Hang Tough(12)
“Don’t darlin’ me,” she warned. “I’m not so easily swayed by sweet-talking cowboys.”
“Been around a lot of gen-u-wine cowboys in New York City, have you?”
“Sadly, no, but that’s beside the point. I’ve only been here a few hours and I’ve already seen you use those sweet-talking ways on GG. So what has she promised you in exchange for your protection?”
Tobin knew his eyes had turned frosty, but he kept his tone even. “She did mention something about giving me forty acres and a mule.” When he realized Jade didn’t get the reference, he backtracked. “Why are you so damn suspicious of me?”
“Seriously? You’re a good-looking, unmarried cowboy who has moved into my grandmother’s house and taken on the role of her protector. You can’t see why my dad would have a problem with that?”
“Then your dad oughta nut up and confront me about it in person.”
The screen door banged open. Garnet strolled onto the porch, yawning. “Guess I needed that nap. That’s where toddlers and old-timers are alike; we don’t want to nap, but if we don’t we’re cranky-pants the rest of the day.” She squinted and her gaze flitted between him and Jade. “What’s going on? Looks like you two were having words.”
“We were talking,” Jade said.
Tobin snorted. “Call it what it is, darlin’; we were arguing. Jade was trying to act all cute and charming, but I didn’t buy any of it.”
“Jade? Charming?” Garnet slapped her leg with amusement. “Oh, sonny. That’s a good one. Jade is as cute as a bug in a rug, but she’s so shy she failed charm school twice, didn’t you, sweetie?”
“GG!”
“You failed twice? Now that I’d believe,” Tobin drawled.
Miz G poked his arm. “Your charm doesn’t work as well as you think, or else you’d already have hooked yourself a girlfriend or a wife, wouldn’t you?”
Jesus.
He’d forgotten about Garnet’s equal-opportunity blunt streak.
“That’s probably because he argues about everything,” Jade said.
“The hell I do. I argue when it’s warranted.”
“I don’t like arguing in any way, shape or form,” Garnet said.
“Then we’ll stop,” Tobin said. “It’ll be easier for some of us than others.”
“Yes, it’ll be very easy for him to stop,” Jade said sweetly, “since he wasn’t winning anyway.”
“Hard to get my point across when I’m bein’ accused of everything from freeloading, to having undue influence, to expecting payment for my services.”
“I never said any of that,” she said hotly.
“But you sure were thinking it, weren’t you, darlin’?”
“Oh, so you’re a mind reader now too?” Jade leaned forward. “Tell me what I’m thinking right now.”
Tobin clucked his tongue. “Miz G doesn’t like to hear that kind of foul language, Jade. As her only granddaughter, you should already know that.”
“Omigod. You are the most infuriating man I’ve ever met.”
“And I’m considered a nice guy around these parts.”
“Not exactly a badge of honor when the population around these parts is like . . . ten,” she retorted, “and half of them are animals.”
“If there aren’t enough people around to suit your needs, why don’t you trot your little self on home to New York City?”
“Because I like it here. Present company excluded. So suck it up, cowboy. I’m not going anywhere.”
“Right.” He smirked. “Bet you don’t last half a day, cupcake, when I tell you the nearest Starbucks is in Laramie . . . eighty miles away.”
“Enough!”
They looked at Garnet and then each other. How had they forgotten she was here?
Garnet said. “Zip it, both of you, and listen up. I’d hoped I was wrong but I can see that it’s worse than I imagined.” She pointed at Jade. “I don’t care what you said to Tobin in the kitchen earlier that had him scurrying off, but it was more than just a little tiff to get that man to forgo lunch.” She focused on Tobin. “And I’ve no doubt you were equally at fault by goading her into it.”
“Me?” Tobin said innocently.
Jade whispered, “Why don’t you just nut up and admit it?”
Miz G said nothing to her about her snarky comment. How was that fair?
Jesus. How old are you? Nine?
“I won’t listen to this kind of grade-school bickering. I’m too damn old. I’ll state the obvious. You two are oil and water. You have nothing in common. You’ll be at each other’s throats at every opportunity, so I simply won’t allow them kind of opportunities.” She paused, her steely-eyed stare moving back and forth between them. “Do you understand what I’m saying? You two will steer clear of each other at all times for the duration of your stay with me—however long that’ll be.”