Read Online Boyfriend for Rent by Jamie Lake - Free Book Online Page B

amazed him to think how far he’d come in less than two months. The horse no longer scared him. In fact, during the time Hunter had been ignoring him, Casey had found himself in the barn more and more, talking as he cared for the mare. She didn’t care that his voice was higher than most men’s. Her ears twitched when she heard him speak, and she’d nudge his shirt, looking for carrots and sugar. He almost smiled. If someone had told him two months ago that he’d be on a farm taking care of a horse, he would’ve laughed at them. Now he couldn’t imagine being anywhere else, and the idea that Hunter would make him leave terrified him.
    “So, I been thinkin’.” Hunter appeared in the doorway.
    Casey started, but only for a moment. He was going to take this like a man. No crying or begging. He’d let Hunter say his piece, then go up and pack. Maybe Hunter would let him stay until the morning at least.
    “Yeah?” Casey let his eyes flick up towards Hunter, his stomach twisting in knots as he thought how this would be the last time he’d get to see Hunter like this.
    Hunter shrugged, “S’all right. I wanna do it for ya.”
    Casey froze. He didn’t want to dare to hope. “Hunter…”
    “I read your letter.” Hunter’s voice was much closer now.
    Goose bumps coated Casey’s skin as the familiar smell of Hunter reached him. It was sweat and hard work, and something more masculine than anything Casey had ever smelled before. He’d read Casey’s letter. He hadn’t been sure that Hunter wouldn’t have just thrown it away, and even if Hunter had read it, there had been no guarantee that he’d believe a word of it.
    He turned towards Hunter now, daring to meet those clear blue eyes.“I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings. It came out all wrong. You’re fine the way you are. I like the way you are.”
    “And I like you,” Hunter said. His eyes caught Casey’s for longer than a minute.
    Casey’s heart raced. “Okay,” he said. “I’m so sorry. I don’t want you to feel like you aren’t good enough. Ever.”
    Hunter shrugged his shoulders and smiled. “That’s what your letter said, and I believe you.” He put his hand on Casey’s arm. “So, what do we gotta do to get started?”
     
     
     
     
    _________ o _________
     
    CHAPTER 23
     
    “H unter, can you come in here a second?” Casey said. He turned on classical music to aid in his new project. For the past week-and-a-half, he’d been working with Hunter on diction and enunciation, trying not to acknowledge the irony of him teaching someone to speak properly. He’d gone to the library and taken out several books, both classics and newer, popular ones, making sure he stuck with authors who emphasized proper English. Hunter didn’t need to read Mark Twain. He already spoke like Huck Finn. When he’d seen Hunter sitting in his chair, immersed in one of Casey’s favorites, his heart had done a silly-like skip.
    Now, it was time to continue the Eliza Doolittle transformation by focusing on posture and movement.
    “What’s with the music?” Hunter asked, as he entered the living room. “You gonna teach me to dance or something?” When Casey gave him a stern look, Hunter rolled his eyes and said, “Are you going to teach me to dance?”
    “Not exactly. We’ve got to start with the basics. Walking.”
    “Walking? I know how to walk. My mom taught me good.”
    Casey cringed at the misuse of the English language. A glance at Hunter, however, revealed eyes sparkling with laughter. Casey couldn’t help but laugh and shake his head. He kept going. “Here’s the thing. There’s walking and then there’s walking .”
    Casey mimicked and over-exaggerated the country boy way he walked.  “That is not walking.”
    Hunter blushed, “Is that supposed to be me?”
    “It’s not supposed to be. It is you. And it’s a definite no-no. A gentleman walks with style, with grace,” Casey said. He walked past Hunter with a touch of flair, but