Chapter Four Spa Day
STACEY
I’m sure my smile of satisfaction totally gives away what Owen and I just did in our room, but I don’t care. After that hellish car ride, some relaxation and relief was just what I needed, and my man did not disappoint.
Everyone else is already gathered in the living room when we step out of the hallway. Grace, Skyler, and Rylee are sitting together on the leather couch, and the guys are standing around, each looking weirdly anxious. Even the ever-stoic Wilder seems a bit antsy, which really isn’t like him.
I glance up at Owen, and he’s smiling a little too brightly, even for what we just did in the tub.
They’re definitely up to something. I agreed with Sutton and was suspicious when they sprung this trip on us at the last minute, and then even more so when they arranged a spa day for only us girls.
Why bring us all the way to Estes Park only to spend our first day here apart?
Now, they’re all acting so strange that I’m certain they have something else planned.
“There you guys are,” Rylee says, her gaze sweeping over us. She’s holding her fuzzy gremlin of a cat, Gizmo. I’m not surprised she brought him along — that little demon goes everywhere with her. Her lips curl into a knowing grin. “Are you both… well rested?”
“How’s your back, Stace?” Skyler grins. “Not sure it’s good for the baby to get it blown out so regularly.”
I crinkle my nose and wink at her. “Don’t you worry, I’m very rested, and I’ve no back issues to speak of. Almost don’t think I need the spa.”
“Oh, don’t say that,” Owen quickly jumps in, pulling my hand up to place a kiss on my knuckles. “This spa is the best in Estes Park, and you ladies deserve some pampering.”
I furrow my brow as I stare up at him. “What are you—”
I’m cut off when the front door suddenly flies open and Sutton strolls inside.
“I’m here!” she exclaims, throwing her arms into the air.
Everyone reacts, the girls jumping off the couch and rushing to her. Rylee sets Gizmo on the floor and he goes darting off down the hall and out of sight. I’d join them, but I’m not doing a lot of rushing these days. More eager waddling.
I make my way over to my friends, who are hugging and greeting Sutton. When she spots me, she breaks away and hurries forward to wrap her arms around me.
“Oh, my God!” she exclaims, leaning back and looking me up and down. “You are gorgeous!”
Chuckling, I reply, “Thanks! I can’t say I feel all that gorgeous right now, but I appreciate it all the same.”
Sutton is the gorgeous one, really. She’s tall and slim, with dancer’s legs, long brown hair, and honey brown eyes.
When she moves her head, I catch sight of a flash of turquoise on the underside of her hair.
She’s also dressed so stylishly in her checkered Burberry puffer jacket, slim black leggings, and furry winter boots.
A part of me feels a little insecure looking at her, like a whale in comparison. But her smile is so genuine as she gazes up at me that the feeling quickly vanishes, and I’m just glad to see her. We haven’t spent much time together before and I’m looking forward to hanging out this weekend.
“Okay, ladies.” Jensen claps his hands together, drawing everyone’s attention. I can’t help but imagine him in the locker room at the stadium, doing the same thing to get the team to focus on him. “Your rides are going to be here any moment.”
“Rides?” Grace frowns at him.
He grins. “We’ve gone all out for you all. Rides to and from the spa, and full luxury packages. Massages, facials, manis and pedis… the works!”
The girls and I all exchange surprised looks.
“Holy shit!” Rylee exclaims. “I figured we’d get massages. Maybe facials, but not everything.”
“We’re spoiling you all this weekend,” Zander tells her, dropping a kiss on top of her head.
I know we all want to ask the same question: Why? None of us say it, though.
Instead, Skyler — in typical Skyler fashion — cracks a joke. “So what are you bros going to get up to while we’re getting so thoroughly pampered? If it’s bro-on-bro lovin’, I demand videos.”
“We’re just going to be bro-ing out like normal,” Carson quickly answers, his voice squeaking ever so slightly. “Watching football, throwing back some beers. You know. Guy stuff.”
“Laaaaame,” Skyler murmurs, giving him a suspicious look that I think we’re all sharing right now.
Before anyone can say another word, though, someone’s phone suddenly starts going off. Jensen ends up digging his out of his pocket and frowns down at the screen, swiping his finger across it.
“Oh, shit,” he murmurs.
“What is it?” Wilder questions, folding his arms over his wide chest.
“Message from Jayce. There’s a snowstorm on the other side of Colorado and he can’t fly in from California until tomorrow at the earliest.”
“Oh, wow, that sucks,” Grace winces.
“At least he’ll be here tomorrow,” Sutton shrugs.
“Yeah, I suppose…” Jensen murmurs.
“The SUVs are here,” Zander declares, looking out the front windows of the house.
“Oh, okay.” Jensen tucks his phone into his pocket again. “You all should get going. Don’t want to be late.”
The guys help us get bundled up, and as Owen slips my coat up my arms, I get the distinct feeling that we’re being shooed away.
When we’re ready, we step outside and make our way to the SUVs whose engines are humming softly.
It’s starting to snow. Gentle, big flakes drift from the sky, and it makes the landscape around us look even more like in a Hallmark Christmas movie.
Owen leads me to one of the vehicles and leans in to kiss me goodbye, his hand warm at the back of my neck, his lips brushing mine in that lingering way that makes my toes curl.
“Enjoy yourself,” he murmurs, eyes glinting almost mischievously.
I slide into the backseat of the first SUV with Grace and Skyler, waving as Rylee and Sutton climb into the other car behind us. The ride winds us through the pines, sunlight catching on the mountain peaks in the distance. This really is such a scenic location.
“Okay, so what are those guys up to?” Grace asks, looking between the two of us.
“Hell if I know,” Skyler replies with a chuckle. “They’re doing a pretty terrible job of playing it cool, though. Carson does this weird nose wiggle thing when he’s keeping a secret, and he’s been doing that the last couple of days almost nonstop.”
“Jensen effectively distracted me from asking too many questions by letting me do all our packing for the weekend.” Grace sighs almost dreamily. “We’ve officially reached the stage of marriage where I’m aroused by organized luggage.”
Skyler snorts. “Yeah? Well my guy brought twelve energy drinks and no underwear. What stage of the relationship is that?”
Grace wrinkles her nose. "Gross. That's my brother."
Skyler reaches over and pats Grace’s shoulder with a grin. "Ahh, don't worry, I loved you first babe."
Rubbing my belly, I let out a sigh and grin. “Well, whatever they’re up to, they’re going to a lot of trouble to distract us. I say we just enjoy the day and let them scheme away.”
Grace and Skyler laugh.
“You’re right,” Grace nods. “They’ve sprung for a day of luxurious relaxation for us. We shouldn’t look a gift horse in the mouth.”
“Agreed,” Skyler says.
When we pull up to the spa, all our chatter dies at once.
The building looks like something out of a magazine — stone and glass nestled against the mountainside.
While the house we’re staying in is trying to look rustic, this place is boldly modern.
The SUVs park, and Grace and Skyler help me out into the cold morning air.
Rylee and Sutton get out of their vehicle and join us as we walk up to the glass door entrance.
“This place is fancy,” Rylee whistles.
“Here I didn’t think your collection of hockey hotties had any real taste other than for women,” Sutton grins. “I’m pleasantly surprised.”
The moment we step through the glass doors, the faint scent of lavender and eucalyptus greets us first. The soft trickle of a water feature echoes from somewhere near the reception desk, blending with an instrumental version of something I vaguely recognize. Maybe Norah Jones? Not sure.
The lobby features warm stone accents and honey-colored wood. A wall of windows frames the snow-dusted peaks outside, sunlight spilling through and catching on the steam that curls up from a line of herbal teas displayed beside glass jars of dried fruit and honey sticks.
A woman in a linen uniform glides toward us, her smile broad.
“Welcome to Solace Spa,” she says, her voice calm and even. “You’re the Vaughn party, I presume?”
“Uh, yes,” Grace nods, speaking for us and confirming the reservation Jayce clearly made. “That’s us.”
“We’re very happy to have you. There are cubbies right over there.” She indicates the wall to the far right of the front door. “You can leave your shoes there and put on the slippers you’ll find prepared for you.”
We all exchange little grins. We make our way to the row of cubbies, set our bags down, and trade our boots for plush white slippers.
The smiling woman offers us citrus water when we get back to her. When I take a drink, the bubbles dance along my tongue. There’s the distinct flavor of tangerine.
“If you ladies will follow me, I’ll take you to the changing rooms.”
As we’re led down a hallway lined with flickering candles and the faint scent of rosemary, I can’t help brushing my fingers along the smooth cedar walls.
We pass a relaxation lounge where women in robes recline on chaises, cucumber water glinting on side tables, and beyond that, I catch a glimpse of a glass-walled room where snow falls gently outside while someone sinks into a steaming mineral pool.
Soon, we reach the changing rooms, and our escort looks back at us.
“Once you all change into your robes, you’ll be escorted to your first treatments.” She glances down at the clipboard she’s holding in her hand. “Stacey and Rylee, we’ve prepared several treatments especially for the two of you, including prenatal massages.”
Rylee’s face lights up and I can’t help grinning too. The guys really did think of everything.
“Oh, that’s going to be good.” Stacey pats Rylee on the shoulder. “You’re going to love this.”
The lady leaves us to change into fluffy white robes. They are so soft and luxurious, I think I could easily take a nap in mine. For the first time all morning, I actually stop thinking about what the guys are hiding and let myself relax. Whatever they’re up to, I’m in no rush to find out.