After our goodbyes, Whit, Aaron and I wave from the steps. “I guess I should go freshen up,” I say.
“Y’all are more than welcome to hang out here,” Whitney offers.
“Look at you.” I grin.
“What?” she asks, confused.
“You said y’all,” I point out. “Your country is showing.”
“You’re damn right,” Aaron says, pulling her into his chest and placing a kiss on the top of her head. “This is where you belong,” he murmurs.
“I think we’re just going to drive around, maybe hang out at his place, watch a movie or something.”
“Well, the offer is there. Make yourself at home.”
“Thanks. I need to get moving. He’ll be here in fifteen minutes.” I rush inside, pull off my boots and race up the stairs, freshening up as quickly as I can. I’m still in my yoga pants and sweater and decide that will have to do. It’s comfortable, and we’re just hanging out at his place. I added that part about the drive for Whit and Aaron. Why, I don’t know.
I hear a truck pull up and know it’s him. With one last look in the mirror, I rush back down the steps, slide into my knee-high boots, and grab my coat and phone before meeting him on the porch.
“Have fun!” Whit yells from the living room just as I’m closing the door. I don’t yell back because Mike’s standing there, hand in the air ready to knock.
“Hey.” He smiles.
“Hi.”
“I guess you’re ready to go?”
“Yeah, I, uh….” Shit, now I look too damn eager. I mean, I am, but I don’t want him to know that. Shit. “I was just ready to give them some time, you know?” I say, trying to cover up my desire to spend some time with just him tonight.
“Well we better get going, then.” He offers me his arm and guides me to the passenger side of his truck.
“What is it with you country boys and your big trucks?” I ask as he places his hands on my hips and lifts me into his big-ass truck.
He laughs. “Not just country boys drive trucks, darlin.’ This is a man’s truck,” he explains. “It also gives me an excuse to get my hands on you,” he says with a smirk.
“I remember Whit giving me a similar story and explanation about Aaron and his truck. I’m sticking with my theory that it’s only you country boys.”
“If you say so,” he says before shutting my door.
I watch him as he walks around the truck and climbs in on the other side. He really is the epitome of the phrase “tall, dark, and handsome.”
“Do you work on the farms much?” I ask, because he’s built just like the others.
“I help out from time to time. Why do you ask?”
Luckily it’s dark out and he can’t see my blush. “You, uh, just seem to be in good shape. I wondered if you stayed that way like Aaron, Evan, and David.”
“Checking me out, are you?” He reaches over and rests his hand on my knee.
“It’s kind of hard to miss, Michael.”
“I run and try to get to the gym as many times a week as possible.”
“Yeah, like all the days that end in Y.”
He chuckles. “Actually, here lately it has been every day of the week. Working out and the bar are pretty much my life. I keep telling my sister that she needs to put Dave out of his misery and marry him, give me some nieces and nephews to spoil. My parents are also on board with that plan.”
“Wait, aren’t you the oldest?”