The Maverick (3 page)

“What the—” Griff spun around to see what had happened. A pair of rowdy boys had smashed into them, knocking their glasses together and breaking them.

The taller of the two looked sheepish and mumbled an apology.

Griff turned back to Cass. “Are you all right?”

“Just a little wet, I think. I feel a little like a ship being launched.” She dabbed at her jacket with a napkin.

“My God! You have blood on your cheek.”

She reached toward her face.

“Wait. Don’t touch it. You may have glass in the cut.”

“It can’t be too bad. It doesn’t hurt.”

“I think it should be looked at by a doctor,” Griff said.

“Maybe I can help,” a woman standing near them offered. “I’m a dermatologist. Come over to where the light’s better.”

They moved out of the crowd and the doctor looked at Cass’s cheek carefully.

“What do you think?” Griff asked.

“I think she’s very lucky that she didn’t get that nick in her eye. No major harm done. A dab of antiseptic ointment ought to do. Now the dress, I don’t know. Isn’t that silk?”

Cass chuckled. “It is.”

“If I were you, I wouldn’t let the stain set,” the doctor said. She rummaged in her purse. “Ah, here’s a sample that will do the trick.” She handed Cass a small tube of ointment.

“Thanks,” Cass said, handing her a Chili Witches card. “Drop by for a complimentary bowl of chili. Tell your waiter Cass sent you.”

“Thanks, I’ll do that. I’ve been there before, and I love your chili. Are you the manager?”

“My sister and I run it for the family.”

“Great to meet you. I’m Bev Strong, by the way.”

The dermatologist returned to her party, and Griff said, “I think I should call the car and get you home.”

“No way. I’m dying to see this show. My cheek will be fine.” Cass held up the tube. “And the dress is only a dress. I’ll run to the ladies’ room and tend to the damage. Be right back.”

Griff watched her walk away, marveling at not only the sexy swing of her hips but also the fact that she hadn’t let the accident ruin the evening. Again he thought how different she was from most of the women he dated.

Every time he was around Cass, he found her more and more intriguing. And more and more tempting. Too often he found himself thinking about her lips and her long legs, and weaving fantasies about both. Instead of charming her as he’d intended, he was discovering that she was the one wielding the flute.

He would have to watch that. Getting seriously involved with one of the principals wasn’t part of the plan.

Cass returned in a short time, and they took their places for the performance. The seats were excellent, as was the show.

When they were leaving the theater, Griff asked, “Want to stop somewhere for a drink and a bite to eat?”

“Sure,” Cass said. “There’s a great place just a few blocks from here that you might like. They have a fantastic wine selection and serve Spanish style tapas.”

Brad was waiting with the car, and he drove them the few blocks to the spot she’d suggested. Other theatergoers seemed to have the same idea, so the place was filling up, but they found a vacant table in a back corner.

“I adore tapas,” Cass said. “I even like to order from the appetizer menu at regular restaurants so I can have a little bit of everything.” She picked up her menu and scanned all the interesting selections. “What are your favorites?”

“Since you’re familiar with the house specialties,” Griff said, “you choose the food, and I’ll pick the wine.”

“Fair enough, but you might be sorry. I wasn’t kidding when I said I like to try some of everything. I’ll limit myself to four dishes. We must have the goat cheese cakes with lavender honey, and the spinach empanadas. Do you like scallops?”

“I like everything except liver and grasshoppers.”

Cass smiled. “You’re safe then. I hate liver, too, and I don’t see grasshoppers on the menu. We can have the sea scallops wrapped in basil leaves and ham, and either the crawfish cakes or the roasted piquillo peppers.”

“Aren’t crawfish sort of like grasshoppers?”

“Bite your tongue, Yankee. Crawfish are more like shrimp. We’ll have the crawfish cakes. Trust me, they’re delicious here. Or maybe you’d rather have some fruit and cheese.”

“Get both.”

“Don’t tempt me,” Cass said. “I warned you that I like some of everything.”

“Then order some of everything.”

She chuckled. “I’ll restrain myself. I doubt if we can make a dent in the ones I mentioned.”

“Then we’ll take a doggy bag.”

“Doggy bag, my foot. We’ll take a Cass container. I don’t have a dog. I don’t even have a cat, though I’ve been thinking of getting one. Sunny is always after me to adopt one, and I kind of like cats.”

A waiter came and took their order. Griff chose a wine Cass had never heard of, but she had no doubt it would be excellent. He was that kind of guy. And, as it turned out, the wine was superb.

“Do you have a pet?” Cass asked him.

“Lord, no. I don’t even have a live plant in my apartment. I’m gone so much that it’s impractical. If I settle in Austin, I might get a dog. I’ve wanted one since I was a kid, but my younger brother had allergies, so I had to be content with fish. It’s not the same.”

“Kind of hard to play fetch with a fish.”

He laughed. “True.”

“What kind of dog do you want?”

“I’m not sure.”

“You need to talk to Sunny or to Skye, my cousin’s wife. Sunny volunteers at one of the animal shelters, and she’s always looking for good homes for the cats and dogs there. Skye’s a veterinarian and a bit fey. She could probably look at you and recommend the perfect pet.”

“That sounds interesting.”

“She’s an interesting lady. All my relatives are interesting. In fact, I’ll be seeing several of them on Sunday. We’re having a bluebonnet picnic. Maybe you’d like to come along. I’m sure you’d be welcome.”

He grinned. “You’re eating bluebonnets?”

“Not that I know of. It’s sort of an anniversary party and celebration of the bluebonnets for a couple of my first cousins.
They had a double wedding in a bluebonnet field before Sunny and I met them last year.”

Griff frowned. “You just met your cousins last year?”

“It’s a long and complex story. Ah, here’s our food. I’m famished.”

The table was so filled with the variety of delicacies she’d ordered that Cass had a difficult time knowing where to start. She reached for a small spinach empanada and took a bite. “Ah, heavenly. Here, taste.” She held out the other half, and he ate it from her hand.

“Very good. Are you going to feed me the rest of the meal?”

Smiling, Cass said. “Nope. Grab your fork. It’s every man for himself.”

They tasted everything, then chose their favorites. The wine was an ideal complement.

“Tell me about your long-lost cousins,” Griff said as he helped himself to another scallop.

“Well, they weren’t exactly lost. Sunny and I knew about them, but they didn’t know about us. We were, as they used to say, born on the wrong side of the blanket.” When Griff looked puzzled, she said, “We were illegitimate. Our father was married to someone else when we were conceived, and he died before we were born. To give him credit, he loved my mother deeply, but his wife wouldn’t consent to a divorce. Someone shot him on the steps of the capitol before he could convince her to let him go.”

“Shot him? Who?”

Cass shrugged. “Nobody knows. His murder was never solved. Anyhow, my mother thought the Outlaw family would consider us an embarrassment, so we never met any of them, and none of the Outlaws knew about us until Sam Bass Outlaw, one of my cousins who’s a Texas Ranger, came into
Chili Witches a few months ago. Since then, we’ve become great friends. Seems that none of them cared much for Iris, the Senator’s wife, and she remarried and moved to Ohio or Iowa or somewhere years ago.”

“Fascinating.”

“Isn’t it? Sounds like a soap opera or something. There was never any secret about who our father was, but Mom conveniently neglected to mention that they weren’t married. We stumbled on that bit of information ourselves. Mom is going to be mortified to know we’ve met all our Outlaw relatives and love them.”

“She doesn’t know you’ve met them?”

“Nope. And she and Aunt Min will be arriving from France in a few weeks, and the you-know-what’s going to hit the fan. Are you going to eat that last crawfish cake?”

“Want to flip for it?”

She laughed. “See, I told you crawfish was good.”

“I bow to your good judgment.”

They ordered more crawfish cakes and another bottle of wine, and talked about everything in the world. When the waiter began to hover and Cass noticed that the bar was almost empty, she glanced at her watch.

“Dear Lord! Look at the time! It’s two in the morning, and I have to work tomorrow.”

“Two? I can’t believe it.” Griff motioned for the check and handed the waiter his credit card. “Sorry I’ve been so thoughtless. Let’s get you home and into bed.”

Cass lifted her brows at him, and he gave her an innocent look. “No double entendre intended.” Then he spoiled his comment with a wolfish grin.

She laughed and gathered her purse. Griff was the most fascinating man she’d met in ages, and she could go swimming
in those eyes of his. Was the giddiness she felt from the wine or his charm?
Remember he’s a New York lawyer,
she reminded herself,
and he studied Charm 101 at Harvard.

Still, despite her own admonitions, a shiver went up her spine when he touched his hand to her back as they left. The man was another heartbreaker, but her hormones didn’t seem to care. If she was smart, she’d drop him like a hot rock. Now.

But instead of thinking of ways to discourage him, all her mind could conjure up were visions of silk sheets and a hot mouth.

O
N THE DRIVE BACK
to her apartment, Griff had to clutch his thighs to keep from taking Cass in his arms and kissing her. He’d never wanted to kiss a woman so badly. He hesitated, not wanting to rush her, nor embarrass her with the driver present. Griff wanted to do more than kiss her, but he blocked those thoughts as best he could.

Should he accept her invitation to the picnic Sunday?
Yes,
he decided. Ingratiating himself with her family couldn’t hurt.

“Were you serious about my going with you to the picnic on Sunday?” he asked as they walked upstairs to her apartment.

She hesitated for a millisecond, and his heart lost a beat. He prayed she wasn’t having second thoughts about him.

“Of course. I can pick you up at your hotel about ten-thirty, and we’ll drive to Wimberley.”

“Wimberley?”

“My cousin Belle and her husband live there. It’s a small village southwest of here, very picturesque. It’s casual. Jeans or shorts.”

When they reached her door, she turned and lifted her face. Kissing her was the most natural thing in the world.

And the most mind-blowing. He had the strangest urge to
throw her over his shoulder, beat his chest and carry her into his cave. She would have hated it.

Ignoring the urges he felt, he smiled and said, “I’ll see you on Sunday.”

A
BOUT MIDAFTERNOON ON
Saturday, a florist box arrived for Cass. She took it to her office to avoid the curiosity of her staff. Inside she found three perfect yellow roses and an adorable stuffed kitten with big round eyes and a stitched smile.

The card read: “Thank you for a wonderful evening. Maybe this kitty will do until you can have a real one. I’ll be the one pacing eagerly in front of my hotel on Sunday morning. Griff.”

She put the roses in a bud vase from the supply closet and hugged the kitten. How dear of him to remember her comments about a cat.

She smiled. Charm 101 again. She had his number for sure, but it was fun playing the game. And it was only a game, a flirtation. Despite his interest in moving to Austin, she suspected he’d be gone in a week or two.

Griff was true to his word. When Cass pulled up to the front of his hotel at ten-thirty on Sunday morning, he was waiting by the door. He wore khaki shorts, some high-end sport shoes and a pale blue polo shirt the exact color of his eyes. He looked good enough to eat with pecans and fudge sauce.

He broke into a grin when he saw her drive up in her little red convertible. “Good morning,” he said, climbing in. “I love a woman who is punctual.”

“That’s me.”

She’d worn khaki shorts as well, but her shirt was red and her shoes were a third the cost of his. But then, she told herself, she wasn’t interested in engaging in a fashion price war. Today was for fun and comfort. When he was buckled up, she headed through town toward Mo-Pac, the freeway that ran along the railroad track and would take them southwest to join up with the more scenic route to Wimberley.

“I like your ponytail,” he said. “It makes you look like a teenager.”

“I wish,” Cass said. “I love to ride with the top down on days like today, and a ponytail is the easiest way to cope with the blowing hair problem. Isn’t the weather gorgeous? March
and April are the very best times of the year in Texas. The wildflowers are blooming and the temperature is pleasant. By May many days will hit ninety degrees, and by August it’s hotter than Hades. I guess it’s a trade-off for not having to deal with snowplows.”

“It doesn’t snow in Austin?”

“Occasionally. I think we got about an inch in a brief snowfall four or five years ago. And sometimes we get ice, but it’s usually gone in a day or so and everybody is running around in flip-flops again.”

“Tell me about where we’re going,” Griff said.

“Well, first we’re going to Wimberley to the Burrells’ house. That’s Gabe and my cousin Belle Starr Outlaw Burrell. We’re meeting my sister and her fiancé Ben as well as my cousin Sam Bass Outlaw and his wife, Skye.”

“She’s the veterinarian.”

“Right. And she’s also Gabe’s sister. I think one of the Naconiche cousins and his wife will be there, or maybe two of them.”

“Two of who?”

“Two of the cousins. Three of the Outlaw brothers live in Naconiche, but they don’t usually come all at one time. There’s J.J., the sheriff, whose name is Jesse James Outlaw, Judge Frank James Outlaw and the homicide cop turned professor, Cole Younger Outlaw. And assorted wives and children will be there, depending on who shows up.”

“I hope I can get them all sorted out.”

Cass laughed as she hit the open road and floored it. The scarf that had been holding her ponytail went flying behind them, but she didn’t stop for it. “Sometimes
I
can’t keep them all straight. Hold the wheel for a minute.”

“What the—” Griff grabbed the steering wheel while she caught her whipping hair in a rubber band.

“Thanks.”

“Do you get many tickets?” he asked.

“For what?”

“Speeding, reckless driving, that sort of thing.”

She laughed. “Never. Don’t tell me you’re one of those nervous nellies.” No sooner were the words out her mouth than she saw red-and-blue flashing lights behind her.

Griff merely lifted his eyebrows.

Cursing her big mouth and her heavy foot, Cass pulled over. When she looked in her rearview mirror and got a glimpse of the state trooper exiting his car, she bit back a grin. When he walked up to her window, the grin broke loose. “Hey, Paul. Long time, no see.”

His eyes widened, then his grin matched hers. “Cass? Sunny?”

“The former. How are you doing these days?”

“I’m doing fine, Cass. I see you’re still driving like a bat out of hell.”

She shrugged. “I’m just so glad to be back in Texas, my old habits got the best of me. How are your mama and daddy?”

“They’re doing fine. Daddy says he’s going to retire next year.” The trooper glanced over at Griff and touched the brim of his cowboy hat.

“Paul, this is Griff Mitchell. Griff, Paul used to live down the street from us when we were growing up. Sunny and I used to babysit him.”

Griff only nodded.

“We’re on our way to Wimberley to celebrate my cousins’ anniversary,” Cass told Paul. “One of them is a Texas Ranger. You may know him. Sam Outlaw.”

“Hell, yes, I know Sam. I didn’t know he was married. And I didn’t know he was your cousin.”

She nodded. “He is. And Sunny’s engaged to another Ranger. Ben McKee.”

“You don’t say. Don’t believe I’ve met him. Tell her hello for me. Listen, Cass, I’m going to give you a pass this time, but I’m going to follow along on your tail for a bit to keep you honest.”

She gave him her most dazzling smile. “Thanks, Paul. I appreciate it.”

When she pulled away, Griff said, “Do you know everybody in this part of Texas?”

Cass laughed. “Seems that way sometimes. You have to remember the Austin I grew up in was more small town than big city. And folks I didn’t know from school or the neighborhood I knew from Chili Witches. Everybody in town ate there or worked there at one time or another.”

She watched her speed until she reached Dripping Springs and turned left toward Wimberley. Paul waved and continued straight on Highway 290. She honked and returned his wave.

“Are you going to start speeding again now?” Griff asked.

“I’ve always been a maverick,” she said with a devilish smile.

G
RIFF SAT BACK AND
enjoyed the ride and the view—of both the countryside and the driver. Cass Outlaw was indeed a maverick. Not only was she extremely attractive, she also had a sharp mind, a charming wit and an unpretentious warmth. She was like no woman he’d ever met, and she intrigued the hell out of him.

He couldn’t imagine any young lawyer tossing a fast track career with such a prestigious law firm in New York and returning to Texas to serve chili. It didn’t compute. The firm had been very pleased with her work—he’d talked with one of the partners at Baylor Croft & Wiggins—and they had offered her
incentives to stay. He wondered if there had been another reason for her leaving besides simply wanting to get back to Austin. What had caused her to now hotly disdain her chosen profession?

“A dollar for your thoughts,” Cass said.

“I was wondering how you could have avoided a speeding ticket all these years.”

She laughed but didn’t ease off the accelerator. “I fibbed a tiny bit. But I haven’t had many. In Texas we can take a defensive driving course, and any moving traffic violation won’t go on your record.”

“How many times have you taken the course?”

“A few.” She slowed a bit. “Wimberley is just ahead. It’s a charming little town with lots of artistic types. In fact Gabe and Skye’s mother is a painter and owns a gallery downtown. Skye’s father was a well-known potter.”

“Gabe and Skye had different fathers?”

“Yes. Gabe’s father was originally from Wimberley, and he inherited property from his grandparents. As I recall, his father died in an accident when he was very young and his mother, Flora, married Skye’s father, the potter, and they moved to Wimberley. It took me a while to get it all sorted out as well.”

“What does Gabe do?” Griff asked.

“I believe he’s in real estate and insurance,” she said. She turned off the highway and, after a bit, turned in to a gated area with a guard.

“Hi, Pete. We’re expected.”

“Yes, ma’am.” The big man smiled and touched the brim of his ball cap. “Your sister and her party came through a little while ago. Just drive on up to the helicopter pad, and Gabe will be back to pick you up in a little bit.”

“Thanks, Pete.” Cass roared off along a winding road.

“We’re going by helicopter?” Griff asked.

“Looks like it.”

They drove past a pasture with horses, a large house and various outbuildings, until they reached an area where several cars were parked. Obviously, Gabe Burrell was quite successful. Cass’s sister, Sunny, sat on the fender of an SUV. A man nearby was giving a small boy a boost up a tree. All three waved as they pulled up and parked.

“We’re going to ride in a helicopter!” the boy shouted, pointing to the pad.

“I know,” Cass said. “Won’t that be fun?” She introduced Griff to Sam McKee, Sunny’s fiancé, and Jay, his son.

“Jimmy and Janey are already here,” Jay said. “And another one of their cousins. The little kids didn’t come.”

“Who did come?” Cass asked Sunny.

“As I understand,” she said, “Frank and Carrie stayed in Naconiche to babysit the younger children so that everybody else could make it.”

“Look,” Jay shouted, pointing at the sky.

A sleek blue chopper hovered over their area, then set down on the pad. The boy jumped up and down with excitement, and his father could hardly restrain him until the door opened.

The pilot, a smiling blond man about Griff’s age, motioned them aboard. Everybody ducked under the blades and loaded onto the craft. Griff brought up the rear, admiring Cass’s lovely long legs and shapely butt as she climbed in ahead of him.

“Gabe Burrell,” the pilot shouted, offering Griff his hand. “Welcome to the celebration.”

“Thanks. Griff Mitchell. Sweet machine you have.”

“Just traded up for it. She’s a honey. Fasten your seat belts, and let’s go see the bluebonnets.”

When everyone was secure, Gabe lifted off and swung
south over rolling hills dotted here and there with color.
Nice view,
Griff thought,
but hardly spectacular.
A few minutes later, he had to retract that when they topped a rise and a valley of blue seemed to stretch for miles.

“Wow!” he said.

“Indeed,” Cass said, speaking loudly over the roar of the engine. “Gabe helped Mother Nature along. He scattered thousands of seeds here to make sure we had a good showing this year.”

They made two circles, then set down in a field of blue flowers a short distance away from a canopy set up by a winding stream. Several people were standing outside waving.

“Talk about a photo op,” Griff said. “And I didn’t bring my camera.”

“I did,” Cass told him. “I’ll share pictures.” She pulled a camera from her bag and began snapping the moment she stepped off the helicopter. Then she grabbed his hand, “Come on, and I’ll introduce you to everybody. Uncle Wes! Aunt Nonie!” she yelled, waving. “Hi, everybody!”

Trotting along behind her, Griff met the gray-haired couple who were the former sheriff of Naconiche and his wife, a retired schoolteacher who now ran an ice cream parlor on the town square.

“Griff, this is J.J. and Mary Beth. J.J. is the sheriff of Naconiche and Mary Beth owns the Twilight Inn and Tearoom.”

Griff shook hands with the tall, dark-haired J.J. and nodded to his pretty blonde wife. They exchanged a few words. Soon another couple joined them—Cole, who was even taller than J.J., and a former cop who had turned to college teaching, and his wife Kelly Martin-Outlaw.

“Kelly’s a doctor,” Cass told Griff. “Actually, we have several doctors in the family, but she’s a medical doctor. Cole
is a Ph.D. and teaches criminal justice, and Skye is a vet. Where is Skye?”

“She and Sam are driving over from San Antonio,” Cole said. “They should be here any minute.”

“Speak of the devil,” J.J. said, pointing toward a vehicle coming down the lane. “Here they are. Griff, you want a beer?”

“Sure.”

“Cooler’s this way. Come on, Cole, let’s get this guy a beer.” J.J. slapped an arm around Griff’s shoulders and steered him toward the canopy.

Along the way, a tall dark-haired woman stopped them. “Hello,” she said, smiling and offering her hand. “You must be Griff. I’m Belle Outlaw Burrell, sister to these brutes. Welcome to my bluebonnet farm.”

“This is your place?” Griff asked.

“Sure is. Gabe’s wedding present to me. Isn’t it beautiful? We were married here, along with Sam and Skye.”

“Happy anniversary,” Griff said.

“Thanks, I—”

“We don’t have time to chitchat now, sis,” J.J. said. “We’re headed for the beer before Sam gets to it and drinks it all up.”

Belle laughed. “I don’t think you have to worry. We have enough for a large army. Where’s Flora?”

“I haven’t seen her,” Cole said. “Did she come with you?” he asked Griff.

“Who’s Flora?” Griff asked, trying to keep everybody straight.

“Gabe and Skye’s mother.”

He shook his head. “She wasn’t in our group.”

“She’s not terribly fond of flying,” Belle said. “I think she and Suki must be driving out from the ranch with the rest of the food.”

“Belle,” J.J. said. “Beer.”

“Don’t let me stop you.” She made a sweep of her hand toward the coolers.

Cole plunged a big hand into the ice and pulled out three cans, popped the tops and handed them out.

“Save some for me,” a man yelled, coming toward them.

J.J. retrieved another beer and tossed it toward the approaching man, who was dressed, like the others, in jeans and a T-shirt.

He was obviously an Outlaw brother. They all looked remarkably similar. Tall, dark-haired and handsome. And tough looking. Cole, the professor, was the toughest looking of the lot.

“Griff,” J.J. said, “this tall drink of water is our baby brother, Sam. He’s the Lone Ranger.”

“Texas Ranger to you, snot-face.” He stuck out his hand and grinned. “Good to meet you, Griff. That’s my wife, Skye, talking to Sunny and Cass.”

“Griff,” the professor said, “what line are you in?”

“I’m a lawyer.”

“From New York?”

“That’s right. But my mother was born in Dallas.”

J.J. grinned. “Well, looky there. You got some good blood going for you.”

“What kind of law do you practice?” Cole asked.

Feeling strongly like a teenager being grilled by his prom date’s father, Griff took a swig of his beer. “Corporate.”

“Did you and Cass know each other in New York?” J.J. asked.

“No, we met in Austin. We’re both runners.”

“I see,” Cole said, nodding. “What brought you to Austin?”

“Business,” Griff replied. “How about them Cowboys?”

J.J. hooted with laughter. “He gotcha good, big brother. How about them Cowboys?”

Cole frowned. “Was I making you uncomfortable, Griff? Sorry. To tell you the truth, I never cared much for the
Cowboys. I was an Oilers man until they moved to Tennessee and changed their name. You a football fan?”