Page 119 of Mountain Road

Unlike Willa, Minty sat forward in her seat, eyes open, her beautiful mind spinning.

Unlike Barrett, other than the briefest of glances while I sang The Spill Canvas’Lullaby, I kept my eyes on my strings, unsure how she would receive these very public declarations.

When I finished, you could hear a pin drop.

Minty sat with her lips parted, gaze soft on my face.

I raised my chin and offered her a smile. “Can you handle another one?”

Her light laugh rang out and she nodded her head. “Absolutely.”

With slightly more confidence, I sangTo Make You Feel My Love.

Junie was the first to break the silence. “Somebody is so getting laid tonight.”

Willa laughed out loud and swiped her finger beneath her eyes. “I think it’s safe to say everybody’s getting laid tonight.”

Baxter spoke drily. “Better sing another one. I need all the help I can get.”

Barrett’s big boom of a laugh split the night. “Minty? You going to sing with Lucky?”

I swung my head around to catch her reaction.

She tilted her head to the side and smiled at me. “You want to?”

“Absolutely.”

By the time we finished Penny and Sparrow’s Duet, it was Willa and Junie who were left gaping.

Junie leaned over and elbowed Willa. “Remember when we did karaoke the week before you got married and Minty showed us she had pipes? Minty’s got pipes!” She exclaimed excitedly.

“She used to be in a band,” I informed them, flashing my dimples at Minty when she swung around to look at me.

“What kind of band? Country?” Lenny tilted his head as he studied Minty, trying to figure her out.

I laughed. Good luck, bud. “She wore thigh-high boots, leather pants, and a bustier.”

“Evanescence was my jam,” she confessed as she fought a smile.

“Oh my gosh,” Junie interrupted. “You have to get on stage with the guys!”

Minty waved her hands. “Oh no. Absolutely not. It’s been a very long time since I’ve performed in public.”

Barrett studied her silently for a moment. “Maybe it would be good for you. Consider yourself officially invited. We’ll make you an honorary member, not this Saturday, but next. That crowd will love it.”

Minty began to protest, but Lenny interrupted. “Tell you what. Send us a few songs that you would sing if you decided to do it, and we’ll tell you if we can cover them.”

Junie clasped her hands together under her chin and widened her eyes. “Please, Minty,” she begged. “Do it for the greater global girlhood.”

Minty looked at her and pursed her lips. “Your big eyes don’t work on me, beautiful.”

Junie batted her eyelashes, and Minty laughed. “I’ll think about it.”

“Yes!” Junie hissed, then turned to Lenny. “Set it up!”

“It’s not a done deal,” Minty protested.

“Oh, please,” Willa laughed. “If it was a ‘no’ you would have shut her down so fast her head would spin.”

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