“So?” Jolene said. “We’ve done that before.”
“In our underwear? With our boots on?”
Jolene grinned. “Well maybe not quite dressed like that.” She tilted her head to one side and stared at Emily. “How do you know you weren’t dreaming?”
Emily sighed. “Because it would be real strange that we had the same dream.”
Jolene frowned. “I didn’t say I did.”
“You didn’t say you didn’t.”
Jolene shook her head at Emily. “Let’s not worry about it right now. We have aspirin to take, water to drink, and a club that started the night without us.”
***
“In their underwear?” Tyler’s gut clenched. His imagination was working overtime and his libido was a half a second behind, picturing the curvaceous Langley women dancing on top of the bar in all of their lace-covered glory. The thought of Emily in particular baring so much of what she’d been sharing with him settled into his gut and began a slow burn. Jealousy wasn’t a new emotion to him, but it hadn’t happened in a long, long time.
“And boots,” Jake grumbled, taking a pull on his beer. “Damned if Jolene wasn’t all but buck naked.”
“And your problem would be?” Tyler asked, though he suspected he knew just what Jake’s problem was and how the other man felt.
Jake’s gaze met his and held. “I don’t intend to share.”
Tyler nodded. “I don’t intend to share Emily either. So what did you see when you walked in before?”
“They were up on the bar in their skimpy underwear with their arms flung wide open, heads tilted back, singing their hearts out.”
“And…?” Tyler prompted.
“I keep remembering how perfectly those damned scraps of lace cupped their breasts.”
The slow burn in Tyler’s gut warned him that his temper was about to erupt. Struggling for control, he ground out, “I’d forget what Emily looked like and wouldn’t spread any tales about it.”
“You’ve got it bad friend,” Jake pressed him.
“Ever since she laid her lips on mine.”
“As far back as that?”
Tyler drained his glass of sweet tea and set it on the bar. His break was nearly over and it was nearly time for the finale. “Just so you can’t say I didn’t warn you.”
Jake nodded.
Tyler was about to remind Jake not to talk about Margarita Monday, but his tongue got stuck to the roof of his mouth watching the gentle sway of Emily’s jean-clad hips; there was just something about the movement that mesmerized him. He couldn’t get enough of her. There were so many facets to the lady that got to him—deep in his heart somewhere that hadn’t been touched in a long while.
Linda Lee never had that effect on him. Well, she had an effect on him, but only his dick had paid attention where Linda Lee had been concerned. Funny… more of the women in his life had been blue-eyed blondes with a wild streak a mile wide and a sex drive that matched his, than redheads.
Nothing wrong with that.
He just couldn’t figure out why this one redhead got to him. Tyler rubbed a hand over his heart, remembering the way Emily liked to press her lips there after they’d loved and were enjoying the afterglow, wondering at the deep ache there, not remembering a time when he’d ever felt like this.
“Hey there, cowboy.” He stiffened, refusing to believe that Linda Lee’d show up at the club again, telling himself it was just his tired brain messing with him. Hell, it must be guilt for not telling Emily he’d met his ex in town for ice cream. He’d wanted to but the timing just never felt right.
“You all right, Tyler?”
The concern in her voice just didn’t fit with the real Linda Lee Baker. It was part of her act, a damn fine one at that. Hell, she should have been on the silver screen.
He sighed; there was no avoiding her. The woman was obsessed with the idea of getting back together with him. Then he remembered his brother’s promise of help, the one Tyler hadn’t gotten around to accepting. Garahans stuck together; maybe Dylan had tried to nip Linda Lee’s lies in the bud even though Tyler hadn’t taken him up on his offer.
“Did you talk to Dylan?”
Her smile hardened into a grimace. “Your brother doesn’t understand what’s between us.”
Tyler did a mental head slap. Damn the woman was thick. “Look I don’t have time to talk to you right now. I’ve got to work.”
The look on her face softened. “Don’t worry about me, babe. I’ll just sit over here and watch.”
He nodded and walked toward the door by the stage. What the hell was he going to do now? Dylan’s idea to stonewall Linda Lee hadn’t worked. Or had it? Maybe she lied about that too. Tough call with that woman.
Man, he never should have dipped his wick in that poisoned well. He shivered. It was like his grandpa was standing beside him, handing out his favorite bit of advice. Of course, the old man would follow it up with a warning that he and his brothers should marry young and make sure the woman could handle life out at the Circle G.
Times like this he really missed the advice. He sure could use some now. Looking over his shoulder, his gut clenched. Linda Lee licked her lips and watched him like she was the cat and he was a bowl of fresh cream.
***
“Oh crap,” Gwen groaned. “Trouble’s back.”
“Anyone in particular?” Jolene drawled, turning to look in the same direction as her friend. “Didn’t you throw her out the other night?”
Gwen smiled. “Looks like I’ll get to do a repeat performance.”
“Joe said he saw her and Tyler at the Tasty Freeze too,” Emily said, watching the way the blonde was eyeing up Tyler. “That makes four people. So it must be true.”
Gwen and Jolene looked at each other and Gwen said, “Joe told us, but isn’t that only two people? Remember? Mavis’s best friend told her who told Ronnie.”
Jolene waited before asking, “We started to talk about this before, but you never answered me… did you? If you did, I don’t remember. So what are you gonna do about it?”
“Oh hell, y’all know that I’m stuck on Tyler. We had so much fun the other day… a real date. He took me out for dinner at the BBQ Pitt and introduced me to Bonnie, the waitress there, as his girl.”
“Honey, I know. It’s kind of corny but sweet,” Jolene said.
Emily shrugged. “I know, but it’s the sweetness of the fact that he wanted her to know I was his girl.”
Jolene smiled at Emily. “That cowboy is just full of surprises… corny but adorable.”
“So what are we going to do about the blonde?” Gwen asked.
“I don’t know,” Emily said, “but I can’t let that bitch steal my man!”
Gwen agreed. “So what are you gonna do about him taking her out?”
“I haven’t actually asked him yet, and I don’t think he realizes that I know. Besides, I really want him to want to tell me about it.”
Jolene frowned while staring at the blonde. “Don’t wait too long. Hey, Em… I thought you broke her nose?”
Emily frowned. “It felt like it, but she may have had a nose job… harder to break someone’s nose after that.”
Gwen nodded. “Bled a lot, but it’s not swollen. Too bad you didn’t break it.”
Jolene chuckled. “I think my darlin’ cousin would like to try a couple of those moves on our tall, dark, and hunky headliner.”
Emily sighed. “After I get him to fess up about his ex.” She scrubbed her hands over her face and sighed. “I’m really stuck, and it’s just a little scary. I’ve never felt like this before.” It hadn’t been all that hard to confess. Time to get down to the business of cleaning house. “So what are you going to do about her?”
“How about if we just roust her up some?” Gwen’s grin was contagious.
“I think I’ll go along with you and watch.” Jolene tossed her hair over her shoulder and glared at the blonde bimbo.
Emily wasn’t going to be left
out. “Hey, wait! He’s my guy.”
Gwen froze and Jolene, not paying attention, walked into her back. “Damn it, Gwen!”
“Curse later, Jolene. Our Emily has just outlined her territory, and you know how we all protect our own.”
Emily’s mouth still felt like somebody jammed a wad of cotton in it, thanks to overindulging in José earlier, and she just couldn’t drink enough water to moisten it. Looking at the dark-eyed cowboy and the blonde bimbo salivating in the crowd, she knew she wouldn’t back down now that she’d staked her claim. “That man’s mine and worth fighting for!”
As she got closer, she realized it wasn’t going to be a quick and easy job after all. The bar was packed, and the blonde was now eyeing them as if she were sizing them up. Emily walked over to stand on the other side of Jolene, the three women presenting a united front.
Gwen wasn’t smiling when she said, “Surprised you came back after last night.”
“You’ll have to leave,” Jolene told her flat out.
Emily nodded. “You’re poaching in my territory and messing with my man. You’ll want to leave now before I hurt you.”
“Like the other night?” the big-busted blonde sneered. “Not gonna happen. Just who do you think you are?”
Jolene’s smile was lethal. “This is my place, and I reserve the right to kick out the people I don’t want inside it.”
The woman eyed Jolene up and down, then did the same with Gwen before saying, “Look, I’m not here to cause trouble.”
“You already are.” Gwen crossed her arms and gave her best impression of a staff sergeant ready to rip a green recruit a new one.
“Don’t I even get to order a drink?”
Emily looked around her and noticed what Gwen and Jolene hadn’t: everyone was watching and waiting. How they handled this incident would set a precedent for dealing with ornery clientele in the future. Although it burned her butt, she had to swallow her pride.
Emily wanted her gone more than anyone, but sensed it wouldn’t be without a scene worth calling the law over. Common sense returned and she relented. “I don’t see as how ordering one drink could hurt,” she said quietly. “As long as you leave as soon as you finish.”
The look the woman gave Emily was anything but friendly. She couldn’t keep from wondering what Tyler had ever seen in her… well, if he had been able to see past his ex’s two obvious assets.
“I’d like a cosmopolitan.” The blonde had the nerve to imitate Gwen’s stance, crossing her arms beneath her impressive breasts.
Bitch. Emily didn’t like women who flaunted their big boobs to get what they wanted… mostly attention.
“I’ll take care of it, Gwen.” With a look, she knew Gwen and Jolene understood; Emily went to get the blonde’s damn drink. A few minutes later she returned, drink in hand, and knew she had missed something important from the look on Jolene’s face. “Jo?”
Her cousin turned toward her and a brief flicker of pain flashed through Jolene’s eyes. This would not be good.
“I don’t believe you,” Gwen said before turning toward Emily to reach for the glass. “Here’s your drink.” Gwen handed it to the woman. “You’ve got five minutes,” she said, looking at her wrist, “starting now.”
The blonde looked ready to spit. The woman sipped her drink and glared at Gwen.
Perfect, Emily thought. She was ready for a good fight. It had been a hell of a day and from the looks of it… it wasn’t over yet, with just half an hour until closing time before she could corner Tyler.
Without looking at her watch, Gwen reached for the woman’s glass. “Time’s up.”
“Hey! I wasn’t finished.”
“Yeah,” Gwen drawled. “You are.”
Stepping in between the two, Emily put a hand out. “You’ve been asked nicely once,” she said. “I got your drink, and now you should leave while it’s still your choice.”
“How do you think Tyler would feel,” the busty blonde began, “knowing you kicked out his fiancée?”
Emily felt the blow all the way through to her spine. Bracing against the pain, she drew herself up for more, sensing the blonde wasn’t finished and that she wouldn’t go quietly.
“He didn’t say anything about being engaged,” Emily rasped, unsure of how to deal with the hurt lancing through her without letting it show.
“This should speak louder than words.” The woman flashed a diamond ring right under Emily’s nose.
It’s not what you think, her heart warned, while her brain tormented her, you’ve been had by a black-haired Irishman with a soft Texas drawl.
“Doesn’t look like it fits too well,” Jolene said.
Emily looked first at Jolene, then at the woman’s left hand. Jo was right; it was too big.
“Tyler surprised me with the ring the other day when we met in town.” The woman’s voice escalated with her irritation.
“I’ll just bet,” Gwen drawled.
The blonde glared at Gwen. “He’s been working so many hours he didn’t have time to have it sized.” She was loud enough to be heard over the crowd.
“Why didn’t he just wait to give it to you?” Jolene asked the question Emily didn’t want to know the answer to but needed to hear. She wanted to believe in trust alone, but what with Linda Lee showing up again, and Tyler having been seen in town with her, she was working hard to go on faith.
“We just couldn’t wait to tell everyone that we’re getting married.” The woman’s screech echoed as the song ended and the house lights flicked on.
Chapter 19
Tyler stalked over to where the women were standing. “What kind of lies are you spreading now, Linda Lee?”
At the sound of his voice, the blonde’s acid turned to sugar. “Why nothing, honey, just showing off the engagement ring you gave me the other day when we met at the Tasty Freeze.”
The look Linda Lee gave Tyler was odd. Emily thought it looked like a challenge. Something was definitely going on here and from the look in Tyler’s chocolate-brown eyes, he was fit to be tied. His words confirmed her suspicion. He looked right at Emily when he said, “We’re not engaged.”
“But Tyler, don’t you want to know what Dylan and Jesse had to say about it?”
He stiffened, turned back toward the blonde, shoved the hat to the back of his head, and waited, not answering.
“They can’t wait for me to move in.”
Emily’s heart faltered, even though she knew the bitch was lying. She’d been out to the ranch and spent a morning working alongside the Garahan brothers. They struck her as being the type to work until their fingers bled and would go to the wall for one another. “Funny,” Emily drawled, “neither Dylan nor Jesse mentioned your name when I was out riding fences with them the other day.”
Emily had the satisfaction of seeing Linda Lee’s jaw go slack and her eyes glaze over. When the look of shock was replaced with a harder, meaner look, she knew the woman was deliberately trying to destroy what Emily and Tyler shared.
“Tyler made a special trip into town during the day just to pop the question. It was so sweet, we were sharing a butter pecan ice cream cone—”
“That’s not what happened and you know it, Linda Lee,” Tyler said, drawing Emily’s attention away from the annoying blonde. “Go on home.” He turned toward Emily again. “It’s not what you think.”
She looked from Tyler to the busty blonde. Emily might not have a whole lot of luck picking the perfect man until she’d met Tyler Garahan, but she’d always been adept at reading body language. The way the blonde was standing, arms crossed beneath her breasts and her gaze flicking back and forth between Tyler and Emily, told Emily the blonde was worried. From the way the bimbo with the double Ds kept looking at her, Emily just knew the woman was waiting for a reaction.
The bitch was definitely lying!
“I can explain.”
Tyler’s pleading look wasn’t what swayed her; it was the cat-waiting-to-pounce-on-its-prey look on the
bimbo’s face as she said, “Just like you explained to your brothers about working here?” Linda Lee all but purred.
“Is there a problem here, miss?”
Emily spun around. One of the sheriff’s deputies was walking toward her. Judging by the grim look on his face, he was either uncomfortable being inside the club or had had a run in with the busty bimbo before.
She had a hunch who called. A look toward Jennifer and Natalie confirmed it. When they waved at her, she waved back, grateful that they’d called in reinforcements. Emily pushed a lock of hair out of her eyes. “Absolutely. That woman over there,” she pointed as she spoke.
“What’s the problem?”
“She was asked to leave and refused.” Emily didn’t care how the woman left, as long as she didn’t have to look at her smug smile anymore.
“Are you Jolene Langley?” he asked.
“No. Jolene’s standing over there.”
“Obliged, ma’am.” He tipped his hat and walked into the fray.
Tyler was easy to spot, standing head and shoulders above the average female in the crowd. At first glance, he appeared to be relaxing while he conversed with the lawman. The longer she looked, the more she saw. Tyler was angry and looked ready to do serious damage to the blonde who’d tried to stake her claim in Emily’s territory.
Lovers like Tyler Garahan came along once in a lifetime. Emily would be damned before she let some two-timing bitch on wheels take away her man. But it wasn’t just his handsome face or killer body or the long nights of loving they’d shared. They’d connected on a deep level, sharing parts of themselves that would cement their relationship, building something solid that would keep their growing love strong and healthy. Tyler and the deputy were talking quietly. It was weird, but when Tyler stepped in to protect the blonde, it only added to his appeal. His innate need to protect was just one more facet to his personality that she loved.
It was time she told Tyler all that her heart held. She loved the man to distraction. There was no reason to keep it all to herself. Love was meant to be celebrated, shared.
Tyler Page 21
