Music of the Heart (9 page)

I cocked my head at Billie Jean. “Angel will have a Diet Coke, and the rest of want beer. Maybe

you should just bring us a pitcher or two.”

“Anything for you,” she replied with a wink. She scribbled down on her pad. “Any starters?”

“Yeah, we’ll take a sampling of all your appetizers,” AJ replied.

As Billie Jean left to fill our orders, Abby gaped at AJ. “You’re serious about ordering after you

eat all those appetizers?”

He grinned. “You have to watch out when I’m really hungry, Angel.”

“With my brothers, I should expect no less, right?”

“You bet.”

Brayden tapped Abby’s menu. “Order anything and everything you want. Dinner is on me tonight.”

“No, you don’t have to do that.”

He smiled. “I don’t have to, but I want to.”

“Okay then. I’ll let you this one time,” she replied.

Billie Jean returned with our beers and Abby’s Diet Coke and began taking our orders. “I’ll have

the double cheeseburger, fries, and a side order of baked beans,” Abby said before handing her menu

to Billie Jean.

“You’re seriously going to eat all that?” I asked.

She grinned. “I’m starved. I might even order dessert too.”

When AJ started to open his mouth to say something I could imagine suggestive about Abby and

dessert, she pointed a finger at him. “Don’t even go there. It’s you, me, and karaoke time.”

He laughed. “I’m good with that.” AJ swept out of his chair and followed Abby to the stage. Only

a few other patrons, mainly truckers, were sitting in our section, sipping beer and eating burgers.

They didn’t look like they gave two shits about AJ and Abby’s performance.

As he started going through the song selection book, AJ grimaced. “Dude, this shit is like all from

the 70’s and 80’s,” he groaned.

“With the looks of this place, did you actually expect some of our stuff to be on there?” I called.

AJ shot me a dirty look before going back to the book of music.

“Ooh, what about this one?” Abby suggested as she pointed her finger at the book.

AJ’s dark brows furrowed. “
Islands in the Stream
. You gotta be freakin’ kidding me!”

“Please. I love Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers.” She poked her lip out at AJ before saying, “I’m

supposed to be part country singer, remember? It’s in my blood.”

“Well, I love Dolly Parton’s—” AJ began before Abby playfully smacked his arm.

“¡La próxima vez que te pegue en las bolas!”

He held his hands up in defeat. “Okay, okay, I’ll stop. I don’t want you nailing me in the balls,

rather than the arm!”

“Thank you.”

“So for you, Angel,
Islands in the Stream
it is, but I’m going to be reading off the screen for

everything but the chorus.”

“That’s okay,” Abby replied, nodding at the DJ. She then passed AJ a microphone before taking

one for herself. “Okay, AJ. Wow me.”

He winked at her. “Oh, I plan on it.”

The music started up, and AJ peered at the screen to begin singing his opening part. “Baby, when I

met you there was peace unknown. I set out to get you with a fine tooth comb.”

As his voice echoed through the room, Abby’s brows shot up and her mouth dropped, and I could

tell she was surprised as hell that he could really sing and hadn’t been bullshitting her. She then began

harmonizing with him when Dolly’s part came on. When they got to the chorus that was familiar to AJ

—mainly because we used to jam to Mya/JZ remix
Ghetto Superstar
, he inched closer to Abby. AJ

had a gift for improvising, and he was really getting into singing about making love with Abby. She

possessed the same gift as he did, and I was impressed with her performance ability, even in the

dingy diner’s karaoke bar. She had future star written all over her.

Several of the truckers sitting around us took notice of the performance. Well, I guess I should say

they mainly took notice of the hot little number in the white sundress intertwining herself with the

douchebag she was singing with.

Not enjoying the way I was feeling about what I was seeing, I rose out of my chair. “I gotta go take

a leak,” I muttered before escaping to the bathroom. What the hell was wrong with me? Why did I

give two shits about Abby performing with AJ? I mean, she had made it damn clear she wasn’t going

to give any of us the time of day. As I washed my hands, I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror.

“Get a grip, dude. You do not want to get entangled with her,” I muttered.

“Huh?” some guy in a stall asked.

“Nothing,” I grumbled before exiting the door.

Thankfully, when I came back from the bathroom, Abby and AJ were no longer singing and had

rejoined the table. Since the appetizers had arrived, we started attacking them. Abby did a pretty good

job putting some away as well. Once they were devoured, we waited anxiously for our main courses

to arrive. I cut my eyes over to where Abby twirled the straw in her Diet Coke. A question popped

into my mind, and I acted on it. “So Abby, you’re twenty-one and legal, don’t you drink?”

“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.”

Bray winked at Abby. “But I’m probably not the best person to ask. I’ve always been an old soul.

Lily and I married when we were your age, and Jude came a year later.” A genuine smiled formed on

his lips. “I wouldn’t take anything—not the stardom, the fan adulation, or the money—for what my

family means to me.”

Abby’s expression melted at his words, and she practically puddled at his feet. “Aw, that’s so

sweet.” She reached over and patted his arm. “I sure hope I have what you do some day.”

“You will. Just be patient. The right guy will come along—one who accepts everything about you

and respects your boundaries and your character.”

Abby gave Bray a beaming smile. “Thank you.”

At the mention of her ‘boundaries’, there was a question I had to ask. “So Angel—”

She huffed out an exaggerated breath. “Do you all really have to keep calling me that?”

“Fine.
Abby
,” I began with a grin. “Is what you claimed earlier really true? You know, about being

a virgin, or were you just shitting us to try and steer us from getting in your pants?”

“Jake,” Brayden warned.

I held my hands up. “What’s wrong with asking a simple question for clarification?”

“Because part of your bet with Abby entailed you being a gentleman, and last time I checked, a

gentleman doesn’t question a woman’s past or lack thereof.”

Abby shook her head. “It’s okay, Brayden. I don’t mind answering the question.” She stared

straight into my eyes. “Yes, it’s true that I’m a virgin.”

“Damn,” AJ muttered.

“But how is that humanly possible?” Rhys questioned.

Abby laughed. “Mainly because I have a strong belief system, but I also have pretty high

standards.”

I glanced down at her hand. “So where’s your purity ring then?”

Her cheeks flushed a little. “Well, I don’t wear one because they mean you’re waiting for

marriage, and I don’t necessarily believe in that.”

“You don’t?” I pressed.

“I did when I was younger, but for now, it’s more about me waiting until I’m in love.”

I furrowed my brows. “So all it’ll take is for you to fall in love with some dude, and you’ll give it

up? Just like that?” I snapped my fingers for effect.

“You say that like it’s something easy. To fall in love with someone deeply and then have them

love you back is truly a miracle.”

“Then it sounds like you’ll be holding on to your V-card for a while, Angel.”

She shrugged. “We’ll see. I just know it’ll all be worth the wait.”

“Good for you, Abby,” Brayden said, through a mouthful of steak.

With a disgusted grunt, I replied, “That’s all peachy for you, but I gotta say more power to the guy.

Me, I could never get it up for a virgin.”

Abby gasped and dropped her hamburger. “You liar!”

“Excuse me?”

“Y-You totally were…well, you know, this morning in bed with me,” she sputtered.

Swallowing a mouthful of my chili dog, I rolled my eyes. “That’s because at first I thought you

were Bree who is always showing up to bang me when we’re on the road.”