surprises. So you might as well tell me tonight.”
* * *
By 6:00 p.m. Mellie chickened out and sent a text to Amanda.
Changed my mind about the party. Thanks anyway.
Amanda was not so easily dissuaded. She showed up at Mellie’s house half an hour later, garment bag in hand. When Mellie answered the door, Amanda frowned at her. “I never figured you for a coward.”
Mellie stepped back, shrugging helplessly. “I’m not a coward. But it’s complicated.”
“Isn’t it always?” Amanda placed the long black bag on Mellie’s coffee table and sat down on the sofa.
Mellie took the chair opposite. “I’ve waited too long to say yes. It’s a moot point now. Sorry you came for nothing.”
Amanda stared at her. “Tell me who it is.”
“Case.” Even saying his name out loud made Mellie shiver with a combination of anticipation and dread.
“Case who? Your boss?”
Apparently, Mellie was right. The idea that Case Baxter might invite his housekeeper to the most important event of the year was inconceivable. “Yes.”
At last Amanda grasped the enormity of the situation. Her jaw dropped. “Case Baxter invited you to be his date for the party honoring him as the new president of the Texas Cattleman’s Club and you turned him down?” That last part ended on a screech.
Mellie winced. “Yes.”
Silence reigned for long minutes. Amanda looked at Mellie as if she were some kind of alien being. “I didn’t think you even knew Case until you started cleaning his house.”
“I didn’t. But when he got sick and I helped him out a bit, we...um...”
“Fell madly in lust with each other?”
Mellie couldn’t decide if Amanda was scandalized or delighted. “I didn’t even like him at first,” Mellie said. “He’s arrogant and bossy and opinionated...”
“In other words, a Texas male. It’s in their DNA, Mellie.”
“Maybe.”
“But you got past that first impression, obviously.”
“I still think he’s all of those things, but when he was so sick, I saw another side of him. A human side. A vulnerable side.”
“Oh, dear.”
“What?”
“You’re falling for the guy.”
“Don’t be silly. He’s handsome, and when you get to know him, not so bad, but this isn’t about anything long-term.”
“So why did you turn him down?”
A very good question. “He’s the guest of honor Saturday night. He’ll be in the spotlight. I’m not a center-of-attention kind of girl.”
“So?”
“I shouldn’t even have mentioned this to you. I’m not going, so it doesn’t matter.”
“Try on the dress. And don’t argue.” Amanda could be like a dog with a bone when she wanted something.
“Fine. But only because you won’t leave me alone until I do.” Mellie snatched up the dress in its protective covering and hurried down the hall to her bedroom, trying to ignore Amanda’s mischievous smile.
When she unzipped the garment bag, she sucked in a breath. The gown was amazing. It was halter necked and backless. The chiffon-and-silk fabric almost glowed. The color started out as sea-foam green at the bodice, edged into a slightly darker hue at the hips and continued the length of the dress, sliding from one shade into the next as the mermaid-style skirt fell in a dozen layers of tiny ruffles.
No woman could resist trying it on. With a few contortions, Mellie managed the zipper on her own and slid her feet into strappy high heels. One look in the mirror told her the gown was made for her.
Amanda called out from the living room. “I want to see it. Come model for me.”
“Give me a minute.” Mellie stared in the mirror, trying to imagine the expression in Case’s eyes if he saw her in this dress. She didn’t suffer from false modesty. Her body was nice...average. But in this confection of multishaded green, she felt like a princess.
Amanda actually stood up and clapped when Mellie walked into the living room. “You look amazing. And I was right. The length is perfect.”
“I can’t wear a bra.” Her shoulders and back were bare.
“You don’t need one. I’m so excited you’re going to the party.”
Mellie held up a hand. “I haven’t even tried to contact Case, and if I do, he’s probably asked someone else already.”
Amanda chuckled. “Why don’t we find out?”
“Now?”
“Of course now. The event is less than forty-eight hours away.”
“I’ll text him later tonight. Let me change out of this and we can grab some dinner. Didn’t you say Nathan was working tonight?”
“Yes. But I think my stomach can wait five minutes for a meal. Quit stalling.”
“Be 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
