Grand Passion

hard edge. It hinted at pain that had been subdued by the force of sheer willpower and self-control. Cleo found herself wanting to touch and soothe that old anguish in him.
    She gripped the handle of the teapot, completely at a loss to explain her reaction to this stranger who had walked in out of the storm last night and made a place for himself near her hearth.
    “Good morning.” Max examined the kitchen and its unusually garbed staff. His expression showed no particular reaction except mild interest. “Is this where I get breakfast?”
    “Definitely.” Cleo jerked herself out of the thrall that had enveloped her. “Andromeda can fix you up, can't you, Andromeda?”
    “Of course.” The tiny bells on the hem of Andromeda's gown chimed as she turned away to put two corn bread muffins on a plate. “There is also muesli with fresh fruit and yogurt over on the counter. Take whatever you want.”
    Max's gaze was on Cleo. “I'll do that.”
    Cleo felt a tremor go through her. “Tea?” she asked quickly.
    He glanced at the pot in her hand. “Any coffee available?”
    “Right over there.” Cleo nodded toward the freshly brewed coffee that was sitting on the counter. “Have a seat at the table, and I'll get you a cup.”
    “Thanks.”
    Cleo ignored Daystar's speculative frown. She scooped up the coffee pot and another muffin for herself and hurried to follow Max to the nook where the staff of the inn grabbed meals during busy times.
    “Don't expect service like this every day,” Cleo said lightly as she slid onto the bench on the other side of the table. She poured coffee into a cup. “Around here, everyone fends for himself when the inn is full.”
    “I'll remember that.”
    “We're going to be swamped for the next three days with this motivational seminar crowd,” Cleo observed.
    “I saw the audiovisual equipment being set up in the parlor. What's this seminar stuff all about?”
    “Herbert T. Valence's Five Easy Steps to Wealth, Power, and Unlimited Success,” Cleo explained.
    Max looked up. “There aren't five easy steps to all that.”
    “No?”
    “There's only one step.”
    Cleo was intrigued. “What's that?”
    Max shrugged. “You fight for it. And when you've got what you want, you fight again to defend it.”
    “Not according to Herbert T. Valence. He says the trick is to think positive and affirm your goals every day. I gather he started giving these seminars a couple of years ago. He's got quite a reputation.”
    “The man's either a fool or a con artist.”
    “Mind your tongue.” Cleo chuckled. “Thanks to Mr. Valence, I have a full inn. Try a muffin.” She tore hers apart, heedless of crumbs. “I've had two already, and I swear this is going to be my last one.”
    Max picked up a knife and went to work on one of his muffins as if it were an uncut diamond.
    Cleo stopped chewing and watched in fascination as he methodically split the muffin in half. Next, he cut off a quarter of the muffin with grave precision.
    He put down the knife, picked up a spoon, and dipped it into the honey pot. When he had collected a quantity of the thick, golden stuff, he gave the spoon a deft twist. Not a single drop of honey fell back into the pot or onto the table as he gracefully transferred it to the muffin on his plate.
    It was like watching a Borgia or a Medici eat, Cleo thought. One had the feeling that behind the polished manners, there was a sheathed sword tucked politely out of sight.
    Max's eyes met Cleo's just as he was about to take a bite. He stopped with the muffin section halfway to his mouth. “Something wrong?”
    “No, not at all.” Cleo grinned. “It's just that Jason was the only person I ever saw who ate Daystar's muffins so neatly. Most people inhale them.”
    “I'm sure they're excellent.” Max glanced at the women who were preparing breakfast. “Your kitchen staff is a little out of the ordinary.”
    “I'll say. They're fantastic.” Cleo leaned forward and lowered her voice. “Someone's always trying to steal Andromeda and Daystar. Every restaurant owner and inn manager on the coast would kill to get them.”
    “Where did you find them?”
    “I didn't. They found me.” Cleo sat back. “They're from the Cosmic Harmony Women's Retreat. The Retreat is about a mile and a half from here, on the other side of the cove. You can see it from your window.”
    Max looked up from his muffin. “I saw something that looked like an old resort.”
    “It was at one time. The