking back toward the cabin and Luke, with no other choice, followed him.
CHAPTER 20
