Hang Tough(11)
So that’s her game. She’ll use her beauty, her body and her charm to distract you and make you think she’s not the devil.
“Why would we be arm wrestling?”
“For GG’s affections of course. I’ve never had to share them.”
“Feelin’ a mite competitive and jealous?”
Jade blinked those stunning topaz eyes and gave him a weak smile. “As a matter of fact . . . yes. And I do realize that sounds petulant.”
“Well, darlin’, that’s the best part of Miz G. She’s got affection in spades.” Tobin sat across from her. “I feel the need to point out . . . a little slip of a thing like you? I don’t see arm wrestling bein’ one of your skills.”
“It’s not. But that’s my clichéd way of saying I’ll go to the mat to do what’s best for her.”
“Then when you’re done you’ll pack that mat up and send it to Cheyenne along with the rest of her stuff?”
She glanced at her watch, then back at him. “Wow. We didn’t even make it to the two-minute mark that time without taking potshots at each other.”
At least she’d said we and wasn’t placing the blame for sniping solely on him. “Let’s try again. Did you get the grand tour of the house?”
“No. I unpacked my car and dumped everything in my room. That took a while. GG was sleeping by the time I finished.”
Tobin frowned. “I would’ve helped you haul your stuff upstairs.”
That surprised her. “I’m used to doing everything myself. And it wasn’t bad. The last place I lived was on the sixth floor. The elevator didn’t work ninety percent of the time. I think that room is bigger than that entire apartment was.”
“Miz G put you in the daffodil room?”
She nodded. “I did have some serious envy that you’d already claimed the rose room.”
“Why?”
“The bed is bigger.”
“That’s the king-sized bed I brought with me. A guy my size doesn’t fit well in a double.”
A moment of awkward silence passed.
Then Jade said, “It looks like we’ll be sharing the upstairs bathroom, so I feel the need to warn you about leaving the toilet seat up.”
“As long as we’re goin’ with clichés, I’ll warn you not to use my razor.”
Jade’s thoughtful gaze roved over his face. “Doesn’t look like you have much use for a razor anyway.”
He scratched his cheek. “Just not today. I wasn’t aware we’d be expecting guests. Did she know you were coming?”
“Yes. She didn’t tell you I was on my way here?”
“Nope. How long are you staying?”
“Depends.”
“On?” he prompted.
“This and that.”
He eyed her electronics. “You don’t have a job to go back to?”
“Not a full-time career-type job.”
“Got a boyfriend pining away for you?” he asked, suspecting a woman with her type of delicate beauty wouldn’t be single.
“Not one of those either.” She paused. “How about you?”
“No boyfriend for me. Or girlfriend for that matter.”
Jade laughed. “I was going to say the same thing.”
“What are your plans while you’re here?”
“What’s with the twenty questions? Are you afraid I’ll be boxing up the crystal and the silver personally so I know that you don’t abscond with it?”
He grinned, appreciating that her quick wit hadn’t masked her antagonism. It’d be interesting to see how hard he’d have to poke her buttons before that sharp tongue took over. “I’d be asking Miz G before you move stuff around here. She’s particular about her things. It probably looks like chaos. But trust me; she knows exactly where everything is in this house. But if you don’t believe me? Knock yourself out. See how lovey-dovey she is with you after she catches you messin’ in her china cabinet or her kitchen.”
Jade sipped her tea. “Speaking of the kitchen. She made you lunch today, but do you cook for her?”
“Nope. I buy the groceries.”
“So you do the dishes and clean up after she cooks for you?”
He shrugged. “I hang out with her in the kitchen while she’s cooking and cleaning up. She asks me to chop veggies, I’ll do it. She asks me to scrub a fry pan, I’ll do it. It’s not like I’ve got a defined list of chores.”
She made a face but didn’t respond.
Tobin rested his forearms on his knees and leaned forward. “What’s put that wrinkle in your brow, darlin’?”