Bedding the Wrong Brother(59)



“Good?” Melina echoed in astonishment. “I look like a pear shoved into a seventies-era tube top.”

“You leave it to me. By the time I'm done with this costume, you'll look like you were born to walk that stage.”

“Yeah, except I won't be doing much walking. More like hanging,” she mumbled, then felt like a whiny fool. She was hanging with Rhys and for Rhys, that's all that should matter.

It was if Jillian could read her mind. “Yes, well, that's what women do for the men they love.”

Melina automatically shook her head. “I'm just doing a friend a favor.”

Now Jillian did laugh. “Okay, honey. But don't worry about it. It doesn't matter that they've never dated anyone more than six weeks. We all fall in love with one of those boys at some time or another. Not all of us are lucky enough to get that love returned, that's all.”

“From what I hear, they've done plenty of loving to go around.”

Jillian shot her a disappointed look. “You are supposed to be the smart one, right?”

Before Melina could do more than gasp, Rhys's mother, Rachel, swept in. They'd already visited several times, but it was still a nice surprise to see her again. The way she hugged Melina suggested she felt the same. “So what do you think, Jillian? Didn't we tell you Melina is an absolute doll?”

Nodding, Jillian tugged at Melina's dress and adjusted pins here and there. “She sure is. A little dubious about your boys' reputation with the ladies, but other than that, she's fine by me.”

Melina blushed and tried to stammer out a reply, but Jillian just planted her hands on her hips and eyed her up and down. “Yep. The crowd's going to love her,” she declared.

“Let's just hope Seven Seas does.” Rhys's mother looked at her watch. “You've got enough time for one more rehearsal, Melina, but Rhys says you've caught on really fast. He's quite impressed with you, young lady.”

“What's Rhys doing now?” she asked, trying to appear only casually interested.

“He's rehearsing on the main stage with Max and the other girls.”

“Can I go in and watch?”

“Of course!” Rachel exclaimed. “You're one of the crew now.”

One of the crew. As Melina peeled out of her horrid costume and dressed, a smile crept across her face. Despite some lingering nerves, part of her was starting to feel like part of the crew. Everyone was friendly and had welcomed her with open arms, chattering with her about their families and the excitement they felt about getting the Seven Seas contract.

As she rushed to the main stage, Melina thought about what Jillian had said. That everyone fell in love with Rhys or Max at some point, but only a special few were lucky enough to have that love returned. She'd known Rhys and Max loved her since she was fourteen years old. Despite the ups and downs between them, she'd known she could count on them if she ever needed them. Her presence proved they could do the same.

Taking care to be quiet as she opened the heavy doors to the theater, she sneaked into the very back row and watched as Rhys performed one trick after another. There were two other female assistants who assisted in the act. Having hung from the Metamorphosis apparatus and seen Rhys's complicated new trick for herself, she now knew why he required a female assistant of shorter stature. That wasn't true for his other tricks.

The two other girls, introduced to her as Amanda and Tina, were close to six feet, their bodies thin yet curvy, especially in the chest area. Amanda had long, multi-hued blonde hair, and Tina had a wavy red bob that looked perpetually disheveled. They were model gorgeous, and it would have been easy to hate them both but for the fact they were extremely nice and down-to-earth. Amanda had a degree in nursing, and Tina wore crystals and had offered to give Melina a tarot reading. She liked them, even if they did make her feel like the dumpy nerd who didn't quite belong.

With a flourish, Rhys finished one trick, then switched places with Max, who'd been sitting in a chair at the side of the stage. She hadn't spent a lot of time with Max, other than to scold him, then kiss him, for what he'd done at the hotel. She hadn't brought up Trisha or the incident from twelve years ago, and neither had Rhys. Still, she could tell Max was feeling awkward about things. He was more quiet than usual and, except for rehearsals, he kept mostly to himself. She'd asked Rhys about it, but he'd just shrugged, saying Max could be moody but that he'd eventually snap out of it.

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