Read Online Tyler by C H Admirand - Free Book Online

I hang up first.”
    “Jo, honey?”
    Surprised at the subtle change in Emily’s tone, her cousin paused. “Yeah?”
    “Did Aunt Susan drop you on your head when you were a baby?”
    Jolene laughed out loud. “Shut up, Em.”
    “Must have been more than once to have such a lasting effect on your poor injured brain like this.”
    “Bite me, Em.”
    “No thanks, Jolene.”
    “Good thing I love you.”
    “Back at you, cuz.”
    ***
    A few hours later, Emily grinned at Natalie, grateful for the distraction from their earlier visitors and the worrisome phone call. “It’s definitely a new look for us. Whose idea was it to dress up like bad news cowgirls?”
    Jennifer’s face lit up. “It was my idea,” she said. “Don’t you just love the wine-red boots?”
    Emily shook her head. “You know I really love the black pair I always wear.”
    Natalie smiled and patted Emily’s arm. “We know, honey, but I think Jennifer’s right about the overall look. All of us dressed alike is bound to make a statement, and people will know who we are.”
    “Hell’s bells, Nat, they already know who we are.”
    “But not the droves of new customers who’ll be bound to find their way to our door after Tyler’s debut last night.”
    Emily smiled in spite of herself. Heaven help her, the man had certainly made an impression on her… and every other woman in their club last night. “Word of mouth has worked for us so far.” She looked over at her friends and nodded. “The black leather bustier is a definite plus. I’m so glad Ronnie was able to get them on short notice.” She skimmed her hands from the bottom edge to up beneath her breasts. “It feels real good. How cool is it that Ronnie’s shop, Guilty Pleasures, could get the special order for us in time for tonight? A little chilly on the chest though.” She shivered and her breasts threatened to spill out over the top. Emily made a mental note to be careful or else she’d get arrested for showing more than just her cleavage.
    “Once the evening crowd pours in, it’ll warm up considerably,” Natalie reassured her. With a glance to her left and then her right, Natalie laughed and said, “Damn, we look fine. We so owe Ronnie!”
    The three women twirled in front of the mirrored wall in the hallway, checking themselves and each other out.
    Emily hesitated. “I’m still not sure about dressing alike.”
    “Come on, Em.” Jennifer reached out to grab Emily’s hand. “Try it this once,” she urged. “If you were working in another club, odds are you’d be wearing black slacks and a white button-down shirt.” She paused for effect. “Isn’t this black leather so much cooler?”
    Emily laughed. “All right, Jen. But tomorrow, I’m wearing my favorite boots.”
    “Only if you polish them,” Jennifer retorted.
    The three friends started walking back toward the bar. Natalie nudged Emily with her elbow. “Jolene said you had your belly button pierced.”
    Emily shrugged. “Yeah, so?”
    “Why don’t you wear a hoop or something?”
    “I gained a few pounds, and now I don’t.”
    Natalie narrowed her eyes and stared at the thin line of skin showing between the top of the low-rise skirt and the bottom edge of Emily’s bustier. “I think you’d look great with one.”
    Gwen looked up from where she stood behind the bar and groaned. “Please tell me this is Halloween and all y’all are going trick or treating.”
    Jolene patted her on the arm. “We know how you feel about displaying what the good Lord gave you, Gwen.”
    Em could tell Jolene was trying not to smile, so she kept her mouth shut. Gwen would be a hard sell; their friend hated to draw attention to what Gwen considered her worst feature. In Emily’s opinion, it was Gwen’s best asset, but their friend had always been embarrassed by the size of her breasts.
    Gwen’s face darkened. “I’m always on time for my shift, but I’ll be damned if you’ll get me in one of those Debbie the