Designs On Daphne (8 page)

  Thinking over the past weekend, Daphne was delighted that she and Rodric could finish the apartment without the interference of a pesky girlfriend. And he seemed to agree. They’d need at least three more months to select the right art and accessories for the living room, and they hadn’t even started on the dining room. Once December rolled around, there would be holiday decorating to do, wouldn’t there?

  Surely Rodric would want to throw lots of parties once his new place was finished. . . There might be holiday parties to plan! Maybe he’d let her put blinking lights on his hunting mounts, so they looked like reindeer!

  Mulling over the prospective details of her very near future, Daphne felt something like genuine hope as she paid for the bedding and arranged to have it shipped.

  
Really, isn’t it such a shame he’ll be all alone in the big, comfy bed I helped him select, while I’m across town at his mothers?

  He would at first, anyway.

  Since she’d already put so much time into his housewarming party, it would be nice to host it with him, as a professional, of course. Wouldn’t it be wonderful when he placed his hand to her back, dropping his ear to hear the suggestions she’d need to whisper up to him?

Perhaps she could plan to relax at the party, do some cooking, meet his friends and have a good time, without worrying about the girlfriend.

  She hoped. Still, she was only the professional on the job. Because he hadn’t kissed her yet, darn it!

  Miz Esther called that night.

  “Daphne, sugar, it gives me such peace of mind to know you’ve been stayin’ in town, makin’ sure Rodric doesn’t work himself to death, helping out with his place. He’s thrilled to pieces, I can tell you that. Now, he’s assured me you’re plannin’ to stay in the apartment at least until the New Year, right, darlin’? I don’t want you leavin’ Austin without givin’ me a chance to get down there and show you some real hospitality for the holidays!”

   She went on from there. Did Daphne remember she would be bringing the pugs by tomorrow, with their toys and special food and supplements? And what was Rodric up to lately, anyway?

   Daphne said she and Rodric didn’t have any plans for tomorrow night, but he’d mentioned he’d be coming by to meet Esther.

  “Yes, he promised to be finished by five, so he’ll be arriving just as I do,” Esther drawled. “I’m sorry I can’t have dinner with you tomorrow, honey, I’d so like to catch up. I’m real nervous about this safari! Lions and tigers and bears, oh my! And rhinoceroses and elephants, too!” Then she’d giggled, sounding like she’d had an extra mint julep after dinner.

  Daphne didn’t tell Esther, but animals made her a little nervous, too.

  Small, yappy dogs? Yes, they were on the list.

  After her morning design, Daphne took lunch back to Miz Esther’s and worked on an assignment. But her mind kept wandering back to she and Rodric in the department store. It had been two days since she’d seen him, and she missed him. Missed him terribly, in fact.  She didn’t want to be introduced to one of his friends. There wasn’t a man in Texas quite like Rodric. Or anywhere else, for that matter!  

  Maybe after it cooled that evening, Rodric would take one leash and she could take the other.  They could stroll along the river, enjoying the evening’s sunset. The pugs would waddle along, sniffing and pooping outside, so she wouldn’t worry about them chewing any of her boots, or peeing on Esther’s magnificent carpet. . . She didn’t mind the pugs so much as she reviewed the reel that kept playing in her head, she and Rodric hand in hand, walking them together. She’d always made it a point not to disturb him at work, but maybe she should call, ask if he’d help her walk the dogs after his mother left.

  Over the weekend as they walked through Neiman Marcus, hands almost touching, he’d gently chastened her for feeling like she needed to wait to see him in person to ask any questions she had.“Call anytime, Daphne,” he’d said, “Anytime at all.”

  “But aren’t you always so busy during your work day?”

  “Never too busy to take a call from you. It would be a real treat in the middle of a long day. Hearing your voice is always a pleasure. And you should really be taking care of these decisions right away. No sense you putting things off, honey.”

  He’d called her “honey”, which was delicious, but rare. She’d been flattered, of course. That her work was so important to him. That in his mind, she had a schedule, too. . . And he’d enjoy the sound of her voice, while he was working!

 
My, that’s nice to know!

  Maybe Rodric would like a call from her right now! He always praised her suggestions, so he might like her idea of a sunset walk along the river . . . And they could grab takeout afterwards, go back to Esther’s apartment for a cosy evening on the sofa.

  With the pugs.

 
At least I won’t have to eat dinner alone!

 
She reached into the new bag that had caught her eye that weekend at Neiman Marcus. As she ran her manicured fingers over the alligator and ostrich trim, she remembered Rodric admiring it.

   “Miz Daphne, if I’ve ever seen a handbag that looks like you, this is it!” Pleased, and remembering how she’d felt when the buckle to her favorite bag tore on the cab door, she’d glanced at the price tag.

   But this new bag was very, very expensive, and she decided not. Then she’d seen the look on Rodric’s face, so eager for her to enjoy it, and had decided to splurge. At the sales counter, when she pulled out her card, Rodric wrapped her fingers and the card in his big hand, then told the saleslady in that firm, direct way he had, “This goes on my account.”

  “Rodric!” she’d exclaimed.

  He’d caught her eye, very determined, but with a demeanor so placid and reassuring. “This is a professional courtesy on my part, Miz Daphne. No one should have to work on weekends, and here I’ve pulled you out again just because of my crazy schedule. Think of all you’ve done for me today. I couldn’t get any of this done without your help,” he’d cajoled, squeezing the fingers and the card they held just a little.

 
He really means it!

  The look on his face suggested just how much he felt she deserved his gift.

  “Well, when he’d put it like that, how could I object?” she’d asked Daisy on the phone, after she’d congratulated her on making it to the qualifiers of the big international Pro-Am. “I couldn’t risk hurting his feelings, could I?”

  “I guess not,” Daisy snickered, not understanding at all. Well, Daisy wouldn’t understand.

  Daphne changed the subject quickly. “I got my plane ticket for Saturday morning, and the box seat tickets Hank reserved for Ella and I. Oh, honey, I can’t wait to see you. You gonna wear that big sparkly ring, on your ride?”

  “Did today. It sure brought me luck!” Daisy crowed. 

   Daphne fished in her new bag for her cell phone.  Awesome ostrich and alligator designer bags didn’t have manes and tails, not usually. They didn’t eat hay and make a stinking mess around the barn, so Daisy couldn’t begin to understand the attraction they held.

   But Rodric did.

   He seemed to understand everything. 

   Skillfully maneuvering to the Thai restaurant for pickup Sunday night, then back to his mother’s apartment, he’d told Daphne that she was an absolutely perfect lady through and through, and he really did like a lady, that was for sure.

  And then after he’d left, she’d felt lonely, and had gone on Swap.com to find that naughty Pumpjack 70. Oh, what that man did to her! While Rodric thought her a lady!

 
Did he really mean I should call and disturb him at work?

 
Nervous, but excited, she took her cell out of the new purse. Her hands shook a little as she pressed his work number. He answered, and his deep voice sounded busy, much too busy for her.

  “Rodric?”

  “Why Daphne!” he chuckled, pleased as could be. “What a wonderful surprise!”

11

Rodric McGreer was pressed for time. Buzzing his secretary, he asked if she’d send an assistant to pull his car around. As he dialed the first of the three calls he had to return for his court case the next day, he pulled his shirt sleeve back to look at his watch, a rare vintage Breitling that had been his grandfather’s.

  
Darn it, 4:45 already! Well, Mother will have to keep Daphne busy the next few minutes. With those damn pugs. Why she ever thought this was a good idea, I do not know.

 
For all he knew, Daphne hated pugs. He did, that was for sure.

*****

“I’ll come right down, Miz Esther,” Daphne said, a little breathless from nerves.

  “Oh, no, dear, the doorman’s got the parcels, and  Desmond and Tallulah are right here with me on their leashes. The valet is taking care of the car, so you stay put. We’ll be right along.”

  Releasing the intercom, Daphne pressed her cold hands to the counter, trying to stave off what felt like a  real panic attack. She was still taking deep breaths when she heard yapping in the hallway. Leaping towards the door, she swung it open.

  “Miz Esther!”

  “Daphne! My, how gorgeous you look! And what have you done to your hair? I just love it!”

  “Well, everyone seems to favor smooth hair around here, so I went to the stylist. . . ” she began.

  But the pugs were yapping. At Daphne.

  “Any sign of that son of mine?” Miz Esther asked over the din, her giggle loud and bright.

  Daphne’s stomach pinched. She tried not to let her voice wobble. “No, not yet. Rodric’s not here, yet.”

  
Yap yap yap yap yap!

  “Desmond, Tallulah, you knock that off!” Miz Esther said sharply. They did. “The doorman’s right here, dear, will you take the pugs? I’ll show him where to set everything. Just sit on the sofa, and hold their leashes. They won’t bite.”

   Daphne did as she was told. The pugs didn’t bite, exactly. But they did yap. At her. Loud yaps. With bulging eyes and purple tongues and wide mouths studded with little needle teeth, they looked and sounded more like possessed demon children than actual canines.

   From the second guest room, Miz Esther called out, bellowing, “Knock it off!”

  Shaking with fear, the dogs jumped up into the lap of Daphne’s full-skirted green polka dot silk sundress, the one she’d picked out to impress Miz Esther. “Oh!”

  Just then, Rodric appeared in the doorway, looking brave and heroic. And adorable. His shirt was pink. Pale pink. And the sleeves were rolled up. She admired his very capable looking forearms and hands as he strode into the room towards her, the gleam in his eye. she’d bet he left his jacket in his car, laid carefully on the backseat as he sometimes did.

  In a moment, Rodric had whisked the dogs off of her lap and was seated next to her. He’d laid an arm across the back of the sofa in a kind of hug, while setting a big hand on her knee, so she felt cared for and protected. Speaking low to her ear, he said,“Miz Daphne, what has she done to you? How about I take these two rapscallions in to say hello to mother, then head off down to that little park in back with them, so you and she can visit awhile?”

  “Oh Rodric, what a good idea! You’re simply wonderful!” Daphne gave her best little flirty smile, inclining her cheek his way, just in case he wanted to kiss it. Which he did, making a warm rush shoot to her middle.

  It felt so nice with Rodric there, taking care of things.

   And really, anything to get the pugs away from her for even a short while. She did so hope she didn’t start sneezing. It wouldn’t do for anyone to realize she was allergic.

*****

  Holding both leashes as the elevator descended, Rodric draped a long arm around Miz Daphne’s bare shoulders, not letting on how hard he was. He almost drooled just to look at her, so tantalizing in her full skirted sundress. With polka dots. He’d begun to dream of her polka dots.

  As Pumpjack 70, he knew all about Mizz Cristal’s elevator fantasies. He was finding it incredibly difficult not to indulge her right there. It would be so easy to stop the elevator in the lobby, toss the dogs’ leashes to the doorman, then lock the closed doors.

  Mizz Cristal would press her back to the metal wall, and he’d drop to his knees right in front of her, lift her soft thighs to his shoulders and push his face up under her skirt, where he knew she. . . But no, he had to stop this. It was deceptive, perhaps not fair to either of them.

  Besides, posing as Pumpjack 70 had become almost unendurable. He almost constantly found himself suffering from heightened sensations that were only sporadically relieved, and incompletely at that. His unbearable lust caused almost physical pain when he was in Miz Daphne’s presence; he couldn’t wait to taste her flesh for real.

  Catching her eyes, he was alarmed to see that they had turned pink and were becoming blood-shot. Was she sniffling? “Miz Daphne, is everything all right?”

  “Oh, of course, Rodric. Everything’s just fine.”

  He clasped her small, cold hand and she looked up at him; her face seemed to have gone quite puffy. The whites of her eyes were almost pink now, but her expression was closer to adoring than at any other time.

  He knew this was his moment.

  Lowering his head, he touched his lips to hers, so plush and soft and dewy, so fragrant. Unable to stop, his tongue grazed the space between her lips, tasting her. She made a tiny noise of indulgence, and he was lost.

  Dropping the pugs leashes, he reached a long arm to the switch plate. Flipped the switch, the elevator jolted to a halt. Miz Daphne was already in his arms. Hers closed around his neck as she melted against him, purring, “Oh, Rodric. . .”

   Her kisses were as silky smooth as the dress his hands roamed over. Soon enough, her back was pressed to the elevator wall for real, and he couldn’t help clutching her buttocks. Oh, the thrill of those sweet, firm little peaches fitting right into his palms!   His groin throbbed monstrously. Lifting her higher, he steeled himself so as not to grind against her. He wouldn’t dream of dishonoring her in a such a public place.

  Suddenly, she sneezed into his shirt.
Achoo!
And again, and then again.
Achoo, Achoo, Achoo!
Her fingers pinched her nose as the sneezes came furiously, one sneeze after another.At the sound of Daphne’s sneezes, the pugs started yapping.
Yap, yap, yap, yap! 
Desmond lifted his leg and peed against the elevator wall.

  Gently setting her back on her feet, Rodric took a handkerchief from his pocket and handed it to her. “Miz Daphne, are you by any chance allergic to the pugs?”

   Clutching his arm, Daphne turned her face, squeezing his kerchief to her nose tighter in an attempt to stop the sneezing.
Achoo, Achoo, Achoo!

  
Her eyes looked miserable.

  They teared as she nodded, then started gushing as she continued to sneeze. Her face grew puffier, so puffy that her eyes almost disappeared into slits. “Oh, Rodric,” she said. “I’m so sorry. I think I’ve ruined our moment.”

  He touched a hand to her back, suddenly aware of what she’d sacrificed to try and please his mother. Kissing the top of her fragrant, flat-ironed blonde hair, he said, “That’s nonsense, darlin’. We don’t have just one moment. We have the rest of our lives.”

  “Oh Rodric. Do you mean that?”

  Then she sneezed.
Achoo.

 
He took her free hand, then kissed her forehead.“Sure I do. How could I spend the rest of my life with anyone but you, Miz Daphne?”

   He flipped the elevator switch back on. “Let’s get you out of here, darlin’. I can’t leave you stay at mother’s tonight, not in the shape you’re in. I’ll have the valet pull my car around while I walk these little cretins and get them back in their kennels. I’ll get some things together for you upstair and join you in the lobby. ”

  “I can get a hotel room,” she offered.

   She was more irresistible to him than ever, as she blew her nose before collapsing into another fit of sneezes. Wrapping his arms around Daphne, he pulled her close,  “The heck you will. Guess what was delivered yesterday? I had those linens you picked out laundered, too. It’s all made up, ready to go.”

******

  Daphne melted into Rodric.
We don’t just have one moment, we have the rest of our lives, he’d said! And he meant it! Really and truly meant it!

  It was so wonderfully nice there, resting on his broad chest, cuddled in his big arms. Pressing her nose into his pink shirt, she almost lost the urge to sneeze.“Oh, Rodric! I can’t wait to see the new bed! You really mean we can stay at the apartment tonight?”

  He leaned forward to whisper in her ear. “I’ll stay in the guest bed, if you prefer.”

 
You will not!
Daphne smiled, but she didn’t say anything. She didn’t need to.

  Rodric thought of her as a lady, really and truly a lady, and that was just fine, for the time being.

  She didn’t dare kiss him, either, not the way she wanted to, for fear of sneezing.

  But they’d stop at a drug store for some Benadryl, and she was sure she’d feel just fine in a few hours.

   She’d kiss him in that new big bed she’d helped him pick out. Cuddled next to him there would be just perfect, even if Rodric’s moves weren’t quite Pumpjack 70 quality.

  He’d surely satisfy her, wouldn’t he?