Page 62 of Playing A Risk
Jonah goes in first. “Okay, you two. Hit pause because we have a dramatic entrance to make.”
Mel pops her head up over the back of the couch. “What on earth?”
“What have you guys been up to?” Dorothy jumps out of the recliner chair. “What’s all this?”
“Why don’t you come over here and find out?” I hold out the boxes to her.
She lifts them from my hands. “It’s not Christmas yet.”
“It doesn’t have to be.” I take her in as Jonah gives Melanie her boxes.
Dorothy’s wearing black leggings and one of my sweatshirts. Her thick hair lies over her shoulders and on her chest, looking as beautiful as she can be.
She nudges my arm with the large box. “Come over here and help me open these.”
“I’ll watch. You have to unwrap them.” I sit in the chair she was using.
Jonah and Melanie are already on the couch. Melanieflashes Dorothy a smile, then crawls over her gifts and starts making out with Jonah.
I push the back of his shoulder. “Normally, I would let you two do whatever you want, but I thought we decided on having them open these together.”
He laughs and presses Melanie back. “This one time, baby girl, we should listen to him.”
They count to three and dive in. Dorothy takes her time, whereas Melanie rips the paper apart and tears the presents open.
She stops dead in her tracks when her gown for the ball comes into view. She moves in slow motion as she picks it up.
“Jonah…” Tears start falling from her eyes.
Damn, I didn’t expect that from her.
I do a quick assessment of Jonah. He’s grinning from ear to ear. More than relieved, the tension releases from my neck. I wasn’t sure how he’d deal with an emotional woman. Melanie seems to have a good effect on him.
My attention goes back to Dorothy. She’s sitting on the floor below me, smiling as she watches her best friend experience joy like she never has before.
Melanie doesn’t come from money. She works hard and still has to share her living expenses with a roommate.
Dorothy’s loving gaze comes to me. “Thank you.”
“You haven’t opened yours yet, so what are you thanking me for?” I pick up her large box and hand it to her. “It’s your turn.”
She takes the gift from me and finishes opening it, folding back the white tissue paper until her royal blue, floor-length ball gown is on full display.
“You were wearing this color the night we got together. I knew I couldn’t go wrong.” I reach for the other box, but she’s in my lap, hugging me before I can grasp it.
Jonah and Melanie are locked in an embrace, so I relish Dorothy being in my arms. A few minutes later, I get the goodsense to urge the ladies to finish unwrapping the jewelry, shoes, and lingerie that match their dresses.
I tell Dorothy I don’t expect to see it. I just want her to feel beautiful all night. They run out of the room, squealing like two high-school girls getting ready for the prom.
When I send the make-up artist and hairdresser up to their rooms fifteen minutes later, Jonah and I hear their screams all the way to the bar area. I’d say we made our ladies happy, so the night’s already a win.
Two hours later, Jonah and I stand in the foyer, waiting for them to come downstairs. As if on cue, Melanie appears at the top of the stairs, wearing her white floor-length dress. It’s a silk slip dress cut perfectly for her body.
I slap Jonah on the shoulder. “Got to hand it to you, little brother. You did well.”
He meets her at the bottom of the stairs. “Damn, baby girl. I’m not letting you out of my sights tonight.”
“You better not because I’m going to be turning heads.” She hugs him and whispers something in his ear.
