Ben grinned

“You’re a beautiful woman, Sunny Outlaw Payton, both inside and out, and I’m a lucky man to be with you.”

Electricity seemed to crackle and hiss between them as his eyes caressed her face. She had no idea about any long-term relationship with Ben, but she didn’t want to think about that now.

She wanted only to savor tonight.

She wanted to feel the warmth and comfort and passion of a man again.

Of Ben.

Dear Reader,

So many folks who have enjoyed the Outlaw family stories have asked if there aren’t any more Outlaws around. Well, I investigated and, by golly, found that Uncle Butch Cassidy Outlaw, who was a Texas State senator, had a couple of secrets, including twin daughters none of his family knew about. The Twin is the first of two stories about these sisters, who run Chili Witches Café in Austin.

Naturally it’s Sam Bass Outlaw from The Texas Ranger (AR, May 2007) who first meets his cousin Sunny, and, wouldn’t you know, he happens to stop in to have a bowl of chili with another Texas Ranger, Ben McKee. (I’ve told you before that I’m a sucker for tall, handsome Texas Ranger heroes.) Sunny and Ben are perfect together, but even with the senator’s help, it takes a while for them to realize that.

Austin is a wonderful town, laid-back and mellow, and rich in history as the state’s capital. It’s also famous for its music scene, and I’ve added some of that flavor for you to sample, as well.

Now, I’m not allowed to share Chili Witches’ recipe, but for those of you who like Texas chili, the recipe is quite similar to several recent winners of the Terlingua International Chili Championship. TICC 2008 winner Susan Dean’s entry would give you a good approximation. www.chili.org/terlingua.html.

Enjoy!

Jan Hudson

The Twin

Jan Hudson

MILLS & BOON

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jan Hudson, a former college psychology teacher, is a RITA® Award-winning author of thirty books, a crackerjack hypnotist, a dream expert, a blue-ribbon flower arranger and a fairly decent bridge player. Her most memorable experience was riding a camel to visit the Sphinx and climbing the Great Pyramid in Egypt. A native Texan whose ancestors settled in Nacogdoches when Texas was a republic, she loves to write about the variety of colorful characters who populate the Lone Star State, unique individuals who celebrate life with a “howdy” and “y’all come.” Jan and her husband currently reside in Austin, and she loves to hear from readers. E-mail her at JanHudsonBooks@gmail.com.

For my own Ben,

a hero in the making, and

with special thanks to Jan Yonkin,

Tracy Wolff, Lexi Connor and April Kihlstrom

Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-One

Chapter Twenty-Two

Chapter Twenty-Three

Chapter Twenty-Four

Chapter Twenty-Five

Chapter One

Ten-thirty on Monday night, and it was past closing time at Texas Chili Witches Café. Sunny Payton closed out the register while the late staff, dressed in their jeans and red Chili Witches T-shirts, bussed the tables and cleaned the kitchen. Coming off a twelve-hour shift, she was bone tired, her feet ached and she was ready to go upstairs and soak in an herbal-scented bath for about a week and a half.

After she stowed the receipts in the office safe, she let her employees out the back door, calling good-night and seeing they all got in their cars safely.

“Jeff, I want to hear that you aced your chem test,” she said to a tall, lanky blond.

He grinned. “You’re as bad as my mama.”

“Worse,” she said, grinning back. “A million times worse.”

Most of the staff were students from the University of Texas, working flex hours to pay for those cars or buy books, which were outrageous these days, even more costly than when she was in school nearly a dozen years ago. The cooks had left earlier, one of the perks of their job. The students came and went, but the cooks and a couple of others were longtime employees. Many of them had worked for her mother and Aunt Min when they ran the place.

Sunny checked the kitchen, then made a last trip through the two dining areas with the scarred, red-topped tables and rough cedar walls filled with Texas memorabilia, funny signs and assorted collectibles. The kitschy wall decor was swapped out occasionally, and the computer and register were state-of-the-art, but not much else had changed for as long as she could remember.

She was reaching for the light switch when she saw him.

Her heart lurched as it always did. He sat at his usual corner table, a cup of coffee near his hand.

“Hello, Senator.”

“Hello, Sunny.” He smiled. “Busy day?”

She nodded and sat down beside him. “Very. We had a little cold snap today, and everybody in Austin was in the mood for chili. It’s supposed to be back up to ninety by the weekend, so things will be manageable again. I haven’t seen you for a while.”

He smiled. “Miss me?”

“I always miss you, Senator.”

“How’s your sister?”

“Cass is settling in and doing well. It’s good to have her home. Now she and I can share the work, and Mom has finally been able to retire completely.”

“That’s good. I’ll have to drop in on Cassidy.”

Sunny laughed. “You do, and you’ll scare the pants off her.”

He smiled. “It’s good to hear you laugh again.”

“Oh, I laugh a lot these days.”

“Glad to hear it. Maybe now you’re ready to meet a special fellow.”

She shook her head. “I already did. Brian. He was special. I don’t need anyone else.” And she didn’t. Brian was the love of her life. When he’d died, a part of her had died, as well.

“Honey, it’s been three years since—”

“Sunny!” her sister yelled from the back.

“Sounds like Cassidy,” the Senator said, tenderness filling his eyes.

“Ignore her.” Sunny absently reached to touch his arm. As usual, her hand only touched the table.

“Your sister is tough to ignore.”

“Who are you talking to?” Cassidy asked as she charged into the room.

“The Senator.”

Cass rolled her eyes. “Oh, gawd! Not that again. I just got home from the play and decided I want a beer.” She walked behind the small bar and grabbed a mug. “Want one?”

“You know I hate beer.”

Cass drew a draft and joined Sunny at the table.

“How was the play?”

“Fantastic!”

“How was the date?”

“Abysmal. He had an ego the size of Texas and a brain the size of Rhode Island. If I ever agree to another blind date, tie me to a chair.”

Sunny laughed and glanced toward the Senator.

He was gone.

And so was his cup.

Wonder what had prompted his visit? With him, one never knew.

Chapter Two

At noon on Wednesday, Sunny was helping clear a couple of empty tables when she spotted two very tall guys hanging their white ten-gallons on the hat rack by the door. When they turned around, she sucked in a little gasp—and she rarely did that, but these two were unusually good-looking men. Texas Rangers by the looks of the silver badges on their dress shirts and the narrowed cop eyes that quickly scanned the room.

As she approached, the dark-haired one grinned and said, “Boy howdy, it smells good in here.”

The sandy-haired one only smiled slightly, dipped his head and stared at her with the greenest eyes she’d ever seen. Taken aback by their color and the intensity of his look, an odd feeling flashed over her.

She forced herself to break eye contact. “And everything tastes as good as it smells. First time at Chili Witches?”

“Yes, ma’am,” the dark-haired one said, “but I ’spect it won’t be the last if your chili is as good as I’ve heard it is.”

“Count on it,” Sunny said. “It’s an old family recipe we’ve been making here for over forty years. We have mild, medium and ‘hotter than hell,’ as well as a vegetarian version. Don’t try the ‘hotter than hell’ unless you have a well-seasoned mouth and a cast-iron belly. Grab any table that suits you. The one in the corner is free.”

The men looked at each other. “Anywhere you want is fine with me,” the sandy-haired one said. “You like to keep your back to the wall, Outlaw?”

“You betcha.”

The men started for the corner table, but Sunny stopped in her tracks. Outlaw? It was not a common name, but not that unusual, either. Although she rarely heard it. Was it possible…? Nah.

She followed them to the table as they sat down. Picking up two menus wedged between the sugar dispenser and a black minicaldron of saltine packets, she handed them to the Rangers. “Your server will be with you in a minute. May I get you something to drink?”

“Iced tea would be mighty nice,” the dark-haired one said. He was a charmer. A married charmer by the looks of his shiny gold ring.

“Iced tea for me, too,” said Green Eyes as he gave her the once-over.

His left hand was bare. Not that his marital state mattered to Sunny one way or another. She wasn’t in the market for a man. But she had to admit his slow perusal revved her motor just a little. Just her pesky hormones acting up, she decided as she hurried to the drink station. She ignored the ominous tingle rising along her spine, the one that usually warned of some momentous or unusual happening.

The Senator suddenly materialized behind the bar. “Mighty nice-looking young fellow,” he said.

“Which one?” she asked, being careful to keep her back to the room.

“Both of them, but I was thinking of the green-eyed one for you.”

She made a snort. “Forget that,” she muttered out of the side of her mouth. “Don’t meddle in my love life.”

He smiled. “What love life?”

When she headed back to the table with their tea, the one called Outlaw was staring at her and frowning.

“Is something wrong?” Sunny asked.

“No, no. Everything’s just fine, but I’m trying to remember where I know you from. Have we met before?”

“I don’t think so,” Sunny said.

“You sure look familiar.”

“Maybe I just have one of those faces.” She ought to let it drop and leave, but a funny little feeling tickled the back of her neck. She just had to ask. “Did I hear you’re called Outlaw?”

“Yes, ma’am,” he said. “Sam Bass Outlaw at your service.”

What felt like a five-pound rock hit her stomach and bounced. “Sam Bass Outlaw?”

“That’s me. My granddaddy was big on all his descendants having the names of famous outlaws. He claimed it was good name recognition for anyone in business or politics—or law enforcement. I’ve got three brothers and a sister all named for shady characters and all in some kind of law enforcement—except my sister, and she used to be an FBI agent before she quit and bought a newspaper. There’s Cole Younger Outlaw, Jesse James Outlaw, Frank James Outlaw, and Belle Starr Outlaw. My daddy was John Wesley Hardin Outlaw, and his brother was—”

“Butch Cassidy Outlaw,” Sunny finished before she could stop herself.

Sam’s eyebrows went up. “How’d you know that?”

She sighed. Had the Senator engineered this whole thing? “My name is Sunny Outlaw Payton—or more accurately, Sundance Outlaw Payton. Butch Cassidy Outlaw was my father.”

Sam looked puzzled. “But Uncle Butch and his—”

“I know. But he was my father.”

“Are you sure?”

“Very.”

She turned and hurried away.

“WHAT WAS THAT ALL ABOUT?” Ben McKee asked Sam.

“I’m not quite sure, but I think I just met my cousin. Now I remember why she looks familiar. She reminds me of my sister, Belle. Both tall, brunette. Same eyes. Same nose. Well, I’ll be damned.”

“And you never knew you had a cousin?”

“Nope, not by Uncle Butch. I don’t even remember him, but I know he and Aunt Iris never had children.”

“Aunt Iris?”

“His wife in Naconiche. I never liked her much. She was a sour-faced old prune who put the fear of God into us kids if we so much as spilled a cookie crumb on her settee. I hated to go visit her.”

“I take it your uncle is dead,” Ben said.

Sam nodded. “Somebody shot him thirty years ago. Right on the steps of the capitol building. Be funny if it was Aunt Iris. Well, not funny, but ironic.”

“They didn’t catch his killer?”

“Nope. Never did.”

“She’s a beautiful woman,” Ben said.

“Who?”

“Your cousin.”

“You interested?” Sam asked.

“Oh, yeah.”

“Me, too,” Sam said. “But in a different way than you are. I’ve got to call my folks. They’re not going to believe this.”

“I don’t imagine your aunt Iris is going to be happy about it.”

“Aunt Iris is long gone.”

“Dead?”

“May be, for all I know. She married a preacher about fifteen or twenty years ago and moved to Des Moines. We haven’t heard from her since. Not even a Christmas card.”

Their chili came, served by the young man who was their waiter. He also delivered a cauldron of the oyster crackers they’d ordered along with chopped onions and a couple of kinds of grated cheese. They both dug in. This was good chili. No, it was great chili. But hot. Real hot.

“Are you sure we ordered the medium?” Ben asked.

“Hoo-wee,” Sam said, “this stuff is hotter than a three-dollar pistol. But good. I’ll bet the hottest kind would blister the paint off a butane tank. Dump some of those oyster crackers in it. And some of that cheese. Cuts down on the fire.”

Ben doctored up his bowl and ate the whole thing. His forehead was a little damp when he finished, but he’d enjoyed it. A girl came by and refilled their iced tea glasses. He chugged the second glass and looked around for Sunny, but she still hadn’t reappeared. Where had she gone?

Sam must have read his mind. “Wonder where Sunny ran off to?”

Ben shrugged. “I was wondering the same thing.”

When the waiter came to get dessert orders, Sam asked him about Sunny.

“She must be in the office.”

“The office? She the manager?” Ben asked.

“Owner and manager. One of them. How about some peach cobbler with ice cream? Or pecan pie?”

They both ordered cobbler.

“How long has Sunny been the owner and manager of this place?” Sam asked the waiter before he could leave.

“Couple of years, I think. She took over from her mother and her aunt before I started working here.”

“From her mother?”

The waiter nodded. “Her mother and aunt started the café. My grandfather says he’s been coming here since it opened back in the seventies. That was way before Austin built up so much downtown. I’ll get your cobbler.”

SUNNY SAT IN HER OFFICE for a long time, staring out the window at the courtyard and fighting the urge to go back and ask Sam Bass Outlaw about his family. Her family. Her family and Cassidy’s. She’d always longed to meet them, but her mother would have been mortified if she’d tried. Probably still would be.

Should she tell Cass who had just dropped into Chili Witches? Knowing her twin, Cass would go charging to his table and demand answers. She picked up the phone to call upstairs, then put it back down again.

Maybe it was best to let sleeping dogs lie.

Chapter Three

A couple of days later, Ben McKee managed to shake loose from a case he’d been working on by lunchtime. He’d had a hankering for some more chili ever since he and Sam had visited Chili Witches. He’d had a hankering to see Sunny again, as well. She was a good-looking woman with a warm smile, and he’d been thinking about her a good bit. He hadn’t been in Austin long and hadn’t had much time to meet any ladies.

Oh, his sister Tracy had been trying to fix him up with this one and that, but he’d sidestepped her efforts at matchmaking. He wasn’t interested in the type of women she wanted to introduce him to—the picket fence and happily-ever-after kind. He’d tried that, and he was still paying the price for it. Only thing good that had come from his marriage was his son, Jay.

He grinned at the thought of his five-year-old towhead as he pulled into a parking spot by the café. God, he loved that little boy. No way in hell was his ex getting her hands on him again. Marla had never wanted Jay; she was a party girl and having a kid cramped her style. Having a husband had cramped it, too.

Ben spotted Sunny the moment he walked in the door. Her back was to him, but he’d recognize the curve of her jeans anywhere. When she turned and spotted him, she grinned.

“Well, hello, Ranger,” she said, walking toward him. “Ben, isn’t it?”

He felt himself grinning back at her. “Right. And you’re Sunny.”

“That’s me. Where’s your running buddy?”

“Who? Sam?”

She nodded.

“He’s based in San Antonio. He’s only in Austin occasionally.”

She glanced around the restaurant. “I see that same corner table is available. Seat yourself, and I’ll get your drink. Iced tea okay?”

“Tea is fine.” Ben made his way to the table and sat with his back to the wall so that he could watch Sunny.

On her way to the bar, she spoke to several people as she passed, including a group of three Austin police officers. They all laughed at something she said to them. A fourth cop came in before she moved on, looped his arm around her neck and kissed her cheek. She grinned and bumped her hip against his.

Ben watched the interplay. Boyfriend? Lover? Or was she just a flirt? He picked up the menu and studied it.

He didn’t get very far with his studying before Sunny was back with his tea.

“Here you go,” she said. “Your waiter will be right with you.”

“You seem to draw a lot of cops.” He glanced to the table of four.

She laughed. “Yep. It’s because they get a twenty percent discount on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.”

“Really?”

“Uh-huh. You get one, too.”

“And why is that?”

“You’re a cop, aren’t you?”

“Well, sure, but I meant why the discount?”

She grinned. “Because I’m civic-minded. And because I used to be one.”

“You? A police officer?”

The surprise must have registered on his face, because she laughed. “Is that so hard to believe?”

“I just can’t picture you with a gun on your belt.”

She sobered. “I wore one for a lot of years. Oh, here’s Pete to take your order. Enjoy your lunch, Ben.” Sunny turned and was gone before he could say another word.

Ben ordered his meal and ate without speaking to Sunny again. The place was busy, and he watched her move around all over the rooms, smiling and talking to this one and that. He lingered a bit after he was done, but she never approached him again. Finally, he rose and started for the door.

“Everything to your liking, Ben?” she asked, suddenly appearing by the hat rack. She handed him his Stetson.

“Yes, ma’am. It was.”

She smiled. “Come back soon, and bring your friends.”

“I’ll do that.” He hesitated a couple of beats, trying to think of something more to say, but he was tongue-tied and nothing came out. He nodded, crammed his hat on and left.

What the hell had gotten into him? He’d never been shy around women. He’d hoped to flirt a little bit with her, maybe ask her out for coffee or something, but he’d felt like a damn teenager all of a sudden. Crazy.

He was still trying to figure it out when his cell phone rang and his thoughts switched to business.

SUNNY STOOD AT THE DOOR and watched Ben talking on his phone. He was one fine-looking man.

“Fine-looking man,” the Senator said.

She glared at the Senator and strode to bar. Grabbing a pitcher of iced tea, she made the rounds refilling glasses. What she didn’t need in her life was a man. Fine-looking or not.

When the lunch-hour crowd died down, she went into the kitchen and started filling a dozen plastic containers with chili, labeling the mild and medium lids. She saved the “hotter than hell” stuff for the café’s few adventurous paying customers. These were for some of Austin’s homeless. By the time the bowls were boxed up with spoons, napkins and crackers, Marge was there to pick them up.

The plump, gray-haired woman was all smiles as usual and wagging the insulated box from the previous day. “Thank you so much, Sunny. This means more than you know.”

“You always say that, Marge, and it is I who should be thanking you for all your work. A few cups of chili is nothing.”

“Oh, but it is. Chili is one of our favorite items. We have to make the guys take turns.”

“Need any salad today?”

Marge shook her head. “We have plenty from the restaurant next door, but thanks anyway.”

Sunny insisted on carrying the box outside to the mission’s vehicle. A myriad of good food smells flowed from the van when Marge opened the door.

“Looks like you hit the jackpot today,” Sunny said. “Reminds me that I haven’t eaten.”

“The restaurants in Austin are very kind to us. I collected all this in only half an hour. If you’re not in the mood for chili, the catfish at Hooks looked very good today,” Marge said, winking.

“Sounds like a winner to me.”

Marge waved as she roared off to serve the hungry folks who would be waiting for what might be their one decent meal of the day.

On cue, Sunny’s stomach growled, reminding her again that she hadn’t eaten anything since the cup of yogurt she had for breakfast many hours ago. She decided to take Marge’s suggestion and headed for Hooks, the seafood restaurant next door to Chili Witches. She and Cass often traded meals with Sid and Foster, the owners who’d also been tenants of the building for years.

Sid, a slightly plump man with thinning rusty hair, bustled over when she opened the door. “Hello, baby doll,” he said, giving her an air kiss. “Where have you been keeping yourself? Your sister just dropped in a few minutes ago. Want to join her or do you have a yen for some privacy?”

Sunny glanced around the room and spotted Cass, who grinned and waved her over. “I’ll join my sister. What’s good today?”

“Oh, my dear, we have some pecan-crusted catfish that’s to die for. Foster has outdone himself.”

“I’ll have that. Tell Foster hi for me.”

“I will,” Sid said as he held out her chair. After she was seated, Sid bustled off to get her drink. Sid bustled everywhere.

“Hey, sis,” Cass said. “How’s it going? I haven’t seen you in a couple of days. Avoiding me?”

She almost laughed off the question, but a funny little hitch in her breath stopped her. Had she been avoiding Cass? Not consciously, of course, but maybe she had. Why?

“You have,” Cass said, leaning forward. “Why? Is it a man?” She grinned. “Give, sis.”

“Don’t do your lawyer bit with me. You know that I don’t respond well to grilling.”

Cass laughed. “Look who’s talking. The grill queen. You’re like a pit bull, but don’t sidestep the question. What’s been going on with you? You know we always tell each other everything.”

Sunny thought for a moment. What was she avoiding? Not wanting to stir up old feelings, she deliberately hadn’t mentioned Sam Outlaw’s visit to the café. “Oh, I had to run a million errands yesterday, and the band practiced last night.”

Cass lifted one eyebrow and waited.

“Something sort of interesting happened Wednesday. A guy, a Texas Ranger to be exact, dropped in for lunch. His name was Sam Outlaw.”

Both of Cass’s brows went up. “Sam Bass Outlaw?”

“Yep.” She took a sip of the iced mint tea that Sid had left for her. “The very one.” Leaving out anything but a general mention of Sam’s being with another Ranger, she related the entire conversation with their relative.

“Interesting,” Cass said.

“I thought so.”

“Do you think he knew about us before he came in?” Cass asked.

“I don’t think he had a clue. It was pure coincidence.”

“I don’t believe in coincidences.”

“Well, whether you believe in them or not, I can assure you that this was,” Sunny said. “He seemed genuinely surprised. How could he have known about us to come looking? And why would he care about his illegitimate cousins? Trust me, it was a coincidence.”

Cass narrowed her eyes and peered into Sunny’s. “Is there something you left out?”

Sunny put on her best innocent face. “I’ve told you everything that I can remember about my conversation with Sam.” No way was she going to mention Ben. Cass would blow it all out of proportion and start to nag her. She was worse than the Senator. Sometimes being a twin with those special connections could be a real pain.

“Why don’t I believe you?”

“You must miss being a lawyer. There you go again with the grilling. I feel like I’m in the witness box.”

“Sunny, sweetie, I can’t hold a candle to you when it comes to interrogation. Must be all those years as a detective that honed your skills. You were great at it. Do you miss being a cop?”

Sunny hesitated. A year ago she wouldn’t have hesitated a beat in saying no, but now and again she wondered if she didn’t miss some things—not that she would admit it to Cass. “No. Not at all.”

“Are you sure?”

“Positive.”

Cass studied her for a minute; Sunny resisted squirming. “Running Chili Witches isn’t much of a challenge after being one of Austin’s finest.”

“Maybe not, but it suits me fine. Besides, I wouldn’t be much of a cop without a gun, and I never want to pick up one again.”

Cass obviously sensed Sunny’s discomfort and changed the subject. “Tell me about the other Ranger with Sam.”

Sunny squirmed, but only a hair. A hair was enough. Cass let out a hoot of laughter.

“I knew it,” Cass said. “I knew it. Tell me about him.”

“There’s nothing to tell.”

Cass rolled her eyes. “Come on, sis. This is me. What’s his name? What does he look like?”

“I think his name was Ben.”

“You think?”

“Okay. His name was Ben. I don’t even remember his last name. McSomething, I think. He was tall and kind of nice-looking. I didn’t pay much attention. I doubt that I’ll ever see him again.”

“You’re lying. Did he ask you out?”

“Of course not. I mostly talked to Sam, and we were busy in the café.”

Cass waited, that look on her face that said she wasn’t letting it go.

“And all right, he came back for lunch today.”

“Aha! I’d say that he’s interested. Was Sam with him?”

“No. He was alone.”

“That definitely means he’s interested.”

“It only means that he likes our chili. We barely spoke.”

“And why was that? Did you go hide in the kitchen?”

“Why would I hide in the kitchen?”

“Aha!” Cass said again. “I knew it. Listen to me, sis. It’s past time you put aside that shroud you’ve wrapped yourself in and rejoin the world. You’re too young to molder in widows’ weeds with your plants and cats.”

“Are you nuts? I’m not moldering, and I only have one cat.”

“How long since you’ve gone out with a man? How long since you’ve even considered going out with a man?”

“Would you stop with the goading? I’m simply not interested in dating. Not yet, in any case.”

“How long are you going to wait? Five years? Ten? Twenty?”

Thank goodness Sid appeared with their food, and Sunny was saved from answering Cass’s question. But she couldn’t help asking herself the same question. How long was she going to wait?

The whole subject gave her a headache. And for no reason. Ben might have revved her motor a little bit, but he hadn’t shown any particular interest in asking her out. Anyhow, just because he didn’t wear a wedding ring didn’t mean a thing. He could be very married. Or he could be in a committed relationship of some sort. It was unlikely that a hunk like him was available. Case closed.

Chapter Four

Sunny was just walking into Chili Witches after her lunch with Cass when the phone near the register rang. Melanie, a short blonde who was the assistant manager, grabbed it, then put her hand over the phone receiver and said, “Sunny, a call for you on line one.”

“Who is it?”

“Beats me. Some guy. Are you in?”

“Sure. I’ll take it.” She reached for the receiver. “Hi, this is Sunny. May I help you?”

There was a pause, then a deep voice said, “Hello. This is Ben McKee.”

Her breath caught and an odd rush spread over her. “Ben?”

“Yes. I’m the Ranger who came in with Sam Outlaw on Wednesday. I was there at noon today for chili.”

“Oh, yes, of course. Ben. Did you forget something?”

He chuckled and the sound seemed to resonate in her belly. How very odd.

“No, I think I got out with everything I came in with. I wanted to ask you to have dinner with me tomorrow night.”

“Din-dinner?” she said, stammering in spite of her efforts at control. “Tomorrow night?” Panic clawed its way up from her stomach to her throat. She wasn’t ready to deal with this.

“Yes. Tomorrow. Saturday night. If you’re free. That is, if you’re not involved with anyone. I didn’t even think to ask that. Are you?”

Her mouth went August dry. She finally managed to say, “No. I’m a widow.”

“Good,” he said quickly. “Oh, God, I didn’t mean it was good you were a widow. Sorry about that. I meant it was good you weren’t—”

“I know what you meant.” She almost smiled. He seemed as nervous as she felt. “And I really appreciate the invitation, but I have a previous commitment tomorrow night.”

There was a moment of silence, then Ben said, “Oh. Well, maybe another time. I’ll catch you later.”

And he was gone. She was left with a dial tone and a minor shock. What was that all about? His invitation had surprised her. True, she’d noticed a bit of interest on his part, but she hadn’t expected him to ask her on a date. She really did have a commitment tomorrow night. Her band, the Copper Pistols, played somewhere almost every Saturday night. Made up of police officers, the Pistols had been a garage band formed when Brian was still alive. She played drums, and Brian had played bass. Two other friends played guitar and keyboard and a third sang lead. They’d first started playing together as a stress reliever, and then realized they were pretty darned good and started accepting gigs now and then. After Brian’s death, the members of the group had helped her keep her sanity. And although she was no longer employed by Austin PD, the guys hadn’t kicked her out. Sometimes the band seemed like her last connection to Brian. They’d had so much fun playing together.

She hadn’t even had a chance to explain to Ben that she was working tomorrow night, that her excuse wasn’t a brush-off. He must not have been too interested or he would have asked her about another night. She wasn’t doing anything Sunday. Or Tuesday. Or Thursday.

It was just as well. She really wasn’t ready to date. It had been so long since she’d dated anyone, she wasn’t sure she’d know how to act. The whole business was awkward.

When she turned around the Senator stood there, shaking his head.

“What?”

He sighed and disappeared.

“It wasn’t my fault,” she said to the empty space. “I really am busy tomorrow night.”

“I believe you,” Melanie said.

“Believe what?” Sunny asked.

Melanie grinned. “I believe you’re busy tomorrow night. I’m coming to see you at the Spotted Cow. Remember?”

“Uh, great.” It took Sunny a few beats to catch up with the conversation. Melanie, who dated the keyboard player, had thought Sunny’s remarks to the Senator were aimed at her. “Listen, did that new supply of napkins come in yet?”

“Sure did. Not ten minutes ago. Jimmy put them in the supply room. Was the guy on the phone asking you for a date?”

“Uh, no. It was something else. Some committee he wanted me to serve on.” Sunny didn’t like lying, but she didn’t want everybody in the place buzzing about her love life—or lack of one. She adored Melanie, and she was an excellent employee, but she was a terrible gossip.

During the afternoon lull, Sunny sat behind the bar, where she could keep an eye on the door, dispensing an occasional beer and rolling utensils in napkins and placing them in a bin.

She glanced up and saw a tall, dark-haired woman enter. Dressed in a blue silk blouse, a gray pencil skirt and killer gray heels, the attractive woman sported a rock on her left hand roughly the size of a large ice cube. She stood by the door and scanned the room as if looking for someone. When her eyes met Sunny’s, both of them stared. Sunny had the odd sense she knew the woman, but nothing registered.

Leaving the bar, Sunny approached her. “May I help you?”

A bright smile spread across the woman’s face that transformed her from merely attractive to a real beauty. “I’ll bet my bottom dollar you’re Sunny Outlaw.”

“I am. Sunny Outlaw Payton. Have we met?”

“Not yet.” The woman threw open her arms. “I’m Belle Outlaw Burrell. I’m your cousin.”

“You’re kidding!”

“Nope.”

Sunny was stunned for a moment, then elation filled her. “My cousin? I can’t believe it! You’re Sam’s sister.” Sunny fell into her arms, and the two of them hugged as if they were long-lost buddies.

“I am,” Belle said, laughing. “And Colt’s and Frank’s and J.J.’s. I also come with a husband, two parents, assorted sisters-in-law and a growing number of nieces and nephews. Welcome to the family.”

Sunny hugged her again. This was better than Christmas. “I want to know all about everybody. But wait. I’ve got to call Cass. She’ll kill me if she misses this.”

“Cass?”

“Cassidy Outlaw, my sister.”

“Uncle Butch had two daughters?”

“That’s right.” Sunny grabbed her cell phone from her pocket and punched Cass’s code. When she discovered her sister was upstairs, she said, “Drop everything and get down here right away. I have a surprise!”

“I can’t believe he had two daughters. We didn’t even know he had one.”

“He didn’t, either. We were born after he…died.”

When Cass rushed into the room, Belle looked from her to Sunny, then back again. “You’re…twins.”

“Yep.” Sunny introduced Cass and Belle and they hugged, as well.

“I can’t believe we’ve finally met,” Cass said, hugging her again. “It’s awful being the family pariahs.”

“Pariahs?” Belle said. “Good Lord, why would you be pariahs?”

“Well, our father was married to someone else when we were conceived.”

Belle made a dismissing motion. “Aunt Iris never counted for much. My mother said they were married in name only. She wouldn’t give him a divorce. She and Daddy were tickled to death when they heard they have a new niece—nieces now. They’ll be doubly pleased. They can’t wait to meet you. In fact the whole family wants to meet you. They’re hoping we can all get together for Thanksgiving in Naconiche. Can you arrange it?”

“Sure we can,” Cass said.

“We’ll manage somehow,” Sunny said. She ordered drinks for everyone, and they talked for two hours, mostly with Belle catching them up on the Outlaw family.

They were captivated by learning Belle was a former FBI agent.

“Why on earth did you ever leave?” Sunny asked. “Sounds like a dream job for an Outlaw.”

“I discovered I wasn’t cut out for being an agent. I’m much happier running a newspaper in Wimberley. I love it.”

“I hear that,” Cass said. “I got sick of lawyering, too. Boring. And too dog-eat-dog for me.”

“My brother Frank is a lawyer…well, a judge now,” Belle said. “And his wife, Carrie, is a lawyer. But she was a landman before she went back to practicing law in Naconiche. It might be boring, but there’s not much dog-eat-dog dynamics in Naconiche.”

“Actually, I think Cass just missed Austin,” Sunny said.

“True,” Cass admitted. “I love this place. Always have.”

“I do, too,” Belle said. “And Wimberley isn’t that far away. I can’t believe we’ve been living so close all this time. I even went to school at UT here in Austin.”

“So did I,” Cass said. “Law school. Unbelievable we could have passed each other on the street and not known it.”

“Isn’t it? Listen, my husband, Gabe, and I are coming up tomorrow with Sam and his wife to Sam’s place on Lake Travis. Why don’t you two join us? We might even do a little fishing.”

“Oh, rats,” Cass said, “I can’t make it tomorrow. It’s my day to run the place, and we’re going to be shorthanded, but Sunny can go. She loves to fish.”

“Count me in,” Sunny said. “I haven’t been fishing in ages. But I’ll have to make an early day of it. I have a gig tomorrow night.”

“A gig?”

“Sunny’s a drummer in a band on Saturday nights.”

“How fun! I want to come hear you sometime.” Belle glanced around. “It looks like the early dinner crowd is beginning to arrive, and I’d better leave and meet Gabe. He’s probably through with his business by now, and he’ll be chomping at the bit to get home.” She gave Sunny directions to Sam’s lake house, then rose and hugged them both warmly. “I’m so excited to have met you and have you as part of the Outlaw clan.”

Sunny was flying as Belle handed her card to each of them and they exchanged cell phone numbers. For as long as she could remember, she’d yearned for a big family. Having Cass and her mom and Aunt Min had been great, but she’d always envied families with fathers and brothers and kids running around.

“Cass,” Belle said, “do you work on Sundays?”

“Nope. We’re closed on Sunday.”

“Great. I want you both to plan on coming to Wimberley on Sunday of next week. We’ll have a barbecue or something.”

They walked Belle to the door, hesitant to let her go. Funny, Sunny thought, as she waved goodbye to her newfound cousin. It felt as if they had been friends and cousins forever.

“She looks like us,” Cass said. “Did you notice?”

“I did.”

“I like her.”

“Me, too.”

They looked at each other, connecting as they always did, grinned and hugged. “Hot damn!” they said in unison.

“You know what this means?” Cass said.

“Yeah. We’ve just acquired a humongous family.”

“Besides that.”

Sunny heaved a big sigh. “We’ve got to figure out how to tell Mama.”

“I vote we table telling her until she and Aunt Min get home from their grand adventure.”

Mama and Aunt Min had rented a cottage in France and were making excursions to various places in Europe—the dream of a lifetime. “But they won’t be home for another six months.”

Cass grinned. “Yeah. I know. But we wouldn’t want to spoil their trip now, would we?”

Chapter Five

Saturday was one of those perfect Texas days that come most often in the spring or the fall. The colors on the hills toward the lake seemed brighter than usual. Because most of the trees were evergreen, and the climate didn’t generate many autumn colors, this was a rarity. She’d heard something about an especially dry summer and a number of cool nights turning the deciduous trees into a lovely palette of reds and golds against the blue sky.

Sunny followed a winding, blacktopped road toward the place where she was meeting Belle and the others. She hated that Cass wasn’t along and had tried to convince her sister to come in her place, but Cass wouldn’t hear of it.

“You know I’m not much on fishing,” Cass had said. “Go on. Go. Go.”

And truthfully Cass didn’t know one end of a rod from another. Brian had taught Sunny to fish, and she’d learned to love it. They’d spent many an hour on Lake Travis. She hadn’t wet a hook since he’d died. In fact, she’d had to do some digging in her storage unit to find a rod and reel and her tackle box.

After checking the number on the mailbox, she pulled into the driveway of a ranch house at nine on the dot. It was a rather ordinary place except that its backyard abutted the gorgeous panorama of the lake, and a helicopter rested in a large clearing beside the house. Who on earth did that belong to?

She pulled up behind a black SUV and got out. By the time she had retrieved her fishing gear, Belle had appeared from behind the house, and a willowy, short-haired blonde was with her.

“Hey,” Belle said, waving. “You found us. Great. Sunny, this is Sam’s wife, Skye. She’s a veterinarian, a vegetarian, my double sister-in-law and my best friend.”

Skye stuck out her hand and laughed. “Sounds ominous, doesn’t it? Welcome to our branch of the Outlaw gang. I’m sort of new myself.”

“How are you a double sister-in-law?” Sunny asked.

“Well, Belle married my brother Gabe, and I married her brother Sam. Seems like we were destined to be sisters one way or another. I’m sorry your sister couldn’t come, but I look forward to meeting her next weekend. Sorry I don’t eat chili because Sam says yours is fabulous.”

“We have a vegetarian version,” Sunny said.

“You do? Sweet!”

Belle grabbed the tackle box, hooked her arm with Sunny’s and said, “Come on out back. The guys have the boat about ready to shove off.”

In the back, they walked down a flight of steps to a pier where a boat was docked. Sunny was surprised to see three men instead of the two she expected. She immediately recognized Sam, who looked up and smiled. A handsome blond guy she didn’t know also turned and smiled. When the third turned around, she almost dropped her rod.

It was Ben McKee. He’d traded his Stetson for a blue ball cap and his dress shirt and tie for a jersey faded from red to almost pink.

“Sunny,” Belle said, “the blond hunk in the sunglasses is my husband, Gabe Burrell, and I think you’ve met the other hunk, Ben McKee.”

“Good to meet you, Sunny,” Gabe said. “I see you’ve brought your own rod. It looks custom-made.”

“Whoo-ee,” Sam said. “We’d better watch out, guys. She looks like she takes fishing seriously.”

“Sunny,” Ben said, simply smiling and touching the brim of his cap. “Closest thing I have to a custom-made rig is a cane pole I cut myself.”

Sunny felt her face blaze, and she felt an irrational urge to slap the silly smile off his face. “It was a Christmas gift from my husband.”

There was a sudden silence. Her comment had gone over like a toad in a punch bowl.

“Sorry about the crack,” Ben said, and he held out his hand to help her aboard. “It’s a fine-looking rod. Was it made locally?”

Sunny accepted his hand, and everybody started talking at once as they climbed onto the large boat.

“The biggest fish of the morning,” Sam said, “is exempt from cleaning the catch or cooking lunch. Except for Skye. She’s not included in the contest.”

“Because you’re vegetarian?” Sunny asked her.

“No,” Belle said. “Because she’d probably catch a whale. Fish jump on her hook.”

“You fish,” Skye said, pulling a paperback from her tote, “and I read.”

“Why is it fish jump on your hook?” Ben asked.

She shrugged. “Just one of those odd things.”

“She’s enchanted,” Belle said. “Critters of every kind adore her. Who’s got the worms?”

“Ben brought the worms,” Sam shouted as he pulled the boat away from the pier.

They spent the rest of the morning fishing and laughing and talking. Sunny thoroughly enjoyed herself. She couldn’t remember when she’d laughed or talked so much. Sam and Belle were natural cutups, and they were in fine form. A shame she’d only met them now.

Shortly before they were due to go in, Sunny cast her line near where someone had left a milk jug marker. Immediately, a fish struck, a big one by the feel of it. She played it, praying she wouldn’t lose what she hoped was a whopping-size black bass. When she finally pulled in the fish, Ben helped her get the huge black bass in the boat.

Ben held it up and said, “Unless I miss my guess, this looks like the day’s winner. At least seven pounds.”

“Or eight,” Gabe said. “Only fitting, Sunny, that you’re our winner.”

“I agree,” Skye said.

Sam looked at Skye and frowned.

“Don’t look at me like that,” Skye said. “I had nothing to do with it. I’ve been reading about the latest treatment for mange.”

They headed back to the lake house, where the guys lit the grill and cleaned the fish while Belle and Skye retrieved containers of side dishes from the fridge. Sunny tried to help, but they wouldn’t hear of it.

“You won, fair and square,” Skye said.

“Do you really attract critters?” Sunny asked. Although the thought of such a thing seemed a little odd, who was she to say? She talked to a ghost.

“Umm. Sometimes. When you’re a veterinarian, it’s helpful to have a good rapport with animals.”

“Do you treat many fish?”

Skye chuckled. “Not many. In fact the only patient I can recall was a goldfish, and I wasn’t able to revive him. We had a funeral service instead.”

“Seriously?”

“Yep. With songs and prayers and the whole shebang.” Skye picked up a plastic container. “I’m going to take these veggies out for the guys to put on the grill. Want to bring the paper plates?”

LUNCH HAD BEEN SO MUCH FUN that before she knew it, it was midafternoon. “Oh, wow,” Sunny said, jumping up. “I didn’t realize it was so late. I have to get back to town.”

“Big date?” Sam asked.

Sunny almost laughed when she saw Skye kick him under the table.

“No. I have to work tonight. Most Saturday nights are full. Let me help with this real quick.”

She picked up the empty bowls from the patio table, and Skye picked up the ice-cream maker. Belle got the rest of the remnants, and the women carried the things inside to the kitchen.

“Are you working tonight at the café?” Skye asked.

“No, I play with a band on most Saturday nights.”

“A band?” Skye said, her eyebrows going up. “Like with instruments?”

“Guitars, drums, keyboard. Real instruments. We’re the Copper Pistols.”

“What fun!” Skye said. “How did you come up with the name?”

“Seemed like a logical one for police officers—and everybody in the group is a working cop. They let me stay in the band after I left the force.”

“I forgot Belle told me you were in law enforcement,” Skye said as they walked back outside. “What did you do on the police force?”

Hearing Skye’s question, Gabe asked, “Sunny, were you really a cop?”

“Sure was. For several years. I was in uniform for a while, working traffic, and later I became a detective. Listen, everybody, today has been wonderful. I’m so glad you invited me, and Cass and I are looking forward to next Sunday. In the meantime, if you drop by Chili Witches, your next meal is on the house. Now, I’ve got to run.”

After goodbyes were said, Ben picked up her rod and reel and tackle box and followed Sunny to her car.

“You really did have a previous engagement,” he said.

“Did you think I didn’t?”

“I wasn’t sure if it was a brush-off.”

“It wasn’t.”

He stowed her things in the backseat, then turned to her. “How about tomorrow night?”

“For what?”

“For dinner. With me.”

That clawing panic was back. She tamped it down. “I’d like that.”

“Where do I pick you up?”

“I live over the café. There are stairs around back. I’m A.”

“A what?”

She smiled. “I’m apartment A. My sister is apartment B.”

SUNNY WORKED HERSELF INTO a lather trying to find something to wear. She didn’t have any dating clothes, especially when she didn’t know where they were going. Of course Austin was a super casual town, but she really didn’t have much besides jeans and church clothes.

Her wardrobe, like her apartment walls, was pretty plain and boring. Her walls were beige; her carpet was beige; even the countertops in the kitchen were beige. The only spot of color in the living room was her light blue couch with the grape juice stain, and that was old—both the couch and the stain. If she was expecting company, which was rare, she draped a beige throw over the stain.

She’d never gotten around to hanging drapes or pictures. She kept meaning to, but she just couldn’t muster up the interest. The wooden blinds were nice and they provided privacy.

Finally, after she’d tried on every stitch she owned, Sunny gave up and called the clotheshorse for help. In less than two minutes Cass was at her door with a pair of black pants and a fussy blue-patterned blouse with fluttery sleeves.

Sunny frowned. “Cass, that’s not me.”

“Yes, I know. That’s why you don’t have anything appropriate in your closet. It’s perfect. Try it on before you decide. Have you got any heels?”

“Of course I have heels.”

“Let me see them.”

Sunny pulled out her best black pumps, and Cass groaned. “Those are old-lady shoes. Try these.” She pulled off the spike-heel peep-toes she wore and held them out.

“But they’re red.”

“Duh.”

“Okay, okay. I’ll try them.” Sunny strode to her bedroom with Cass trailing after.

She stripped off her best jeans and was about to step into the black pants when Cass said, “Oh, gawd! You’re not going to wear those are you?”

Confused, Sunny said, “I thought you brought them over for me to wear.”

“I meant those panties. They look like Aunt Min’s.”

“Forget it.” Sunny zipped the pants. “Nobody is going to see my underwear.”

“Well, you never know.”

“I know. Trust me. Nobody is going to see it.” She put on the blouse and the ankle-buster shoes. As she stood in front of the mirror, she had to admit she looked very nice. Not clownish as she feared. In fact, she looked—and felt—a little sexy.

“See?” Cass said. “I told you. You look terrific.”

“I look like you.”

“Is that so bad?”

Sunny grinned. “Actually, no. I look pretty darned good.”

Cass took off her dangling gold earrings. “Try these.”

They were perfect.

“Know what you need?” Cass asked.

“What now?”

“You need to go shopping if you’re planning to date this guy again.”

“Why?” Sunny gave her a kiss on the cheek. “I can borrow everything I need from my sister.”

“You wish. Buy your own clothes, sweetie. I hope you were planning to put on some eye shadow and liner.”

“I’m not sure if I even have any.”

Cass rolled her eyes. “Now I know you’re going shopping. Be right back.”

Twenty minutes later, after Cass had worked her magic and left, Sunny leaned close to the bathroom mirror and checked her makeup. She had to admit the difference was amazing and not overdone at all. Mostly she’d made do with lipstick and a little blush. Live and learn.

The doorbell rang and she startled. Was Ben here already? She took a deep breath and walked slowly toward the front door. Why was she feel so guilty doing this? Was she dishonoring Brian’s memory?

Just as she put her hand on the knob, the Senator appeared for just a second. He shook his head, smiled and vanished.

Chapter Six

Sunny almost let out a whistle when she opened her door. Ben stood there in dark brown slacks, a green shirt that matched his eyes and a killer leather jacket that looked butter soft. His dress Western boots were some exotic skin. Snake? Eel? She wasn’t up on such things.

Ben grinned, then he whistled. “You look beautiful. Turn around.” He made a circle with his finger.

She complied, feeling a bit silly and smug at the same time. “Thank you. I wasn’t quite sure where we were going. Will this do?”

“Oh, yeah.”

She picked up her wrap and they went downstairs to his waiting SUV. While it wasn’t a carriage, she noticed it had been washed since she’d seen it yesterday, and she felt as special as any princess.

They went to an upscale Italian restaurant downtown. While it was only a few blocks away, it was a world apart from Chili Witches. The tables were set with fine linen, and a plant-laden room filled with rustic antiques and shimmering candlelight created an inviting atmosphere.

When they were seated Sunny said, “How lovely this place is.”

Ben glanced around. “My sister recommended it. I’ll have to tell her you approved. Or maybe we should wait until we taste the food.”

“I’m sure it’s wonderful. I’ve heard great things about it, but I’ve never been here before.”

After they’d studied the menu and ordered, she said, “Tell me about your sister. Does she live here?”

“Yes. Tracy and her husband and my two nieces. That’s one of the reasons we moved here.”

“We?” Her heart must have skipped a half-dozen beats. Dear Lord, surely he wasn’t married. Surely he wouldn’t have asked her out if he was married. Although, these days, who knew what men would do?

“My son, Jay, and me. I’m divorced.” He grinned. “You thought for a minute I was married, didn’t you?”

She fiddled with her water glass, then looked up and grinned. “What was your first clue?”

“The bug-eyed gape.”

She laughed. “Busted. You Texas Ranger types are sharp. I was always known for my poker face. Guess I’m out of practice.”

“Use it or lose it. How long have you been off the force?”

“About three years. Tell me about your son.”

“His name is Jay. He’s five and in kindergarten. Montessori. Right now he’s torn between becoming a fireman and a pilot.”

“Not interested in becoming a Ranger like his dad?”

“He’s not old enough to be impressed by the Rangers. Their class visited the fire station last month, and he thinks running the siren on a fire engine is much more exciting than what I do. My brother-in-law is a pilot for one of the major airlines, and Jay is very impressed by that—especially since he got to fly on a short hop to Dallas with Uncle Rick.”

“You know, I’ve always wanted to learn to fly. I’ve thought about taking lessons many times.”

“Then why don’t you?”

She started to give one of her stock answers, like she didn’t have the time or it was too expensive, then stopped herself. “I don’t know,” she said honestly. “It seems as if I always have one excuse or another, but I don’t think any of them are valid. I may look into it.”

“Good for you.”

Their lobster bisque was served—which was out-of-this-world delicious—and they chatted in a first-date way about inconsequential things. Neither his ex-wife nor Brian was mentioned. Politics was alluded to only briefly, and she could tell by his comment that they had similar leanings, which was good but not a critical factor in a relationship as far as she was concerned. She and Brian had been polar opposites politically, and it had been no big deal; it had simply been an accepted difference, not something they argued about.

The pasta was as good as the bisque, and the wine delicious. Ben was easy to talk to—and easy to look at. She loved the way his eyes crinkled when he smiled. She liked the strong planes of his face and jaw, his thick, short-cropped hair and the way his eyebrows rose when he was listening. He was a good listener.

Their conversation flowed easily, and there were no awkward pauses as they talked. She was surprised so much time had passed, when, as they lingered over coffee, she glanced down at her watch.

“I can’t believe the time,” Sunny said. “I need to get home.”

Ben glanced at his watch, too. “Sorry about that. Do you have an early workday?”

“Not too early, but I usually go to the gym first thing.”

He motioned for the check. “I used to do that, too. B.J.”

“B.J.?”

“Before Jay. Now he keeps me hopping in the mornings.”

After the check was paid and they were leaving, Ben put his hand to her back to guide her out. And left it there. It was a casual touch, but she was totally aware of his hand, of its warmth, of his closeness. His smell even tantalized her senses. He smelled nothing like Brian; his was a new scent, masculine, yet with an undertone of freshness and the vaguest hint of citrus and spice.

His touch made her nervous, but when his hand left her back to help her into the SUV, she missed the feel of it.

“Is Jay with a sitter?” she asked as they drove home.

“No, he’s spending the night with Tracy and his cousins. Rick’s out of town a lot, and my sister loves having the extra company. I think it was pizza and a Disney movie tonight. Tell me, is Sunny your real name or a nickname?”

Sighing, she said, “Both, sort of. It’s not something I tell everyone, because it doesn’t often come up, but the name on my birth certificate is Sundance. How’s that for a name?”

“I think it’s very…interesting.”

She laughed. “Diplomatic response.”

“No, actually, I kind of like it. Goes with the whole outlaw theme Sam was telling me about.”

“Exactly. My father was Butch Cassidy. It’s harder to come up with good women’s names. I’m just lucky I wasn’t named Blue Nose Sally.”

Ben hooted. “I’ll say.”

“My mother did it only because she thought it was what my father would have wanted. She’s always just called me Sunny.”

The drive home didn’t take very long. Ben parked, and when she started to reach for the door handle, he said, “Wait.”

“For what?” Was he going to kiss her? It seemed like forever since she’d been kissed. Her heart picked up its pace and sounded an alarm. Did she want him to?

Yes. Yes, she did.

No. No, she didn’t.

Yes, she did.

But she wasn’t supposed to want him to. There was the guilt again. Oh, Lord, what a mess.

“For me to come around and help you out.”

“For heaven’s sake, why? I’m perfectly able to open a door.”

“Call me old-fashioned.”

She smiled. “You are, aren’t you?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Wouldn’t some of her old buddies on the force carry her high if they could see her now? She’d fought hard to be treated as an equal. She had to. There was no place in law enforcement for fan-fluttering females. Being treated like one felt odd.

“Well, I’m not.” She opened her own door and stepped down.

She forgot she was wearing stilettos, stumbled and nearly fell on her keister.

Ben grabbed her elbow. “Gotcha.”

“Now I’m embarrassed.”

“No need to be. I know you’re an independent female, but I doubt if you wear those stilts on the job.”

“Have I been teetering?”

He smiled. “Not at all.”

As they walked up the stairs, Ben walked beside her, his hand on her back again. It felt warm and solid and…tantalizing. Should she invite him inside?

No. Definitely no. She wasn’t ready for that.

When they reached her door, she retrieved her key, turned the lock and pushed the door ajar. She turned and said, “Ben, I had a wonderful time tonight. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. I enjoyed it, too.”

He gently gripped her shoulders and lowered his face to hers. Here it comes, she thought, her knees turning a little wobbly.

But his kiss was so brief she almost missed it.

“Good night,” he said.

“Good night.” She went inside, closed the door and leaned against it. She heard his boots taking the wooden stairs as he hurried down and the sound of his engine as it roared to life. Then he was gone.

When the last echo died, a tap on the door beneath her head startled her. She checked the spy hole, almost hoping it was Ben returning.

Instead she saw Cass and opened the door.

“Tell me everything!”

“DAMN!” BEN SAID AS HE drove home. This wasn’t turning out at all the way he’d planned. He’d been looking for a simple, no-strings relationship. A casual affair to fill his needs. This was going to be more complicated. He felt it in his bones.

First off, Sunny’s being part of Sam Outlaw’s family made things awkward. Second, she didn’t seem the casual-affair type. Oh, she might play the independent woman, and truth was, she was an independent woman. No one, man or woman, who was a wimp got to be a detective. Still, he could tell she wasn’t cut out for an occasional romp in the sack. He sensed an underlying vulnerability in Sunny that brought out his protective streak. Did he still want to get involved with her and chance being played for a sucker again? Did he want to take things any further?

He was still paying for the mess Marla had made in his life. His and Jay’s. He wasn’t ready to jump back into something serious. Jay was his first priority.

But something about Sunny Outlaw Payton—

Oh, hell, McKee. You’d better cut and run while you have the chance.

ON TUESDAY MORNING, SUNNY followed her usual routine: a quick breakfast, paperwork, then a visit to the nearby animal shelter. She loved animals, but with her schedule, she’d never felt comfortable having more than Sadie, her nine-year-old cat. Sadie had been a feral kitten she’d saved from euthanasia, and the small Siamese mix still spent most of her time under Sunny’s bed or in some other secret hiding spot. Sometimes the only way she was sure she really had a cat was when the food and water disappeared. She’d tried to adopt another cat, hoping Sadie would adjust better with a companion. It had been a disaster, and the second cat had ended up with a friend to prevent it from being totally traumatized.

Sunny loved dogs. She always had, but living in the apartment above the café, combined with dreadful working hours and Sadie’s temperament, wasn’t conducive to having a dog. She’d tried that once, too. Sadie had terrified the poor little mutt and had shredded her couch, so Sunny re-covered the couch and found another home for the pup. Now she volunteered at the animal shelter for a couple of hours a week. She walked dogs and played with them and tried not to get too attached. Dogs that were there on one Tuesday often were gone by the next.

Annabelle, a permanent employee, gave her a new dog to walk. A beautiful, mostly German shepherd about three years old, he was extremely well behaved.

Sunny squatted down and scratched his ruff. “You’re a beauty, sir. How did you come to be here?”

“Somebody was moving out of the country and couldn’t take him,” Annabelle said. “A real shame.”

“We need to find you a good home, boy.”

Maybe Ben’s son would like to have a dog. Or maybe he already had one. She’d have to ask. If she ever saw Ben again. He hadn’t called or dropped by for lunch the day before, but he’d probably been busy.

Had he been disappointed in their date?

No, she told herself. Don’t go there. If he asked her out again, fine. If not, that was fine, too. No big deal.

BEN HELD OUT UNTIL THURSDAY. Sunny had been on his mind most of the time. And a sudden cold snap made it a great day for chili. He stopped by about half past twelve, and it seemed as if half the people in town had the same idea. The place was packed.

He didn’t even see Sunny. He looked around the crowd, trying to spot an empty place. Some lanky college kid in a red shirt pointed him at a table for two behind a post, and another one brought tea and took his order. He finally glimpsed her behind the bar pulling a tray of drafts. He tried to catch her attention. Tried, hell, he practically stood on the table and flagged her. She smiled and nodded toward him, then said something to a waitress and motioned his way before she hoisted the tray and went off to deliver the beer to the other room. The waitress came over and filled his tea glass, and that was the last he saw of Sunny except for a fleeting glance of her back now and then.

Damn.

Against his better judgment, Ben had planned on asking her out again. He spent a long time over his lunch, but he was finally forced to pay up and leave. He had to get back to work. Once the crowd had thinned out, he’d been tempted to ask for her, but his pride had gotten in his way.

Guess he wasn’t the only one who had reservations about their getting involved. He’d thought their date had turned out well. She’d seemed to be enjoying herself, but maybe he’d misread the situation because for sure she was treating him like a leper today. Marla had called him a loser more than once. Maybe Sunny was looking for somebody more exciting than he was.

Damn.

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