Hang Tough(48)

“Jade Evans. Garnet’s granddaughter.”

Riss gave her the oddest smile. “Yes, we’ve heard all about the beautiful Jade this evening from Tobin. Haven’t we, Eli?”

That’s when Jade looked up into the face of the long-haired guy who’d shouldered most of the burden of dragging Tobin up the steps. Eli was tall—what was with all these enormous guys in the West?

“Yes, we have heard all about you, Jade. My man Tobin didn’t exaggerate.” He offered his hand. “Eli Whirling Cloud. Happy to make your acquaintance.”

“I’m pleased to meet you also. Thank you for hauling Tobin this far.”

“Eh. It was nothin’. He’s been DD more often than all of us combined so I owed him. Man’s entitled to tie one on once in a while.” He grinned. “Though I don’t envy him the headache in the mornin’.”

Two short bursts of the horn sounded from the pickup and Jade jumped. “Someone’s anxious to get going?”

Riss scowled. “That’s Ike. Tobin’s drinking partner and he can just sit and spin. Why that ornery fucker called me to pick his drunken ass up when he knows I’d just as soon see him—”

“Shuch a liar you are, Rissh,” Tobin announced. “You know why he called you.”

“Shut it, drunky,” Riss snarled.

Eli sighed. “I’ll go sit with Ike.”

“I’ll be right there,” Riss said. After Eli left, she looked at Jade. “I hope you don’t think this is weird, but I know how hard it is living someplace where you don’t know anyone. So if you get bored and wanna grab a cup of coffee or something, give me a call. Here’s my card.” She pulled it out of the front pocket of her overalls. “Or if you lose it, ask drunky over there for my number.”

After Jade’s crappy day, this small offer of friendship meant more than she could express. She said, “Got another card?” When Riss handed her one, she wrote her number on the back. “Now we can keep drunky out of it entirely.”

Riss’s gaze winged between Jade and Tobin and she smirked. “Good luck with that.” At the bottom of the steps she said, “Oh, heads up.”

Jade had a split second to register the keys flying at her before she caught them one-handed, like a total ninja. She grinned at Riss and said, “Later.”

After everyone had left and she and Tobin were alone, it felt awkward standing next to him as he sprawled on the chaise. Did she just cover him with a blanket and leave him? Did she stay out here and talk to him to try to sober him up?

“Shorry you had to shee me like thish.”

“It doesn’t sound like it’s a frequent thing for you.”

“It’s not. I mean, I go to the Buckeye ’cause there ain’t anything elsh to do in this town, but I don’t over-imbibe.”

“I’ve heard GG mention that place several times.”

“I’ll take you there shometime.” He paused. “Schratch that. I jusht remembered. You and me—we’re not doin’ that shtuff. And I don’t wanna share you. Or have shomeone shteal you away from me.”

Totally sweet sentiment, even if it was the booze talking. “You really are drunk if you think anyone else would want me.”

“I want you.” Tobin blindly reached a hand out for her. “I want you like fuckin’ crazy.”

Jade perched on the edge of the chaise after she threaded her fingers through his. She studied his face. With his eyes closed, she noticed his dark eyelashes for the first time—usually she couldn’t get past his entrancing eyes. His cheeks were flushed. A silly smirk kicked up the right side of his mouth. Before she thought it through, she leaned over for a closer look at the thin white scar above his upper lip.

“Why can I feel you shtarin’ at me? Do I got shomething on my face?”

“I’m staring because other times when I look at you too long, you turn away.” She disentangled their joined hands and ran her fingers down the side of his face.

He sighed and turned into her touch.

“I like looking at you. Everything you feel is right here on this handsome face.” She swept her thumb between his eyebrows. “You get a few wrinkles here when you’re annoyed. It was a look I knew well those first few days.” She touched the corners of his eyes. “You have laugh lines here, which I’ve seen more and more.” She trailed the back of her knuckles down the hollow of his cheek to the faint lines bracketing his mouth. “You have the greatest smile. It’s infectious. When you aim that dimpled grin my way . . . I just want to bask in it for a few moments and then feel that smile against my own lips.”