Hang Tough by Lorelei James Page B

grade?”
    He blushed a deep red. Opened his mouth. Closed it. Rubbed the back of his neck and released a soft laugh that resembled a groan. “Yeah.”
    Omigod. He was adorable.
    Then Tobin was in her face, cocky grin in place, oozing the offbeat charm that had her heart racing and her hope rising. “And if you’re really lucky, tiger, next time I’ll yank on your pigtails to show that I like you.”
    Oh, cowboy, you can pull my hair anytime.
    His eyes darkened as if she said that out loud. Then he murmured, “Damn, woman. You are—”
    â€œHey, Tobin. I wondered where you’d disappeared to.”
    Tobin muttered, “Never fucking fails.” Then he stepped to the side and dropped his hand to her lower back, nudging her forward. “I’ve been giving Jade a tour. Jade, this is Renner Jackson, the mastermind behind the Split Rock Ranch and Resort, owner of Jackson Cattle Company and . . . my boss.”
    His boss? Crap.
    Renner offered his hand. “Nice to meet you, Jade. You’re Garnet’s granddaughter?”
    â€œYes.” Tobin’s boss was really good-looking. And like every time she met an attractive male, she reverted to her shy state.
    â€œTobin mentioned it’s your first trip out west?”
    â€œUh-huh. Everything is so big.”
Brilliant, Jade
. She glanced up at Tobin. Some of her tension eased when he smiled at her. “Speaking of GG . . . I’d better get back.”
    â€œWhat are the two of you doin’ today?”
    â€œShe hasn’t said.”
    â€œWell, you already cleaned the house the other day.” His eyes narrowed. “You never told me what you accomplished yesterday.”
    â€œMaybe I heeded your advice and took the day off.”
    â€œLiar.” He reached out to tug on her hair. “You did laundry, didn’t you?”
    Jade put her hand on his chest and playfully pushed him. “I didn’t do yours.”
    â€œI’ll leave it in the hallway for you tonight. I’d hate for you to run out of stuff to do.”
    â€œSo, I’ll see you back at the office,” Renner said to Tobin.
    Her face flamed. She’d forgotten Tobin’s boss was right behind her. She shoved her hands in the back pockets of her jeans and backed up. “I won’t keep you. Thanks for the tour.”
    â€œI’ll walk you to your car and point you in the right direction so you don’t get lost.”
    She started to tell him it wasn’t necessary, but something in his demeanor had changed and she wanted another minute alone with him. They wouldn’t get that at GG’s house.
    â€œDrive safe and tell Garnet hello,” Renner said.
    â€œI will.”
    Once again, as they crossed the parking lot, Tobin had his hand on her. More possessive than friendly. She liked it. She really liked it when he curled his hands around her biceps and pressed a kiss to her forehead. A simple kiss that should’ve felt chaste, but the glide of his lips near her hairline and his ragged breathing kicked it up a notch.
    She trembled.
    He murmured, “We’ll talk later, tiger,” and retreated into the barn.
    Jade didn’t realize he hadn’t given her directions until she was halfway home.

Chapter Eight

    T obin’s head was filled with images from the past hour with Jade when he strolled into Renner’s office. “What’s up?”
    Renner sighed. “You sure you want to play it this way?”
    He spun the chair in front of Renner’s desk around and straddled it. “Play what?”
    â€œThe fact that a week ago you were convinced that Garnet’s granddaughter was the Antichrist. And today, she just happens to show up at the Split Rock and you gave her the grand tour?”
    â€œShe took a drive and ended up here. What was I supposed to do?”
    â€œMaybe not look so damn happy to see her for one thing.” Renner tapped a