by Tina Leonard
“I know, but I’ve been wanting to kiss you since you got here. Give a guy a break.”
“I don’t feel sorry for you at all. You think you can just drag me off and have your way with me like any old conqueror.”
“Well, isn’t being dragged off better than listening to them debate who’s gotten one up on whom?” He sneaked a hand inside her floaty blouse and rubbed her back.
“It might be,” she said, swiftly catching his hand before he could undo her bra clasp, “but they are the root of our problems.”
“Let’s forget about our roots and focus on our tree instead, Daph,” he pleaded, pressing his face between her breasts. She held him tightly to her, and Alex could hear her thundering heart beat. “We’re growing some great branches. I’d like to be happy about that.”
“I don’t know if we can.” reluctantly, she slid out of his lap and sat on the plank beside him. “Your father really believes my father is a dishonest peddler.”
“And your father believes mine is a cheap son of a gun. Who cares what they think about each other?” He put his arm around her, pulling her close. “Look at the stars, Daphne. There’s so much out there, and this is a big ranch. We can get away from our folks any time we need to.”
“No, we can’t. They’re part of us, who we are. And we’re just kidding our selves if we think any differently.”
She looked so sad that Alex wanted to cry. “I refuse to believe that I’m my father or that you are yours.”
“You don’t under stand how bad it makes me feel to know that you were willing to pay for a fine car but you turned cheapskate on a used car that cost pocket change to you. I feel like that in our relationship.”
“Daph, I would spare no expense to make you happy,” he said in surprise.
“No, I meant that…I don’t know what I meant. I guess I feel under valued because I’m a Way.” Her brows crept toward her forehead.
“Well, don’t, for God’s sake.” He kissed her neck and moved slowly down to her fingertips before holding them to his mouth. “You are all I want.”
“I haven’t kept my value up. There isn’t any way I’m going to turn out prize winning cattle like the ones my father sold your dad. There isn’t going to be a profit on your investment this time.”
“Hush, Daph.” He pulled her other hand to his mouth to kiss each of the fingertips slowly. How could he tell this woman that, regardless of how it looked to her, she had his father’s bent for financial control confused with his need for her love? “Let’s do some thing very simple to prove how reasonable and level headed we are when our parents aren’t playing Hatfield and McCoy.”
“Okay. I can be reasonable and level headed.” But her tone was reluctant.
“Let’s name the children.”
“That’s a mine field!”
“No, it’s not. That’s my point.” He pulled his recalcitrant wife into his lap. “Watch how well we do this. You start.”
“Well, I was thinking Sabrina Caroline, after your mother, would be nice for Yoda,” she slowly said. “She’s going to be beautiful when she grows lashes,” Daphne assured him.
“Sabrina Caroline. A lovely choice.” To disguise how touched he was, Alex began nibbling on her neck. She sighed, leaning her head back, and he couldn’t keep from moving his hands under her shirt to cup her breasts.
“And I thought,” Daphne continued dreamily, “we could name Miss Magoo after my mother.”
“Danita?” Alex’s hands stilled, his pulse slowing a bit. He wouldn’t have said it, but that wasn’t a name he would have chosen. Still, he reminded himself to keep his mouth shut.
“My mother’s name is Danielle,” Daphne told him huffily. “Dad calls her Danita, but that’s just a nickname.”
“Oh,” he said on a relieved breath. “I like Danielle.” He closed his eyes and braved reaching under her bra. “Danielle Cos.”
“What?” His hands stopped short of their goal.
“See? You don’t like my father’s name! But I have to include him somehow.”
Alex looked into Daphne’s hurt gaze. “I like Cos. Just not for a girl.”
“What’s wrong with Danielle Cos Banning?” she demanded frostily. “Lots of girls bear a family name.”
“Well, we don’t want our daughter bearing too much.” He switched his hands to Daphne’s back and began massaging, sensing that she was too wary for the kind of caresses he had in mind. “How about we com promise? Danielle Con stance Banning. That’s close to Cos.”
Daphne straightened, her bottom shifting nicely against his erection. “I think I like that.”
“I know I do,” he said with a groan. Thank heavens they had one more child to name! Reaching for her delicate hips, he moved her against him ever so gently.
“Okay. That leaves Alex Junior.”
“Go for it.” He wasn’t paying a bit of attention to naming babies anymore. His mind was solely occupied by the feel of Daphne in his lap, and how much he wanted her.
“Alexis Abigail Banning,” she pronounced.
“Abigail?” he repeated, his concentration momentarily arrested despite his wish to be focused on nothing but Daphne.
“Alexis for you,” she murmured into his ear as she rested against his shoulder.
“Because she’s the ugly one,” he rejoined. “You’ve got your father in you, Daphne Way.” But he loved the tickling feel of her breath in his ear. “But Abigail?”
“I saw it in a baby book. In Hebrew, it means ‘father is rejoicing.’” Purposefully, she turned, shifting against his erection as she put her arms around his neck.
“I know I am,” he said, burying his face in her breasts. “See how wonderfully we work together?”
“Yes.” Daphne said on a breathy sigh. “If I could, I would make love with you right now, Alex. But it’s a few more weeks until I can have inter course.”
He raised his head and looked at her. “I can think of other ways to make you happy.”
“I can think of some ways to make you happy, too.” She gave him a tantalizing smile and reached for his zipper.
He groaned. “Promise me you’re not going to leave after our anniversary, Daphne.” But he allowed her to entice him onto the floor of the gazebo. Overhead, the stars twinkled with light and faraway magic.
“I don’t want to make any promises right now.” Her hands slid away from him. “You said I could have the time before our anniversary to decide.”
Alex re captured her hands and put them back on his groin. He reached under the elastic of her maternity pants to fondle her buttocks, then slid his palms lower.
Right now, he was willing to give on the promises if Daphne would keep doing what she was doing. And maybe loving her the way he wanted to would make her realize how much they needed each other.
“We still have to get through the christenings,” she softly reminded him. “And our families can’t even sit through a casual dinner together.”
“So? It’s a little water, a few pictures. What could go wrong with that? Piece of cake. Mm, you’re delicious.” He nibbled her neck, which made her giggle softly and arch against him. In the quiet, they loved each other until they climaxed, united in pleasured sharing they both craved.
For a few moments, Daphne relaxed against Alex and looked at the stars. A slight evening breeze blew across them, bringing the scent of grass and farmland.
We really could be in heaven, she thought wistfully, if only everything was different.
BY THE TIME Alex and Daphne returned, the feuding families were seated in the enormous den comforting babies, which seemed to take precedence over bickering. Guiltily, Daphne flew to take the loudest noise maker from Nelly. “I’m so sorry! I forgot about the time.”
“Relax, honey. They hadn’t let out a peep until just now. Think they heard you coming.”
Danita nodded. “Besides, if we’d had to, we coulda tided them over with a water bottle.”
Alex helped her pack the babies into
the stroller. A trifle nervously—could they tell she and Alex had been re covering some of their marital joy?—she glanced around the room. Alexander had a blanket over his lap as if he were cold on this summer day. Cos was seated near Alexander. Danita sat across the room. Somehow, they looked peaceful, as if they’d all been enjoying a cup of after dinner coffee.
Maybe Alex was right. Maybe it was a situation her parents were used to—one her father even got a little enjoyment out of. Still, she wouldn’t want to spend her life trying to best Alexander.
Or his son. Alex was far too determined, like her father. Nudging his hand away from the stroller, which he clearly intended to push to her quarters, Daphne moved down the hall. “I’ll be back shortly,” she told the assembled group. “Alex, you stay with your dad and hold down the fort.”
His brows went up. “Don’t you need help?”
“My mom can help me,” she answered, wheeling faster. She had to get away from Alex just for a little while. She couldn’t believe how easily she’d succumbed to his arms. The truth was, she wasn’t keeping her resolve very well. Maybe her struggle was point less. Maybe it didn’t matter how she felt about being swapped for several hundred puny cattle. They’d turned out to be valuable.
She hadn’t. Not the way Alexander had hoped.
But Alexander seemed happy with her, as happy as he ever seemed with anything. Or was that just a front for Alex’s sake? The way Alexander dug at her father made her feel there was some lingering resentment between the families.
Maybe she and Alex were the answer, though. Their marriage could cement the two houses. After all, what did she and Alex care if their parents kept up a feud? Kind of hard to do with three little grand daughters running across the road and between farms.
She reached her room and sank into the rocker, swiftly holding one baby to her while Danita picked up another. Alexis Abigail lay quietly waiting her turn, as usual.
Supposedly Alexander had changed his will, Daphne mused. What did that mean? Surely he meant to include her children, even though they weren’t the sex he’d wanted? Until tonight, he’d seemed angry about some thing. Angry about her, about the children, she’d thought. Certainly, he hadn’t been pleased with her choice of vehicle. But the crusty old man hadn’t made any overt sign of disgust, either, and she hadn’t known him to be tacit about his opinions in the past.
She’d ask him how he felt about her and the children. It was the only logical thing to do. Especially if she wanted her marriage to make it past the one-year mark. Alex didn’t seem to be suffering from any lack of commitment to their vows.
She was the one who felt like she wasn’t worth a “dog’s bald ear on the auction block,” as Alexander had so strongly put it. Since every discussion in this family revolved around dollars and cents, she was going to determine her value as the pa tri arch of the family saw it.
And put her mind at ease.
Chapter Eight
When she returned to the family room half an hour later, everyone was watching an old film. A young version of Alexander rode hell-bent for leather over Green Forks land. Daphne squinted at the screen and took a seat next to Alex. His father had been so young and so handsome in his day! So much like Alex. He picked up her hand and held it in his, and Daphne didn’t have the heart to pull away. All she could think of was how old Alexander looked now. His recent bout of ill health was some thing she’d thought he’d gotten over. He was the strong oak tree at Green Forks, a vital landmark she couldn’t imagine withering with time.
As she glanced at him, his frail shoulders quivered as he coughed. The image of his youth flashed on the screen, waving a hat and herding cattle. Daphne lowered her eyes. It was too painful to see the contrast.
The tape ended a minute later and the lights were turned up.
“We decided to look at Green Forks a while back,” Alexander told her.
“About a hunnerd years ago,” Cos joked.
“Hundred my foot. Even the movie projector isn’t that old.” But Alexander grinned. “I could still ride a horse like that if I was of a mind to.”
“Of course you could,” Cos agreed. “And so could I.”
Everyone in the room laughed. Cos couldn’t ride a horse at all, could barely stay in the saddle. Alexander used to love to gibe at him about being the dude rancher. But Cos had managed to keep up what he’d felt was most important—raising his family. And his sons had all learned to ride and rodeo with the best of them.
Alexander took a long drink from his coffee mug before handing it to Sinclair. “I’ve got a little some thing I want to give to Daphne,” he announced.
Her lips parted as she somewhat suspiciously watched Sinclair hand Alexander a large white bag. What did he have up his sleeve now? Un certainly, she glanced at Alex, but he shrugged. Apparently, his father was a mystery to him, as well.
“I hope you won’t think I’ve been presumptuous, Daphne,” Alexander began, “considering you haven’t even properly tagged those young ‘uns of yours.” He paused to let his point sink in.
“Oh, but I have!” she rejoined, delighted to be able to spring that on the cagey old man. So this was how her father felt when matching wits with Alexander. It was kind of fun to be one step ahead of him. Smiling, she said, “Alex and I discussed it tonight.”
“And?” Alexander demanded.
Everyone in the room waited Breathlessly. Daphne hugged the knowledge to her for one second longer. Alex squeezed her fingers lightly. She glanced at him. He was wearing the same huge grin she could feel on her own lips. “Shall I tell them?”
“It would be cruel to make them wait.” He nodded. “Go ahead.”
“I meant, should I tell them or do you want to?”
“The pleasure is all yours.” His eyes sparkled at her.
“I’m enjoying keeping your father in suspense,” she said loudly so Alexander could hear.
“Hmph!” Alexander retorted. “Spit it out, Daphne Way. I’m not going to be around forever, you know. And the least you can do is let me go to my grave satisfied that you’ve finally named those grand daughters of mine some thing that won’t embarrass them.”
She drew herself up. “I take that to mean you aren’t fond of their current names.” But she gave him a wicked smile. “The one I have been calling Yoda is named Sabrina Caroline.”
The tears that jumped into Alexander’s eyes were no surprise to her. A moment’s joy filled her at his happiness.
“Good enough,” he said gruffly.
She glanced at Alex with delight. “And Miss Magoo is now Danielle Con stance. Danielle for Mom and Con stance for Dad.”
Cos got up and crossed to hug his wife, apparently more emotional than Alexander was capable of being.
“And last, but never, never least in any way, Alex Junior—” Daphne paused with a luminous look at her husband “—will be named Alexis Abigail.”
Everyone clapped except Alexander.
“Where’d Abigail come from?” he demanded.
“It’s Hebrew, Dad,” Alex told him.
“No Hebrews in this family,” Alexander said, honestly perplexed.
Alex laughed. “It means, ‘Father is rejoicing.’”
“Hmph.” Alexander sat still for a moment, digesting that information. He adjusted his lap robe and cleared his throat. “Well. I guess I am, at that. Well done, Daphne Way.”
Alex gave her a swift kiss. Daphne beamed with pride. It didn’t matter that Alex was the father who was rejoicing. If Alexander was, too, then that pleased her all the more.
“Can I give you this now?” Alexander pointed to the bag in his lap. “I’d like to get it out of the way before I get any older.”
She went to sit beside him. “By all means.”
From the bag he pulled a box wrapped in white with a blue-flowered ribbon on top. It was light and barely rustled when she shook it.
“Some thing to hang from the mirror in my Chevy?” she guessed.
“Open it, girl.
”
So she did, pulling out the most beautiful white baby gown she’d ever seen. “Oh, my,” she breathed, holding it up. “It’s lovely.” Small scrolls of lace and appliquéd satin deco rated the tiny bodice before falling into a sweeping skirt long enough to cover baby toes. “Wherever did you find it, Alexander?”
He appeared inordinately pleased with himself. “In an antique shop.”
“Did you really?” She glanced at him, delighted beyond anything she could express.
“I did.” He nodded. “I figured only some thing original and one-of-a-kind would suit my daughter-in-law.” He reached into the bag and handed her another white-wrapped box, this one with a pink-flowered ribbon.
Her fingers trembling, she took it from him. Another white christening gown lay inside, with delicate ducks-and-chicks smocking. Daphne felt tears coming to her eyes. “It’s beautiful.”
“Fortunately for me, those ladies up in town knew exactly which shops had christening gowns,” he said with a stern look at Daphne, which she knew covered his emotions. “Otherwise, I might have had to go to Neiman Marcus for these bits of lace. That would have cost me an arm and a leg.”
She laughed, not fooled by his attempt to disguise his feelings. “Some thing tells me these gowns wouldn’t have been any more expensive at Neiman Marcus.” Taking the last box he handed her, this one wrapped in white with a silver-flowered bow, Daphne said, “You almost had me believing your act, Alexander.”
“Don’t get too sure of yourself, missy.”
Smiling, she drew out the last gown, the best of all. It had lace forget-me-nots scattered down the skirt and the tiniest silver threads she’d ever seen woven into daisy trails across the bodice. Full-lace cap sleeves gave the gown an old-world, fairy-tale appearance. “Oh, Alexander.” It was all she could say. She threw her arms around his neck.
“Here! Here!” he cried, making no move to disentangle himself. “Don’t suffocate me!”
She felt a warm, dry peck on her cheek, and as Daphne kissed the top of Alexander’s head, tears of happiness streamed down her cheeks.
THEY DECIDED to have the christening two days later. It was when the minister was first avail able, and Daphne felt some urgency, though she couldn’t say why. She only knew it was important they not wait another moment. For some reason, and maybe because she saw him through new eyes, Alexander appeared to be growing more thin by the day. When she mentioned it to Alex, he shook his head.