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the need to warn you about leaving the toilet seat up.”
    â€œAs long as we’re goin’ with clichés, I’ll warn you not to use my razor.”
    Jade’s thoughtful gaze roved over his face. “Doesn’t look like you have much use for a razor anyway.”
    He scratched his cheek. “Just not today. I wasn’t aware we’d be expecting guests. Did she know you were coming?”
    â€œYes. She didn’t tell you I was on my way here?”
    â€œNope. How long are you staying?”
    â€œDepends.”
    â€œOn?” he prompted.
    â€œThis and that.”
    He eyed her electronics. “You don’t have a job to go back to?”
    â€œNot a full-time career-type job.”
    â€œGot a boyfriend pining away for you?” he asked, suspecting a woman with her type of delicate beauty wouldn’t be single.
    â€œNot one of those either.” She paused. “How about you?”
    â€œNo boyfriend for me. Or girlfriend for that matter.”
    Jade laughed. “I was going to say the same thing.”
    â€œWhat are your plans while you’re here?”
    â€œWhat’s with the twenty questions? Are you afraid I’ll be boxing up the crystal and the silver personally so I know that you don’t abscond with it?”
    He grinned, appreciating that her quick wit hadn’t masked her antagonism. It’d be interesting to see how hard he’d have to poke her buttons before that sharp tongue took over. “I’d be asking Miz G before you move stuff around here. She’s particular about her things. It probably looks like chaos. But trust me; she knows
exactly
where everything is in this house. But if you don’t believe me? Knock yourself out. See how lovey-dovey she is with you after she catches you messin’ in her china cabinet or her kitchen.”
    Jade sipped her tea. “Speaking of the kitchen. She made you lunch today, but do you cook for her?”
    â€œNope. I buy the groceries.”
    â€œSo you do the dishes and clean up after she cooks for you?”
    He shrugged. “I hang out with her in the kitchen while she’s cooking and cleaning up. She asks me to chop veggies, I’ll do it. She asks me to scrub a fry pan, I’ll do it. It’s not like I’ve got a defined list of chores.”
    She made a face but didn’t respond.
    Tobin rested his forearms on his knees and leaned forward. “What’s put that wrinkle in your brow, darlin’?”
    â€œDon’t
darlin’
me,” she warned. “I’m not so easily swayed by sweet-talking cowboys.”
    â€œBeen around a lot of
gen-u-wine
cowboys in New York City, have you?”
    â€œSadly, no, but that’s beside the point. I’ve only been here a few hours and I’ve already seen you use those sweet-talking ways on GG. So what has she promised you in exchange for your protection?”
    Tobin knew his eyes had turned frosty, but he kept his tone even. “She did mention something about giving me forty acres and a mule.” When he realized Jade didn’t get the reference, he backtracked. “Why are you so damn suspicious of me?”
    â€œSeriously? You’re a good-looking, unmarried cowboy who has moved into my grandmother’s house and taken on the role of her protector. You can’t see why my dad would have a problem with that?”
    â€œThen your dad oughta nut up and confront me about it in person.”
    The screen door banged open. Garnet strolled onto the porch, yawning. “Guess I needed that nap. That’s where toddlers and old-timers are alike; we don’t want to nap, but if we don’t we’re cranky-pants the rest of the day.” She squinted and her gaze flitted between him and Jade. “What’s going on? Looks like you two were having words.”
    â€œWe were talking,” Jade said.
    Tobin snorted. “Call it what it is, darlin’; we were