Music of the Heart (Runaway Train, #1)(18)

“No, I don’t,” she replied, before taking a dainty sip of her Diet Coke.

“So caffeine is your only illicit substance?” I implored with a smirk.

With a shrug, she replied, “I guess so.”

“Ever tried a beer?”

She eyed my frothy mug and wrinkled her nose. “No, thank you.”

“Oh come on. Just try a sip.” I slid my beer closer to her. When she nibbled her lip, I couldn’t help goading her some more. “Don’t tell me you’re afraid to try it?”

Abby snapped her gaze up to mine, and the fire that flashed in her eyes made me shift in my seat. Damn, how was it possible for Miss Priss to affect me with just a look? I could only imagine that with the proper stoking, that flame could be scorching in the bedroom.

Without a word to me, she reached over and grabbed my mug. She licked her lips as I leaned forward, silently daring her to continue. She took in a mouthful before her eyes widened, and she turned away from me to spew out the beer. “Oh.My.God! How do you drink that? It tastes like horse pee!” she exclaimed, swiping her hand across her mouth.

AJ and Rhys chuckled at her response. “You been drinking a lot of horse pee lately, Angel?” I questioned, as I took my beer back.

She scowled at me. “No, I haven’t. I haven’t even been around a horse since I got thrown from one when I was ten and broke my arm.”

“You need to get back in the saddle.”

Abby shot me a withering look. “And let me guess. You’re the man to teach me?”

I ignored her dig at the innuendo of teaching. “Well, I did grow up on a farm, and I do have six horses—well, my mom and I do.”

Abby’s disdainful expression slowly faded, and she eyed me with curiosity. “You still live at the farm with your mom?”

“When I’m not touring, it’s the only place I want to be.”

“No big city, swinging bachelor pad and wild parties?”

I grinned and shook my head. “Nope, give me backwoods bonfires, mudding, and fishing over all of that.”

“Hmm, I wouldn’t have pegged you for a boonies kind of guy.”

AJ snorted. “You won’t get any more boonies than where Jake grew up in Ball Ground, Georgia.”

Abby’s brows furrowed. “But I thought you guys knew each other as teenagers?”

“We did. After my mom and dad divorced, he left and moved to Atlanta. I’d visit him on weekends, and AJ’s family lived next door. ”

AJ nodded. “My family has always been city dwellers. We don’t do backwoods. Rednecks aren’t real tolerant, ya know?”

I laughed. “Oh please, that’s so not true.”

“Yeah, right. You don’t know how many times I got the ‘You’re not from ‘round here are ya, boy,’ ” AJ drawled in his best hick voice.

I smacked his arm. “I call bullshit, AJ. My redneck family are some of the best people you know and don’t deny it.”

AJ grinned. “Okay, so maybe I enjoyed being in the boonies a little too much with Jake.”

“Yep, I taught his sissy, city boy ass to hunt, fish, and rope cattle.”

Abby’s mouth gaped open. “You have cows too?”

“Naw, my Papa does.”

AJ nudged Abby. “Did you hear that? Every once and awhile, Jake will slip up and sound like a total country bumpkin.”

I rolled my eyes. “Whatever.”

Abby smiled. “I like the Southern drawl. I mean, I was twelve when we moved back to the states, so I really can’t call myself a Texan but I sure do love it there. My dad’s brother has this huge ranch that’s out in the middle of nowhere. I could spend days just wandering around the fields and wading through the creeks, feeding the cows, and petting the horses.” A little shiver went through her. “I swear that one day I’ll conquer my fear about getting back on one.”

I stared at her for a moment, taking in the sincerity of her words. I’d never, ever met a girl who sounded like she loved the backwoods as much as I did. “You won’t have much time for ranches if you start headlining with your brothers.”

Her expression darkened a little. “Tell me about it. They’re going to put us on a grueling tour in the fall. I can’t even remember how many cities are on it. We’ll barely get home for Christmas.” She sighed. “That’s not the life I see for myself. For the first time in my life, I have some roots, and I want it to stay that way.” Her cheeks reddened a little as she added, “Not to mention wanting a home of my own and kids.”

AJ chuckled. “You want all that now?”

“As a matter of fact, I do.” She cocked her head at him. “You think I’m too young to be married and have kids?”

At the same time, Rhys, AJ, and I in perfect unison replied, “Absolutely.”

She rolled her eyes. “Considering the sources, I’ll choose to ignore that.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” I asked.

Billie Jean, along with another waitress, interrupted the conversation by bringing our food. Once they left the table, Abby leaned in on her elbows and pinned me with a hard stare. “It means that you three are out for nothing but no-strings-attached sex. You can’t imagine anyone wanting more than just one night stands or meaningless hook-ups. I’m sure if I asked Brayden, he would feel differently.”