Hang Tough(55)
“Six miles, sometimes seven, depending.”
She panted. “Show. Off.”
“The elevation here is killer,” Tobin offered. “That could be what’s slowing you down.”
Jade lifted her head. “Why did you follow me?”
“Your challenge of watch and learn wasn’t an invitation?”
“You suck,” she wheezed. “You’re not even breathing hard.”
“My job at the ranch is physically demanding so I’m in better shape than I look.”
“No lie there.” Jade gave him a once-over and her gaze lingered on his chest. “But that isn’t an answer as to why you followed me.”
“I thought we could race back. The winner gets the choice of oral sex or regular sex. You know, to make up for me falling asleep last night.”
“I’m not racing you, Tobin.”
The panic in her eyes made him want to kick his own ass. “Darlin’. I was joking.” He skated his hand up her bare arm, over her shoulder and cupped her neck in his palm. He stroked his thumb along the edge of her jawline.
Jade closed her eyes for a moment and leaned into his touch. “Sorry. I just find this a little weird.”
“What?”
“You demanding that I go for a run and then following me. If we’re trying to keep this relationship under wraps for a little longer, us both being gone and then us both showing up at GG’s in exercise clothes will raise her suspicions.”
“Jade. Give me some credit,” he chided gently. “Your grandma knew you went for a run, right?”
She nodded.
“About fifteen minutes after you left, I told her I had to go back to work. I drove to the pullout a quarter of a mile up the road, changed clothes and ran to catch you.” He grinned. “Smart, huh?”
“Very. But I hate we’re going to such extremes to see each other when we’re living in the same house. Our rooms are next door to each other. We could be sneaking into each other’s beds every night and GG wouldn’t know.”
“Jesus, Jade. Are you trying to make my dick hard?”
She smirked. “That’s my right—my job—as your girlfriend.”
His eyes searched hers. “Is that how you see yourself?”
“Well, we’re not friends. We’re not lovers—yet. The word ‘companion’ makes me think of a dog. The word ‘partner’ sounds like a business relationship. So what other word is there?”
MINE, roared into his head.
Yeah, that declaration would likely freak her out.
“I can admit I liked it when you called me your woman. So if you don’t like the word ‘girlfriend,’ then you could, ah, call me that if you want.” She stepped back and tried to shove her hands in her back pockets, forgetting that she didn’t have any.
That nervous mannerism got to him, because she shouldn’t be uncertain of this. He sure as fuck wasn’t.
Then why don’t you nut up and tell Miz G you’re falling for her granddaughter?
“My woman,” he said, almost to himself. His gaze roamed over her face, this beautiful, sweet, smart, determined woman who’d brought him such happiness in a few short weeks. Every time he looked at her, he experienced a feeling damn close to euphoria.
And why should he have to hide that from the world? From the people in his life who mattered to him? Tobin wanted everyone to know that Jade was his. His to touch, his to hold, his to tease, his to cherish, his to belong to. His to make long-term life plans with. Because that’s where this was headed.
“What is going through that head of yours, cowboy?”
“Tryin’ to figure out the best way to tell your grandma that you’re my woman.”
She smiled. “With GG timing is everything.”
“True. This might be a little tricky. We have been sneaking around since day one, darlin’. I don’t want her to feel like an ‘old fool’ because that’ll set her on a tear. I don’t want her to think I’ve disrespected her by living in her house and takin’ advantage of you.”
A beat passed and Jade got right in his face. “That’s why you haven’t invited me into your bed or tried to sneak into mine, isn’t it? You are mindful of how GG would react if she caught us rolling around in the sheets naked.”
He blushed. Fuck. Had he ever blushed this hard in his life?
“Tobin Hale. I adore you for so many reasons.” She trapped his face between her palms. “But your respect for my grandma is at the top of the list.”
“Jade—”
“You will listen to me heap praise on you for a few minutes and then you can go back to that ‘aw, shucks, it wasn’t nothin’ gentleman-cowboy mindset.”