The Life She Wants. Jo McNally

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      They were doing her a favor.

      She could not scream at them.

      One more deep breath.

      “Amanda,” she said—as calmly as possible—to the petite blonde in the blue sheath, “it’s not a necklace, it’s an extension of the dress that happens to fasten around your neck. That jeweled bib is what makes the dress special. So please. Just. Put. It. On.”

      The tall redhead standing by the door wore a flowing floral gown. Bright orange stilettos dangled from her fingers. Bree’s face said it all, but Mel stopped the inevitable flow of opinions before it began.

      “Bree, I picked those shoes specifically for that dress. They match the clutch you’ll be carrying. It’s almost like I planned it that way.” She tried to keep the sarcastic edge from her voice, but failed.

      “Pull in your claws, Mel. It’s not the color I’m worried about, it’s the crazy heels. I can’t walk in these things.”

      “Seriously? I’ve seen you walk Hollywood red carpets in higher.”

      “That was a lifetime ago. There’s not much call for stilettos on the farm.” Bree patted her protruding belly. “And don’t forget my passengers. Twins, babe. Twins. They’re wreaking havoc with my balance, not to mention my ankles.”

      “Okay, Bree, I get it. Twins.”

      Her business partner and best friend, Luis Alvarado, was already digging through a tangled pile of accessories in the corner of the room. These were his dresses her cousins were wearing to the charity gala tonight. Well, his with a little influence from her. Actually... Bree’s dress was nearly all Melanie. It had been her idea to go old-school with a beribboned empire waist and the flowing organza to accommodate Bree’s pregnant figure. With her dark red hair falling free and her sun-kissed skin draped in the colorful poppy print on ivory, Bree looked like an exotic goddess.

      “Here we go!” Luis stood triumphantly. “Wear these nude flats, honey. Just watch the length of the dress. I don’t want you to trip over it.” Mel bit back a smile when Luis held out the delicate shoes in his meaty hand. His muscular build made him look more like a linebacker than a fashion designer. Of course, with his long, dark hair and that milk chocolate skin, he could also be the cover model on some romance novel. But the man was a genius with fabric. He was already respected in smaller circles, and soon the entire fashion world would know his name.

      “Nora.” Mel turned to face her eldest cousin, who was frowning at herself in the mirror while tugging at the hem of the dark red cocktail dress. “You may be a grandmother, but you’re forty, not eighty. That length makes your legs go on forever, so please stop yanking it out of shape!”

      Amanda slipped her arm around Melanie’s waist. “Mel, you’re not even dressed yet, and dinner is in half an hour. We may not be models like you, but we’ll be fine. Go get your dress on, and we’ll all meet outside the ballroom in thirty, okay?” Amanda turned serious, giving her a quick squeeze. Mel knew what was coming next. “Are you okay?”

      “I’m fine. There’s adrenaline happening, but it’s good adrenaline so far. No temptations. A two at most.” Amanda nodded at the use of their code. “Two” meant Mel was completely under control. No one was more concerned about her ability to cope with a pseudo fashion show than she was. This might be a charity event with loved ones by her side, but it was still bringing her perilously close to a world that nearly destroyed her the first time around. Tonight was a test, and everyone in this room knew that. Luis came up behind her.

      “You may be at level two, but you’re putting me at DEFCON twelve in that outfit. Go change! Dios mio, my reputation will be ruined if you wear that getup tonight.” He nodded at her black leggings and bright green Gallant Lake T-shirt. Her damp hair was covered with a white towel. Maybe Luis had a point—she was cutting it pretty close.

      She patted the hand he’d rested on her shoulder. “My makeup is done. All I have to do is put my hair up, shimmy into that magical dress you designed and I’ll be good to go.”

      Luis nodded toward the door. “Go get yourself magical in a hurry, girl, and I’ll go check on the real models.”

      Tonight was an unconventional fashion show, happening concurrently with the awards gala that capped off four days of golf and other events at the Gallant Lake Resort. Everything benefited the Travis Foundation for Veterans, founded by Mel’s cousin Bree a year ago. Since many of the attendees were well-heeled socialites and celebrities, Bree had asked Melanie to come up with a unique fashion event that would make the women happy while not boring their husbands. She and Luis had hired ten models to stroll silently around the tables tonight wearing fashions from their new collection. Her cousins, who were all on the foundation’s board of directors, would also be wearing Alvarado designs.

      “Earth to Mel? Stop daydreaming and get dressed.” Luis gave her a friendly smack on the behind. He was the only man on this planet who could get away with touching her like that.

      “Okay, okay!” She reached out to straighten Bree’s hair on her way by, and got a scathing look in return that froze her hand in midair. Those pregnancy hormones were making Bree downright scary. “Right. See you all downstairs.”

      The suite she was using as a dressing room tonight was at the other end of the hall. She’d had too many years of changing her clothes while people watched to ever do it again, even with family. Mel was just swiping the room key when she heard low voices coming from around the corner, where the larger suites were located. The female voice sounded young. It also sounded tense, which was what caught Mel’s attention.

      “I don’t want to go to this dinner, Gary. I don’t feel like parading around in front of a bunch of old people again. Please?”

      The answering voice was smooth, but with an undercurrent of anger that set off all kinds of alarms for Mel.

      “Shane says you’re going, so you’re going, cupcake. If you behave yourself, maybe we’ll start practice a little late tomorrow. And I’ll take you to breakfast, okay, Tori?”

      Mel’s entire body went still, including her lungs and her heart. The words were innocent enough, but the tone was off. And it was much too familiar.

       Mellie, baby, why don’t you stop by my place before the photo shoot, and we’ll work on some of your poses, okay?

      She swallowed hard. This wasn’t about her. It was about Tori. A girl she didn’t know, hadn’t even seen yet. She moved closer to the corner, trying to decide what to do.

      “Umm...sure, Gary. But I still don’t want to... What are you doing? Let go...”

      Oh, hell no. Mel quickly stepped around the corner and took in the scene. Tori was fifteen or so, with a tall, athletic build and thick blond hair pulled back into a ponytail. She was wearing a Hello Kitty T-shirt that was two sizes too small, as if she didn’t know she’d grown breasts, and skintight running shorts. Her arms were folded across her stomach.

      Gary was probably in his fifties, with graying hair and a slim build, barely as tall as Tori. He stepped away from her the minute he saw Mel, his facial expression morphing from anger to a smarmy smile. Unfortunately for him, Mel had a PhD in smarmy men. Especially smarmy men who took advantage of teenage girls. Blood was pounding in her ears, and sweat tickled her scalp.

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