The Maverick Part 5

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," Ca.s.s 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. "h.e.l.lo," 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 Ca.s.s."

"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 Ca.s.s 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?"

"More baseball than football."

"Okay, guys," Belle said. "Break it up. We're not going to have any of that men-huddled-around-the-beer stuff. Mix and mingle. Who thinks they could beat me at a game of horseshoes before lunch?"

"Ding-a-ling," Cole said, throwing an arm around her neck in a headlock. "I can whip you any day of the week."

Saved by the bell, Griff thought, wandering off to find Ca.s.s. He met Skye and Flora, the artist, a slightly fey woman in a purple outfit who studied him intently. She c.o.c.ked her head this way and that, then said, "Ah, you have an interesting aura. I'd like to talk with you more later." She patted his cheek and sighed. Griff thought, wandering off to find Ca.s.s. He met Skye and Flora, the artist, a slightly fey woman in a purple outfit who studied him intently. She c.o.c.ked her head this way and that, then said, "Ah, you have an interesting aura. I'd like to talk with you more later." She patted his cheek and sighed.

When Flora flitted away, Griff asked Ca.s.s, "What did she mean?"

Skye chuckled. "With Mother, one never knows. She sees things some of the rest of us don't, and she's always looking for subjects to paint. I have a lovely painting of Sam in armor and wearing his cowboy hat. She nailed him perfectly."

Griff tried not to squirm. Ca.s.s's family made him very uncomfortable. Everyone except Gabe. And maybe Belle and Nonie. Griff gravitated toward Gabe, and they discussed the real estate business in the area. He was obviously an astute businessman.

Their picnic lunch was laid out buffet style, and they sat at folding tables under the canopy instead of on blankets. Except for the children. They insisted on sitting among the flowers to eat.

When they finished eating, Wes Outlaw rose. He held his winegla.s.s high. "I'd like to propose a toast to Belle and Gabe and to Skye and Sam on the occasion of their anniversary. May their lives always be as happy as Nonie's and mine have been."

"Hear! Hear!" Everyone raised their gla.s.ses.

"Anyone have any announcements to make?" Wes asked, looking around expectantly.

Sunny raised her hand. "Ben and I are getting married in early summer. You'll all be invited."

Everybody cheered and clapped, and J.J. whistled.

Skye raised her hand, and Sam looked at her strangely. "We're expecting a little bundle at our house."

Sam's eyes bugged, and he almost fell off his chair. "We are?"

She laughed. "Our llama's pregnant."

Chapter Six.

"Wasn't that fun?" Ca.s.s asked on the drive home. "I do adore that bunch of people."

"Nice folks," Griff said.

Even though he smiled and said the right things, Ca.s.s got the sudden impression that poor Griff hadn't had fun at all. He'd been charming to everyone the whole afternoon, but was it all an act? "I suppose the gang might be overwhelming all at once. What was I thinking to put you through such an ordeal? Will you forgive me?"

"There's nothing to forgive. I enjoyed meeting your family. I don't recall ever being around so many lawmen at one time-at least not since the cops raided a frat party when I was in college."

"Don't tell me you were intimidated."

"By a forest of drawling Texas Rangers and country sheriffs? Not me, darlin'."

Ca.s.s frowned. Did she hear a smidgen of condescension in his tone? More than a smidgen, she decided. And it rankled. She was nuts about her newfound Outlaw relatives and proud of every one of them. Totally aggravated by his att.i.tude, she was tempted to stop her car and leave him on the side of the road. The sooner she could get back to Austin and dump this New Yawk Yankee, the better. She should never have taken up with him in the first place. A cute b.u.t.t and gorgeous eyes didn't trump narrow-mindedness.

Griff must have picked up on her thoughts because he said, "Okay, I admit the Outlaw guys made me a little uneasy. The mere size of them is enough to make anybody quake in their boots."

"But they're all p.u.s.s.ycats. Sweet as pie."

Griff chuckled. "Don't let the big grins and back slapping fool you. Those guys, McKee included, could wade into a pack of hungry grizzlies and come out unscathed."

Ca.s.s laughed. "And with several bearskin rugs. I'll give you that."

"I wouldn't want to meet any of them in a dark alley. I'm a lover, not a fighter." He gave her a very engaging grin.

She laughed again. She suspected that Griffin Mitch.e.l.l could hold his own in that alley, but his comments had deflated her pique with him. "Don't discount Belle. She has a black belt in something or other."

"I'm not at all surprised. Are you a martial arts expert, as well?"

Ca.s.s rolled her eyes. "Hardly. Now Sunny is another story. She's the tough twin."

"What was your father like?" Griff asked. "Was he as big as the rest of the Outlaws?"

"I never saw him." She wasn't going to mention the recent glimpses she'd had of the Senator-or whoever. "I gather from talking with Uncle Wes that they were about the same size-about like J.J. when they were young."

"You and Sunny look a great deal like your cousin Belle."

"Everybody says that. Strong Outlaw genes, I suppose."

"You must be tired," Griff said. "Would you like me to drive?"

She grinned. "Is that a subtle hint for me to ease up on the accelerator?"

"Not at all. Just an offer."

"I'm fine. I love driving. I missed not having a car when I was in New York. I tried keeping one for a while, but the parking was ridiculous and the traffic so unbelievable I gave up after a couple of months. Do you have a car?"

"I keep one at my parents' house, but I live in Manhattan and travel so much it's not practical for me to have one in the city. If I decide to move to Austin, I'll have to have a car. Around here, it's a necessity."

"For sure."

As they neared his hotel, he said, "I noticed in the newspaper this morning that Butch Ca.s.sidy and the Sundance Kid Butch Ca.s.sidy and the Sundance Kid is showing at some place called the Alamo Drafthouse. Know where it is?" is showing at some place called the Alamo Drafthouse. Know where it is?"

"Of course. It's a movie theater with some added features-like beer and food. There are several around town. They show old movies as well as first runs. Sometimes there's live entertainment."

"Would you like to go see Butch and Sundance jump off the cliff?"

She thought for a moment, testing for any residual irritation with him. Not finding any and not having anything better to do, she said, "Sure." She checked her watch. "I suspect the evening feature will be starting soon."

"I hope we have time to change and still make it."

"Change? Change what?"

"Our clothes. I have gra.s.s stains all over my shorts."

She laughed. "Griff, are you ever going to learn? Trust me, n.o.body at the Alamo will notice. Though you might fit in better if you had some flip-flops."

"Can we at least stop by my hotel and let me wash up?"

"Well, I suppose. If you insist."

Ca.s.s WASN'T SO SURE stopping by his hotel suite was the brightest decision she ever made. Feeling tired, she plopped down on the comfy couch while he went into the bedroom. He left the door open, and she could see the king-size bed and a shirt he'd tossed on it. stopping by his hotel suite was the brightest decision she ever made. Feeling tired, she plopped down on the comfy couch while he went into the bedroom. He left the door open, and she could see the king-size bed and a shirt he'd tossed on it.

Funny how a casually dropped shirt could stir sensual little shivers in her. She'd never met a man who could turn her on-and off-so easily. One minute she wanted to jump his bones and the next she wanted to brain him with the nearest blunt object. Was her seesawing a result of fighting her attraction to him? Maybe so, but at the moment the switch was flipped to On.

She hugged her knees and curled up on the couch, leaning her head back against the soft pillow. Was any sort of relationship with Griff worth pursuing? He might be gone to who knows where next week. But the fact was, she had a powerful itch for the man. On the other hand, he had a lot in common with Daniel, her ex-fiance, and that was scary.

Ca.s.s sighed, and her next breath drew in his scent, a s.e.xy male aroma totally different from Daniel's. Her hormones began to dance like dervishes.