On the way back to town, they debated about going to Ca.s.s's apartment or to Griff's hotel. "I vote for your hotel," she said. "That way I don't run the risk of your running into my relatives on your way out."

Griff chuckled. "And you're how old?"

"Don't hand me that, smart guy. Would you have a woman over if you knew your mother was dropping by for breakfast?"

"Point taken. My mother is a bit old-fashioned."

"And despite the circ.u.mstances of Sunny's and my birth-or maybe because of it-so is mine. She likes to think Sunny and I are still virgins."

He laughed. "But I thought you told me Sunny's been married."

"So?"

"My hotel it is. Have you told your mom about meeting the Outlaws yet?"

"Not yet. Sunny and I are trying to think of the best way to break it gently."

"Better hurry or they'll find out some other way."

"Tell me about it," Ca.s.s said. "I've learned that secrets have a way of jumping up and biting you on the b.u.t.t. We'll probably tell them tomorrow. Maybe casually over lunch. Mom is less likely to blow a fuse if we're in a public place."

"Does this mean you're not having lunch with me?"

"Sorry. We have a lot to take care of tomorrow. Business. We're reopening on Monday. But if you're not busy on Sunday afternoon, I have an idea of a fun thing to do."

"Does it involve a lot of family?"

"Nope. Let's let it be a surprise."

"Give me a hint," he said.

"Do you like bats?"

"Baseball bats?"

"Nope. The critters."

"Like Count Dracula?"

"Not vampire bloodsuckers. The little insect-eating kind, and I'm not telling you any more."

"Come on. Now I'm intrigued."

"Good. I like being a woman of mystery."

When they pulled up to the hotel valet, Ca.s.s exited with her big purse, which she'd stowed in the backseat.

"That's the biggest purse I've ever seen you carry," Griff said as he held open the gla.s.s door.

"It's the longest one I have that doesn't look like an overnight bag. I have my jogging gear in here."

"Ahh. You planned ahead."

She winked. "I was a Girl Scout."

He laughed. "You make me laugh more than any woman I've ever known. I love that about you."

Her heart gave a little flutter, but she ignored it. She wasn't out for any serious declarations of any shape or form. Griff was fun. Here today, gone tomorrow. Or next week. Or the next.

In the elevator they could barely keep their hands off each other, and once they were in his room, they didn't even try. The chemistry between them was explosive.

They left a trail of clothes to the bedroom, and by the time they fell in bed together, the only things left were Ca.s.s's earrings and Griff's left sock.

"Oh, woman, you set me on fire," Griff said as he stroked her breast.

"The feeling's mutual," she murmured against his lips.

Their joining was quick and hot, interrupted only long enough for protection.

"I'm sorry," Griff said a few moments later. He rested his forehead against hers. "I meant for that to last. I usually have better control."

"Do this a lot, do you?"

"Not as much as you might think. I don't have much time for dating. My mind is generally on work."

"Uh-huh. Sure. And I have this bridge for sale..."

He chuckled and rolled her over on top of him. "Come here, you."

He made love to her again. Slowly. Sweetly. Thoroughly.

Sometime later, they showered, wrapped up in soft hotel robes and fed each other dessert.

"Ahh," she said, licking her lips. "Pecans, caramel and chocolate all in one. What could be better?"

Flicking a little drip off her chin with his tongue, he said, "Give me a few minutes, sweetheart, and I'll show you."

GRIFF COULDN'T SLEEP. He lay holding Ca.s.s, listening to her breathing and trying to figure out when his feelings for her had changed. He'd always been satisfied to be a love 'em and leave 'em type. Early on he'd learned commitments could be messy, but none of the women in his past had been like Ca.s.s. He'd never cared for them in the way he was beginning to care for her. Maybe it was because he was getting older. Maybe it was because there was something special about her-her laugh, her fierce dedication to her beliefs, the softness of her skin, the way she touched his heart and warmed him inside. He didn't want to leave her.

Nor did he want to hurt her.

If she knew why he was in Austin and why he'd schemed to meet her that day on the jogging trail, she would be furious. She would never forgive him if she found out. Secrets had a way of jumping up and biting you in the b.u.t.t, she'd said. He would have to make sure she didn't discover his. He couldn't bear to see her hurt, and he wasn't ready to give her up. He might never be ready.

h.e.l.l, he'd already ama.s.sed enough money to last most people the rest of their lives. Why did he need more? This deal didn't seem so important any longer.

Ca.s.s HAD SLEPT LATER than she intended, and Griff was still out like a light, sleeping so peacefully she hated to awaken him. So she dressed in her jogging clothes and left him a note. She left her other clothes and big purse behind, taking only a few essentials in her f.a.n.n.y pack, and tiptoed out. She'd meant to jog home, but it was getting late, so she grabbed a taxi and climbed out a block from her destination in case her mom and aunt got there early. than she intended, and Griff was still out like a light, sleeping so peacefully she hated to awaken him. So she dressed in her jogging clothes and left him a note. She left her other clothes and big purse behind, taking only a few essentials in her f.a.n.n.y pack, and tiptoed out. She'd meant to jog home, but it was getting late, so she grabbed a taxi and climbed out a block from her destination in case her mom and aunt got there early.

They had. Dressed for work, they were just getting out of their car when she trotted up.

"Good morning," Gloria said. "Have you been out for a run already? You don't even look winded."

"I've been practicing," Ca.s.s said. She kissed her mom and Aunt Min on their cheeks. "Why are you here so early?"

"There's lots to do yet, and you girls shouldn't have all the burden," Min said. "Besides, what else do we have to do? Have you had breakfast?"

"Not yet. Come upstairs and I'll make us some coffee."

"No need," Gloria said. "We brought a thermos full, and Sunny's stopping by one of the fast food places on her way here."

"Speak of the devil, here she is," Ca.s.s said. She waved to her sister as Sunny pulled into the back lot, and went to help carry bags inside. "You got sausage biscuits, I hope?"

"Naturally."

Once they were inside and the alarm turned off, Gloria led them to a table near the front window, and they distributed food and ate.

Sunny bagged their trash and said, "Since all of the dishes and kitchen items have to be washed, let's get the first loads into the dishwashers, and then we can have our company meeting."

"We're having a company meeting?" Ca.s.s asked.

"Yes, I left a message on your cell," Sunny said with a little smirk.

"Oops. I haven't checked my messages." She pulled her phone from her f.a.n.n.y pack. "My battery's down, and I forgot to recharge it. Sorry. What are we discussing?"

"A bunch of stuff," Sunny said. "Let's go load dishes first."

After the dishwashers were running, they gathered again at the table and Sunny handed out summaries of the books for both Chili Witches and their other properties, covering the past six months. Ca.s.s was very familiar with the figures because she'd helped Sunny and the accountant prepare them.

The elder sisters looked them over carefully. "Very nice," Min said. "It appears as if you girls are doing well with the business."

Gloria beamed with pride. "I knew everything would be in good hands. I didn't know we were worth so much."

"With the downturn in some of the markets," Ca.s.s said, "I think our company is doing exceptionally well. So well, in fact, we've had some offers to expand in new directions."

"As well as some other offers," Sunny said, glancing quickly to Ca.s.s, "that we'll get to later."

Ca.s.s could see those antennae of her mother's going up again. "I'm intrigued now. What are these mysterious other offers?"

"Well," Sunny said, then cleared her throat. "We've had an offer to buy Chili Witches and the entire property around it."

"Really?" Aunt Min said. "For how much?"

When Ca.s.s told them the figure, both her mom's and her aunt's eyebrows went sky-high.

"Holy guacamole!" her mom said.

"That's a fortune!" Aunt Min added.

"But, of course," Ca.s.s said, "I wrote and declined their offer."

Gloria and Min looked at each other.

"And," Sunny said, "I received a special delivery recently from the same gentleman. This time he upped the offer by ten percent."

"Oh my!" Min said. "He's persistent."

"He's a b.a.s.t.a.r.d!" Ca.s.s exclaimed. "Dollars to doughnuts his company plans to tear down the whole block and build an ugly high-rise. No way, Jose! Chili Witches is not for sale."

Gloria and Min looked at each other again.

"Let's move on to those offers to expand you mentioned," Min said.

Sunny handed out more papers. "This company would like to introduce our chili as a frozen food item, first in selected markets, then nationally if it goes well. This is their proposal and marketing plan."

"Have you checked out this company?" Gloria asked.

"I did," Ca.s.s said. "They have an excellent reputation and a good track record."

"I'd like to give this some more thought," Min said, "but it looks like a fine idea to me."

"I agree. Anything else?"

"Another company that specializes in the start-up of franchises has approached us about franchising Chili Witches," Ca.s.s said.

"You mean like McDonald's or KFC?" her mom said.

Ca.s.s smiled. "On not so grand a scale."

"Wouldn't that require a tremendous amount of work?" Aunt Min asked.

"Only at first. This company has developed a model for franchising that streamlines the process considerably. They have a lot of experience. Of course, they take a big cut of the pie, as well."

"I think this franchising idea will take several nights sleep, but it sounds a little scary to me," Gloria said. "What do you girls think?"

"We're still sleeping on it as well," Sunny said.

"Wouldn't marketing a frozen chili be in direct compet.i.tion with franchises?" Aunt Min asked.

"Actually, no," Ca.s.s told them. "The stores, as they call them, would be another marketing outlet. Eat some, take some home for the freezer."

There was a rap on the front window, and Ca.s.s looked up to see Belle Outlaw Burrell waving and smiling on the other side of the gla.s.s. Ca.s.s felt the blood drain from her face, and Sunny looked as if she might bolt out the back door.