Sing for Your Supper Read Online Free PDF Page A

of spunk across my chest got me out of bed. I showered and came out to find sometime while I’d slept, he’d washed the dusty clothes I’d been wearing. Another paper bag on the table had my name on it, along with a little note:
    Take these. I mean it. Matt.
    Inside was a care package of soap, shampoo, shaving and tooth care items, lube and two jumbo boxes of condoms.
    “Fucker.”
    He was being practical, I know. Still. It stung, because he was only looking out for me in the best way he really could. I had intended to skip out the back and leave without seeing him again, but I couldn’t. I hesitated at the Jeep, sighed, and cringed at the loud dinging of the bell as I entered the diner through the front door.
    His eyes said he knew I had thought to sneak off, but his smile welcomed me back, and he pointed to a booth. “Be right with ya!”
    In a few minutes, he was standing over me with a hot coffee and a plate of scrambled eggs, bacon and toast. He set the meal down and slid into the seat across from me.
    “So. I was thinking.”
    “Oh?” I stopped, fork in hand. He wasn’t going to ask. Was he? I couldn’t even tell if I hoped he would, or if I hoped he wouldn’t.
    “There’s this ranch. Out Donagl Road a few miles. Tangled Hearts Ranch. Jim Travis owns the place now. I bet he could use a hand. Mend a few fences?”
    I snatched up the salt shaker and doused my eggs, took a bite, and added pepper. “Oh yeah?” I couldn’t help that my heart sped up at the thought that he might be sending me away, but apparently, he didn’t want me to go very far. It was a tempting concept, and for a minute, I let myself forget about what might be coming down the road behind me.
    “Yeah. Here.” He pushed a hand-drawn map and a sheet of paper across the counter to me. “I think—” The pause made me look up. He had his head tilted to one side, his golden eyes subdued. “I think you’ll find that kind of work more to your liking. If…” A sad little smile flitted across his lips. “If I’m any judge. And I think I am. I’d appreciate it if you’d at least give it a shot. There’s a note there. Give it to Jim. A kind of recommendation to let him know I sent you. Maybe I’m wrong. Maybe it doesn’t work out. Then you can always come back and cuss me out.” The grin he gave me next had more staying power. “Yeah. This will be good.” He nodded, satisfied with himself, and leaned across the table, planting his lips over mine, and delving his tongue deep.
    I groaned and my fork clattered onto my plate, my fingers numb.
    His hand snaked into my hair and he pulled my head away from his heady offering. “For breakfast.” Then he pulled me close again, renewing his efforts, adding a tender, comforting edge to the kiss before pulling away for what I knew was going to be the final time. “For me. There’s something about you, Taylor Anderson. I can’t say one night was really enough.”
    Then he got up, walked away, disappearing into the kitchen without a backwards glance, and didn’t reappear before I was finished eating.
    Danny came over to collect my plate and leave a to-go cup of coffee. “He won’t be back out.”
    I might have challenged the old man on that, but he didn’t sound like he was trying to be cruel. He sounded, in fact, a little sad. He placed a card on the table next to my coffee. “You could call him. Sometime. Let him know you’re okay. He’d like that.”
    I nodded, picked up the card and the coffee, pocketed the papers Matt had left for me, and stood. “Tell him…”
    What? Sorry I can’t stay? Sorry you don’t really want me to?
    “Thanks. Tell him thanks for everything.”
    “Sure.” Danny nodded and slowly cleared my table as I went out and climbed into my Jeep.
    I turned the key, and shook my head. He’d filled the tank. People like him just didn’t come along every day. I wished Matt’s father had been able to look past his own nose to see what a kind son he really