I shook my head, my chest feeling light, for once, at how cute she could be. “But I have a surprise,” I announced and watched her eyes slowly open.
Dolly turned to face me. Her eyebrows were lifted. She turned her head again, this time in the direction of the music. “Is that my boombox playing?”
I nodded, then held out my hand. “Come.”
With a confused smile, Dolly took my hand, and I helped her rise from the backseat. Needing to feel her against me, I wrapped my arms around her. Dolly squealed lightly as I lifted her from the car. She met my eyes, and I swallowed, nervous about what she would think of all this. It wasn’t me. I didn’t think like this. I didn’t operate this way.
It was the most nervous I’d been about anything in my life.
And I never felt nervous. It was strange to feel the emotion. It had taken me a while, when she was sleeping, to label it.
I was nervous she would hate it.
I was nervous that I couldn’t do it.
I placed Dolly on the ground, and a blush burst on the apples of her cheeks. That blush destroyed me where I stood. Always had; that, and her dimples, which caved when she smiled.
Dolly slipped her hand in mine, and I stared at our joined hands. Remembering she had liked it before, I brought her hand to my lips and pressed a soft kiss on it.
Dolly gasped. Her breathing increased in speed.
“Come,” I said again and led her to the trunk of the car.
“Rabbit? What’s happening?” she asked, looking around us.
I let go of her hand. “Close your eyes.”
Dolly shook her head, smiling, but then did as I asked. I watched her face for a moment as she stood there with her eyes closed. Trusting me completely. My chest squeezed yet again. Forcing myself to move, I lifted the gift from the trunk. “Open your eyes.”
Dolly did as she was told . . . and her blue eyes grew so huge they resembled the moon. “Rabbit,” she whispered as she made to take the dress from me. Her eyes traveled up and down, drinking in its entire length. She reached out her hand, seemingly scared to touch the sparkling blue material.
“It’s . . .” Tears built in her eyes. “It’s . . . it’s for me?”
I nodded. “For you.” I nudged my head in her direction. “Put it on.”
Dolly blew out a long breath, then she took the dress from my waiting hands. I reached into the trunk for the shoes. When I turned to give them to her, I paused. Dolly was silhouetted by the full moon. In the center of the field we had parked on, there was only us; she and I, and a sky full of stars.
I didn’t care for them. Their beauty paled in comparison to her majesty.
Dolly had shed her clothes. The milky skin of her back looked paper-white in the moon’s glow. She lifted the dress over her head and slid it effortlessly down over her body. I walked to where she stood. I knew she knew I was behind her when her shoulders tensed for a moment. Then her head tipped to the side, offering me her neck.
Unable to resist, I gently pushed her hair to the side and pressed a soft kiss on the side of her throat. She gasped, and goosebumps covered her skin.
I passed the shoes over her shoulder, and then lowered my hands to zip up her dress. I pulled the zipper up very slowly. I savored the view as I covered each inch of pale skin. I stepped back and waited for her to put on her shoes.
When they were on her feet, she turned. My eyes feasted on her as I inspected her from head to toe. The long blue dress fell to her ankles. The sparkly silver shoes sat perfectly on her little feet.
“You like?” she asked nervously, smoothing her hands over the full skirt.
I nodded and met her eyes. Moving back to the boombox, I fast-forwarded the cassette until the song I wanted came on. As the opening bars began to play, I turned and held out my hand to Dolly. Blushing, eyes lowered, she came to me.
She always came when I called.
Dolly slid her hand into mine. She waited, breath held, for what I would do next. I brought her hand to my mouth, gave it a swift soft kiss, and then bowed. Looking up from my gentlemanly position, I asked, “May I have this dance?”
Dolly’s face betrayed her shock. She didn’t speak. Instead she nodded her consent. Standing straight, I pulled her against my chest. I held out our hands and carefully placed the other around her waist. Dolly placed her hand on my shoulder. I looked into her eyes. They were locked on me. Her cheeks full of color.