Taking a deep breath, I began the shimmy into the magic item. Please fit, please fit. Yes. They were on. Now for the test. I closed my eyes, said a soft prayer to the jean gods, and zipped up. Bam. Check me out.
“I love those on you,” Cora said. “You need to wear them with this.” She handed me a silver cami, tag still on. I’d bought it on impulse on a day when I’d been feeling fabulously confident, but it had never made it off the hanger.
I eyed up the sexy garment wistfully. “Too strappy, and it makes my tits look obscene.”
Cora grinned. “And you just made my point. Put it on. I’m gonna do your makeup, and you’re gonna look hawt.”
“No one says that anymore.”
“I do.”
I didn’t make up my face too often. My complexion was on the pale side and makeup, even the slightest amount, stood out starkly, but Cora was magic with her brushes and the nude colors. She added just enough to accentuate but not look gaudy.
I studied my reflection. “I actually do look hawt.”
Cora sniffed. “No one uses that word.”
I hugged her waist. “I love you, and I want you to look hawt tonight too, so take some.”
Her eyes widened. “What?”
“Draw from me.”
“But, it’s forbidden,” she said in a hushed, dramatic tone.
I rolled my eyes. “Not if I give you permission.”
Her eyes lit up. “Okay, if you insist. Just a little.”
She touched my shoulder lightly, and my skin tingled, a breathless feeling came over me briefly, and then she was done, standing in front of me in full solid form.
My head spun a little with the aftereffects of the siphon, and Cora handed me a bar of chocolate.
I looked down at my waist. “Are you insane?” But tore off the wrapper and ate it anyway.
Cora closed her eyes and flipped her outfit. Not all ghosts could change the way they looked, but a level four like Cora could manipulate her spectral image. A midi skirt and a strappy top paired with cute heels appeared on her body. Her blonde hair framed her sweetheart face, and dark blue shadow made her cornflower-blue eyes pop. She kicked out a leg and did a little Betty Boop bop.
I grinned at her. “You know what, Lucas aside, I have a great feeling about tonight.”
“Me too,” Cora said. “Me too.”
Eclipse was heaving with bodies. But by the time we got to the club, my body was souped-up on margaritas and Thai food, and the crush of people didn’t matter. We elbowed our way to the bar, and Cora ordered more drinks.
“This is my last one.” I had to raise my voice to be heard over the music.
Cora smiled and held up her drink. “You mean this is your last one.”
“Right.”
She could hold a drink, but she couldn’t drink it, which meant I ended up downing her share. It was gone midnight, which wasn’t late for a night out, and wasn’t late when transferred into work hours, but was late to my off-duty brain. It was tucked-up-in-bed-with-a-book late or curled-up-on-the-sofa-watching-my-favorite-show late.
My brain rebelled at being out at this time, but no, I wasn’t going to give in and head home just yet. I was determined to have fun.
I sipped my drink and allowed Cora to lead me to the balcony overlooking the dance floor. The best spot to people-watch. There were plenty of specters in the house too, bopping on the dance floor.
I leaned into Cora. “Can you tell which solid ones are ghosts?”
“Sure.” She pointed. “That woman grinding up on that guy over there is very much dead.”
I found the couple she was referring to, a petite redhead and a blond dude.
“They look cute together.” Cora sighed wistfully.
“Except he’s alive, and she’s not.”
“Don’t judge,” Cora said. “Love has no bounds.”
“Trust me, it does.” I sipped my drink. “When the living partner decides he or she wants kids or something.”
“There’s always adoption.”
I turned to her. “Would you?”
“What?”
“Date the living?”
Her smile was sad. “I just miss being in love, Fee.”
I hugged her around the waist. “I love you.”
“I know, but you don’t have a penis.”
“Yes, I do! It’s in the bottom drawer of my dresser.” I winked at her.
She shoved me away. “Urgh. Errol doesn’t count. He’s used. Heavily, if I might add.” She giggled. “Come on. Let’s go bust some moves on the dance floor and show those teenyboppers how it’s supposed to be done.”
“Hey, I’m only twenty-five.”
“And I’m only dead.”
I downed my drink and followed my bestie through the throng toward the dance floor.
“Ooh, Fee, don’t look now, but there’s a mega-hot guy eye fucking you from across the club.”
I followed her gaze and spotted the man. He stood at the edge of the crowd, blond, shoulder-length, tousled hair gleaming in the strobe lights. The lines of his masculine jaw were hugged by a neat beard. Recognition lanced through me even though I didn’t know him. Déjà vu, maybe? I should look away and quit staring, but my attention was locked on him. I didn’t usually go for beards, but this guy carried it off perfectly. The spot beneath my diaphragm heated, a strange tugging sensation bloomed there, and I was walking toward him.
Whoa.
I got my legs under control. Even though it was impossible to see his eyes clearly in the strobe lights, there was no doubt in my mind that his attention was on me. He was wearing a black shirt, open at the neck to reveal the smooth tanned skin beneath. Sun-kissed Adonis, that’s what he was.
“Back off, I said no.” The shrill, slightly panicked voice caught my attention.
“Douche alert,” Cora said.
Adonis forgotten, I focused on the woman who was obviously being harassed by a couple of guys. She was alone at one of the tall circular tables that dotted the club. Probably waiting on her friend to grab drinks from the bar while she held on to the chill spot.
The guys were crowding her, all smiles. But she wasn’t smiling. In fact, she looked like she was about to cry.
“Fee …” Cora warned. “Don’t do it.”
Too late.
Chapter Six
There was a damsel in distress, and hero mode was activated. My heel stuck on a tacky spot on the floor. I tugged it free and strode over to the table.
“Hi!” I smiled brightly at the woman. “Mind if we join you?”
She looked from me to Cora, and her mouth turned up in a grateful smile. “Please.”
“Well, hello …” one of the douches said.
I ignored him. “Friends of yours?” I jerked a thumb toward the guys.
“No. They won’t leave me alone.” Her gaze darted to them then back to me.
“Really? Did you ask nicely?”
“Yes. I told them I’m not interested.” This time she stabbed them with a glare. Good girl.
They were hulkish specimens with shirts that stretched too tight across the muscles underneath. Probably a size too small.