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

“I can support you without missing the money.” He set down his beer. “I’ll get a check.”

“You don’t need to now. Dad hasn’t done anything yet.”

“Don’t wait until he does something. Let me give you a check and you put this money away. Open a new bank account Dad knows nothing about with a bank where no one knows him. This is a big enough city that you can get away from Dad’s scrutiny. The minute he cuts you off, you let me know and I’ll take up supporting you. In the meantime, you’ll have this to fall back on if you need it. I’ll be right back.”

She wiped her eyes. “You really are the best brother ever.”

He left to get a check, filling it out and returning to take it to her. She was back in the chair, her long legs tucked beneath her. When Tony handed her the check, she looked up with wide eyes. “Tony, this is enormous. I don’t need money like this yet.”

“Take it and do what I told you. This way you can open that new account and you’ll have money any time you need it.”

“I can’t take this much.”

“Syd,” he said sternly, giving her a look, and suddenly she smiled, folding the check.

“Thank you, best brother in the whole world.”

“You’re welcome,” he remarked dryly. “I’d talk to Dad, but we both know it will do no good. He’s stubborn and he’s a control freak. The only thing that Dylan can ever do to wring respect from Dad is what I’m doing—make as much money as Dad. I had a running start with influential connections, a top-notch education and family money. Dylan has none of that.”

“I know. He can never make the money Dad did, but I don’t care.”

“Have you told Dylan?”

“Not yet, but I will. I’ll miss my family, but at least you’re not cutting me out. It’s getting bad between Mom, Dad and me.”

“Sorry, Syd. Dad has really focused on you. For now, it’s you and not me.”

“He won’t bother you. I think you’ve thrown him for a loop with this latest acquisition. He wanted that chain for years.” She was quiet for a moment.

Then Tony said, “Since he found out about Morris, he hasn’t interfered in my life. I don’t think he ever expected me to make as much money as he does.”

“I wish I could and get him to stop meddling,” she said. “But my calling is in the medical field, not business. I can’t make the money I’d need to gain his respect and stop his interference.”

Tony squeezed her shoulder. “Do you really love Dylan?”

She turned wide brown eyes on her brother. “Yes. You’ve asked me before. Each time I tell you yes, I’m more certain and my love has grown stronger. I don’t care about the inheritance.

We’ll get along. I have faith in Dylan. His grades were tops. He has an excellent job with a big company and hopes someday to go into business for himself. Dad says Dylan is a nobody. Mom and Dad both want me to marry one of those boys I’ve grown up with, Paul, Jason, Will. I’m not in love with any of them. I don’t want to marry them and they bore me.” She waved her fingers at Tony. “Mom and Dad would like you to marry Emma or Darcy.”

“The day the sun rises in the west,” he remarked. “The folks haven’t said anything about that to me for several years. This past year Dad’s gotten quiet on all fronts.”

“You’re surpassing him in business and he never, ever expected that to happen. You can thank me, too, for taking their attention.”

“I definitely thank you.”

“I know Mom and Dad mean what they say. They both want us to have ‘society marriages.’ But I love Dylan and I’m going to marry him.”

“Let Dylan know what Dad has threatened. Fill him in so he knows exactly what it means. If Dylan still wants to marry you, then he’s been warned. Dylan seems to truly love you from all you’ve told me. I trust your judgment with him. The more he knows the more he’ll be prepared to deal with whatever our father does.”

“Tony, why do we have parents like this?”

“Look at my friends and their interfering dads—Jake and Gabe Benton, Nick Rafford. Dad’s no worse than theirs. When we were growing up, their interference was effective. Now, it’s not.”

“Thank heavens! I don’t want him running my life,” she said. “I’m meeting Dylan in thirty minutes, so I need to go, but I just had to talk to you.”

“Call whenever you want. You know I’m always here for you.”

“Thank goodness,” she said. “You always stand by me in a crisis and you’ve been there when I’m hurt.”

Tony smiled at her. When he could, he protected her from their parents’ interference, but it was impossible to always deflect their attention.

She finished her juice and jumped to her feet. “I better run. Thanks for listening. I feel so much better with your encouragement and support.”

“Sure. I’ll need yours sometime.”

She gave him a smile. “That will be the day. Whatever they throw at you, you manage to overcome. Tony, thank you so, so much.”

“Forget it. You’re there for me. You come talk whenever you want,” he said, draping his arm around her shoulders and giving her a light hug.

She smiled up at him, then her expression changed. “Tony, they’ll try to get you to sever ties with me.”

“Doesn’t matter. You know I’ll never do that.”

“Thank you,” she said quietly.

“Syd, I would think Dylan knows the graphic artists in the city. He probably knows the top one with Morris. Her name is Isabelle Smith.”

“I’ve met her at parties Dylan and I have attended. I don’t really know her except to say hi. We’ve talked a little. From what Dylan has said, she’s very good and he admires her work. They’re friends because of their mutual interest in art. Now she works for you. She’s gorgeous,” Sydney said, her eyes dancing. “Thinking of dating an employee?”

“I’m allowed. I’m just curious because they are both in the same field.”

Sydney laughed. “I’ll ask Dylan about her. Maybe sometime the four of us can go to dinner.”

“Syd—” he said in a threatening voice, and they both laughed.

“Watch out. You’ll get Dad on your case if you start seeing an artist. Actually, you won’t. I think you’ve stopped him cold as long as you don’t lose the fortune you’ve made.”

“It’s a damn big relief. You stop worrying so much. You and Dylan can weather Dad’s interference. If you’re really in love, it won’t matter what Dad does.”

“I hope not. He has a lot of influence.”

At her car Jake held the door. “Don’t pay too much attention to our parents. When Christmas comes, it may be a whole different story.”

“If it’s not, I can live with it. I can’t live with losing you.”

He smiled. “You’ll get along. And I’m always here for you. Take care, Syd.”

“Sure. Thanks for the check, but mostly thank you for being the brother you are.”