***
“Come out and give me your honest opinion,” Cora called out.
I poked my head out of the changing room and studied her. She preened in front of the three panel mirror at the corner, turning left and right, the pink dress frothing around her knees. “I love it, but it’s a bit tight across the chest.”
“I know.” She tugged at the neckline. “I love the color, though. Did I mention that Keith came to my place last night and asked me to the dance?”
“No, you didn’t. So we’ll go together?”
“Absolutely. He had a surprise for me, too. He’s made the final list for Homecoming King.”
With everything going on in my life, I had completely forgotten the tradition my school took so seriously. “That’s great. With everything he does, he might beat Blaine hands down. It would be nice to have a king who wasn’t a quarterback.”
“I know. Go try the green dress. I want to see how you look.”
I disappeared inside the changing room and slipped on the emerald-green dress. I studied my reflection and grinned. I loved it even though I was worried about the back. It had a plunging neckline, which meant I’d have to wear it without a bra. Also, it was way above my budget.
“Well?” Cora called out.
“It’s cute,” I said.
“Cute? Your first Homecoming Dance deserves a dress that’s more than cute. I want to see it.”
Rolling my eyes, I stepped out of the changing room, but she was still in her changing room. I walked to the mirror she’d been using before and studied my back.
“You look stunning.”
I whipped around, my heart skipping. Torin leaned against the wall, a heated look in his sapphire eyes. “What are you doing here?”
“Looking for you.” His eyes ran along my shoulders, left bare by the thin straps, a wicked smile curling his lips. My body reacted as though he’d reached out and touched me. He pushed against the wall and moved closer. My heartbeat picked up tempo. “Following your essence hasn’t been easy. You’ve been all over the mall.”
“My essence?”
“Yes, your essence. Andris is back, so I thought I’d give you a heads up.”
“Where was he?”
“He took a friend home.” His voice deepened with each word as he continued. “You take my breath away, Freckles. You always have, but in that dress... I want to claim you and to Hel with the consequences.”
His voice washed over, and the adoring look in his eyes held me spellbound. He came and stood in front of me, his eyes locked with mine. “The color adds green flecks to your eyes, and the material,” he leaned back and gave me a once over, “hugs your lush curves in just the right places.”
I swallowed, my face burning. I wanted to say something witty, but my mind had gone blank, and my tongue stayed glued to the roof of my mouth. His hands rested on my hips and slowly pulled me closer until our bodies touched. I quit breathing all together.
“If you were mine,” he whispered, “we’d have a private dance for just the two of us before I shared you with the world.” Suddenly, runes appeared on his cheeks and forehead.
“Who are you talking to?” Cora asked from behind me. She’d stuck her head out of the changing room. Torin’s hands dropped from my waist, but he didn’t move away.
“I, uh, I was talking to myself,” I stammered.
“How could you say that is cute? You look fabulous,” Cora gushed. “Turn around.”
I turned, aware of Torin watching my every move, his eyes gleaming. He reached out and ran a finger down my back. Heat shot up my spine, and my knees nearly gave away. But he was there, tugging me against him so my back rested against his chest. He was tormenting me whether he knew it or not, and worse, I couldn’t scold him without looking and sounding like a lunatic.
“You okay?” Cora asked. “You just stumbled.”
I blinked. “I did? I must be more tired than I thought.”
“Then let’s finish here. Oh, and you’re buying that dress or I’m never shopping with you ever,” Cora threatened, moving closer to the mirror to study her own reflection.
“I’ll shop with you,” Torin whispered. “You can buy anything you want.” He dropped his head and kissed my shoulder. I trembled, shocked by his boldness and the sensations rocking my body. He was seducing me right in front of Cora. Worse, I didn’t want him to stop. His lips moved along my neck. I moaned and closed my eyes, tilting my neck to give him better access.
“What are you doing?” Cora asked, studying me through the mirror.
My eyes snapped open. “I’m, uh, imagining I’m dancing in this dress,” I said in a squeaky voice then tried to put some distance between me and Torin, but he wasn’t ready to let me go. “I’d love to buy it, but it’s outside my price range.”
“Charge it,” Cora said. “Your mother gave you a credit card, didn’t she?”
“No, just the debit,” I corrected her.
“I have money, Freckles. Plenty of it. I’ll buy it for you,” Torin offered, his voice seductive and hypnotic. “You can wear it just for me.”
“Okay, I’ll buy it,” I said, answering both of them. Torin chuckled and stepped back from me, while Cora grinned as though she’d won the argument. If only she knew.
I ran into the changing room, expecting Torin to follow. He was so bold I wouldn’t be surprised if he did. I wanted him to. I could still feel his lips on my skin. A delicious shiver shot up my spine.
“You didn’t tell me what you thought of my dress,” Cora called out.
“I’ll be out in a second.” By the time I pulled on my jeans and stepped out, I was calmer and Torin was gone. Disappointed, I studied Cora’s outfit. “It’s nice, but I like the blue one better.”
“Me, too,” she said. She disappeared inside her changing room. “Be out in a second.”
We paid for our purchases and headed home. Marj, Catie, and Jeannette, the three girls who’d helped Eirik and Cora with my birthday party, were getting groceries from an SUV outside Torin’s house. They saw us and waved.
Marj walked over, her curly hair rolled up in a bun. As I studied her, she looked more and more like the nurse at the hospital. It was spooky. I shivered a bit.
“We didn’t know you and Torin were neighbors,” Marj said.
“I’m not, Raine is,” Cora said. “What are you guys doing?”
“Helping Torin. He’s gone all out, and his place is amazing. Are you guys coming over to help?”
“I will,” Cora said. She glanced at me and cocked her brow.
I shook my head, just as Torin stepped out of his house. Our eyes met and heat sizzled between us, my senses remembering the incident at the mall. He grinned as though he’d read my thoughts. Cora, oblivious to the undercurrent, walked over to chat with him.
“I guess we’ll see you tonight,” Marj said.
“Sure. Uh, Marj? Are you by any chance related to the Guillaumes? I met a nurse at the hospital by the name of Gabrielle, and you two could be sisters.”
She blinked. “Yeah, uh, we’re cousins,” she said, laughing. “But I look nothing like her. See you later.”
As I watched her go, I wished I had agreed to help with the party just so I could ask her about her cousin and aunt. On the other hand, one second in Torin’s presence and they’d all know how I felt about him.
Sitting on the window seat, I started on something I had put off since our visit to the hospital. I pulled out the phone book and tried to track down the other two nurses.
Mullin was a common local name and yet I still couldn’t find a Sally Mullin or anyone who’d known her. Kayla Jemison wasn’t even listed.