The Maverick Part 27

"Perhaps. I'll need some time to process what you've told me. Is there any way I can return the favor?"

"Sure," Maddie said. "Invite me to the wedding."

"Don't pack your bags just yet."

They chatted for a few minutes about mutual acquaintances, but Ca.s.s didn't mention the fire or anything more about Griff.

After they said goodbye, she lay back and stared at the ceiling. Had she judged Griff too quickly and too harshly?

Maybe she had.

She picked up her phone again and listened to her messages from Griff-all twenty-seven of them.

By the time she'd heard him pour his heart out, she was in tears. She knew without a doubt that he loved her, and everything he'd told her was true.

She got up, dressed and packed a few items in a Nordstrom's bag. Sunny's bedroom door was closed, so Ca.s.s left her a note on the kitchen counter and tiptoed out.

She drove to Griff's high-rise, went upstairs and knocked.

When he opened the door, she knew he was surprised to see her.

"Griff, let's talk."

THEY TALKED FOR A LONG, long time. A small voice inside her whispered that his words were true. She loved him. She trusted him. She could only follow her heart. One chapter of her life had closed; this was a new beginning.

When Griff held her and kissed her and made her spirit sing, she understood what the Senator had meant. She felt as if she'd found her soul mate and come home.

Epilogue.

The evening was already in full swing when Ca.s.s and Griff arrived. Griff would have rented a ballroom at the hotel if she had agreed. She'd insisted on a less ostentatious room and a small band for dancing.

And people were dancing. The entire Outlaw bunch had turned out, and Sam was twirling Gloria around the floor, while J.J. partnered Min. What a difference a year made, Ca.s.s thought as they made their way through the crowd.

Mom and Aunt Min had decided not to rebuild Chili Witches. They'd been very philosophical about the fire and the loss of their business. Perhaps it was G.o.d's way of ending that phase of their lives. They'd insisted the twins should follow their own dreams, not tie themselves to the cafe as they had. Sunny had seemed relieved by the decision, and to tell the truth, Ca.s.s was, too. They'd sold the property-not to ZASM, but to someone else.

Maybe the thieves had done them a favor. Using tapes from a surveillance camera on a nearby building, the police had caught the culprits a week after Chili Witches was destroyed. The pair, a busboy and a floor installer, had entered through Hooks, using the alarm code the busboy had stolen from his bosses. They'd sawed a hole between the men's room in Hooks and the office in Chili Witches, determined to crack the big safe the floor installer had seen there. They'd only succeeded in setting the office afire before they fled. The camera had caught them both full face, as well as their getaway car.

Ca.s.s greeted several members of POAC as they neared the podium, as well as old friends from high school and college, and new friends she'd met more recently. Sunny was there with Ben, of course, her tummy just beginning to show a little pooch.

Griff, grinning like a possum, stepped up to the microphone. "Ladies and gentlemen, may I have your attention, please." The band played an ending, and the crowd turned to the raised stage. "For those of you who don't know me, I'm Griffin Mitch.e.l.l, campaign manager for our esteemed candidate. The polls have closed. The votes have been counted, and our new city councilwoman-elected without a runoff-is Ca.s.sidy Outlaw Mitch.e.l.l!"

The band struck up a lively song and everybody applauded wildly as balloons-again, Griff's idea-fell from the ceiling. Griff whirled her around the dance floor, and Ca.s.s laughed from the pure joy of the moment and the love of her husband, family and friends. Her mother and Aunt Min had eventually fallen in love with Griff, especially after he took over the franchising of Chili Witches and made them loads of money.

Ca.s.s danced with every Outlaw there, including Wes. She even made a round of the floor with Ben, who was an excellent dancer, and Greg Gonzales, who was no slouch, either.

As they toasted with champagne, Griff held her close to his side. "Have I told you lately that I love you?"

She grinned up at him. "Not in the past half hour or so."

"Well, I do. The day you tripped over me on the jogging trail was the luckiest day of my life. I love you, Ca.s.s. Heart and soul."

Books by Jan Hudson

HARLEQUIN AMERICAN ROMANCE.

1017-THE SHERIFF*

1021-THE JUDGE*

1025-THE COP*

1135-THE REBEL*

1162-THE TEXAS RANGER*

1290-THE TWIN*

SILHOUETTE DESIRE.

1035-IN ROARED FLINT

1071-ONE TICKET TO TEXAS

1229-PLAIN JANE'S TEXAN

1425-WILD ABOUT A TEXAN

1432-HER TEXAN TYc.o.o.n