“Yes, if a little bizarre.”
“Bizarre . . . how?”
“Vivien and Bernice came over. Which was fine. I mean they’ve both gone out of their way to be nice after the . . . misunderstanding.”
“What did they want?”
“That’s it. I don’t know. Bernice asked if GG had planted any black-eyed Susans in her flower garden this year and I told her I wasn’t sure. So she said she’d go take a look. I thought Vivien would tag along, but she plopped down and asked about the Casper Symphony audition. She said all the Mud Lilies had bought season tickets to this year’s performances since I’ll be concertmaster. She asked how it was with both of us working at the Split Rock. Then we talked about canning and I asked her to look at the okra because it still doesn’t look right. When we were in the kitchen, I just happened to glance across the yard and I swear I saw Bernice carrying something out of the herb garden and putting it in the backseat of her car.”
“Miz G is very particular about not mixing flowers and herbs.”
“I know, right?”
“Did you get a chance to peek in her car?”
“No. They asked a bunch of questions like if I knew when GG would be back. They tsk-tsked and said they’d be in touch. So should I be worried?”
Tobin had his suspicions that the marijuana plants were gone. But that wasn’t something his little rule follower needed to worry about. “Nah.”
Jade traced his eyebrows. Then his hairline. And the stubble on his cheeks and chin. “Anything exciting happen to my handsome cowboy today?”
He snorted. Handsome. Right. He didn’t feel that way, but he liked that’s what she saw when she looked at him. “A weird thing happened at the end of the day. Renner called me into his office.” He relayed the basics about Streeter applying for the job, purposely not giving commentary on how he’d feel being out of a job and where he’d go from here.
She blinked at him. “You didn’t have any idea?”
“None.”
“Dude.”
“I know. I’m not sure if Streeter is even working there now or if he’s unemployed.”
“How long does it take to get to your family’s ranch?”
“An hour and a half.”
She wore a thoughtful look. “Would they split the difference with you? Meet you in Rawlins or whatever town is halfway between here and there?”
“Maybe if I offered to buy them a steak.”
“Then call and ask if they’d meet you. That would answer your questions about Streeter sooner rather than later.”
Tobin kept running his hand up and down her back. “Why are you pushing me on this?”
“I’m not.” She kissed him quickly and then rubbed her cheek over his. “All right. Maybe I am. If Streeter always counted on his wife and she’s not there? And he always counted on your dad and your older brother and now they’re not in the picture either? I shudder to think how alone he must feel. Neither of us are strangers to that feeling of loneliness.”
“You have that same big heart Miz G does, don’t you?”
Those golden eyes got a little teary. “Thank you.”
Tobin kissed her. “I’ll call my dad and brother on one condition. You come with so I can introduce you as my woman.”
Jade shook her head. “Not for the entire meal. I’ll swing by for dessert and coffee. They won’t talk freely if I’m there, and you need to get to the bottom of what’s going on.”
“You’re so damn smart.” He kissed her again. Longer. Slower. Against her lips, he murmured, “Can we be done talking now?”
“Got something else in mind we could be doing, cowboy?”
“I need a shower first.”
“I’ll come along and wash your back.”
Thirty minutes later he growled, “I love fucking you in the shower.”
“I’d love it if you’d let me come.”
“Let you come again,” he said, nipping her earlobe.
“Tobin.”
He had her bent at the waist with her palms flat on the wall. He stood behind her, his cock buried deep in that sweet, sweet pussy, slowly tunneling in and out. His hands were clamped on the backs of her thighs below the curve of her ass, keeping her spread wide so he could enjoy the show.
“This isn’t fair,” she panted.
Tobin chuckled and hoisted her slightly higher.
She automatically curled the tops of her feet around the side of his calves. “No, no!”
“Keep complaining, tiger, and your hands will be on the floor as I’m slamming into you.”
“Oh god.”
She’d tortured him earlier and he’d warned her what goes around comes around.