The two women spent the remainder of their afternoon going from store to store, trying on countless outfits. Just as they were giving up hope of finding the right outfit, Stormy walked from the changing room feeling like a million dollars.
Stormy wasn’t a dress-up sort of girl, not normally. She wasn’t down on herself, but she had never looked in the mirror and thought she was stunning. This dress changed that. It was like it was made for her. A black cocktail dress that, while modestly cut at the top, showed off just enough cleavage to tease. The hem fell just above the knees and somehow managed to make her legs look like they went on for miles. Her favorite part, though, was the plunging back. It was elegant and sexy and she felt more glamorous than she ever had in her life.
“Hot damn! That man’s pants are going to be down before you take two steps,” Lindsey said as they walked to the front register.
“That’s the goal,” she said with a wink.
When the day was over, they were both sorry to see it end, even if Stormy was anticipating her night with Cooper.
“Promise me we won’t let so much time pass before we see each other again,” Lindsey pled as they sat in the driveway.
“I guarantee you’ll hear from me so much that you’ll be sick of my voice,” Stormy replied, her eyes filling.
“I’ll hold you to that,” Lindsey threatened.
Stormy reached across the small space and gave her friend a hug. Then she opened her door and climbed out. She stood in the driveway with the dress draped over her arm, waving as Lindsey sped away.
Now it was time to transform.
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
It was exactly three minutes until eight, right on time . . . or a little early.
Stormy laughed quietly to herself as she realized she’d actually managed to make it somewhere on time. A slight squeal from the brakes of the yellow cab she’d hired to bring her to the hangar could be heard across the entire place as it came to rest outside the vast rusted building.
Being careful not to snag her new dress, Stormy stepped onto the uneven asphalt, wobbling a bit due to her choice in footwear. It had been a while since she’d worn heels. Stormy leaned against the cab with one hand while trying to maintain her balance. With a quick “Thank you,” the quiet cab driver took the money, nodded his head, and barely gave her a chance to step away before he drove off.
A shadow of worry surrounded Stormy when she found herself standing alone, wearing a short dress in a vacant lot. When she looked upward, the rusty, faded blue hangar loomed over her like an unsightly set in a horror flick. It was not helping her current state of mind.
Nevertheless with some glimmer of hope, she scanned the hangar’s surroundings, looking for Cooper’s car. Why hadn’t she reminded him she didn’t have a car and asked him to pick her up?
Because she was independent, that was why.
Scanning the wide expanse of asphalt, she let out a relieved sigh when she spotted the trunk of Cooper’s Porsche. She stepped toward the huge hangar door, her eyes still uneasily drawn to the rusty exterior of the building.
Well, it was an adventure, at least. Stormy pulled the metal door open, and hoped she wasn’t stepping onto the set of the next crime scene in the papers.
“Hello?” she shouted. “Cooper, are you here?” The room was far too dark, giving her the shivers. Yep, she was definitely in a horror flick.
There was no response. She was growing irritated. Deciding to go back outside and return the way she came, she reeled when two arms wrapped around her. The shriek she let out vibrated off the metal walls. Her heart thudded, until she inhaled deeply and the sweet smell of his familiar cologne filled her nose. Her panic ebbed but not her irritation.
“I was getting frustrated,” she said.
“I’m trying to surprise you, woman. Now be silent,” he said with laughter in his voice.
She was about to reply when his hands slid across her stomach and down her thighs before coming back up and lightly tracing her breasts. Her breath panted out. The darkness of the room, his hands, the husky sound of his breath right below her ear—all played a part in making her knees shake.
His hands suddenly stopped their movement and she began to protest when his fingers brushed back her hair. Then she felt the familiar touch of cool silk against her cheeks as he covered her eyes.
“No peeking,” he whispered, his hot breath sliding along her ear a second before his teeth gently nipped the spot.
Passion erupted inside her as he pushed against her back and she felt his arousal. He stroked the flame as he softly began kissing her exposed shoulder, moving across the sensitive skin as his tongue darted out.
Moaning, she tilted her head to the side, exposing her neck for easier access. Cooper quickly took the cue and moved around in front of her, where his lips then dipped into the V of her dress.