Hang Tough Read Online Free PDF Page B

Garnet’s generosity.
    He’d bet that Jade had benefited from that generosity. But how well did Jade know her grandmother beyond that?
    You’re just hopeful she’s not the bad guy because she’s hot. And a little mouthy.
    Heaven help him, but that kind of woman was catnip to him.
    Tobin had been prepared to square off against a moving company.Nothing had prepared him for the mixed emotions she evoked with one haughty look.
    But there was no doubt in his mind he’d still be squaring off against her.

    After killing a couple of hours outside, he jogged up the steps and saw Jade lounging on the love seat next to the porch swing. Beside her was a laptop, a tablet, a cell phone and an e-book reader.
    â€œBefore you grill me on GG’s whereabouts, I promise I didn’t put sleeping powder in her tea. She conked out on her own in the sitting room.”
    â€œLook, I never said I thought you intended to harm her. I said I didn’t want you to
hurt
her. And before you go all ‘I’m an English major’ on me or something, I’m aware of the similarities in the meanings of those two words. But that means you’re also aware of the differences in their meanings.”
    She smiled. Not a sarcastic smile, but a genuine
you amuse me
smile and damn if that didn’t just cause a funny tickle in his gut.
    â€œPull up a chair, Tobin, and let’s see if we can have a civilized conversation this time. Because looking at you . . .” Her gaze wandered across his shoulders and lingered as it moved down his arms. “I know I would lose badly in an arm-wrestling contest against you.”
    Tobin laughed, but holy hell. That almost seemed like a compliment.
    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.
    â€œWhy would we be arm wrestling?”
    â€œFor GG’s affections of course. I’ve never had to share them.”
    â€œFeelin’ 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.”
    â€œWell, 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.”
    â€œIt’s not. But that’s my clichéd way of saying I’ll go to the mat to do what’s best for her.”
    â€œThen 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?”
    â€œNo. 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.”
    â€œMiz G put you in the daffodil room?”
    She nodded. “I did have some serious envy that you’d already claimed the rose room.”
    â€œWhy?”
    â€œThe bed is bigger.”
    â€œThat’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