“How many buttons are there?” Ginger asked.
“About five hundred.”
The other woman laughed. “Only do the top two. Then please get my brother. Not only can’t I walk, but no one should have to button me into this.”
Madeline fastened a couple of buttons, then used clips to secure the rest of the back. She walked into the waiting area and motioned for Jonny to follow her.
“That bad?” he asked.
“I didn’t say anything.”
“You didn’t have to. You have smug-face. That’s your silent way of telling me I was wrong.”
She turned toward him. “I don’t have smug-face, and even if I did, you weren’t wrong. You love her and you want her to have a beautiful dress. That’s really sweet.”
“Even if I didn’t get the right one?”
Madeline smiled. “I’m really hoping you can return it.”
She opened the door to the dressing room. Jonny took one look at his sister and sighed.
“That’s awful,” he admitted. “It’s what? Too big?”
“Too much dress,” Madeline told him. “Ginger is petite. She needs a gown that flatters her rather than overwhelms her. Go sit. She’ll be out in a few minutes.”
He retreated. She closed the door. Ginger stared at her.
“That was good,” Jonny’s sister said. “You totally handled the situation without making him feel bad.”
“He did a sweet thing. He really loves you.”
Ginger nodded slowly. “Yeah, he does. I’m very lucky. It’s nice how you understand him.”
Madeline got a little nervous about where the conversation was going, so she hurried over to help Ginger out of the big dress. Rosalind took it away while Madeline got Ginger into one of the dresses she’d ordered.
“This is my favorite,” Madeline admitted. “If it looks as good as I hope it will, you’re going to be stunning.”
The dress was a beautiful creamy ivory lace covering a white silk sheath. The two-tone effect was subtle, but added a depth that was elegant. The neckline was a deep V, front and back. The dress was sleeveless and a modified trumpet style—fitting to midthigh before flaring out. Rather than being too puffy, the skirt draped, giving a nod to the modern style without overwhelming the wearer. In the back, the fabric pooled into a beautiful brush train.
“I love it,” Ginger breathed as Madeline pulled up the zipper.
“There’s more,” Madeline told her, then reached for the beaded ribbon belt. It was the same creamy ivory as the lace, with hand-sewn beading on the front. She tied it in place, then smoothed the ends of the ribbon.
“If this is the one, when we get it fitted, we’ll have the belt bow sewn into place. Then we’ll cut it and add a couple of sturdy snaps to hold it closed for the day. The last thing you want to worry about is tying the bow over and over again.”
Ginger blinked quickly. “Why am I crying?”
“You’re supposed to cry when you find the right dress. Come on, let’s go show your brother.”
Madeline grabbed Ginger’s shoes and followed her to the front of the store. Jonny came to his feet as his sister entered, then whistled.
“Sis, you’re stunning.”
“Isn’t the dress beautiful?” Ginger asked, wiping away tears. “I love it.”
Madeline got her up on the platform, then helped her into her shoes. Ginger turned and viewed herself from every angle. Madeline showed her how the dress could be bustled.
“We’ll add extra loops and buttons,” she said, holding the train up. “From the back, it looks fantastic and the front lines are still perfect. You’ll be comfortable, able to dance and look good in pictures.”
She straightened and Ginger threw herself at her.
“Thank you,” the other woman breathed. “This is perfect. I love this dress so much. I can’t believe how much you’re helping me.”
Madeline hugged her back. “You’re welcome. I’m having a great time.”
Over Ginger’s head, she saw Jonny watching her. When their eyes met, she felt a tug that went clear down to her heart. It had nothing to do with sexual attraction and everything to do with the man himself. The feelings were deep and overwhelming.
What she’d been experiencing hadn’t been star power or even hanging out with a really great guy. It had been love. She’d fallen in love with him. Maybe the first day, maybe over time. However it had happened, she was in it now. Totally and completely in love with Jonny Blaze. What on earth was she supposed to do about that?