Coming Undone Read Online Free PDF

glass in front of her, he gave the bar a meaty slap and laughed.
    “Thanks, Wayne.”
    “Are you kidding me? He thought you was playin’ games with him for sure. He’s gonna be so jazzed.” Shaking his head, Wayne pulled the towel from his shoulder, wiped a drop of bourbon off the countertop, then called someone over to relieve him. Surprisingly agile for a man his size, he hopped the bar as soon as his replacement arrived and disappeared down the back hallway.
    Jared took the vacant stool next to her. “Got a hot date?”
    He thought she was going to ignore him, but after a second of silence she hitched the shoulder nearest him. “You bet.” She tossed back the shot, shuddered a little, then turned to look him in the eye. “I’m primed. I’m pumped. Raring to go. Me and Burt are gonna do the bed boogie till we burn down the house.”
    To his surprise, he discovered that the thought ground at something deep in his gut. He could barely wrap his mind around P.J. as a woman, much less a sexual woman who sat in bars tossing back shots and talking about doing a stranger. But that was his problem, so he merely gave her a cool-eyed gaze. “Obviously you’ve had a change of heart about sex since the last time I saw you.”
    Swiveling her stool in his direction, she gave his forehead a light rap with her knuckles. “Hello! I was thirteen years old the last time we discussed sex. Of course I’ve had a change of heart.”
    “Well…good, then. Fine. That’s real healthy.”
    Her clear amber eyes looked into his as if she could read his soul and her mouth quirked up in a knowing smile. “Isn’t it just?”
    An older, heavyset man bustled up just then, and, treating Jared as if he were suddenly invisible, P.J. twisted her stool around an additional quarter turn to face the new arrival. Her face lit up in a million-watt smile. “You must be Burt.” She thrust her hand out.
    The man grasped it and pumped enthusiastically. “Oh, man. It really is you. I thought for sure Wayne was shittin’, er, that is, foolin’ me.”
    “No, sir. As I told you on the phone, I’d really like an opportunity to perform with the band, if they don’t mind.”
    “Oh, man,” he said again. “They’re gonna go ape. Why don’tcha come with me and I’ll introduce you.”
    “That would be great.” She turned to Jared. “And here you thought I’d come to have sex with the man.”
    Burt looked aghast. “What? Why would anyone think such a thing?”
    “Darned if I know,” she said sorrowfully. “There are some people in the world who are just sick puppies.”
    The older man shot him a look of disgust and cupped a protective hand around P.J.’s elbow.
    Jared watched them walk away. “What a card,” he said through tight teeth as they disappeared into the crowd. Ignoring the pretty blonde in the leopard-print cowgirl hat who offered him an inviting smile as she slid onto P.J.’s vacated stool, he reached for the bowl of peanuts on the bar. This had been the longest goddamn day.
    And apparently it wasn’t over yet.

CHAPTER THREE
    Headline, Country Billboard :
Priscilla Jayne’s Sophomore Album Watch Me Fly
Soars Despite Controversy
    P.J. FINISHED STRATEGIZING with the band over the order of the playlist and walked up to one of the two mics, adjusting it to her shorter height. “Hell-o, Pocatello! My name is Priscilla Jayne and Cold Creek has kindly agreed to let me play with them this evening. I hope you don’t mind my horning in.”
    The audience roared its approval and she grinned, flooded with pleasure. God, she loved this. Singing was the only thing she’d ever had that was hers alone and when she performed, all the crap in her life just disappeared for a while. Her glance went to Jared at the bar, but immediately she brought her attention back where it belonged—with her audience.
    “You probably already know Cold Creek’s lead singer, Ron Taber. He and I have never sung together before—but if you won’t hold the