Hot in the City. Samantha Hunter

maybe Chloe had a point.

      The saleslady brought in three dresses, and all of them made Della gasp.

      “Gorgeous, aren’t they?” Chloe cooed. “C’mon, try them on.”

      Della was led away by the saleswoman, along with the gowns. The assortment ranged among shades of rose, which was Chloe’s choice, of course, and all three were as daring as they were...sensual.

      The first one was a Grecian, off-the-shoulder style of sheer, draped material that caught at the waist with a silver pin. It moved around her in the most wonderful froth of fabric Della had ever imagined. When she walked, it was if she were floating.

      “Oh, that one is superb. It would drive any man crazy,” Chloe said approvingly.

      “It’s very comfortable, too. I like it.”

      “Try the next, anyway. We need to see all of them.”

      Grudgingly, she did so. The second one had a neckline so deep Della was pretty sure she could probably step out of the dress through the front. Chloe liked it, but commented that Della would probably have to tape her breasts in place, so as not to have a fashion faux pas. Della nixed that dress immediately.

      The third was more modestly cut, but fit like a glove, and because of that, was even more revealing than the others.

      “I like it,” Della said, studying her image in the mirror with Chloe. She looked so sleek, and the dress seemed to compress all of her curves into a very nice shape. “But it doesn’t feel as nice as the first one, and it would be difficult to dance in this one. I really like the Grecian style, and I would rather move comfortably.”

      “Agreed. And the first is a very romantic dress, while still being sexy. It also looked the best with your hair color and figure. I was worried that rose color, with your strawberry, would be a clash, but that shade works. I think because it’s muted, and the off-the-shoulder style takes the color away from your neckline, so it shows off that amazing skin of yours, rather than clashing with your hair.”

      Della smirked. “You really think a lot about these kinds of things. Good thing one of us does.”

      Chloe chuckled. “You have basically good instincts. You just need to be a bit more daring.”

      “So this is decided?”

      “Yes. Do you want to go get a coffee to celebrate?”

      “I can’t,” Della said, looking at her watch. “I wanted to drop some paperwork off downtown, and I have an appointment after that.”

      “And you have to call lover boy.”

      Della felt her cheeks warm. “Yes, and that.”

      “Speaking of that, maybe you should buy some sexy extras while you’re here. They have some beautiful things out front.”

      “Oh, I don’t know—”

      “Don’t second-guess, Della. You’re having a fling with a sexy stranger. Make the most of it.”

      Della took a deep breath and agreed with a nod. Returning to the dressing room, she took the dress off, and then waited for the store’s seamstress to take her measurements so that it could be altered appropriately.

      Then, she and Chloe bought several more pieces of lingerie than Della thought she would ever need, but they were fun to pick out. She wondered if Gabe would be surprised. Last night, all she had been wearing were her usual, plain cotton bikinis and he hadn’t seemed to mind at all.

      Leaving the shop, she and Chloe parted ways, and Della’s attention turned to the evening ahead. She was too distracted to think about work, and it wasn’t anything that couldn’t wait.

      Chloe was right—she had to go for it with Gabe. She had everything to gain, and very little to lose. But she balked at calling him and suggesting he come to her house. Should they meet somewhere else?

      If she asked him out for a drink, and then things happened more naturally, she was far more comfortable with that.

      But that was also boring.

      Della was tired of being boring. Gabe was a federal agent, and a man who had experienced a lot more of life than she had. What made her think he would want to see her again? She wanted to stand out in his memory like he did in hers. To make herself desirable, more mysterious.

      Maybe if she did something more creative than just calling him—she could make it a game of sorts.

      Excitement tingled underneath her skin as an idea formed, and before she could talk herself out of it, she took out her phone and opened the GPS application. Some quick calculations, and she’d sent off a message to Gabe that hopefully would be much more intriguing than a phone call would have been.

      Putting her phone away, she hurried down the sidewalk, smiling. She had more plans to make.