Free Mile High Love by Tracy Cottingham Page B

such a butt, and he wants to make it up to
you.”
                  
Cassie laughed at her sister’s folly.  “Maybe he’ll sprout wings and fly
by the window outside too.”
                  
“Everybody wants to be a comedian,” Lonnie launched the pillow she missed her
sister with earlier, and launched a second one a little easier at Abby.
                  
Abby squealed and hopped up on the bed to do battle.  She tossed one at
Lonnie, and at Cassie, and kept firing till Lonnie tackled her on the
bed.  “Gotcha, you little monster.”  She hugged her affectionately,
and patted her on the back.  “Go get you’re glow in the dark necklace we
bought earlier so we can blow this joint, and head for the park.”
                  
Cassie was holding the pillow, still staring at the invitation.  It had
been so long since she had been to a party of any kind.
                  
“Why are you still here, aren’t you going to get ready?”
                  
 “Me?  I’m not going, I’m coming with you two.”  She heard her
daughter groan at the idea.
                  
“No mom.”
                  
“Don’t no mom me, why can’t I come?”
                  
‘Cause you don’t like to go on any of the fun rides.”
                  
“That’s a lie,” Cassie pretended her feelings were hurt.  “The only rides
I don’t like are the ones that go too high, or too fast, or too-” She
stopped.  “Oh all right, you two go and have fun.  Maybe I’ll see
what this party thing is all about.”
                  
Abby was already heading out the door with her sister.  “Excuse me,”
Cassie yelled after her.  “Don’t I even get a kiss good-bye around
here?”  She was rewarded by her little girl running back in from the
hallway and flinging herself into her arms.
                  
“I love you,” Abby whispered, and gave her a quick kiss.
                  
“I love you too, bear,” she gave her a quick squeeze, and forced herself to let
go.  When Abby disappeared again, her sister stuck her head around the
door.  “We won’t wait up so take as much time as you need. Oh, and don’t
do anything I wouldn’t do.”
                  
“You really think you’re funny don’t you?”  Cassie would have continued
talking but her sister had already gone, and Cassie found herself at the other
end of a closed door.  “What do people wear to parties now anyway?” 
She asked herself as she headed into the bathroom to try and fix her face, and
deal with a mountain of sopping wet towels.  “Oh the hell with it,” she
grumbled and grabbed a pair of shoes from her suit case, “I’m not in the
mood.”  She threw the invitation down on the bed, and headed outside to
get some fresh air.

CHAPTER FIVE
     
    Cassie wandered around the resort,
and ended up at one of her favorite places, the pool.  She sat down at the
edge, slipped her sandals off, and let her feet dangle in the cool water. 
                  
“Fine!”  An angry female voice echoed out into the darkness, back in the
far corner by the Jacuzzi.  “If that’s how you’re going to be than I don’t
want any part of it!”  It was silent for a minute, and then the sound of a
good hard slap rang out before the woman fled away.  Abby told herself not
to be nosy, but her eyes locked with a pair of intense brown ones staring back,
piercing the distance between them.
                  
Cassie’s breath caught in her throat, and she felt the once cool water warm
instantly against her legs.  He definitely wasn’t the boy she
remembered.  He stood there in a tight, thin white undershirt clashing
against the brilliance of his golden sun bronzed skin. It didn’t leave much to
the imagination as it highlighted the cut muscular lines that ended