Hang Tough Read Online Free Page B

in a dig about her family anyway.
    â€œNow, now, no fighting. No need to get indigestion before we eat lunch, is there?”
    Jade watched a sweet smile bloom across the man’s face as he looked at GG.
    â€œIf you’re truly making liverwurst sandwiches, Miz G, I’ll guarantee indigestion.”
    â€œOh, you.” GG flapped her hand at him. “I know you hate it, so of course that’s not on the menu for today.”
    The way he pandered to GG ticked Jade off. “Excuse me, but I didn’t catch
your
name.”
    That aquamarine-colored gaze winged back to her. “Tobin Hale.”
    â€œTobin Hale,” she repeated. “Is that one name? Like Billy Bob?”
    He raised an eyebrow. “You’re making a lot of assumptions about me, for us just meeting, Jade.”
    She smiled at him. “Assumptions about you, Tobin Hale, are
exactly
why I’m in Wyoming.” She faced her grandma. “Since this is the first time I’ve been here, can you show me around after lunch?”
    â€œI’d love that. Let’s go inside. This bickering between you two is eating into Tobin’s lunch hour. He needs to get back to work.”
    Tobin pushed open the screen door and held it for them. “No need to rush now, Miz G. I believe I’ll take the rest of the afternoon off so I can help you show Jade around.”
    More like show me over the edge of a cliff
, she thought.
    The interior of the house was as whimsical as Jade had imagined. The kitchen with its bloodred walls, crisp white cabinetry, dark gray countertops and wide-planked floor had a warm, welcoming country kitchen vibe. On the antique sideboard Jade noticed stacks of jelly jars. “GG, are those your strawberry champagne preserves?”
    â€œYou remembered! I put up a big batch.”
    â€œI finished the last jar you gave me just this week.”
    â€œThis is the primo stuff. Better ingredients and all that. I’ll hook you up with a case.”
    Jade felt Tobin studying her so she met his gaze head-on.
    â€œI’ll even load it in your car before I send you on your merry way,” Tobin said helpfully.
    Back where you belong,
went unsaid
.
    â€œTobin, dear, would you get out the plates?”
    â€œSure, Miz G.”
    â€œJade, be a doll and grab the milk out of the fridge.”
    â€œGG, I haven’t had milk with lunch for years.”
    â€œThe milk is for Tobin.” GG squeezed his biceps. “How do you think he got so big and strong?”
    â€œI assumed from lifting cows or whatever.”
    Tobin laughed. “Well, darlin’, I’ll take that
assumption
as a compliment that you think I’m capable of lifting a twelve-hundred-pound cow by myself.”
    GG snickered. “You’re gonna get quite the education, girlie, on life in the West. I guarantee it’s nothing you learned at Columbia.”
    Blushing, Jade grabbed the milk out of the fridge and set it on the table.
    Tobin carried two plates, one loaded with sandwiches, the other with fruit, and parked himself between Jade and her grandmother.
    Not a subtle move at all.
    GG set a glass in front of each plate and passed out
Hello Kitty
napkins. “No liverwurst on the sandwiches, just turkey, ham, roast beef and salami.” She patted Tobin’s muscled forearm. “I eat more meat when you’re around.”
    â€œThe food is just an extra bonus for living here with you,” Tobin said.
    So . . . was this where she just jumped in and asked
why
Tobin was living here? Or did she let the conversation develop naturally? Jade had zero stealth skills. She’d never needed any. Thinking back to all the episodes of
Veronica Mars
she’d watched where the sleuth tricked suspects into spilling their guts without much effort . . . well, she was drawing a blank on that technique.
    â€œAre you havin’ a sandwich? Or are you some kind of vegetarian?” Tobin