Poor Tyler…he’s really attracted and distracted by Emily 😉
Here’s the next part of the excerpt.
Slainte’
Excerpt #2: Tyler applying for the job
Lord, he’d get arrested if either woman could read his thoughts right now. One of Grandpa’s favorite expressions came to mind watching the gentle sway of Emily’s hips. The hitch in Emily’s git-a-long was as delectable as the front of her had been, and damned if a line from a Trace Adkins song didn’t start running through his brain, We hate to see her go, but love to watch her leave.
Damn, get your mind on the job, son.
Jolene asked him a question, but he was too preoccupied to pay attention. “I’m sorry, ma’am… what did you ask me?” Lord, don’t let Jolene wonder if I’ll be able to keep my mind on the job and off her cousin. I need this job!
Jolene was watching him closely. Finally the corner of her mouth lifted into a smile. “Are you here to apply for the position?”
“Yeah. I mean, yes, ma’am. I’m here about the job.”
“You a hard working man, Mr. Garahan?” She reached out and brushed at the front of his shirt.
He shifted from one foot to the other, uncomfortable now that she’d touched him. Had she meant to? “Excuse me?”
“The person I need to fill the position has to be willing to work hard.”
He rubbed his fingers along the brim of his hat and wondered how to convince the woman that he’d work until he dropped. Doing’s smarter than jawing. “I give one hundred percent to everything I do.”
Damned if she didn’t reach out and touch him again, this time he twitched as her nail flicked unerringly over his left nipple. Holy Hell!
He stepped back. Had she meant to touch him like that, or did she simply have dead-on aim? Unease roiled in his gut. He couldn’t flat out ask her. If he was wrong he’d look like a fool, blow the interview, and lose his chance at the job. “Ma’am?”
“What about your temperament?” she asked, taking a step closer to him, easily closing the distance.
“I’m easy going most of the time.” His eyes narrowed. Was she coming on to him, or was it some kind of test?
“So far, you have all of the qualifications I need. How’s your back… strong?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
She stepped around behind him, and he wondered why she couldn’t take his word for it that his back was strong and had to see for herself. The small palm cupping the seat of his Levis was all it took to answer his unasked question and end the interview.
He spun around to face her. “I don’t know what kind of game you’re playing or what kind of position you’re hiring for, but I don’t think I’m the man for the job.”
Hell, usually he enjoyed an aggressive female, given the fact that free time was next to nonexistent and getting down to the good part right off meant more time in the saddle, but he’d been attracted to Emily, not Jolene, and totally missed the fact that Jolene apparently had other things in mind. At least Emily had been honest in mistaking him for a plumber. He couldn’t imagine what Jolene had mistaken him for.
“I believe you’re just what we’re looking for.” She smiled, and he wondered if anyone ever told this woman flat out no.
“Take off your shirt.”
Sheer desperation grabbed a hold of his roiling gut and twisted it. Self-preservation warred with duty. “Look, I don’t know what you’re selling here, lady, but I’m not buying.” He planted his heel, did an about-face, and strode toward the hallway. He could find another job. Had to.
“Position pays thirty dollars an hour, plus tips.”
That stopped him dead in his tracks. Damn. How could he walk away from that kind of money? Without turning around he shot back, “What’re the hours?”
She chuckled, and the sound grated on his nerves. “Seven o’clock to two o’clock, six days a week.”
Tyler’s hands shook as he did the math. Two hundred ten dollars a night? That was over a thousand dollars a week! He clenched them into fists.
“You could start tonight,” she added. “And you can cash your check right here at the bar.”
He could have part of the mortgage payment by the end of next week.
They could keep the Circle G.
Garahan men might be ornery when their backs were against the wall, but no one had ever accused a Garahan of being stupid. He turned back toward Jolene. “What do I have to do?”
She put her hands on her hips and called out, “Jennifer? Natalie?”
Hell, now what?
The sound of high heels hitting hardwood had him looking in the direction of the sound. The blue-eyed brunette and brown-eyed blonde walking toward him had to be blood kin. Without a word, they looked him over from head to toe and then began to circle around behind him.
“Lord love ya, Jolene,” the blonde sighed. “We got us a live one.”
“Are you a real cowboy?” the brunette asked, staring up at him like he was the embodiment of her childhood heroes all rolled up into one man.
He closed his eyes repeating his new mantra: I need this job… I need this job… Once he was calm, he opened them and answered, “Yes, ma’am.”
“Hire him!” the blonde said.
The brunette narrowed her eyes and drew her mouth into a thin line. “Hold on sister, dear.” She turned toward Jolene and asked, “Has he passed the test yet?”
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