Designs On Daphne: (McGreers #4)

by Christine, Lilly

  Esther was thrilled with Daphne’s interest in contemporary art. “I’m a firm believer in investing some of the trust fund in tangibles, Daphne, and so is Rodric’s father. You have very good instincts, dear. Follow them. Rodric’s great-grandmother made the family a fortune on some lovely Van Gogh’s she picked up for a song on a trip down the River Seine.”

  Rodric’s great-grandmother must have had a very nice singing voice, on that trip!

  Later, she spoke to Rodric on the phone.“I do so love the painting. It’ll be especially wonderful with the lovely African rugs Esther chose for us, dear.” She was spending the night at his parents, away from him for the first time, so she sighed a tiny bit, and Rodric did not hesistate to approve.

  Esther was at her side for the bidding the next day, the one day Rodric had to be court. When the bids went to twenty percent over estimate, Daphne put an emergency call into the Judge’s chambers before daring to raise her paddle again. Rodric was perfectly pleasant about it all, asking the Judge for a recess, staying on the line as she raised her paddle again and again.

  She’d gotten a small Rauschenberg, too, an early drawing, to hang in the foyer, just as guests arrived.

  And arrive they did.

  Daphne had many opportunities to whisper into Rodric’s ear the night of the Housewarming Party, since they had one hundred or so guests to attend to. Thankfully, he’d hired catering staff.

  The day before the party, she limited herself to two kinds of hors d’oeurves, making two hundred pieces of each, before the caterers swarmed in and took over her nice kitchen.

  As a uniformed bartender set up a bar with ten crates of glassware in the living room, she teased Rodric about his two dozen sets of glassware. “Of course, I didn’t know you’d agree to marry me,” he chuckled

  Daisy and Hank and Ty arrived early.

  Yelping at the slinky cocktail dress and open-toed sling-backs Daisy wore, Daphne wrapped her arms around her little sister. “Where did you get this number?”

  “Vegas, of course,” Daisy trilled.“I needed something fancy to match my ring!”

  The men toasted each other with beer out on the patio as Daisy and Daphne raced through every room in the apartment. Daisy ooh’d and ahh’d over the art in the living room and giggled over the club chairs and dead stuffed animals in the game room. In the nursery, they sighed together, running their fingers over the white nursery set she and Rodric had chosen that week, he with a big, fat grin on his face, his eyes gleaming with pride.

  “You go ahead and give babies a try first, Daph,” Daisy sighed. “Hank and I are gonna wait at least til I’m out of school, and then I should work for a few years, at least. I’ll need you to teach me whatever baby tricks you learn. Course, I’ll have Ella Jean, but I’ll bet you’ll have Esther.”

  “And how,” Daphne giggled.

  But Ty was quieter than normal.

  Daphne had known him too long not to notice. His face looked tense, and she worried he was unhappy with her engagement to Rodric. Slipping out the patio door to join him before the other guests arrived, she asked, “Is everything all right, Ty?”

  “I couldn’t be happier for you and Rodric,” he said, kissing her cheek. “ ‘bout time I can call you cousin.”

  But she could read him like a book. Ty was hurting. It’s that girl in California, it must be!

  “Anything I can do?” she asked

  He leaned on the concrete wall, staring out over Lake Austin. Jaw set, he shook his head. “I’d let you know if there was, Daph. In the meantime, enjoy this for yourself, huh?” he said, clasping her shoulder. “If anyone deserves it, you and Rodric do.”

  “Aw, Ty,” she said, feeling a tear slip down her cheek as she wrapped her arms around his neck. “You deserve it, too. I sure hope your day comes soon. I know you’re gonna be the best best man ever.”

  Ty laughed, sheepish.“Well, I sure earned it. It took some coaching to bring you two around.” He poked the softness under her ribs, so she rolled her eyes and slugged him, hoping he’d cheer up.

  13

  Daphne lowered herself into the nice warm water of the roof top pool. Daisy skipped up on the board, 1-2-3, and then dove. Her beautiful dive cut through the night air, barely making a splash. “Whoosh, nice pool. Bet your glad that big party’s over,” she said, coming up for air.

  “It’s nice that Hank and Ty and Rodric are seein’ to the last of the guests, so I can have you to myself for awhile,” Daphne drawled.

  “How many parties you plannin’ before Christmas, Daph?” Daisy asked, grinning. “Make sure and invite those ladies from your design class, huh? They were a little stiff-lipped, but they couldn’t stop admiring your decoratin’.”

  “I sure will,” Daphne said, a little starry-eyed. She’d mentioned to Rodric how nervous and unaccepted she felt in class, so he’d invited them, and her teacher too.

  The guests had mostly been new faces, except for Ty and Hank and Daisy and Ella and Esther and Rodric, Sr. She’d met all the people from Rodric’s office, and friends from his undergrad days and from law school, colleagues he worked with and their wives and girlfriends and boyfriends, some professors from UT and their partners, important people that Rodric served on boards with, some of his clients, a few state assembly people, and people from the courthouse and on and on. She just kept smiling and shaking hands, knowing he’d have to remind her of names again and again, until she got them right.

  The ladies from class and her teacher arrived after most of the guests, after the harpist Rodric thought to include had started playing in the corner of the living room. Rodric handed her a second champagne cocktail and put his hand to her back. “Let’s go meet your new friends,” he’d said, wiggling his eyebrows, and she’d had to laugh, because he always had such command of himself, such confidence, and he always made her feel like she had that, too.

  She’d given them a special tour, and the ladies had positively gushed over everything. When they left an hour and a half later, Daphne thought she could start counting them as new friends. A little tear started up, just thinking about it.

  “Hmmm, so, is life in Austin better’n a teevee show?” Daisy giggled. “Does it pay as well?”

  Paddling her arms in the water, Daphne splashed a little of it at her sister then wiped her eyes. Bursting into a wide grin, she said, “Well, there are some mighty nice perks. Most of ‘em are best enjoyed off camera, though.”

  Daisy caught her eye, grinning, and Daphne continued.” How ‘bout us Antelerone girls, you winnin’ your title and first place in Vegas, and me here for a month and a half, already gettin’ married?”

  “How ‘bout,” Daisy grinned. “Hank’s not surprised. Neither’s Ty.”

  “Oh, shush,” Daphne said, blushing. “What do they know?”

  “Apparently, they know how to make you happy lots better’n I do!” Daisy teased. “Although I started movin’ Hank’s way after I saw you all lushed out, lettin’ Rodric pump you full of champagne at the Austin’s rodeo!”

  “Oh, hush,” Daphne answered, unable to help giggling. Then she sighed, a big, fat, fake sigh.“Well, darlin’ it was this or two hundred head of baby Angus calves. You know what a tough choice that was for me, since there’s nothin’ I like better n’ shovelin’ cow manure. Take a look at that view.”

  “Bright lights, big city,” Daisy said, surveying the expanse before them: Austin’s twinkling lights below, the heaven’s bright stars above. “I’d say it’s perfect for you, Daph.”

  Daphne sobered. “Somewhere, Daddy’s lookin’ down on us, and he’s mighty happy, Daisy-chain. I can’t think of a couple better suited to each another than you than Hank, unless it’s me and Rodric. I’m still pinchin’ myself. I sure never thought things would work out this way back in July, when you were stuck in that hospital bed. We’re mighty lucky. Life’s perfect right now, isn’t it?”

  “I’ll say. And there’s lots of livin’ to look forward to, yet, too,” Daisy answered.
“Regular days, and holidays, Christmases and birthdays and new babies.”

  “And trophy buckles and graduations. You’ve got school, comin’ up.”

  Usually, it was Daphne that wanted to hug, but tonight, Daisy paddled closer. She put a dripping arm across her big sister’s shoulder, then rested her head there.

  Daphne reached up to stroke her little sister’s cheek, and the light caught her ring. Rainbow sparkles scattered on the dark water. Daisy lifted her hand to the light, and hers did the same. The sparkles crossed paths in the water, shining out in front of them, beams of heartache turned to pure love.

  TURN THE PAGE FOR MORE FROM THE AUTHOR

  Coming Soon…

  Rodric and Daphne’s romance continues in the McGreer Series. The following pages contain excerpts from previous stories.

  McGreers #1 “Crashing Into Tess” Veterinarian Tess Bamberger has way too many close calls with rancher Jake McGreer… Was Crashing Into Tess the hit of Jake’s Lifetime?

  Published 2013 as an e-book and in print.

  McGreers #2 “Crazy On Daisy” is a novella~ Daisy Antlerone has lost everything but attitude. Bothersome boy next door Hank Gallagher gives her way more than she bargained for.

  Published 2014 as an e-book.

  A short story “Daisy in Vegas” will be added soon.

  McGreers #3

  “Right Kinda Bull” is

  a short story e-book about Texas rancher Ty McGreer’s romantic mishaps with Texas A&M veterinarian Lindsay Robbins.

  Published 2014 as an e-book.

  McGreers #4 “Designs On Daphne” Daphne Antelerone decorates the Austin apartment of attorney and oil heir Rodric McGreer, making some unexpected creative discoveries!

  Published 2014 as an e-book.

  McGreers # 5 “Luvvin’ Lulu” Luanne Rodriguez became a mother while still in her teens. She and Jose have done lots of lovin’, but Lu feels lost out on a lot of living, too.

  Coming June 2014 as an e-book.

  McGreers # 6 “Whole Lotta Bull” Ty McGreer discovers Lindsay Robbins’ secret, and the truth tramples his heart like no bull could. How could the woman he loved so completely be so cruel?

  Coming July 2014 as an e-book.

  McGreers #7 “Daisy Does Dallas” A surprise discovery takes Daisy to Dallas. . and she needs Janie to come along as her cheerleader!

  Lilly Christine’s “McGreers” titles are currently published exclusively on Amazon.

  Author’s Note

  About those McGreers . .

  “The Big Valley” was my childhood go-to television show. Barbara Stanwyck’s clear-headed, outspoken matriarch Victoria Barkley was, in my humble six year old opinion, the consummate ranch dame, and I was fascinated by how well she made those strapping big bad boys behave.

  Johnny and Jane West’s ranch house and stable of paperboard was my most coveted Christmas gift, transporting me right to the bucolic grazing lands of the American West. Too soon, the ranch was destroyed in a sister-fight; that darn thing didn’t hold up as well as my sister’s plastic buckboard and horse figure, which are still routinely brought out to entertain nieces, nephews and cousins.

  In the fifth grade, my parents returned from a convention in Dallas with “Texas” souvenirs, and I was hooked for life. Since then, I’ve toured wine country around Dripping Springs, two-stepped to “Heybale” at Austin’s Continental Club, and watched barrel racing in Odessa . . Miriam “Ma” Ferguson, Ann Richards, Wendy Davis, Eliza Gilkyson, Patty Griffin and other kickass women of depth, substance and grit are the inspiration for the women of the “McGreer’s Series”, which fits the genre of contemporary western or “cowboy” romance. I prefer the term “Cowgirl Chick-Lit”… Because while cowgirls do get the blues, nuthin’ keeps us down for very long!

  I’m grateful to a whole host of people, but I’m mostly grateful to my readers…You’ve embraced my little bit (two inches) of Lone Star and Centennial state, worked with a fine brush. Your reviews and enthusiasm for the series and its characters make my little Keystone heart beat with excitement, inspiring me as I craft the next release!

  I’m always available for book-signings, readings and appearances, especially to benefit my reader’s favorite animal shelters and rescues. Please visit my website

  www.LillyChristine.com, contact me at LillyChristine13@gmail.com, or find me on Facebook!

  If you enjoyed this story please leave a review on Amazon.

  Thanks again (so much!) for reading~

  Lilly

  Reader Reviews are Important!

  If you enjoyed “Designs On Daphne”,

  please post a review on Amazon and Goodreads

  and “Like”

  the Crashing Into Tess/McGreer’s Series FaceBook Page !

  “Crashing Into Tess” (McGreers #1)

  Copyright 2013 by Lilly Christine

  Jake McGreer hoisted an oak dresser through the entry way and into Tess Bamberger’s empty apartment. Drawer in hand, she followed him to the bedroom, motioning where she wanted it.

  Then she slid the drawer into place and turned to him, a little breathless. “Thank you so much. For all of this. You’re really helping me out here.”

  “It’s no problem. I’ll feel better knowing you’re settled in.” His fingers itched. He wanted badly to reach for one of her corkscrew curls. “Do you have a boyfriend, Tess?”

  She looked up at him wide-eyed and shook her head. “No, no boyfriend.”

  He moved closer, letting a hand drop to her waist. Her skin was warm and taut, better than he’d imagined. This is exactly what I said I wouldn’t do. “How old are you?” he sighed.

  “Eighteen.”

  Startled, he pulled away.

  She giggled and slugged him gently. “Silly, I’m twenty-six.”

  He cocked an eyebrow. “You look younger than that.”

  “I hear that a lot.”

  Touching her hair, careful of her bandage, he asked. “Ever been in a serious relationship?”

  “Not really serious. I was with my college boyfriend for three years, but he dumped me when he went to law school. My blood type is A positive, want my GPA?” she whispered, moving closer.

  Her chin tilted up to him, so close now. He couldn’t stop his lips from brushing against hers, soft and tender. “Tess?”

  “Hmm?” she murmured, running a forefinger along his collarbone.

  He groaned softly, trying to resist. “Tess, I don’t usually kiss women I barely know.”

  She tucked her head against his chest. “Me neither, Jake.”

  “You don’t kiss women you barely know?”

  “Not usually.” She smiled up at him, shaking her head. “Or men either. But you’re the person in Green Junction I know best.”

  “I’m the only person you know in Green Junction, Crash,” he murmured, letting a hand fall to her waist. He kissed her for real then, his mouth hot on her pink lips. When he felt her twitchy little tongue tease his, he felt his heart catch. He came up for air, breathing hard surprised by the effect she had on him. “So you’re not afraid to go after what you want, either, huh?”

  She met his eye. “I wouldn’t say that. You’ve taken really good care of me since last night. I like being with you. It feels safe.”

  “Oh, I’m safe. And there’s plenty of time to get to know me if you decide to stick around Green Junction,” he said, dropping his hands, which felt empty without her.

  “I’m here for the duration,” she said with certainty.

  “That remains to be seen. You haven’t even put a day in on the job.” He plucked a curl, then, unable to resist, pressed his nose into her hair, breathing the scent of her again, lemony and soft and fragrant. She tightened her hands around his back, her fingertips pressing on the tight muscles at his rib cage.

  “I should leave before we get in trouble here,” he murmured.

  “We’re already in trouble,” she told him softly, kissing his chin. Unable to resist, he found her
mouth again.

  “Daddy?” a shrill little voice called from the front yard. “Daddy, are you here?”

  Red-faced, Jake pulled away and walked quickly to the front of the apartment. Boots tapping down the porch steps, he asked, “Cassie? It’s Friday. Why aren’t you in school?”

  Cha

  pter 1: Eating Dust

  “If you’re not makin’ dust, you’re eatin’ it.” ~ Buck Antelerone

  “Gol-Dang-it!”

  White rage blanked Daisy Antelerone’s brain as she cut the engine. The thermostat needle swung into the red and steam began billowing from the cracks of the ‘92 Chevy pickup’s dented hood.

  Uttering a string of oaths, she opened the rusty blue door, climbed out and swung her booted foot back, kicking an almost bald tire, hard. Fury didn’t erase the thud her big toe took inside a newly resoled Tony Lama.

  Jumping around one-legged on the dusty yellow road, Daisy hissed hotter and angrier than the plumes that vaporized in the bright springtime sky of an early Texas afternoon. This is no way to begin a winning rodeo season.

  Her saddle was in a bag on the seat; sleeping bag, hay and grain stowed in back. She’d just loaded up at the spit of house and barn Buck Antelerone had left behind, three miles down the valley. Hobble Creek cut the huge McGreer spread to the south from the endless lands of Gallagher Ranch to the west and north, carving out the tiny spot where the Antelerone’s had eked a meager existence for as long as anyone could remember.

  From the back of her dinky two-horse trailer, Gypsy Girl snorted. Scrimping and saving, Daisy had figured a way she and Gypsy could just squeak into finals, but there was no spare cash, no squeak room for injury or mishap.

  “Give me a minute, Girl. I gotta figure how to get us out of this pickled mess.”

  Gypsy was a lightning-flash trigger in the ring, common sense as they came on the ground. The last of Daddy’s savings had gone to buy the coppery red, thick-chested Quarter Horse. “It’s only money, baby girl. No sense holdin’ on to it,” Buck had said, right after his diagnosis. He bought Daphne a sporty little convertible, too.