The Maverick - By Jan Hudson Page 0,8
more and more tempting. Too often he found himself thinking about her lips and her long legs, and weaving fantasies about both. Instead of charming her as he’d intended, he was discovering that she was the one wielding the flute.
He would have to watch that. Getting seriously involved with one of the principals wasn’t part of the plan.
Cass returned in a short time, and they took their places for the performance. The seats were excellent, as was the show.
When they were leaving the theater, Griff asked, “Want to stop somewhere for a drink and a bite to eat?”
“Sure,” Cass said. “There’s a great place just a few blocks from here that you might like. They have a fantastic wine selection and serve Spanish style tapas.”
Brad was waiting with the car, and he drove them the few blocks to the spot she’d suggested. Other theatergoers seemed to have the same idea, so the place was filling up, but they found a vacant table in a back corner.
“I adore tapas,” Cass said. “I even like to order from the appetizer menu at regular restaurants so I can have a little bit of everything.” She picked up her menu and scanned all the interesting selections. “What are your favorites?”
“Since you’re familiar with the house specialties,” Griff said, “you choose the food, and I’ll pick the wine.”
“Fair enough, but you might be sorry. I wasn’t kidding when I said I like to try some of everything. I’ll limit myself to four dishes. We must have the goat cheese cakes with lavender honey, and the spinach empanadas. Do you like scallops?”
“I like everything except liver and grasshoppers.”
Cass smiled. “You’re safe then. I hate liver, too, and I don’t see grasshoppers on the menu. We can have the sea scallops wrapped in basil leaves and ham, and either the crawfish cakes or the roasted piquillo peppers.”
“Aren’t crawfish sort of like grasshoppers?”
“Bite your tongue, Yankee. Crawfish are more like shrimp. We’ll have the crawfish cakes. Trust me, they’re delicious here. Or maybe you’d rather have some fruit and cheese.”
“Get both.”
“Don’t tempt me,” Cass said. “I warned you that I like some of everything.”
“Then order some of everything.”
She chuckled. “I’ll restrain myself. I doubt if we can make a dent in the ones I mentioned.”
“Then we’ll take a doggy bag.”
“Doggy bag, my foot. We’ll take a Cass container. I don’t have a dog. I don’t even have a cat, though I’ve been thinking of getting one. Sunny is always after me to adopt one, and I kind of like cats.”
A waiter came and took their order. Griff chose a wine Cass had never heard of, but she had no doubt it would be excellent. He was that kind of guy. And, as it turned out, the wine was superb.
“Do you have a pet?” Cass asked him.
“Lord, no. I don’t even have a live plant in my apartment. I’m gone so much that it’s impractical. If I settle in Austin, I might get a dog. I’ve wanted one since I was a kid, but my younger brother had allergies, so I had to be content with fish. It’s not the same.”
“Kind of hard to play fetch with a fish.”
He laughed. “True.”
“What kind of dog do you want?”
“I’m not sure.”
“You need to talk to Sunny or to Skye, my cousin’s wife. Sunny volunteers at one of the animal shelters, and she’s always looking for good homes for the cats and dogs there. Skye’s a veterinarian and a bit fey. She could probably look at you and recommend the perfect pet.”
“That sounds interesting.”
“She’s an interesting lady. All my relatives are interesting. In fact, I’ll be seeing several of them on Sunday. We’re having a bluebonnet picnic. Maybe you’d like to come along. I’m sure you’d be welcome.”
He grinned. “You’re eating bluebonnets?”
“Not that I know of. It’s sort of an anniversary party and celebration of the bluebonnets for a couple of my first cousins. They had a double wedding in a bluebonnet field before Sunny and I met them last year.”
Griff frowned. “You just met your cousins last year?”
“It’s a long and complex story. Ah, here’s our food. I’m famished.”
The table was so filled with the variety of delicacies she’d ordered that Cass had a difficult time knowing where to start. She reached for a small spinach empanada and took a bite. “Ah, heavenly. Here, taste.” She held out the other half, and he ate it from her hand.
“Very good. Are you going to feed me the rest of the meal?”
Smiling, Cass