Hang Tough (25 page)

“There's your answer. Yes, I'll go with you. No matter where that might be. It's not like I'm unemployable and you'd have to support me.”

“Maybe I'd like to support you.”

“There's every man's dream. To have a freeloading girlfriend.”

He kept his temper in check. “I don't give a shit about any man's dreams but
mine
. Maybe it makes me a fucking throwback, but I'd be happy as hell to take care of you. I'd consider it a damn privilege.”

“A privilege. Seriously?”

Tobin slipped his arm beneath her and rolled until he was on top, with her arms pinned above her head. “Okay, we'll do this a different way. I've waited a long damn time for you to come into my life. And it would make my dick hard and fill my chest with macho pride if every time I looked at you, I knew I was the guy you trusted to
be
everything you need. Not give. Not buy.
Be
. That's what I consider taking care of you.”

Jade snared his mouth in a hungry kiss. “Be what I need right now, Tobin. Take me to that place where it's just us.”

“I am so lost in you.” He buried his face in her throat, waiting for her to hook her legs around his hips, so he could drive inside her and take them both to the only sure thing, to the only place that really belonged to
them.

J
ade had just ended her cell phone call when she heard a series of short horn blasts. She wandered onto the porch and saw a van in the driveway.

The door opened and Riss jumped out, wearing a mechanic's suit—a grease-smeared mechanics suit.

She grinned at her crazy redheaded friend. “To what do I owe this visit?”

“I need booze. Is there anyone else here?”

“Just me.”

“Good. Bring the hooch. I've waited long enough for you to share the down-and-dirty details about you and Tobin.”

“Come up and snag a seat. Preferably not a cloth one because it looks as if you rolled in oil.”

“Sat in it is more likely.” Riss plopped down.

“How about some hard cider?”

“Perfect. Got any cigars?”

“Just Cubans.”

Riss's eyes went wide. “Are you fucking kidding me?”

“Yes. Sorry. I couldn't resist.”

“Jerk.”

Jade brought out the bottles of cider, wondering if she should've grabbed snacks.

“Relax, New York. Booze in bottles with no glasses is how we prefer to be served in the West.” She held her bottle out. “Cheers.”

“Cheers.”

Maybe being nosy went with that mind-set too, because Riss immediately said, “We're drinking buddies, shopping buddies and I baited the hook for your hookup with Tobin, so, sweet cheeks, you owe me some dirty deets.”

“Baited the hook,” Jade repeated. “What did you do?”

“Snapped a picture of your ass in your new cowgirl jeans and maybe a pic of men surrounding said ass in the bar and sent it to your man.”

Jade laughed. “You
are
a good friend.”

“Tell me one juicy thing.”

She swigged from the bottle. She'd never been great at doing stuff like this.

Here's your chance to change and you don't have to pretend you're as tell-all as the
Enquirer.

“All right Riss, I'll confess . . . I've always sucked at swapping confidences. Especially about sex. But you asked, so I'll give it a shot.
One
juicy thing? But, gosh, there are so many.”

“You suck.”

She laughed. “There is one thing that sticks out in my mind and is so much more obvious than any others.” She set her elbows on the table. “Tobin is hung. Like, not a little hung, like ‘holy mother that is the big daddy of all dicks' hung.”

Riss spewed cider. “Shit, Jade. Warn me next time.” She blotted her face with her sleeve. “Okay. He's hung. Does he know how to work the oversized equipment?”

“Oh yeah.”

“Damn. Now I'm wishing I would've gone out on a date with him.”

“Too late.”

“Staking your claim already?”

“Absolutely.”

“Good for you.” She held the bottle over for another toast. “How's granny feel about the two of you doing the deed in her house?”

“GG went on a last-minute cruise with her buddy Pearl. So she doesn't know that Tobin and I got together. She's under the impression that we don't like each other.”

“How long is she gone?”

“Three weeks.”

Riss whistled. “You two are gonna get used to playing house and then what happens when granny comes home and doesn't like it?”

“I don't know.” Jade drummed her fingers on the table. “For the first time in my life? I'm living in the moment.”

“Attagirl. That's how I live every moment of my life.”

“I don't believe that.” When Riss's brows drew together, she backtracked. “I didn't mean for that to come out so harsh. I meant you're part of a business, so you can't just say, ‘I don't feel like delivering these baby cows today. I'll leave them in the semi while I go to the movies.'”

“Baby cows are called calves, New York. I schedule runs, but they have to be worth my time. I know guys in this business who barely break even. That's why I walked away for a few years.” Riss leaned back in her chair. “What about you?”

“I did fill out an application for the prep cook job at the Split Rock.”

“Tobin was okay with that?”

“Very okay.”

“Told ya. You'll love it up there. Everyone who works there does. Multiple part-time jobs are the norm around here. Most people have more than one job.”

“What else do you do besides drive stock transport and . . . ?” She gestured to Riss's overalls.

Riss grinned. “Why yes, I am a lube jockey. Thanks for asking.”

“You work on cars?”

“I'm not a mechanic. I change oil. It's not a full-time job. Guys with families to feed get priority over me. I'm good with that.”

“Maybe it's clichéd to ask, but are you happy?”

“It's been a long time since anyone has asked me that. Most days? Yes. Would I be happier if I was twenty pounds thinner, if I could upgrade from my dumpy trailer? Thinner . . . eh. A better living environment is already on my list of improvements.”

“Scenario one: lube jockey boss says, ‘Riss, I need you full-time. This is your salary. It's enough that you can quit transporting stock completely.' Scenario two: Ike says, ‘Riss, I need you full-time. This is your salary. It's enough that you can quit your lube-jockey job.'”

“Which do I pick? I'd work for Jackson Stock Contracting.” She scowled. “It means working with Ike all the freakin' time, but I'd still take it.”

“Why?”

“Although the job is the same, the people are different. I'm not in the same place. With the lube jockey job . . . it's stable. That's all some employees look for, so they're a better fit, which is why I have no problem bein' part-time.” Riss stretched her legs out. “So how'd we get on the hard-hitting life stuff and not the ‘how hard did you hit that' sex stuff?”

“You poking me about my future plans.” Jade smirked. “But it does have relevance. I had an interesting call right before you got here from the Casper Symphony director.”

“No shit? What did he want?”

“To know if I plan to be around for the season and if I'd be interested in auditioning.”

“Would you?”

“Maybe. Would it be worth it? The money is lousy in music performance in New York; I can't imagine it'd be good here.”

“But you have to look at it as an opportunity to make local contacts.
If you meet other musicians you could end up in a quartet with them. That's a paying gig. You meet someone else whose kid wants lessons? That's a paying gig.”

“True.”

“Since so much shit is up in the air right now, I'll throw in my two cents. I'd take you on as a roommate if everything with Tobin goes to the dogs.”

“Thanks, Riss. That means a lot.”

She finished her cider. “Now if you could learn to play that violin like a fiddle . . . you'd have your pick of gigs in Western bars across four states.”

“You do know there's no difference between instruments, right? They're the same. Even Itzhak Perlman calls the Stradivarius he plays his fiddle.”

Riss shrugged. “It's something to keep in mind. Because it sounds like music is where your heart is.”

“It's where my skill is; I've been playing since I was four.”

“What's your college degree in again?”

“History with concentration in medieval and Renaissance studies.”

“Dude.”

“I know, right?”

“Well, it is unique. Maybe one of them online colleges are looking for someone to teach classes.” She snapped her fingers. “You know what I just remembered? Theresa, a chick in the book club? She works at the Casper Community College. She could totally put you in touch with someone in the right department. We'll ask her about it at book club in two weeks.”

“That sounds awesome.” She grinned at Riss. “Has anyone told you today that you're brilliant? And generous?”

“No. But the guy with the '67 Chevy told me I had great tits.”

The breakneck way Tobin's truck barreled up the drive . . . Jade knew he had a one-track mind: getting her naked as soon as possible.

He hopped out of the cab and headed toward her at a good clip. He only slowed slightly when he saw Riss. “If it's not my favorite stock transporter. How are you, Riss?”

“I'm jealous my buddy Jade can ride the cannon you're packing in your pants anytime she wants.”

Silence.

Jade couldn't look at Tobin.

And she sort of wanted to kill Riss.

Then Tobin laughed. “Your loss, darlin'.”

“Congrats for hitting the genetic lottery.” She held her fist for Tobin to bump—which he obliged. Riss laughed. “I think Jade wants to crawl under the table right about now.”

“Or smack you with the chair like on World Federation Wrestling,” she grumbled.

“Tobin understands that as my new BFF, you and me are sharing some stuff.”

“A minimal amount of the naked stuff,” Tobin warned Jade.

“No worries. She didn't go into detail.” Riss started down the steps and blew Jade a kiss. “I'll call you later in the week.”

Jade didn't look at Tobin until Riss was in her van. “Are you mad that I had girl-time sex chat?”

“I guess it's better that you told Riss that I
have
a big dick, than I
am
a big dick.” He grinned at her. “Go upstairs. Get naked. I'll be right up.”

“Are you going to punish me?”

“Nope. I'm gonna reward you.”

“For what?”

He lifted an eyebrow. “I need a reason? Fine. It's Tuesday.”

“That works for me.”

“Y
ou sure you don't mind going along with me?”

Tobin took Jade's hand. “They just want to meet you in an informal setting.” He kissed her knuckles. “It'll be fine.”

“Will I have to buy a uniform?”

He frowned. “Uniform? We don't wear uniforms.”

“But you do wear chaps and spurs, right? I never get to see you in those. I imagine the cutout in the back frames your tight little butt and the front accentuates that delicious meat club.”

“Jesus, Jade.”

“You're blushing. You're so cute when you blush. Pull the truck over and let's have a quickie.”

His tiger was nervous. With him she'd babble from nerves, but the second she was in a group of strangers she'd clam up completely. “No quickie for us. But I appreciate the offer.” He kissed the back of her hand. “You want to work here. It means we get to be together, remember?”

Jade reached over and stroked his cheek. “How could I forget?”

“You happy?”

“With you? Very.”

At the main entrance to the Split Rock, Tobin downshifted and they bumped into the parking lot.

“How long will this take?”

“Not long. I assume most people brought their kids. They tend to get a little wild.” Especially Janie and Abe's boys. Those two were hell on wheels.

Dust blew up around them as they crossed the parking lot. Tobin had gone with his usual boots and jeans, but opted for a short-sleeved shirt and his dress hat. He shot a look at Jade out of the corner of his eye. She'd worn a red and white floral sundress with white sandals.

“You're sneaking looks at me. Am I underdressed or overdressed for this job interview?”

“It's not an interview, tiger. You've got the job so stop worrying.”

On the top stair, Tobin curled his fingers around the side of her neck and stroked the edge of her jaw with his thumb. “I'm so fucking proud of the fact you're my girlfriend.”

“You are?”

“You're beautiful, smart, talented, a tiger in bed and you make me laugh. Every day I learn more about you and I like it. I like you. Hell, I love you.”

She sucked in a quick breath. “What?”

“I'm not good at playing my cards close to the vest, am I? I want you to know before we walk in there . . . if you get overwhelmed, look at me. And imagine that's how I feel every time I look at you. I can't believe how lucky I am.”

“That is so getting you laid later,” she whispered. Then she placed her hand on his wrist and pulled him in for a kiss. An achingly sweet kiss.

The door banged open behind them. Tobin expected someone to yell,
Get a room!
but a small body smacked into their legs.

Looking down, he said, “Hey, Tyler, watch it, okay, little man?”

Tyler's hands were on his hips and he tilted his head back to peer at
Jade. “Do you know kung fu?” he demanded. “'Cause I do.” With a loud
hi-yah!
he spun and karate chopped the boy behind him in the head.

But Bran's son didn't pull any punches. Tate never said a word; he never looked away. He just socked Tyler in the stomach with all his might.

Tyler doubled over.

Jade started to bend down to help, but Tobin tugged her away, inside the lodge.

“Trust me. You're better off just letting it go. Last time I got between them? I ended up with a damn black eye. From a fucking four-year-old.”

She snickered. “Those kids are just allowed to run wild?”

“I could lie and say no, but the truth is . . . their parents own the business so they're around a lot. You want me to give you a tour?”

“I'm pretty sure I need a drink first.”

Tobin ran his palm up the outside of her arm. “Still nervous?”

“Not as much as I was, now that I know you're in
lurrrve
with me.” Jade snaked her arms around his neck. “I need a good-luck kiss.”

He sensed her nerves leveling out at the touch of his lips to hers.

“I've gotten better at kissing you when you're wearing your cowboy hat.”

“It's like I told you. It just takes practice.” Tobin gave her one last smooch and stepped back. He looked up to see they had an audience. Great.

Renner, cradling his sleeping son, Rhett.

Plus Abe with his youngest son, Dylan, slumped over his shoulder. And Fletch, who also held his sleeping son, Gus.

All three men were grinning at him.

“Hey, guys. What's up? Did your wives send you to the naughty corner already?”

“This is a far sight better than wranglin' the kids that ain't asleep,” Renner said.

“Which is most of 'em,” Abe said dryly.

“Yeah, we ran into Tyler out front. Or rather, he ran into us.”

“Runnin' from Tate or chasin' him?” Abe asked.

“Couldn't tell as they were hitting one another,” Tobin said.

Abe sighed. “His mama is supposed to be watching him.”

When Tobin saw Abe staring at Jade expectantly he said, “This is my girlfriend, Jade Evans. She's Garnet's granddaughter. Jade, this is Abe Lawson. His wife, Janie, is the Split Rock GM—technically your new boss—and they're the parents of the karate chopper we met out front.”

“Nice to meet you,” Jade said. “I won't shake your hand as it appears yours are full.” Then she looked at Renner and smiled. “Good to see you, Renner. What's your son's name?”

“Rhett. We're mighty glad you're comin' to work here.”

Fletch was a big enough guy he could juggle a sleeping toddler and a horse. He offered Jade his hand and an enormous grin. “Well, well. Tobin's girlfriend. I'm very happy to meet you, Jade. I get a huge kick outta your grandma.”

“I'm afraid I'm not nearly as entertaining as she is,” Jade said.

“Sugar, no one is.”

“I'm sorry. I didn't catch your name.”

“Sorry. I'm August Fletcher—you can call me Fletch. The little guy is Gus. I'm a veterinarian so me'n Tobin work together a lot.”

“Is Tanna here?” Tobin asked.

Fletch shook his head. “She's got a touch of morning sickness again. My dad fusses over her like a mother hen, so he's with her. But she sent me with very clear instructions, Tobin; you are to bring your
girlfriend
by sooner rather than later.”

“Go ahead and tell her I saluted.”

Everyone laughed.

“So am I good to take Jade inside? Or did you all wanna gawk at my beautiful girlfriend before she's officially on the Split Rock payroll?”

Jade groaned and turned her face into Tobin's arm.

“She's a damn sight prettier than you,” Fletch said. “Tell you what. Leave her here with us. We'll take good care of her.”

“Fuck that.” Tobin steered Jade inside the entrance and across the main room to the bar and dining area.

“Do they always give you that much crap?”

“In the way only friends can do and not get punched.” Tobin headed to the bar and stepped behind it. “It's serve yourself, so what're you drinking?”

“I'll just have a Coke.”

Tobin loaded a glass with ice, filled it with soda and dropped two cherries in the top. “Here you go.”

“Nice touch.”

“I thought an umbrella might be over the top.” He popped the top on a Budweiser. “Let's make the rounds.”

The first person they ran into was Tierney. And she jumped right in. “Hi. Jade, right? I'm Tierney Jackson. I do the finances around here and some other stuff.”

“Nice to meet you. I saw your darling son with Renner.”

Tierney beamed. “He is a doll. Our daughter Isabelle is running around someplace. I wanted to say welcome and if you need anything, just swing by my office. Garnet is family. And you are too.” She shot Tobin a soft look. “Doubly so now.”

“Thanks.”

A child's bloodcurdling scream echoed across the space and Jade jumped.

Tierney sighed. “I never thought I'd get used to that, but I am now.”

Tobin watched as Isabelle raced in and tried to hide in front of her mother.

But Tierney neatly stepped aside.

A sweaty boy, covered in mud, stalked closer to them.

Harper, a chubby baby boy on her hip, shouted, “Jake Turner. You stop right there.”

He spun around.

“Oh good lord, you were
not
raised in a barn! Why on earth would you think it's okay to track mud across the lodge carpeting? Get out on the patio. Sit there and wait.”

He shuffled off.

Isa giggled. Too late she clapped her hand over her mouth when her mother heard it.

“And you can sit on the bench outside my office, Isabelle Jackson. I'll send your father to get you when it's time but you'd better not move.”

Tobin looked at Jade, who watched the interplay like a tennis match.

Harper sauntered over. “Sorry. It's usually not like this.”

“Yes it is,” Tobin mock-whispered to Jade.

“I'm Harper. We met briefly at Bernice's a few weeks back.”

“Oh. Yes. Nice to see you again.”

Harper hoisted her baby higher on her hip. “This is Gage. The youngest of my three boys. The only one not covered in mud, or blood, but I sorta smell something worse.”

Tobin stepped back.

She laughed. “Just you wait, buster. Bran was grossed out too, changing diapers with kid number one. Which boggles my mind because the man regularly sticks his entire arm up a cow's—”

“She gets it, Harper,” Tierney said. “Don't forget Tobin often has his arm up there too.”

“Great, ladies. Thanks.”

Just then Janie Lawson came in from outside, her hand clamped around her son Tyler's upper arm. “You are grounded from watching TV. You do
not
karate chop people, do you hear me? Especially not your friends. You're lucky that Bran stepped in before Tate throttled you.” Janie stopped. “Oh. Hey. Sorry. Just having a special little one-on-one time with my son.”

“Janie, meet my girlfriend, Jade. Jade, Janie Lawson is the big boss here at the Split Rock.”

“She's the boss at work but Daddy's the boss at home,” Tyler announced.

Such a precocious little shit.

“Nice to meet you, Mrs. Lawson,” Jade said.

“Trust me, the pleasure is mine. Welcome to the Split Rock family. Please, call me Janie. Do you have any questions?”

“About a million.”

“The job is pretty straightforward. Dodie is in charge of the kitchen and she'll set the schedule. If there's a personal issue, come to me or Renner. If we have an employment issue, we'll come to you. That's rare, trust me.”

“Does the kitchen staff wear uniforms?” Jade asked.

“Mama, watch this,” Tyler said.

“Not now, honey, I'm talking.” She looked at Jade. “Did you wear uniforms in New York?”

“Yes. Not that I brought them with me. But prep cooks wore white. Line cooks wore black.”

“You can wear whatever you're comfortable in.”

“All right. Then I'll have my parents send my prep uniforms.”

“So you're both living in Garnet's house?” Janie asked. “And she just left the two of you alone for three weeks?”

Jade blinked at the abrupt change in topic.

“Mama, I said watch!” Just then Tyler Lawson attempted to do a karate kick, and the toe of his boot connected with Jade's shin as he uttered a loud, “Hi-yah!”

Startled, Jade dropped her glass and it shattered on the floor.

When she leaned down to pick up the broken glass, Tobin didn't hear Janie yelling or Tyler crying—all he saw was Jade draw her hand back really fast and then blood dripping onto the tile.

She said, “Shit.”

She never swore.

He wrapped his fingers around her right wrist and brought her hand up so he could get a better look. He winced. “Baby. Your fingers are bleeding.”

“It's okay, Tobin. It's my—”

“No, it's not goddamned okay. You sliced your fingers and you're supposed to audition in Casper this week. What if there are shards of glass embedded in the pads of your fingers? We've gotta get this cleaned up right now.” He slipped his arm beneath her knees, lifted and carried her into the kitchen since it was closer than the restroom.

He set her on the counter by the sink and flipped on the cold water.

“Tobin.”

“Let me do this for you.” He held her hand under the stream of water. A little pinkish water swirled down the drain but not much. “Does it hurt?

“No.”

“Good.” He cast his hat aside so he could press his forehead to hers. “Your first day you're attacked by ‘Children of the Corn.'”

Jade laughed. “‘Children of the Corn'?”

“I figured calling him ‘Chucky' might be a little extreme.”

“I don't think ‘Chucky' did it maliciously. He's just excitable and like any boy wants to show off his mad skills. Besides, I'm the dumb one who reached for the glass.” She nudged him. “You've sufficiently numbed the cut. Thank you.”