The Maverick - By Jan Hudson Page 0,14
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 attitude, 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 butt 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 pussycats. 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.”
Cass 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 Mitchell 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?”
Cass 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 Cassidy and the Sundance Kid 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 grass stains all over my shorts.”
She laughed. “Griff, are you ever going to learn? Trust me, nobody 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.”
CASS 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.
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