The bottom dropped out of Cass’s stomach. Griff was leaving? Already? Well, it wasn’t as if she didn’t expect him to leave sooner or later, but she’d ignored the reality. She tried to wrap her mind around it, but it wouldn’t wrap.

Damn! She hadn’t thought this would hit her so hard or hurt so badly. She wanted to cry, but refused to let a single tear escape. That’s what she deserved for getting too deeply involved. No way would she let him know how his leaving affected her.

Swallowing back her emotions and trying for a casual tone, she said, “Business here finished?”

“Not on your life. I’ll be back in a few days. Just some things I need to tend to in New York. Will you miss me?”

“Of course. Will you miss me?”

“Cass, I miss you every minute we’re not together,” he said softly. “I’d rather stay in Austin, but this trip can’t be avoided.”

Her heart gave a little flutter. She hoped he meant it. She really hoped he meant it, because she felt the same way. Was she falling in love with another New York lawyer? Surely not.

Later, as they sat in Chuy’s, sipping on frozen margaritas, Cass said, “I’d like to ask you something, if you don’t mind.”

“Ask anything you’d like.”

“Why did you leave so abruptly last night? Was it the talk about ghosts?”

He chuckled. “The talk about ghosts? No, of course not. I left because I knew you were tired, and I forced myself to leave before I stayed and kept you up all night.” He reached for her hand and stroked the back of it with his thumb. Those incredible blue eyes captured hers. “Cass, somehow you’ve wrapped yourself around my heart. I can’t seem to get enough of you, and you’re on my mind all the time. Why do you think that is?”

For a moment she could only stare at him while ripples of tenderness and longing rose up in her like champagne bubbles. “I—I don’t know.”

“I think I’m falling for you.”

She swallowed. “You do?”

“I do. And I’m hoping you’re feeling something special for me, too.”

“I do. I mean, I like you very much, Griff. Too much, perhaps.”

“Too much? How can that be?”

“My last serious relationship left some deep scars. I’m still a little gun-shy.”

“The lawyer?” he asked. “The one from New York who soured you on the profession?”

She wasn’t at all surprised Griff had surmised correctly that she’d had a bad relationship with a lawyer. He was very perceptive. “Yes, but he wasn’t the only reason I soured on the profession. Although I’ll admit he was representative of everything I abhorred about my situation. He stole my ideas and presented them to the senior partners as his own, and got a big leg up by doing so. Worse, he didn’t see anything wrong with his dirty dealing. Fed me some line of crap about it not mattering whose ideas they were as long as they solved a problem the firm was having. Yay, team. Rah, rah, rah. Bull patties!

“He knocked me down and stomped all over my back to make points with the partners. I couldn’t do anything about it without sounding like a whining woman.”

“The bastard!”

“Uh, no. Literally, I’m a bastard. He’s a dickhead.”

Griff grinned. “Or worse.”

“Daniel was an egotistical, manipulating liar who used me for his own purposes.” She found her hand balled into a fist and shaking. “See, it still enrages me to talk about it. I can’t believe I didn’t get his number sooner. Not only did I feel betrayed, I felt like a gullible fool.”

“Cass, I’m not Daniel,” Griff said quietly.

“I know.”

“I could break his knees for hurting you. Want me to take my baseball bat and look him up when I’m in Manhattan?”

She smiled. “I’m tempted to say yes. But, no.”

“How about we get our food packed in take-out boxes?”

“Excellent idea. And a paper cup for our margaritas.”

AS SHE LAY WRAPPED in Griff’s arms, savoring the warm afterglow of their lovemaking, Cass would have been content to stay there forever. Not only was he a fabulous lover, Griff was everything else a woman would want. He was handsome, charming and considerate. He was thoughtful and kind and fun. He was every woman’s dream. Surely she was missing something. Nobody could be that perfect.

Or was he one of a kind and she simply the luckiest woman in Texas for running into Griffin Mitchell on the jogging trail?

He nuzzled her forehead. “What are you thinking?”

“Truthfully? I was thinking that you’re too good to be true. I’m wondering what’s the fatal flaw in this mix.”

“I’m not that good, but I’ll try my best to be good enough for you. The luckiest day of my life was when I met you. My mom is going to love you.”

Her cell phone rang. She located her bag and checked the ID. “Speaking of moms…” She sighed and answered.

“Cass, where are you, dear?”

“I’m out with Griff.”

“I see.” Her tone was decidedly stiff. “Well, I won’t keep you. I just wanted to let you know Min and I will be there about eleven-thirty to help with the rush hour in case things are as busy as they were today.”

“Thanks, Mom. I appreciate that.”

“No bother. We’re happy to help. Don’t stay out too late. You need your rest.”

“I won’t, Mom. Good night.”

“Gloria, I presume?” Griff asked when she’d closed the phone.

Cass nodded. “She and Min are coming in to help with the noon rush. We had wall-to-wall people today. Maybe things will ease off a little tomorrow. I need to go home and get a good night’s sleep.” She kissed his chin and poked a finger in his dimple. “For some reason I don’t sleep much when you’re around.”

“My scintillating personality?”

“That, too.”

Cass started to rise, but Griff pulled her back into his arms. “I don’t want you to leave.” His tongue slowly traced the outline of her lips, and his hand slid up her leg. “Ever.”

One kiss and she melted.

She got home an hour later than she’d planned.

THE PACE WASN’T QUITE as hectic at noon as it had been the day before, but there were no empty tables in Chili Witches, and a few people had to wait five minutes or so.

By one forty-five, things had slowed considerably. Cass, her mother and Aunt Min sat down to have a glass of tea and a salad.

“Business is booming,” Min said. “I was just telling your mother that when we first started, we were lucky to have four of our six tables occupied.”

Gloria nodded. “Chili Witches has come a long way over the years. I hate to see you girls slave so hard and such long hours. You should have families, travel, have fun, not work yourselves to a frazzle. Why—”

She stopped speaking abruptly and turned pale as she stared at the front door. Cass turned around to see what caused her mother’s reaction. Sam Outlaw was hanging his white hat on the rack.

Oh, dear.

Her hand splayed against her chest and her eyes wide, Gloria continued to stare. “You don’t have to tell me who he is. It’s one of Wes’s boys. He’s the spitting image of your father.”

“It’s Sam,” Cass said. “Do you want to meet him?”

“I suppose I must.”

“Not if it’s going to upset you, Mom.”

“Well, I want to meet him,” Min said. “It’s like seeing a ghost.”

Cass rose and met Sam as he waited by the bar. “Am I welcome?” he asked. “Is that your mother?”

“It is. Mom and my aunt. If Mom looks a little stunned, it’s because she says you’re the spitting image of my father.”

“That’s what I’ve been told. I barely remember him. I can go sit in a corner—or leave if it’s an awkward time. Have you told her about us yet?”

“Yes, we had to fess up. It’s okay. Come join us.”

Cass led Sam to the table and introduced him to Gloria and Min.

“Ladies, it’s a pleasure to meet you. Belle said you were lovely, and I can see she wasn’t exaggerating.”

Gloria chuckled. No, she giggled. “Oh, go on with you, Sam. I can tell you’re an Outlaw for sure.”

Sam grinned. “That I am, ma’am, and I’m delighted to meet you. My mama and daddy are having a fit to meet you, too. In fact the whole family is chomping at the bit to get to know you ladies. We’re all crazy about Sunny and Cass.”

“May I get you something to eat, Sam?” Min asked.

“Why, yes ma’am, thank you. I’d love a bowl of that fine chili and a big glass of iced tea.”

Min and Gloria both smiled, and Cass bit the inside of her cheek to keep from laughing out loud. Sam was turning it on full blast.

Gloria asked about the rest of the Outlaw family, and Sam whipped out his wallet and began pulling out pictures, first of his wife, Skye, then of the other families. “And this,” he said, “is my oldest brother, Colt, and his wife and little girl.”

He had group pictures of everybody, and he proudly displayed them and told a little about each one. Cass wondered if he carried all those photos in his wallet as a rule. It made his billfold very fat.

Sam continued to charm the ladies while he ate his chili and drank his tea, then topped them off with a big bowl of peach cobbler and ice cream. “I love this cobbler,” he said as he shoveled it in.

“Would you like another?” Min asked.

“Oh, no, ma’am. I gotta keep fit to catch crooks.”

“What are you doing in Austin today, Sam?” Cass asked.

“Talking to the sheriff about a cold case we’re working.” To Gloria and Min he said, “I’m a Texas Ranger based in San Antonio and part of a team that focuses on old cases that were never solved.”

Gloria nodded. “I noticed your badge.”

“Well, I hate to eat and run,” Sam said, “but duty calls.”

He pulled out his wallet again, but Gloria waved it away. “Our treat.”

“Why, thank you, ma’am. I’m honored.” He stood. “I’m looking forward to meeting you again soon.”

Cass walked him to the door. “I thought I was going to have to get out the shovel for a minute.”

Sam grinned. “Did I do good?”

“You were superb.”

He kissed her cheek, grabbed his hat and left.

When Cass returned to the table, Gloria sighed. “Such a nice young man. Wes must be very proud of him. Too bad he’s married and your cousin.”

“Well, he’s not available,” Cass said, “and I really like Griff. Don’t you?”

“Not particularly,” her mother said. “Min, are you ready to go get those geraniums?”

“Wait a minute,” Cass said. “Why don’t you like Griff?”

“I’m not exactly sure. I think it’s something in his eyes.”

“But, Mom, his eyes are gorgeous. You said so yourself.”

“I’m not talking about their appearance. It’s more about—oh, I don’t know, maybe the expression. He’s a bit too…”

“Slick,” Min finished.

Exasperated at the two of them, Cass clenched her teeth. “You’ve said that before. If you’re talking slick, Sam Outlaw is slicker than goose grease.”

“Oh, not like Sam,” Gloria said. “He’s just a good old Texas boy with a knack for charming bull doo-doo. I’m talking about a different kind of slick. An underhanded kind of slick. Mark my word, Cass, Griffin Mitchell will break your heart.”

“That man is just not copacetic,” Min said. “Is he married?”

Cass’s heart almost stopped, and a strange feeling came over her. “Of course not! Whatever gave you such an idea?”

Married? Surely not. The thought had never occurred to her. If he was married, if he’d been lying to her, she would die. She would just die.