All Note Long (26 page)

 

“R
ight here.” Michelin stopped his horse at the top of a ridge, a spot he knew well that offered a panoramic view of the surrounding hills and bluffs, mountains hulking in the distance. Unfortunately his traveling partner didn't seem as impressed by his favorite view.

“You better have a good reason for waking me up early,” Lucky groused as he clumsily dismounted from his horse. Michelin worked hard to not laugh. Lucky hadn't been getting along with Rob's horses all week. For their early morning ride, Michelin had put him on Rob's gentlest nag, the one all the kids learned to ride on.

“View's not enough reason?” Michelin swept his arm wide, indicating the valley below. “Look at that sunrise.”

“You do love a nice view.” Lucky bumped shoulders with him. “Are we still on your family's land?”

“Sort of.” Michelin kicked at the rocky soil. Damn him. Lucky was moving too fast, ruining all the pretty speeches he had planned. “Turns out my uncle Clancy's been looking to sell this here parcel. It borders Rob and his brothers' land, but this isn't good grazing land and no one's gonna try growing anything up here. Growing up, this was always one of our favorite camp spots, me and Rob. We'd meet here after chores, build a fire, and hang out long as we could.”

“You know someone interested in the land?” Lucky's smile said he knew perfectly well what Michelin had done.

“I've been giving it some thought. Think I'd like to own a piece of my heritage. No matter what mama said about it, I know it rankled her, not having land to leave to me.”

“You should do it then.” Lucky wrapped his arms around Michelin's waist. “It's freaking cold up here in the morning, though. Please tell me you're not going to make me tent camp here every time we come back.”

“Nope. I'm thinking a little cabin. Nothing fancy, but a place to rest our boots without being all up in some relation's house. Place where the dogs can roam if we bring 'em.”

Woof.
As if Lady and Trooper knew they were being talked about, they bounded out of the scrub grass to lick his hands. Trooper was the new guy. Lucky found him on the street in Vegas three months back when he'd had Lady for a bit while Michelin had been on the road. Lady had adopted the younger collie as her best friend, and by the time Michelin got back into town, he was the proud owner of
two
shaggy dogs. And one devious boyfriend.

But it worked out because Trooper kept Lady company when Michelin couldn't take her on a trip, and there was no denying she was a lot happier now that she had a friend. Some creatures just weren't meant to be solitary beasts. Like him.

“I could see a little cabin here.” Lucky nodded.

“Could you see yourself in it?” Michelin prodded.

“Of course.” Lucky kissed his neck. “Wherever you go. You're not planning to give up L.A. or Nashville or Vegas, are you?”

“I'm locked into Vegas as long as you are.” Even if Lucky's town home with a postage stamp yard was tiny, it was theirs and that was all that mattered. And the last few months he'd let Michelin split the rent. He'd work on Lucky being amenable to something bigger that they could split. “Ditto L.A. And the Nashville property's a good investment even if I visit less. This place would be more like a vacation home. Place to come back to.”

“I like that. A lot.” Lucky hugged him tighter. “And as much as I love Rob and Griselda's kids, a place without waking up with little feet in my face would be nice.”

“You don't like the kids?” Michelin's shoulders slumped. His chest had darn near wanted to crack open last night, watching Lucky play with the kids.

“Didn't say that. I love them. But it's been four days since I got you naked. I freaking
love
the cabin idea if it means we get private time.”

“I want that, too.” His legs were threatening not to support him for this next part, so he maneuvered Lucky over to a large boulder and arranged them so that he could cuddle Lucky while sitting on the boulder. “Y-y-you . . . ever . . . t-think . . .” Oh lord, he wasn't going to be able to get this out, was he?

“Yes. I've thought about kids some.” Thank God, Lucky took pity on him, figured out what he was trying to say. “Not any time soon, mind you. But yeah, I could see that down the road. If you're asking how big to make the cabin, though, I'm not picky. Just make sure our room has a door that locks.”

“What about this?” Michelin pulled something out of his pocket, pressed it into Lucky's palm. Clearly, he wasn't going to get his pretty speech out at all. Might as well go the direct route instead. “Ever thought about this?”

“What's this?” Lucky's voice croaked as he turned the ring over and over in his palm.

“That there was my daddy's ring. It's just a simple thing. We can get you something nicer if you want. But after he passed, mama wore it on a chain around her neck, then after she went on, I kept it. Wasn't rightly sure why until recently. I want you to have it. I don't just want you visiting my cabin. I want you sharing it. Sharing this land.”

“You want to get married?” Lucky kept on looking at him like he'd grown two heads. “Here?”

“Not here.” Michelin's laugh was skittish as one of Rob's colts. “If you're okay with the notion, I was thinking L.A. Your family's there, most of our friends, and we'll just fly my side in. Griselda and the girls would love an L.A. trip, I'm sure.”

“You've really thought about this.” Lucky kept on fingering the ring, not quite slipping it on.

“Wrote a song,” Michelin mumbled to a bush.

“You wrote a song? Another one for me?”

“Haven't you figured it out yet? They're
all
for you.” And then he kissed Lucky because that kind of admission made him
need
Lucky with ferocity that still scared him a bit.

“Yes.” Lucky broke away only far enough to say the word against Michelin's lips. “Yes, I'm okay with the notion.” He laughed and tickled Michelin's side. “Seriously, man? Okay with the notion? I'm over the moon with the notion. Totally and completely in love with the notion—and you.”

Michelin kissed him this time, not because he had to, but because he wanted to. Because it was the right thing to do, sharing this wide-open space and this early morning light with the man he loved. In his heart, he knew the whole world had opened up to him in the last year, all thanks to this man. As it turned out, a scrawny kid named Clyde with nothing more than a guitar and big dreams had gone out and gotten Lucky.

All Note Long
Playlist

Music is a huge part of my creative process, and assembling the play list for
All Note Long
was particularly fun, simply because it was so different from the first two books in the series. Also, Michelin and Lucky have very different tastes in music, and I found myself switching the styles of music that I listened to, depending on whose point of view I was in. You can check out my full playlist on Spotify, and don't forget to check out the playlists for the first two books in the series as well.

On a serious note, as a country music fan, I would be remiss if I didn't point out the wide diversity of political opinions within the genre. Michelin's experiences with his label and conservative radio hosts certainly isn't unique, but some of the genre's biggest stars are vocal supporters of LGBT rights, and the genre takes more steps forward all the time. Watching the genre evolve toward a place of more acceptance and tolerance is a slow process, but change
is
coming. A huge shout-out to Steve Grand, Chely Wright, Ty Herndon, Billy Gilman, and other artists who have come out and who continue to advocate for change within the genre.

I hope you enjoy Michelin's journey and this peek into the music that inspired me!

 

“Geronimo”—RuPaul featuring Lucian Piane. The moment I heard this song, the character of Lucky was born, and I knew immediately that I was pairing him with Michelin. I could totally picture Lucky twerking his way into Michelin's solitary life and upending everything he thought he knew about himself.

 

“El Cerrito Place”—Kenny Chesney. This song became indelibly linked with Michelin, who is looking for someone without even knowing it, looking for a way out of his loneliness. This entire album was on repeat for me.

 

“Colder Weather”—Zac Brown Band, covered by Home Free. Lucky is the sunshine and warmth Michelin's life has been missing, but Michelin needs to be brave enough to reach for him.

 

“Please Come to Boston”—cover by Kenny Chesney. There are so many wonderful versions of this haunting song. I knew I wanted Michelin to sing this song because he too is yearning for someone to call home.

 

“Wake Me Up”—Avicii, covered by Home Free. The original version of this song is very Lucky, then Home Free's country version is totally Michelin, and together they are both waiting for the other to come into their lives.

 

“Paparazzi”—Lady Gaga. It's what initially brings the guys together, but I
know
Lucky could do a kickass routine to this song, too.

 

“Superman (It's Not Easy)”—Five for Fighting. This is the moment when Lucky's impression of Michelin starts to change.

 

“Booty”—Jennifer Lopez, featuring Iggy Azalea. Lucky's not shy or modest at all about his dancing abilities, and he can totally make this song
work.

 

“Biggie Bounce”—Diplo, featuring Angger Dimas and Travis Porter. Another song that I could see Lucky owning.

 

“Who's Gonna Fill Their Shoes”—George Jones covered by the Swon Brothers. This song speaks to Michelin's connection to country music as a genre, as a greater tradition he's carrying forward, and to his search to find his place within that genre.

 

“I Got the Boy”—Jana Kramer. Steve Brewer got the boy, but Lucky got the better man.

 

“Hurt”—Nine Inch Nails, covered by Johnny Cash. This was Michelin's black moment song, and I'm not sure that a better cover of any song ever exits. Johnny Cash's cover albums are absolutely legendary for a reason.

 

“What We Ain't Got”—Jake Owen. Another song that really spoke to the black moment for me, and Michelin's despair that maybe happiness simply isn't in the cards for him.

 

“All-American Boy”—Steve Grand. This kind of bold declaration is exactly what I can picture Michelin having the courage to finally sing.

 

“Can I Get an Amen”—RuPaul featuring Martha Washington. This song is pretty much Lucky's anthem, but it's also the song Michelin most needs to hear with its message of loving yourself first.

 

“Lose Yourself to Dance”—Daft Punk, featuring Pharrell Williams. One of things I liked most about this pairing was the subtle way that they influence and enrich each other's art.

 

“Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae)”—Silentó. This dance craze came out while I was writing the book, and I knew Lucky's collection of nieces and nephews would expect him to know how to whip and nae nae.

 

“I Will Never Let You Down”—Rita Ora. Lucky wants to be there for Michelin, and at the end of the book, they are each the rock the other needs.

 

“I'm a Small Town”—Kenny Chesney. Even after everything, Michelin is still a country kid at heart, and in the epilogue we see how he's working to reconcile the various parts of himself.

 

“Got It Right This Time”—Keith Urban. Michelin's finally content with his life, and Lucky too has all that he needs.

 

“Roots and Wings”—Miranda Lambert. At the end of the book, Michelin's family and background are what give him roots, but it's Lucky who gives him wings.

Don't miss these other books in the Perfect Harmony series

 

 

 

 

And look for Annabeth Albert's Portland Heat series, available now!