Designs On Daphne: (McGreers #4)

by Christine, Lilly

  Had the woman been hiding her face? It hadn’t meant much at the time, but now Daphne kept thinking she’d looked a lot like an older version of her very own mother, Dawn Antelerone.

  But that’s impossible! She left us twelve years ago, didn’t even send a card for Daddy’s funeral. Why would Momma be hanging around Austin’s rodeo grounds?

  ******

  When Daphne excused herself from the dinner table, Rodric rose politely. Hank grabbed the pen Ty gave him and nudged Daisy, scribbling the room number she whispered on a cocktail napkin. He passed it to Ty, who passed it to Rodric, who excused himself from the dinner table.

  On his way out of the restaurant, Rodric assured himself that he was only being a gentleman in making certain Miz Daphne arrived safely to her room, but no one was fooled.

  Hurrying through the lobby, just missing her elevator car, he saw the metal doors close, obscuring the dynamic vision of Miz Daphne’s red and white boots, shapely tan calves, and the world’s most perfect bottom clad in a fancy halter dress with a drop-waist gathered skirt of red and white polka dots.

  Room 308 was just where he found her a few minutes later. Blond curly-haired head to the side, boots kicked out in front, bottom plunked on the floor, Daphne snoozed against the door. Rodric plucked the keycard from her manicured fingers, then swiped it, stopping the door open with a custom-made loafer. Then he reached under Miz Daphne’s armpits, careful not to disturb her.

  The rumpled cotton skirt of her exquisite sundress swatted his face as he hoisted her over his shoulder. She was inert, a featherweight, offering no resistance whatsoever. He couldn’t help wincing as the pointed toes of her ornate boots stabbed his now bulging groin, though.

  Rodric carried Daphne into the elegant taupe and cream suite, and lowered her gently to the bed. He couldn’t help but take a moment to contemplate his dream woman, sprawled in front of him completely blotto. He gently tugged on the red and white boots that had mesmerized him for two days. The smooth curves of her calves emerged, followed by such delicate feet.

  Stifling a groan, he became further aroused.

  Miz Daphne’s red painted toes were delicious to behold, ten little perfect jewels at the end of the most amazing feet he’d ever seen! Setting the boots on the floor, he held her feet for just a moment. Touching their silky arches, he imagined pressing them to the throbbing bulge at his groin.

  Bound by decorum, he avoided the temptation. Shoving all lascivious thoughts from his mind, he lowered her feet to the satin bedspread and crossed the room. At the mini-bar, he cracked a Perrier, fetched a crystal tumbler and poured, then set the filled glass and the portion of sparkling water that remained in the green bottle on the bed stand next to her. Thinking ahead, he set the plastic lined wastebasket on the floor nearby, too.

  Lifting Daphne to the soft pillows at the headboard, he carefully turned her to her side. Pulling the comforter up, he covered her delicious form. Then he stood mesmerized, admiring Miz Daphne’s stunning profile: pink lips, so full and lush, pert nose, high forehead, long, long lashes, and so much luscious blonde hair. Swathed in Frette linens and the softest satin and down, she was something to behold, Miz Daphne was.

  He’d had visions of Miz Daphne in bed before. Marrying Miz Daphne had been a fantasy he’d nurtured since she was twelve and he was fourteen, but Rodric was a practical man. He couldn’t wrap his head around the doggedly unreasonable attraction he felt to Miz Daphne; since the very first, she’d gone to great pains to actively discourage him.

  He and Caroline had been separated over two years now. He often met beautiful women, highly responsive to his charms. Elegant and educated, with slick hair and fashionably understated clothing, they were happy to be escorted by him. In fact, he’d enjoyed some very pleasant, agreeable times with them.

  Which made his attraction to ornery, flamboyant, and oh-so-sexed-up Miz Daphne all the more confounding; she’d unrelentingly tormented him all these years. And it pained him that she was a much softer, sweeter soul now, after downing a half magnum of fine champagne.

  As he moved to the window to draw the shades, her arm waved in the air. Immediately, he was at her side.

  Her big, blue, innocent eyes gazed at him for a split-second. Then they closed, and she sighed. That sweet little noise had him lowering his ear as close as he could possibly get, whispering,“What is it, Miz Daphne?”

  Her eyes flashed open again, just for the briefest moment, then she wriggled sideways to make room, patting the empty spot on the bed next to her. Thrilled by her invitation, he took the proffered seat, amazed when her cool fingers wound into his big warm palm and her small hand found his.

  Eyelashes fluttering, her eyes opened and closed. Then the woman he’d had an unrequited crush on for sixteen years offered him the prettiest smile he had ever seen, a smile of supreme happiness and contentment.

  “Thank you, Rodric,” she purred.

  Unable to answer lest he jinx it, he just sat there, stunned, enthralled, and most definitely aroused.

  Daphne sighed again, a sweet, contented little sigh. “The painting kept moving. . back and forth. . ” she breathed.

  “Sh-h, Miz Daphne, you’ll feel better in the morning,” he whispered, knowing it wasn’t quite true, but squeezing her hand in encouragement anyway. “I left a nice glass of water right here, and there’s more in the bottle. Did you enjoy yourself this weekend?”

  “I did, Rodric, th-thank you for asking. Iss really been quite wonderful. Daisy did well, didn’t s-she?”

  “She sure did, Miz Daphne, she sure did. I’ll bet you are very proud.”

  Daphne’s eyes remained closed, but her plush lips curved into another smile, and the contented little sound she made took him from aroused to painfully, indecently erect. “I am. My little sister’s somethin’ else, isn’t she?”

  He squeezed her hand. “She is, and so are you, Miz Daphne. Both of you girls are just something special, that’s all there is to it.”

  Daphne’s soft fingers stroked his palm. Eyes still closed, she whispered, “Means a lot that you see us that way. Thank you, Rodric.” Then, before he could answer, she snuggled into her pillow like a contented kitten, her mewing sounds soft and pleased.

  Rodric took a mental picture of her nestled there, pretty as could be. And then, so he didn’t overstay his welcome, he stood up.

  Tempting as it was, he couldn’t justify remaining there. It wouldn’t be proper. The blood that had rushed to his midsection made setting the keycard on the dresser and tiptoeing out of the room incredibly uncomfortable.

  Over the past two days, he’d begun to realize that his attraction to Miz Daphne was no mere flaming crush. It had occurred to him, in fact, that Miz Daphne was the only woman who had ever truly captured his heart.

  Which made no sense at all, until he looked at her.

  He took one last long glance before closing the door behind him.

  3

  Daphne hummed the Green Acres theme song as she buzzed the sweeper through the little ranch house on Hobble Creek, determined to push the face of the woman she’d seen leaving the rodeo from her mind. Untangling the cord, she paused to move the giant trophy Daisy had just won in Austin, then stood back to admire it.

  It looked fantastic on the fireplace mantle, but when she tried it on Daddy’s table again, it felt just right there, too. She put it back on the mantle. The sunlight from the picture window caught it, making it gleam like fire, and she was sure she’d found the right spot.

  Then the screen door slammed, and she jumped a mile. Shutting the sweeper off as Daisy crossed the room, she said,“Geez, you scared me. You want lunch?”

  “Nope, just comin’ from Ty’s for a change of clothes and to check the mail.”

  “Huh, what’s Ty up to? He doesn’t need you this afternoon?” Daphne asked.

  “Ty left an hour ago, grumpy as a bear. He’s on his way to California on some fool mission over a woman. We actually got in a fight this morning, can you b
elieve it?”

  “You fought with Ty?”

  “The first time ever.”

  “Honey, Ty’s about as easy goin’ as they come! What ever did you fight over?”

  Daisy rolled her eyes. “Nothin’. It was so stupid. He snapped at me and then started yellin’ about some valve he’d asked Jose to pick up. He was chewing the poor ole’ guy from here to eternity when I jumped in.”

  Daphne felt her jaw drop. “You jumped in? Daisy Mae, you may have known Ty since forever, but he is your boss!”

  Daisy shrugged, but she looked upset. “He almost had Jose in tears, Daph, and it wasn’t anything except him being hung up on some stupid girl. It’s not Jose’s fault Ty keeps screwing up his personal life. Jose’s been looking after the ranch since before Ty was born. He’s too old to take any crap.”

  Daphne sighed.“Well, how about lunch? Why don’t I grill that nice tuna steak, and we’ll have a salad. I made a special dressin’!”

  “Aw, Daph, Ella made roast beef last night. She’s fixin’ sandwiches with her potato salad, Hank said. I’m expected there. How ‘bout you come along, too? You’ve got nothing to do here, and she’s always got plenty of food.”

  Daphne felt her chest pinch. Daisy was right, she had nothing to do. Even all the shopping was starting wear thin. Her closet was overflowing, and since she’d quit bartending at Hymie’s, there was no place to even dress up for. All she did was go down to the Dot Top or the grocery store-she’d taken a joy ride over to Beeville the day before, burnin’ gas just for something to do.

  She stifled a sigh. “Nope, you go along. I was at Ella’s just last week. I can’t be a fifth wheel all the time.”

  Daisy made her way down the hall, calling back, “Now you’re makin’ me feel guilty. I said, Ella likes your company. She’s always thrilled to see you, you know that. She asks for you all the time.”

  Daphne followed with a basket of clean laundry. “Honey, don’t you worry about me, okay? The way things are goin’ between you and Hank, I gotta figure somethin’ out for myself or I’ll be settin’ up to Ella Jean’s big table for the rest of my life. It’s too soon to be the old maid aunt, taggin’ along after you two all the time, know what I mean?”

  Daisy grabbed clean underwear and a t-shirt from her dresser, then dug through the basket Daphne had set on the bed. She pulled out a folded pair of jeans. “Shoot, Daph, you did my laundry too. Now I’m really feeling guilty.”

  Daphne leaned to peck her sister’s cheek. “Well, heck, you’re the superstar now, Daize, winnin’ barrel titles left and right, jet settin’ all over the place. Least I can do is some laundry.”

  Daisy straightened up. “Huh, maybe Austin was a fluke. Three more ‘til the title. You think Lucky and I can pull it off?”

  Daphne wrapped an arm around her sister’s taut shoulders and squeezed. “Honey, I know you can.” She followed as Daisy made her way back down the hall. “There’s iced tea I just made. How ‘bout a nice glass before you go? I could sure use one. I’m just about parched, from all this vacuuming.”

  “And laundry foldin’ and whatever else you’ve been up to, Miz Rachel Rae slash Martha Stewart slash Paula Deen,” Daisy said, grabbing two mason jars from the cupboard. Opening the refrigerator for the pitcher of tea, she looked into the pan cooling on top of the stove. “Is this your pineapple upside-down, too?”

  Daphne flashed her most charming smile, fluttering her lashes for effect. “Made it for you to take over to Ella Jean’s. I already got the call, she’s havin’ another one of her Sunday night barbecues with the whole ranch crew this weekend. Can’t have it be said the Antlerone girls don’t return hospitality, can I? ”

  Daisy grinned. “When you gonna get your own television show, Daph?”

  Daphne laughed. “Heck, maybe that’s what I do, call the cable stations, ask ‘em what do I need to do to start up a new show, call it ‘Hill Country Hospitality’.”

  “You’d be great. You got the clothes for it now, too.”

  “I sure do. Hey, what about some paint in here, a new color, somethin’ like a sunny yellow?”

  Daisy froze, and Daphne knew her urges to prettify had gotten her into trouble again. Her sister still obsessed over arranging Daddy’s chair just so, facing the television set. The Stockman’s Guide they hadn’t canceled his subscription to was right next to it, too. It was as if he would wander in from the back porch anytime, pour himself a whiskey, sit down and light up a cigarette. She’d swear, if it were up to her little sister, a fresh pack of Marlboro’s would set right on top of the magazine, waitin’ for him.

  She handed Daisy a thick wedge of lemon. Plopping it into her glass, Daisy said, “Once this room’s changed, Daddy’s gone for good. I know Momma’s never coming back, and I should just be able to let it all go, but I can’t, Daph. With me at Hank’s all the time, you oughta be able to make this place look the way you want it to, it’s just …”

  Daphne tucked her nose to back of Daisy’s head, nuzzling the short-cropped hair finally starting to grow in. “It’s just, you’re not ready yet. Sh-h-h, Daisy-chain, don’t mind me. Daddy’s not even gone a year. I got too much of the decorator bug lately, and not enough to keep me busy. I’m makin’ caterpillars ‘stead of butterflies.”

  Pulling away, she took a deep breath and squeezed lemon into her glass of tea. “I gotta find an outlet for all this energy. I just don’t know what to do with myself lately. There’s plenty of life ahead of me. Sometimes too much, it seems.”

  After a long gulp of tea, Daisy met her eye, testing the waters. “What about that new apartment of Rodric’s? Sounded like a nice job, and you’d have fun in Austin. Miz Esther’s a hoot. Ty said she’s got a fancy place you can stay in. Once this barrel buckle’s decided, I can come up for some fun, go dancin’ at the Continental Club weekends or somethin’ with you? Hank’d like it too, y’know?”

  Feeling flustered, Daphne shook her head. “How’m I gonna pull that off? Heck, I been sendin’ Rodric go away signals all these years … feels real silly, suckin’ up to him just to decorate his apartment, when I can’t hardly stand him.”

  Daisy shrugged. “You’ve made clear where you stand, Daph. He can’t have expectations beyond a decent apartment. If he did, he’d be huntin’ easier grounds. Ty said he doesn’t want to hire a fussy professional, wants someone he knows, that he’s comfortable with. He just doesn’t want a place that looks like his mother decorated it, that’s all. Anybody that walks into Hymie’s can see how good you are at that funky down-home Texas look everybody raves about these days. You need a project like that, Daph. Go to Austin, have some fun.”

  Her sister’s words ignited the little charge Daphne’d carried in her belly since Ty mentioned it at the rodeo. She sighed anyway, a long, labored, beleaguered sigh. “I guess you’re right. Can’t do any harm, a coupla weeks in Miz Esther’s nice apartment in Austin and a fistful of cash, I guess. I might find some good Navajo rugs and a big abstract painting or two, somethin’ that would be a nice focal point for his place. I gotta do somethin’, or I’ll be renting back our six hundred acres and lettin’ you buy two hundred head of cattle.” When she saw Daisy’s eyes light, she backtracked quickly. “I’m jokin’, Daize, I’m jokin’! Sheesh, don’t get any ideas!”

  Daisy shook her head and laughed. “Where’s your phone? I’m callin’ Ella for Miz Esther’s number. If you don’t have your decoratin’ job lined up by sunset, I’m borrowin’ Hank’s big truck and haulin’ you to the auctions next week with a pile a money, and we’re comin’ back with Angus calves, got it?”

  4

  Watching Daphne gaze over the Austin skyline, Esther hoped she gauged the willowy young woman’s interest correctly. “So what do you think, darlin’?”

  “It’s sure got pretty views,” Daphne sighed. “From just about every window. These giant, high-ceilinged formal rooms are simply fantastic, and I just love the floors. I’ve never seen a kitchen space as elegant, either, long and narrow, with so
much counter space and that big, open sunny dining nook.”

  Esther felt a little surge of hope.

  She’d always liked sweet, tender-hearted Daphne, liked especially the way she’d always looked after her little sister Daisy. Her son had pined after Daphne most of his life. It was understandable. Practical and nurturing, Daphne was guileless girl, with just the right amount of sass.

  Now, after the disaster with Caroline, Rodric’s heart had finally mended, and he was ready to make his move.

  “Well, honey, closing is tomorrow, so it’ll be Rodric’s by lunchtime. He wants to be out of his rented place by the end of the month. Think we can pull it off?”

  “Oh, sure. Sure we can.” Daphne’s wide, agreeable smile made Esther brighten. She was determined to do whatever it took to help her son capture Daphne’s heart.

  “Let’s get to my pied-à-terre, then. It’s over near Hyde Park. We’ll get you settled, and I’ll take you to lunch at Chez Zee to celebrate. Then, I guess we’d better start shopping, no?”

  *****

  Daphne sat on the giant, creamy pale leather sofa in Esther McGreer’s fifth floor apartment with her feet up, flipping through the latest copy of “Austin Living”. Stacks of “Western Home and Gardens” and “Architectural Digest” were on the floor nearby. Tearing page after page, she laid pictures in piles on the floor, arranged by the empty rooms in Rodric’s new apartment.

  It was a little overwhelming.

  The apartment had four bedrooms, four full and two half baths, two patio decks, giant formal living and dining areas, a study, a game room, and a kitchen with a dining nook. Oh, and a pool on the rooftop. Overwhelming, yes, but maybe a dream come true, if she’d admit it to herself. Nobody had mentioned budget, not even once.