Tyler Read Online Free PDF Page B

release just wasn’t what he was after. Now that his anger left and he was able to think straight, all he wanted was to breathe air that wasn’t laden with too many sweet-smelling perfumes so he could clear his head and chow down on the promised meal. He reached into his back pocket and handed the room key back to the sultry looking brunette. When she pouted, he shrugged and kept walking.
    Once he made it outside, he breathed in deeply. Cool night air filled his lungs. He marveled that Texas air could smell so good. He’d been all the way to Tennessee once, and the air just didn’t smell the same there. No offense to folks from Tennessee, but he’d take a lungful of good old Texas air anytime.
    Staring up at the stars, he ignored the steady stream of women moving past him, trying to get him to talk to them. His mind wandered until it settled on the chocolate-covered redhead who’d gotten under his skin. He’d been poleaxed by Emily Langley, and he intended to explore his fascination with the woman, her excellent curves, and her sweet-looking mouth. Ten minutes later, he made his way to the downstairs kitchen and found Jolene sipping from a steaming mug while Emily had her back to him frying bacon. “Ain’t nothing that smells better to a man with an empty stomach than well-cured pig frying.”
    Jolene chuckled and smiled. “Have a seat, cowboy.”
    He sighed. “Name’s Tyler.”
    Jolene grinned. “I know it, but you all dressed up like a cowboy is going to help bring business into The Lucky Star. It’ll be good for the both of us.”
    Emily had yet to turn around, and he had a deep-seated urge to see if her face was as pretty as he remembered. “Everything OK over there?”
    She turned around and his heart just flipped upside down and sideways. She had a smear of bacon grease on her tank top right between her amazing breasts. He tried hard, real hard, not to notice. But when her gaze dipped down to where he’d been staring, he knew he’d failed. “You… um…”
    “Darnit.” She sighed. “I get so involved cooking, I don’t always notice when I get some of it on me.”
    Jolene laughed, drawing his attention back to his boss. “I’ve got some stain lifter that’ll take that right out, Em.”
    Emily turned back to the frying pan and lifted the rest of the bacon out to drain on the paper towel–lined plate next to the burner. “How many eggs and how do you want them cooked?”
    If Tyler wasn’t so tired, he’d offer to help; even so, he felt he owed it to her to explain. “Thanks, Emily. I’m so tired, I don’t think I could stand up long enough to fry up some eggs.”
    She grinned and his heart flipped back into place. “Fried it is. How many?”
    He wasn’t starving, so he only asked for three.
    While he ate, the women kept him company. He listened to their quiet conversation and was surprised at how comfortable he felt. He hadn’t expected to be. When Jolene pushed her chair back, he got up and held her chair for her. “See you tomorrow… er, later tonight, boss.”
    Jolene smiled at him—a genuine smile and not the phony one she’d given him during his interview. “I’m counting on it.” She patted Emily on the shoulder. “See you in the morning.”
    Now that they were alone, Tyler didn’t know what he wanted to say first. He’d been struck by her beauty first thing… the chocolate had just added to his fascination with her. He lifted his mug to his lips and sipped. “Thanks for the hot meal.”
    She smiled at him. “My pleasure. You looked like you were going to keel over any minute if I didn’t feed you.”
    Lord, her smile tied his tongue up in a knot. He loosened it enough to say, “Might have.”
    When he got up and started to rinse his plate in the sink, she joined him. “Here,” she said, placing her hand on his. “Let me.”
    They both stopped and looked into one another’s eyes. Tyler couldn’t say he minded that she was quiet around him. Maybe he got to her the