A Lone Star Love Affair / Falling for the Princess: A Lone Star Love Affair / Falling for the Princess

“I have,” Jake said. “I’ve told him you’re handling my personal investments and some friends’ investments.”

“That probably shocked him.”

“Besides, you’re the baby and they’ve always spoiled you,” Jake said with good nature, and Gabe’s smile widened.

“Don’t think I haven’t enjoyed it, brother,” he said, and the others laughed.

“Will Morris pan out like you expected?” Jake asked Tony.

“Far better,” Tony replied, thinking about Isabelle and wanting to cut the dinner short and call her. Tossed green salads were placed in front of them.

While they ate, Nick lowered his glass of water. “This is a monumental day. A time we’ve dreamed about and I began to never expect to have happen. I insist you let this dinner be on us,” Nick continued. “You’ve accomplished the miracle with your dad and you recently hosted us at a tropical retreat because of the bet you won as the last holdout for marriage.” Nick glanced at Gabe. “You would never even enter the bet, so your bachelorhood doesn’t count.”

“I know that. I didn’t want any part of the bet.”

“My tag-along brother won’t think about marriage,” Jake remarked.

“I have no regrets about my lack of participating in the bet,” Gabe said.

“Besides, Gabe, you would have had a distinct advantage since you are younger than the rest of us.”

“We insist, Tony, on buying dinner,” Jake added. “Since we were little kids, all of us have dreamed and schemed to rein in our control freak fathers and we’ve finally succeeded.”

“Thanks. It’s a great feeling to finally get free and to best him. Don’t ever put Michael in competition with you, Nick,” Tony said, thinking about Nick’s son.

“Don’t worry,” Nick said. “I don’t think any of us will ever do that to our sons.”

“Or daughters,” Tony added with his own sister in mind.

All agreed. After dinner they left the dining room to go to a club lounge, where they sat and talked until ten. Finally, it was time to head home. Nick was parked the nearest to Tony and before they parted he turned to clasp Tony on the shoulder. “Congrats, again. I never thought we’d see this day come for all of us. When we were kids we never thought it would happen.”

“I enjoyed myself tonight. Maybe a little guilty for doing so, but damn, it was satisfying to hear my father admit he couldn’t try to run my life any longer.”

“I know it was. With Jake and with me, it all ended peacefully—at least I assume it’s ended. I feel sure my dad won’t ever interfere again. Besides getting older, he’s wound up in Michael and Emily, the grandkids he finally decided he wanted. Who knows with Jake and Gabe? You’re in the clear now. Sorry your sister isn’t.”

“I hate it. I’ll pay for medical school for Sydney and I’ll see her on holidays, but I can’t do anything if Dad goes ahead with his threat to cut her out of his will. I can share what I get, but she’ll fight taking it.”

“Don’t worry about it now. Your dad may change. My life with my dad is so different. Sometimes I can’t believe he’s the same man.”

“Actually, my dad doesn’t give up easily. I expect him to think about our conversation and come up with a new threat, but he knows he’s lost any real leverage. If I help Sydney, I think he’ll threaten to cut my inheritance. I won’t be in the least surprised.”

“That doesn’t worry you?” Nick asked.

Tony shook his head. “I don’t like losing a huge fortune, but I’ll get along without his money and so will Sydney. He can do what he wants. I’m doing what I want.”

Nick shook his head. “I admire you for deciding to stick by your sister no matter what. If it comes to losing your inheritance, let her know what you’re sacrificing.”

“The realization that I’m free to live my life the way I want to is like freedom to someone who has been imprisoned for a lifetime. No way am I giving in to him. His fortune isn’t worth yielding again.”

“Maybe it will never come about. Gotta run. See you, Tony.”

“Night, Nick. Thanks again for dinner. I really think all of you should have let me treat.”

“Forget it. You earned it.” While Nick walked to his car, Tony climbed into his.

Tony wanted to call Isabelle, but it was late. “To hell with it,” he whispered, and pulled out his cell phone to make the call before driving. The minute he heard her voice, his pulse jumped. He wanted to be with her. Next weekend seemed eons away.

Isabelle planned to spend the week trying to finish projects carried over from Morris. Tony left town after the Monday morning staff meeting and she didn’t expect to see him until the following Monday.

She worked until nine Monday before going home. To her surprise Tony called. Several times she started to end the call, but he would always draw her back into talking. In spite of her better judgment, he kept her on the phone for over an hour with his humorous stories about work and interesting conversation. When she finally ended the call, she stared at the phone, looked at her watch and shook her head. “Isabelle, you’re losing it. Say no to him,” she whispered in the empty room.

Tuesday night when she arrived home, she found a large heart-shaped basket with a mixed assortment of spring flowers on her doorstep. Smiling and shaking her head, she carried them inside to read a card that was simply signed, “Happy Valentine’s, Tony.”

He called a short while later. “Thank you for the gorgeous flowers.”

“Happy Valentine’s Day,” he said. “Wish I could be there to take you out.”

“I’ll enjoy my flowers immensely.”

“That isn’t the reply I was hoping for.”

“That’s about as personal as it will get, Tony. We don’t know each other all that well.”

“I beg to differ,” he said. “I remember clearly—”

“Stop right there,” she said, laughing. “I walked into that one.”

“I do wish I were there.”

“I’m sure you could come home if you really wanted to,” she said, amused because he owned the company and could get someone else to take his place. She glanced at her watch, remembering she was going to cut him short.

“You’re right, probably. Maybe I micromanage. I hope to hell I don’t though. My dad did enough of that when he ran the business before it passed on to me.”

“Tony—” she said, starting to tell him goodbye.

“Tell me what you know about the new ad campaign that was started just before I stepped in. The one regarding the East Texas hotels.”

She told him how the campaign was going, what her department had done. She was on familiar ground. Eventually talk shifted away from business and she listened to Tony as she kicked off her shoes and took down her hair.

“You can tell me all about the San Diego opening when I see you. That’s a great town.”

“I’m looking forward to it.”

“Better than where I am in the frozen north. Now if I had you here to keep me warm—”

“Tony,” she interrupted, smiling and feeling tingles in spite of trying to avoid them.

“I’m just telling you what’s on my mind. It really isn’t ad campaigns or hotels. I don’t want you hanging up on me when I’ve waited all day to get to talk to you.”