Hang Tough by Lorelei James

and forth between the lodge and the stuff stored in the barn office.”
    Once they reached the top, Jade was able to see where she’d missed the turn to the lodge. But how had she missed the big red sign warning NO ADMITTANCE or the arrows pointing the opposite direction? She groaned.
    Tobin shot her a sharp look. “What?”
    â€œI’m a terrible driver.”
    â€œWhy do you say that?”
    â€œI just got my driver’s license two years ago.”
    â€œThere’s not much need for you to drive in New York City, is there?”
    â€œNo. And New York drivers are so aggressive. I ended up taking my driver’s test out of the city after I failed it.” She paused. “Because I rear-ended a cab.”
    Tobin cringed. “Damn.”
    â€œAt least we knew the air bags worked.”
    â€œThat’s looking on the bright side.”
    â€œI prefer to focus on the good rather than the bad.” She sent him a sideways glance. “I’m sure our conversation the other night would make you question that statement.”
    â€œWrong. That was the first honest conversation between us, so I’m done making assumptions about you.” Tobin drove around the edge of the parking lot, stopping in front of the main entrance, so she could see the entire layout.
    â€œThis is a gorgeous place.”
    â€œIt is now. It was a worthless piece of land because the topography is different from the surrounding area. But once bulldozers tiered the slope, it became usable. The lodge is open year-round except for two weeks at Christmas. I oughta be able to tell you the occupancy rate, since Renner and Janie, the Split Rock’s GM, talk about it all the damn time, but I tend to tune them out.”
    â€œIf a conversation doesn’t revolve around cows, it’s not interesting to you?” she teased.
    He grinned. “Something like that. But Janie, who is married to a rancher, returns the favor when Renner and I talk about cattle.”
    How could anyone ever tune out Tobin’s sexy voice? Not too deep or too raspy, as if he smoked a pack of Camels every day, but smooth like warm honey.
    â€œYou want to walk down to the pool?”
    â€œNot really. I’d rather see the scenery.” When Jade saw the steep incline, she said, “Can we make it down? Or should I get ready to pedal like
The Flintstones
?”
    â€œFunny. But rolling this cart would be a shitty way to end the tour.”
    â€œThe tour is over already?”
    He looked at her. “You sound disappointed.”
    â€œI am.”
    â€œThen we’ll go the long way around.” His slightly devious smile made her blush.
    â€œSo you don’t come in the main entrance when you come to work?”
    He shook his head. “My day begins and ends at the barn. There are three sections I check first thing. Cows and bulls are kept in different pastures. We have trail horses that are separate, but Ted usually does that check now.”
    Tobin mentioning horses sent her thoughts back to how she’d lusted after him, seeing him in his element. Had he known he’d affected her that way? Is that why he’d been acting friendlier?
    Friendlier? Mr. Sexy Voice had his hand on your butt as he whispered in your ear. From the moment you showed up here, you know you skipped straight from adversaries to . . .
    â€œAm I boring you?” Tobin asked, startling her out of her thoughts.
    â€œNo! Why would you ask that?”
    â€œJust paranoid, I guess. Some people say I talk too much.”
    â€œI could listen to you talk all night.”
    His heated gaze rolled over her with such intensity her palms—and other places—started to sweat. “You know I’m gonna make you prove that sooner rather than later.”
    Holy moly. When Tobin turned it on, he turned it
on
. She had to look away. That’s when she noticed they were headed for a tree. She yelled, “Look