Morning Man Read Online Free PDF Page B

already knew something neither one of them had caught on to yet.
    Dayna shuffled the contest sheets as she slid from her seat. “I’d better be going too. I’ll pull a few wire stories for the entertainment spot.”
    “By the way, I like you in here with me,” he said without looking up.
    She blinked. “You do?”
    “Yeah, it’s much better when we can play off each other’s reactions.” He keyed a command into the computer and the next hour’s music log popped up on the screen. “Besides, if you’re hiding in the booth, I can’t see how cute you are when you blush.”
    “I-I don’t blush,” she said, feeling the heat prickle up the back of her neck and rise to her face again.
    “You go all red like a sexy little tomato.”
    “I do not.”
    “Oh yeah.” He flashed a knee-buckling grin. “You sure do.”
    Her cheeks were burning. “Well, now I am. Thanks a lot.” Wanting to deflect his attention, she pointed to the blinking light on the phone. “Don’t forget, your girlfriend Noelle’s still on hold.”
    “Right,” he said, punching up the phone on speaker. “Hey, darlin’, thanks for waiting. We’re just going into the news, so hold on two shakes and then I’ll tell you about the great big prize package I’ve got for you.”
    “Ooh, Tack,” she gushed. “I can’t wait to hear all about your big package.”
    “Open mouth. Insert finger. Gag,” Dayna muttered under her breath, pointing straight at her tonsils.
    * * * *
    Tack slid into the back booth at the Roadhouse. His “office,” as he called it. The saloon, still reeking of last night’s stale cigarettes and beer, was usually deserted at this time of day so Liz Taylor generously gave him and Dub plenty of room and bottomless cups of coffee. Only today, Dub wouldn’t be sitting in on their usual breakfast meeting.
    Liz came over carrying a big smile, a fresh pot of brew and a tray of mugs. A black velvet ribbon tied her silver hair back and she wore a choker of cheap paste diamonds, which might have been an odd fashion choice given her faded jeans and t-shirt prominently displaying the Rolling Stones’ tongue logo. Then again, she was one of a kind. “Hey there, TC. ’Bout time you showed up.”
    “Morning, darlin’. How are you today?”
    “Surviving.” Liz put a menu in front of him, pretending he hadn’t memorized every item ages ago. She took the pair of mugs from the tray, the long, black tips of her press-on nails clicking on the ceramic as she placed them on the table.
    Tack immediately wrapped his hands around one, still hot from the dishwasher.
    “Where’s Dub?”
    “Not coming,” he said. “Starting Monday, I’m doing the show without him.”
    Liz raised her eyebrows as she proceeded to pour. “Without Dub? How come?”
    “The boss wants to shake things up a bit.”
    “Aw man, you know I love listening to you guys. You always make me laugh.”
    “He’ll still be around, but you gotta try something new sometimes, right?”
    As if on cue, Dayna walked through the door and immediately, the room got a little brighter. She did a visual sweep of the pool tables and the neon beer signs above the bar before making eye contact. “Here’s my new co-host,” he said, waving her over.
    Liz turned her head in time to see Dayna wave back, her blonde curls and generous curves bouncing as she approached them. “But she’s a woman.”
    “Yeah, so I’ve noticed.” He grinned appreciatively.
    “Hi, sorry I’m late. I was talking to Willie.”
    “Dayna Cook, I’d like you to meet my good friend, Elizabeth Taylor.”
    “Call me Liz. Everyone does.” The older woman smiled as they shook hands. “Hey, you were on with The Rise Guys this morning, weren’t you?”
    “That was me,” she said. “Glad to hear someone tuned in.”
    “Take a load off, sugar.” Tack nudged his bearded chin toward the wooden bench seat across the table.
    She unloaded her bags and slid in as Liz filled a second mug with