“I haven’t a clue,” he muttered. “But I’m outta here.”

“Fine. Great.” Then words popped right out of her mouth before she could stop them. “Miss my sister’s pot roast and the first guests and everything, I certainly don’t care.”

He’d turned toward the door, but went absolutely still at her words, so carelessly tossed out, in spite of the tightness in her chest. “What are you saying?” he asked, still facing the door. “That you don’t think I should go?”

She stared at his taut sleek back, her heart racing out of control, and she had no idea why. “No, of course not. I’m just saying it’s really great pot roast, and we all know she made it specially for you, anyway.”

Slowly he turned around, his expression carefully masked. “You don’t want me to go.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. I don’t care what you do. Go. Stay. It’s all the same to me, even if one of the first guests, Tom something or other, is one of your previous clients and is only coming because you recommended him.”

“You don’t want me to go,” he repeated, sounding shocked. “Damn, Delia.” In two long-legged strides, he walked toward her and hauled her into his arms, bringing her face close to his tormented one. “What the hell am I going to do with you?”

If she thought her heart had been pounding before at just the sight of him, it was nothing compared to what happened now, when his hands were on her, and his mouth so close to hers she could almost taste him. “You could kiss me again,” she whispered, shaken to the core at her wanton suggestion, but not about to take it back.

“I could,” he whispered back. “But I’m still leaving.”

“Good. Can’t wait. Now kiss me, Cade.”

“I might.” He moved a fraction so that their lips nearly touched. “I also might stay for pot roast.”

“And the guests.” Was that her voice, all husky and breathless? “Don’t forget the guests. You should probably stay long enough to see them, at least.”

“Just to make sure everything goes smoothly. Then I’ll go.”

“I’ll be counting the minutes until you do. Now kiss me.”

“I suppose I could spare one little goodbye kiss.”

“Big of you.”

“Yes,” he agreed, shifting slightly so that their hips brushed once, twice, allowing her to feel the hardness of him.

“Do it,” she demanded, already breathless.

“Come get it.”

Smiling at the rush of feminine power, because nothing made her feel more in control than knowing she was running the show, she pressed her body even closer to his. “If you insist,” she murmured, closing her eyes because his were warm and fathomless and much too intense.

She let the kiss take her, until she was dizzy, until she was thrilling to the low rough noise Cade made in his throat when she rubbed against him, until she realized she was getting in far too deep to be able to pull back.

That was unacceptable.

Frightening.

Glorious.

And it had to stop.

She heard Cade’s moan of protest when she pulled away, but all she could do was stare up at him, her lungs straining for air, her mind in a whirl.

His own chest rose and fell harshly, too, his mouth wet from hers. Sanity slowly returned to his dark eyes. “Like I said,” he managed, “I haven’t a clue about what to do with you.”

“Good thing you’re leaving soon.”

“Very soon.”

“And you’ll be off and traveling, without a care in the world about what the people close to you think.”

“There is no one close to me.”

That hurt, she discovered. “My sisters might disagree with that,” she said lightly. “But since I know you better than they do, I won’t hurt them by telling them.”

“Good.”

“Good.”

“Good,” he echoed again, but it was a long moment, during which they just stared at each other, before he turned and walked away.

The first guests arrived on Thursday. Two couples and a group of four friends. Eight in all, a manageable number, Delia told herself. They would be a success.

They had to be.

Everyone arrived within an hour of one another, giving the three sisters a run for their money.

Maddie’s eyes were bright and excited as she rubbed her hands in glee, having caught Delia in the kitchen, where they shared a quick celebratory soda.

“Dinner is going to be spectacular,” Maddie whispered joyfully, passing the drink to Delia. “Eight of them, with us it’ll be thirteen! It’s like a real restaurant!”

Bless Maddie, whose greatest thrill in life was cooking for a captive audience. But she was a terrific cook, a talent that had been long wasted in Los Angeles, where she had never been willing or able to play the political game required to work at any of the “in” restaurants.

But now, for the first time in her life, Maddie was in her true element, and Delia was so happy for her she couldn’t resist hugging her.

“I can’t believe you’re getting this excited,” Delia said with a laugh as they twirled around the kitchen. “Have you pictured the dishes? The mess? The demands on your time?”

“Yes, isn’t it wonderful?” Maddie’s usually serious face split in a wide grin, making her look sixteen, instead of twenty-six.

Delia couldn’t hold back another laugh. “We’re crazy, you know. All of us.”

“Certifiable,” Maddie agreed. “And I can’t tell you how good that smile looks on your face.”

“A full house will do that to me. I’m imagining our happy bank balance.”

“Are you?” Maddie’s look was long and knowing. “Because I thought maybe Cade had put that look there.”

Delia, who’d just taken a sip from the can of soda, choked. Coughing and sputtering, she glared at Maddie.

“Oh, I’m sorry,” Maddie said innocently. “I forgot how you react whenever you hear his name.”

“Whose name?” Zoe asked as she entered the kitchen, looking tired but happy. “What’s up?”

“Nothing,” Maddie said. “Other than that Delia seems to have a problem drinking and hearing Cade’s name. Or breathing and hearing Cade’s name. Or just existing and hearing-”

“You know, until a second ago, you were my favorite sister,” Delia said to Maddie.

“Hey, I thought I was your favorite sister.” Zoe feigned a sulk. “You said so last week when I took over the cleaning of- Wait a minute. Cade?” Her eyes narrowed speculatively as she studied Delia with a mixture of disbelief and amusement. “You mean to tell me you have a thing for Cade?”

“Say it again and you’ll be scrubbing the floor with that mouth, instead of kissing Ty with it.”

“You know, you can take the girl out of the city,” Zoe said, grinning broadly, “but you sure as hell can’t take the city out of the girl. You got a thing for that hot-looking investigator of ours? Really?”

“You’re getting married,” Delia said through her teeth. “I doubt Ty would appreciate your thinking Cade is hot.”

“He’s really something, isn’t he?” the usually man shy Maddie interjected. “And my, oh my, can he fill out a pair of jeans.”

Zoe hooted at this, practically rolling on the floor with mirth. Delia stood still and waited for the moment to pass. “Since I’m the only one with a brain left, I’ll go make sure our guests are all comfortable.” She sent her sisters a look of disgust. “You two stay here and giggle like idiots.”

“You really have a thing for Cade,” Zoe repeated with marvel. “Oh, just wait until Ty-”

Delia made a grab for Zoe, but experienced with her two hot-tempered sisters, Maddie quickly stepped between them, her eyes still laughing. “Hey. No brawling. I think we should charge extra if you’re going to give the clients a show.”

“Fine,” Delia said, throwing up her hands. “But tell her to be quiet. I don’t want to hear-”

“Does Cade know you think he’s hot?”

“-that name,” Delia ground out.

“Cade, Cade, Cade,” Zoe sang, sticking her tongue out at Delia.

“Behave, Zoe,” Maddie said mildly. “We can’t afford to have Delia kill you. We have too much to do.”