Free Rocky Mountain Mayhem by Joan Rylen

recommend you use
it.”
    Kate walked up with a fresh cup of coffee and
a clean shirt. Wendy came down the hall glowing pink.
    “I recommend the steam sauna,” Wendy said,
looking relaxed. “Twenty minutes in there and a cool shower, and
the toxins are gone. I feel invigorated!”
    “I prefer to detox without feeling like I’m
in Pasadena in July,” Vivian said.
    Lucy checked her watch. “My appetite has been
invigorated and I’m ready for dinner.”
    Vivian’s stomach rumbled on cue. “There’s my
vote for food. Let’s go get ready.”
    They walked into the hotel and Vivian saw
Eric behind the bar. She fluffed her sweaty curls and told the
girls she’d meet them in the room.
    “But you stink,” Lucy said.
    “I won’t get too close, and I won’t be
long.”
    She went to the far end of the bar and
called, “Hey, cowboy.” Exaggerated Texas accent. “How are things in
these here parts?”
    “Hey, there, little lassie,” Eric said,
pretending to tip an invisible cowboy hat in her direction. “I’m
doin’ mighty fine. Looks like you are, too. Have a good day?”
    “Sure did. Now it’s time for dinner.”
    He looked her up and down. “Hope you’re
planning on meeting me for SIN later.” His tone got serious. “I
know a great spot for dessert.”
    Vivian winked at him, turned and walked out
of the bar.

 
     
     
11
     
     
    VIVIAN got into the elevator, her cheeks
blushing. She fanned herself. Damn, Eric is hot !
    A man in his mid-40s stuck his arm in the
doors just as they were closing; they opened and he got on.
    “That was a close one,” he said.
    “You can say that again,” Vivian said,
pushing the 6. “What floor?”
    “Same, thanks.”
    “So what’s going on in Aspen tonight?” he
asked.
    “Night out with the girls for me,” she said.
“We tend to make trouble wherever we go.”
    The doors opened and she stepped off.
    “Be careful out there,” he called, walking
the opposite way.
    She let herself into the room where the girls
were in full swing getting ready. Lucy was in the middle of opening
a bottle of wine, Kate slaved away over an ironing board and Wendy
was wrapped in a towel heading to the shower. She stopped.
    “Did Mr. Buttery Nipple butter you all up?”
she joked.
    “That stick of butter is still in its
package, thank you very much,” Vivian replied, placing her purse on
the entry table. “But he reminded me about SIN night. We are so going!”
    At that moment Lucy’s wine cork pulled free.
“I’m in!” she said with a laugh. “Who wants a glass?”
    Two “me’s” chimed in unison.
    Lucy poured three, small plastic cups with
pinot noir and handed them out. Wendy took hers, held it up and
said cheers, then shut the bathroom door.
    Vivian turned her head and sniffed the air.
“I smell it again.”
    Kate stopped ironing for a second. “Smell
what?”
    “I swear it smells like cologne. Craig’s
cologne.”
    Lucy swirled the wine glass. “The only thing
I smell is this fine bouquet emitting from my glass.”
    Vivian walked around the room. “Remember when
we came in earlier, I thought it smelled like cologne then,
too?”
    “I only smell the heat from the iron,” Kate
said. “But I didn’t really notice anything before.”
    Lucy ran the straightening iron through her
hair. “What’s wrong, Viv? You missin’ a man’s scent already?”
    “Hardly! I don’t need no stinkin’ or sexy
smellin’ man! They’re just nice to have around occasionally
for—”
    “Yeah, yeah, we know,” Lucy huffed.
    They continued to get ready, primping,
straightening, perfuming. Vivian put her final touches of lipstick
on and looked at her ears. Earrings . She picked through her
jewelry satchel for the silver and turquoise dangle earrings Kate
had bought her in Playa Del Carmen. They went perfectly with her
black and turquoise, tight, v-neck wrap shirt and blue jean
mini-skirt, but they didn’t go so well with her bumblebee pendant.
Craig had given her the necklace