Tyler Read Online Free PDF

on stage standing in front of God and every one of those screaming women like that.” His Adam’s apple bobbed up and down as he struggled with what he was feeling. “I didn’t count on getting mauled like that. My temper got the better of me.”
    “So I can count on you to stick?”
    Tyler looked from Jolene to Emily and then back. “Yes, ma’am. I’ve never gone back on my word before. I’m sorry for giving you reason to doubt me.”
    Jolene nodded. “I need to be sure I can count on you, Tyler.”
    Emily knew why they needed to keep The Lucky Star afloat and making money; what she didn’t know yet was why Tyler needed the money when he so clearly didn’t want to be up on the stage at The Lucky Star stripping for tips.
    ***
    Damn. Even before he started, fate had stacked the deck against him. Grandpa’s ranch would be lost to them if he didn’t get the promised pay. “You can count on me.”
    He swayed on his feet and realized that he hadn’t stopped to eat before his shift. Although he wasn’t a great dancer, the moves Jennifer and Natalie had taught him, combined with the fact that he’d been up working since four o’clock this morning, hit him like a ton of bricks. He needed to sit down, eat, and sleep, and not necessarily in that order. Pride kept him going, but he was smart enough to know he’d have to work hard to make up for nearly quitting on Jolene. “I need some air, but I’ll be back in a few minutes to help clean up.”
    Jolene nodded. “Take a break. You earned it.”
    He moved through the crowd.
    “Hey, handsome, where are you going?”
    Tyler sidestepped the leggy blonde reaching for him and bumped into a pretty little thing with long dark hair and a mouth just made for sin. “Excuse me, ma’am.” Tyler touched the brim of his cowboy hat.
    “Do you always talk like that?” the brunette purred.
    Tired enough to be confused, he asked, “Like what, ma’am?”
    The woman giggled and slipped her arm through his. “Why don’t we go someplace real quiet?”
    He was the first to admit he enjoyed women, but one at a time. His attention had been snagged by a chocolate-covered redhead earlier. Now that the anxiety of performing his first strip/dance number was abating, all he really wanted was a cold beer, a hot meal, and a soft bed—preferably empty—because as soon as his head hit the pillow, he’d be down for the count.
    Looking down at the dark-haired woman and her slick, red, I-just-want-to-suck-you-dry lips, he shook his head. “Maybe some other time.” Tipping his hat, he kept walking.
    “Don’t get lost, Tyler!” He looked over his shoulder and there stood Emily, Jolene, Jennifer, and Natalie. His sigh was long and deep. “I swear I’m just going outside for a breath of air that doesn’t smell like perfume.”
    Damn if Jolene and Emily didn’t look at him like he was crazy. “Doesn’t the mix of half a dozen different scents make your eyes water?” Hell, it did his. When they just stared at him as if he were from another planet he shook his head. “Ten minutes, and I’ll be back.”
    Emily moved toward him. “You look like you could use a hot meal.”
    Relieved, he nodded. “Yes, ma’am. I’ll be right back.”
    She reached out to grasp his hand. “I’ll rustle up some bacon and eggs for you.” She squeezed his hand before letting it go. “Come on upstairs—”
    “You can cook just as easily in the downstairs kitchen, Em.”
    Tyler looked from his boss to the lovely Emily and shrugged. “I’d appreciate it no matter where you cook it, ma’am.”
    Emily frowned at Jolene. “Fine. Come on back to the downstairs kitchen; it’s behind the bar.”
    Tyler touched his fingers to the brim of his Stetson and made his way through the crowd.
    He felt someone slipping their hand into his back pocket, leaving what felt like a credit card or a room key. He was too proud to accept the first, and he’d be damned if he’d accept the second. The promise of sexual