The Maverick - By Jan Hudson Page 0,32
the bathroom.”
“Right. Be right back.”
He was back with a handful of bottles before she got settled. He spread the towel over his thighs, then patted it. “Put your feet up here.” After he unscrewed a bottle cap, he sniffed the contents. “This ought to do it.”
He picked up her left foot, kissed her big toe, then poured about half the contents on the top of her foot and began to massage.
Griff had been right. He did have wonderful hands. Still, something didn’t seem quite right. Cass lifted her head and looked at her foot. Despite his enthusiastic rubbing, the lotion hadn’t dispersed at all. True, he’d used quite a bit, but none of it was being absorbed into her skin.
“What did you put on my foot?”
He grinned. “Good-smelling stuff. Like it?”
“Griff, my foot is beginning to lather.”
He frowned, then picked up the small bottle he’d used and squinted at the writing on it. Handing it to her, he said, “What does that say?”
She read it and started laughing. “Didn’t you read it?”
“I don’t have my contacts in.”
“I didn’t know you wore contacts.”
“I do. Otherwise I’m blind as one of those bats you’ve been talking about. What does it say?”
“Shampoo.” She howled with laughter.
Griff wasn’t amused. She could tell by the air he turned blue. “I’m sorry. Now I feel like a damned fool.”
“I think it’s a hoot. It’s reassuring to know you’re not perfect.”
“Honey, trust me, I’m a long way from perfect.”
She put her arms around his neck and drew him close. “Couldn’t prove it by me.”
Chapter Thirteen
It was after midnight before Cass finally made it home and fell into bed. Knowing there were still dozens of last minute things to do the next day, she postponed her Sunday surprise activity with Griff until Monday. He didn’t seem to mind. In fact he showed up at Chili Witches Sunday morning with huge boxes of breakfast tacos and doughnuts for everybody.
“Wasn’t it sweet of Griff to bring these?” Cass said to her mother as she offered her a taco.
“Very nice of him.” Gloria gave Griff a polite smile.
Ben McKee and his brother-in-law, Rick, came in a pickup to return the stored office furniture to its place. Griff pitched in and helped tote the desk, file cabinets and other items to the café’s office. With everybody helping, the office was restored quickly and the computer and other electronic equipment plugged up and ready to go.
By one o’clock, the dishes sparkled, the pantry was stocked, the cooler was full and everything was prepared for Monday. The kitchen staff left, Gloria and Min went home for a nap, Rick took off in the pickup and Ben rode home with Sunny. Griff and Cass were left alone to lock up.
“Want to come upstairs and watch the game?” she asked.
“Which game?”
“Whichever one is on. Sunday afternoon is sports or old movies.”
“Sure, but I have to get something from the car first. I brought you a present.”
“A present. What?”
“It’s a surprise.” He trotted to his rental car and took out a red gift bag.
When he handed it to her, Cass peeked inside, then smiled. “Massage lotion. There must be a quart here.”
“Be Prepared is my motto. Let’s go upstairs and I’ll massage your tootsies properly.” He gave her a devilish grin.
The foot massage didn’t happen. They ended up on Cass’s sectional watching the Yankees, with Griff’s head in her lap. In about twenty seconds flat, he was sound asleep.
When it became apparent he was down for the count, she gently retrieved the remote clutched in his hand and switched to an old musical comedy.
When Cass awoke sometime later, she was surprised to find herself with her head against Griff’s shoulder and the Yankees in the last of the ninth.
“I didn’t mean to fall asleep,” she said, stretching.
“You were tired. I hate to see you work so hard, and it seems as if your talents are wasted running a café. Have you considered doing something else?”
“Well, I’ve considered running for city council.”
“Sounds like a great idea. Do it.”
Cass sighed. “Even a campaign would take a tremendous amount of time, and if I got elected, I’d hate to dump most of the responsibility for the business on Sunny. I just couldn’t do that to her, especially now when she and Ben are getting married, and she’ll have a family to think about.”
“Have you ever considered selling the business?” Griff asked.
“Bite your tongue, buster. Sunny and I grew up in Chili Witches, and Mom and Aunt Min worked too hard