Free A Date with Fate by Cathy Cole Page B

their presents silently out of the bags and looked at them.
    Eve rushed on.
    â€œRoom service! We can order the lobster if you like. I know Lila wants to try it. I’ll just order us some lemonade first. They make it with real lemons here – it’s gorgeous. Does everyone like lemonade?”
    Rhi put her PJs gently down on the bed. “Eve, stop trying so hard,” she said.
    Eve rubbed her temples. Her hands were trembling. “Sorry.” How many times can one person say sorry in an evening? she wondered a little hopelessly.
    â€œI want to have a massive bubble bath,” said Polly, disappearing into the bathroom. A moment later there was a squeal. “There are TWO bathtubs in here! OMG, and I think they’re Jacuzzis!”
    Lila’s eyes brightened. “Let’s get our swimming costumes on. Everyone brought them for the spa, right? We can share the tubs.”
    â€œAll of us?” said Rhi in surprise.
    Polly put her head round the bathroom door. “They’re big enough for four people in each,” she said, giggling. “Come on!”
    Everyone started taking off their clothes and rummaging through their bags for swimming costumes. When a startled-looking room-service waiter appeared at the door with two large jugs of chilled lemonade five minutes later, a half-dressed Rhi shrieked and ducked behind the bed.
    â€œOh man,” Lila sighed, relaxing at last into the steaming bubbles of the Jacuzzi she was sharing with Rhi. “That poor guy’s face.”
    â€œWhat about my face?” Rhi objected. “I’ve never turned so red in my life!”
    Everyone roared with laughter. Eve dipped her head back into the bubbles, feeling the water massaging her head. She felt all her nerves and anxieties about the evening swirling away, light as the scented bath foam they were using. Everything was going to be all right.
    â€œThanks for doing this, Eve,” said Polly as Eve came up again for air.
    â€œAny time,” Eve smiled.
    They made the Jacuzzi last as long as they could, before Rhi started complaining of wrinkly fingers. Then, dressed in their cosy new PJs with their Heartwell Manor dressing gowns over the top, the girls sat down in a comfortable circle on the floor to have the most delicious room-service lobster picnic in the world.
    The face packs were next, followed by assorted bottles of nail polish for some experimental manicures. Rhi found some decent music on a radio station and Polly made hot chocolate for everyone to drink.
    â€œNot bad, Eve,” said Lila, lolling back against the bed to admire her black and white yin-yang nails. “Not bad at all.”
    There was a knock on the door. Eve padded over to see who it was.
    â€œCaitlin!” she shrieked in delight.
    Caitlin was swathed in an expensive-looking shearling jacket, dark trousers and heeled ankle boots. “Hi babes,” she smiled, peering over Eve’s shoulder into the room. “I just thought I’d come by and see how you were getting on.”
    Eve hugged her impulsively. “It’s turned into the most brilliant evening. Come and meet everyone. Everyone, this is Caitlin. Caitlin, this is Lila, Rhi and Polly.”
    â€œI feel a bit underdressed,” said Lila, looking down at her PJs.
    â€œGiven the choice,” said Caitlin, throwing down her shearling on the bed, “I would wear PJs all day. A silk polka-dot pair. So chic. What are we doing?”
    â€œOh, can you stay?” said Eve in delight. Could this evening get any better?
    â€œWe’re about to play truth or dare,” Polly giggled. “Do you want to join us?”
    â€œOh darlings, I’d shock you terribly,” said Caitlin with a careless shrug.
    â€œWe’re not that easy to shock,” said Lila, rising to the challenge.
    Caitlin settled down on the floor between Eve and Lila. “Fine,” she said with a glint in her eye.