honest, Amanda. Don’t you see that this could be a disaster? Gossip spreads faster than wildfire around here.”
Amanda hugged her, careful not to muss the dress. “It’s a very simple question. If he enjoys your company and you like being with him, all that matters is whether or not you can keep from getting hurt.”
“It won’t last long. He’s not interested in anything serious.”
“That’s all the more reason to enjoy it now. You work hard, Mellie. And you deserve an exciting evening with one of Royal’s premier eligible ranchers.”
“Sounds like a B-grade reality show.”
“I’m serious. Do the Cinderella thing for one night. And come Monday, everything can go back to normal.”
“You make it sound so easy.”
Amanda picked up Mellie’s cell phone. “Here.” She held it out. “Do it before you get cold feet.”
“I already have cold feet,” Mellie complained. But she took the phone and pulled up Case’s contact info. Hastily, without overthinking it, she clicked out a message.
If the invitation is still open, I would like 2 go with you to the party Saturday nt.
Suddenly, she felt like throwing up. It was going to be so embarrassing when he told her it was too late...that he had invited someone else. Every passing second made her want to climb into a hole and hide.
Even Amanda seemed abashed, her romantic soul shriveling in the loud silence.
Suddenly, Mellie’s phone dinged.
I’ll pick you up at 6:30. Glad you changed your mind.
Heart pounding, Mellie replied.
Only about the party. Just so we’re clear.
Chicken?
No. Practical. How R U feeling?
100%. Good enough to rock your world. J
“What’s going on over there?” Amanda asked when Mellie giggled.
Who knew a man like Case Baxter would use an emoticon?
Mellie sat down on the sofa, her legs suddenly too weak to hold her up. “Um, nothing special. He says he’s glad I changed my mind.”
“Well, there you go. You were worried for nothing.”
Maybe. Or maybe her worries were only beginning.
Friday flew by in a blur. Mellie subbed for one of her ladies, worked on her scheduling for three weeks out and at the end of the day went for a mani-pedi at her favorite salon.
That night she fell into bed, too exhausted to worry about her upcoming date with Case. But Saturday morning, the day of reckoning arrived. She and Amanda met after lunch to get their hair done.
They had booked simultaneous appointments. Amanda requested that her hair be arranged in a soft knot on top of her head with tendrils framing her face. She would look adorable.
The salon owner and Amanda ganged up on Mellie when Mellie asked for a similar style. “Yours needs to be down and wavy,” Amanda insisted. “That gorgeous color will pop against the green of the gown.”
“And who says I want to pop?”
The other women ignored her, their plan already in progress.
An hour later it was done.
Mellie had asked for a trim, but her hair still swung softly against her shoulders. She paid for her session and waited as Amanda did the same. The truth was, she did feel a little bit glamorous.
They saw several other women in the shop, as well—ranchers’ wives mostly, with a few girlfriends thrown in. Tonight these would be the people observing Case and his date.
On the sidewalk, Mellie parted company with Amanda. “Promise you’ll rescue me at the party if things get weird.”
Amanda laughed, her cheeks pink from the heat inside. “Nothing is going to get weird, but yes... Nathan and I will look out for you.”
After that somewhat reassuring promise, Mellie went home and second-guessed her decision a thousand times. When she was stressed, she liked to clean, so that’s what she did. After a couple of hours, her house was spotless. But she was still jittery.
When Case arrived to pick her up, Mellie felt as awkward as a preteen on her first date. She opened the door and managed not to swoon. He stood there filling the entryway...tall, incredibly handsome, king of his domain in the conservative tux that fit his long, lean body to perfection. Clearly, he was on the mend.
His lazy grin lit a spark deep inside her. She wanted to gobble him up but at the same time had the urge to run away.
He must have nicked himself shaving. She could see the tiny red spot where he had managed to staunch the trickle of blood.
As she stepped back so that he could come in, his warm gaze raked her from head to toe. “Hello, Mellie.” His tone was low and intimate. “You look stunning.” The words held a level of intensity she hadn’t anticipated.
“Thank you,” she muttered. “I’m ready. All I need to do is grab my wrap.”
* * *
Case was fully recovered from the flu, but he still felt a little unsteady on his feet. Mostly from lying around all week. Inactivity wasn’t his usual style.
The fact that Mellie had changed her mind about being his date tonight gave him great hope for the culmination of the evening. Now that he was well, he wasn’t about to let her get away a second time. All he’d been able to think about as the days dragged by this week was how amazing it had been to hold Mellie and kiss her and how desperately he wanted to do so much more.
If it had been up to him, the club wouldn’t be throwing a party in his honor this evening. But he understood that his new title came with certain social obligations. Having Mellie at his side would go a long way toward making the evening’s festivities palatable. Despite her reservations about being seen in public with him, he was going to be proud to have her on his arm tonight.
Thank God he was finally well. Everything was going according to plan.
As she disappeared down the hallway, he watched her go, taking note of the way her dress dipped low in the back. His breath came faster and his forehead was damp, but his symptoms had nothing at all to do with the flu. Mellie Winslow was a smart, gorgeous, funny woman.
And for tonight she was his.
By the time he had tucked her into his vintage sports car, he realized two things. One, he should have brought the larger Mercedes. He and Mellie were so close in this small space he could have leaned over and kissed her with no trouble at all.
