I Heart Geeks (28 page)

Luke answered immediately, without hesitation. “I would buy my own land and breed horses. I’ve always been fascinated by the different breeds and the wide range of abilities each breed has. I want to help them find the perfect horse.” He bent over to pick up a stone, then tossed it into the calm, clear water of the creek.

“So you’ve obviously put some thought into this,” I said. “I know you said you couldn’t do both, breeding horses and running your dad’s ranch; but what about just talking to your dad about downsizing the cattle side and adding horses?”

Luke shook his head. “He’d never go for it. The Morgan family ranch has been a cattle ranch for more generations than I care to count back. My dad dropped everything and moved us halfway across the country when his dad got sick and now it’s just my turn.” The same look of defeat he’d had the day in the library settled over his face. “It’s ok, Ains. I’m fine for now, just running things for my dad.”

“If you say so,” I replied, knowing full well he wasn’t. “Are you hungry?”

“What do you have?” he asked, smiling over at me curiously.

“Just some sandwiches my Gram packed, and whatever else she threw in there I guess.” I turned to walk back to where we’d left the horses earlier. Luke followed and we trekked back to where they were grazing in the tall grass. I reached down and unhooked the pack from Buckbeak’s saddle. I started pulling out food and quickly realized my Gram had been in on the little set up as well. There was way more food than I’d ever be able to eat, even if I’d stayed out a few days.

“Your grandma must think you have quite the appetite.” Luke’s voice was ripe with amusement. “Either that, or she packed enough for an impromptu camping trip.”

“Or she knew I’d have company for lunch,” I grumbled feeling annoyed at my family.

“Smart woman.” His eyes sparkled with ill-concealed merriment. “Remind me to thank her later.”

“If I’m speaking to my family later, I will be sure to pass along your appreciation,” I said, lips twitching.

“Aw, come on now; don’t be like that,” Luke teased. “Your family thinks I’m a keeper, Ains, you should listen to them.”

Completely flustered, I quickly finished setting out the food and we silently dug into the feast Gram had sent. She’d even thought to add a thermos of lemonade and two mugs. I softened a little towards Gram at the gesture. She knew that after a hot ride, lemonade was the only thing that refreshed me.

After lunch, we rinsed the dishes and thermos in the creek and decided to ride the trails that wandered through the nearby woods. We rode aimlessly, talking about our college experiences, reminiscing about high school, comparing movie preferences—surprisingly enough we had the same taste in movies—and, of course, we talked horses. I found it surprisingly easy talking to Luke once I was relaxed.

In high school, Luke had always been popular, which made him way out of my league. A few times in class we’d have to talk about an assignment or say hi in passing, but that had been the extent. Even all the time I’d spent at their house hanging out with Riley, Luke had done his own thing or hadn’t been home at all. I may have been shy and socially awkward in high school, but I wasn’t blind. I knew how good looking Luke had been—and still was—and how nice he was. If I were being honest, I’d even admit to a crush on him. Ok, it had been more than a crush. Truth be told, after spending time with him, and really talking to him, I was half in love with the guy
now.
The problem was, while I knew he liked me as a friend, he was undoubtedly still out of my league.

After spending most of the afternoon riding together, Luke headed back to his ranch to help round up the cattle. I headed back home, mulling over ways to tell my family to stay out of my love life—or lack of one.

The next week went by quickly, between working at the library, helping out my dad and grandpa, and spending time with Luke. After ignoring my family for a few hours on Saturday night, they’d all apologized for interfering. I wasn’t going to give them the satisfaction of knowing they’d probably done a good thing.

I was just heading out from the library Friday, after making sure Mrs. Evans was ok to close, when Luke pulled into the parking lot in his newer model black Chevy. His truck may have been newer than most around town, but you could still tell by the layers of dust and dirt caked on it that it was a work truck. He smiled as he got out of the cab and walked over to where my car was parked, looking every inch the steamy cowboy romance novel hero; dressed in clean, tight fitting jeans and a black fitted shirt that showed the definition of muscles that didn’t come from a gym. I gasped a little for air, realizing I’d forgotten to breathe, then I quickly glanced at my reflection in the window of my car. I tucked a stray piece of hair that had escaped my braid behind my ear.

“Hey Ains!” he said cheerfully. “Glad I caught you. I was coming in to see if you wanted to grab dinner with me.”

I pieced my scrambled thoughts back together long enough to say something other than, “
Kiss me please!”

“That sounds good. Let me just throw my stuff in my car, quick.”

“Perfect.” Luke’s eyes lit up, making something inside me melt into a gooey puddle. He was excited about going to dinner with
me
?

I chucked my bag haphazardly into my car and slammed the door, chiding myself for the giddy excitement bubbling in my chest. I needed to stop thinking of Luke in any way other than a friend. As soon as I started looking at him or thinking of him beyond a friend, I turned into a nervous wreck who couldn’t form a coherent thought.

“What did you have in mind for dinner?” I asked, climbing up into his truck. The interior smelled like him; a perfect mixture of the outdoors, blended with the spicy smell of his soap or cologne—I hadn’t quite figured it out yet.

“I was thinking we could go over to the diner and grab a quick bite, then head back to get some riding time in before it gets too late.” He glanced over at me with hopeful puppy dog eyes.

“Works for me,” I said, even though I knew as soon as people saw us together, the gossip mill would take off. Small towns were great because everyone knew you, and generally everyone really cared about each other. The bad thing about small towns was that everyone knew you, and they all cared a little too much about what you did.

Everyone seemed to have the same idea for dinner tonight. The diner was fairly busy, and all eyes turned to us as we walked in.

“Well, good evenin’ Luke,” Maeve Wilkins greeted. She was in her mid-sixties, same as Gram. As always, she was wearing a floral print, fifties-style dress with a white apron over it. She was a heavyset woman with gray hair pinned into a bun on the top of her head.

“Ainsley; how’s your grandma?” Besides being the owner of the diner, Maeve was also the biggest gossip in the entire county—if not the whole state.

“Hello Maeve,” I replied, smiling politely like a good southern girl. “She’s just fine; I’ll let her know you asked about her.” Gram and Maeve went way back. One never knew if they were friends or enemies. I’d asked Gram about it once and she said that’s just how it’s always been.

“You do that, sugar.” She smirked. “Go and grab a booth now, and I’ll be along to get your order.”

We quickly found the last booth available—thankfully in the back, a little further from curious eyes—and slid into it. The black vinyl on the bench seat was always clean, but showed obvious signs of wear; though the white table tops, flecked with gold, were pristine. I glanced around at the walls as we waited on Maeve. They were crowded with pictures and newspaper articles about the small town; some framed and hung, others haphazardly tacked wherever there was free space.

The menu hadn’t changed since the diner was first opened, so neither Luke nor I had to look at it to know what we wanted.

“I’ll take the smothered steak burger with fries, please; and a cherry coke,” Luke recited when Maeve came over.

“Alright; and what about you Ainsley?” Maeve asked, writing down Luke’s order.

“I’ll just have a regular cheeseburger and fries with a diet coke please.” Maeve nodded and walked off towards the kitchen to put in the order.

“How was your day?” Luke asked, settling back in the worn booth like this was an everyday outing for us.

“Not bad, it went by quickly,” I said, proud that I managed to sound both normal and relaxed. “What about yours?”

“Extremely long,” he said. “But it got better as soon as you agreed to grab dinner and go riding.”

I looked up at him quickly to see if he was joking, but when my eyes met his, he held them with a long, hot gaze. My heart rate took off at a full-blown gallop.
He was serious!

“I like spending time with you too, Luke.” A hot blush stole over my cheeks and I mentally grimaced.
That’s the best I could come up with?
It sounded stupid, but I didn’t know what else to say. It was times like this I wished someone had taught me whatever mothers were supposed to teach their girls. Being raised by my dad and grandparents, I was pretty sure I’d missed out on some vital information.

Luckily, I was saved from having to figure out what to say next, because one of the neighbors on the other side of Luke’s ranch stopped by the table to say hello. I took the opportunity to rein in my runaway emotions, and remind myself that Luke and I were just friends. There was no need to be so nervous around him.

His neighbor left when our food arrived. We dug in hungrily. Luke had an endless appetite. He scarfed down his burger and fries, and then ordered apple pie; and he still managed to finish that in the time it took me just to finish my cheeseburger and fries. After we ate, Luke paid the bill and we headed out to his truck. It was still early enough we would be able to ride for a while before it got dark.

Luke took me back to the library where my car was still parked. He waited, truck idling, while I got in and buckled up, then started the car and headed for home. I figured he would go to his ranch and get his horse and meet me at the property line like we had last time, so I was surprised when I turned down the drive and he followed me in. I pulled in behind Gram’s car and parked. As I got out, I glanced over to the stables and saw that his horse was already there, saddled and waiting alongside Buckbeak. Luke’s truck door slammed and he walked up beside me.

“I brought Odin over in the trailer before meeting you at the library,” Luke explained, seeing the baffled look on my face.

“Pretty sure I’d agree to go riding with you?” I teased.

“Pretty hopeful,” he said simply, shrugging. Unsure how to respond, I said I’d be back and escaped inside.

Five minutes later I was changed into riding clothes and securing my uncontrollable curls into a braid on my way out the front door. Luke was standing by the stables talking to both my dad and grandpa. Gram was sitting on the front porch knitting, rocking in the ancient wood rocker that had sat on the porch since before I was even born.

“I think that boy is sweet on you, Ains,” Gram said, watching me watch Luke.

“I don’t know, Gram. I think he’s just being friendly,” I replied.

“Ains, I know I’ve been married to your grandpa for a long time now, and I’m not up on the new courtin’ rituals; but I know they haven’t changed all that much since I was your age.” Gram nodded her head in the direction of the stables. “That boy is courtin’ you, sure as I sit here breathin’.”

“Gram, I’m not exactly experienced with anything related to romance, but even I know nobody refers to it as courting anymore,” I teased, not wanting to think too much about what she said. If I did, I’d turn into a blithering idiot around Luke again.

“Call it what you will then sweetness,” she said smiling, resuming her knitting. “Just know I told you so.”

“I’m going now, Gram. Love you!” I hurried off the porch to leave that conversation—and dangerous train of thought—behind.

I strode over to the stables where the men were all standing and swung myself up on Buckbeak. Luke quickly said goodbye and followed suit. We headed out towards the same well-worn trail we’d gone on last week. Riding together now felt a whole lot more natural; like we’d been doing it forever.

“Riley’s coming home next week,” Luke said as we reached the point on the trail where the creek started.

“Really?” I asked excitedly. Riley had been my best friend—my only friend, really—in school. She sat down by me at lunch on her first day at school, not caring that by doing so she had committed social suicide. Riley was like that though; she never cared what anyone thought of her, she just did her own thing. I envied that quality in her. She’d helped bring me out of my shell somewhat.

“Yeah, she’s decided to move home for a while, I guess. Something about needing to come back to regroup,” he explained. “I told her you were living in town again. She was pretty excited about that.”

“I can’t wait to see her again!” I said, happy that I would have a friend in town again. Well, a friend other than Luke.

“My mom was going to talk to your grandma about having a barbeque to welcome her back home,” Luke replied. After a pause, he added, “I just hope Ri doesn’t steal you from me.”

I laughed and glanced over, expecting to see a playful look on his face; instead I found him looking back at me with an almost sad expression, like he really believed that Riley would take all my free time and that he would just be pushed aside. It wasn’t a side of Luke I’d ever seen before. Luke wasn’t one who seemed to want for friends.

”She won’t steal me, Luke; we can still spend time together,” I said, feeling silly—and a little light-headed—as I guided Buckbeak over to the creek and pulled him to a stop. I hopped off and secured the reins to the saddle. I knew he wouldn’t wander off and hated the idea of tying him up. Luke followed suit with Odin before joining me over by the moss covered log I’d plopped down onto.

“So, I meant to ask you earlier,” I started, trying to look serious, but finding it impossible to hold back a smile. “You named your horse Odin? Why not just name him Thor?”

“Why didn’t you name Buckbeak Harry?” he replied laughing. “I love the Thor comics, but thought it would be too cliché. I was trying to be more subtle.”