Elaine Viets & Victoria Laurie, Nancy Martin, Denise Swanson - Drop-Dead Blonde (v5.0) (pdf) Unknown (audio ebook reader .txt) 📖

who were alike enough to be twins, and they, in turn checked us out, and suddenly an almost palpable air of hostility seemed to permeate the space between us, for reasons I really couldn't name. When the elevator doors opened, the girls pressed ``2'' and Cat pressed ``P'' after inserting her card key into a little slot on the control panel. The twins studied the movement, and the dreamy smiles turned snide as they gave each other a knowing look. The exchange made me bristle slightly, and I moved protectively closer to my sister.

We didn't have to put up with them for long, as a few moments later the double doors opened and the girls quickly stepped out. Cat elbowed me in the arm and said, ``Gee, and I was going to invite them to dinner.''

I chuckled and added, ``And I was going to ask them for some fashion advice.''

Cat flashed me the peace sign and we both rolled our eyes. By that time we'd reached the top floor, and the doors opened to a brightly lit hallway with pink floral wallpaper and rose colored carpeting. Cat looked at the signage and nodded her head toward the right. We walked down to the end of the corridor, then came to a stop in front of a double door with a plaque that read, PRESIDENTIAL SUITE, and Cat swiped her card key through the control panel to the right. BLIND SIGHTED 263 The door clicked and she pushed it open, and I caught my breath as we traversed the threshold.

The suite was enormous, at least fifteen hundred square feet covered in thick white Berber carpeting and dreamy velvet furniture of a soft moss green. I walked into the sitting area and ran my hand across the top of one over- stuffed couch and smiled at the ticklish texture while eyeing the rest of the room. Across from the seating area was a large bar, complete with top-shelf liquors and mixes, a blender, and a refrigerator that I assumed was filled with some type of delicacy.

All along the far wall were sliding glass doors that opened up to a gorgeous terrace. One of the sliding doors was already open, and a warm breeze fluttered the linen curtains and carried the scent and sound of the ocean only a few hundred yards away.

I drifted outside and onto the terrace and stood gripping the railing and squinting into the sunshine of the day as I watched the waves roll in and seagulls hover on currents of air. I took a seat in one of the lounge chairs and allowed a most satisfied smirk to plaster itself onto my face. This is the life, I thought.

A little while later I heard a blender at work, and within a few minutes Cat had joined me out on the terrace, where she took a seat next to me and handed me a glass of fro- zen margarita.

``I hope you don't mind if we bunk together, Abby; this was the only suite on this floor still available,'' Cat said.

``Oh, I'll make do,'' I said dramatically, adding a sigh for effect as I took a huge swig of margarita and marveled at my sister's bartending skills. I noticed she had changed out of her silk suit and into a pair of linen pants and a knit top. ``Did our luggage arrive from downstairs?''

``Yes, I put yours on your bed. You can change whenever you're ready.''

``Cool! You want to hit the beach?'' I said excitedly, jumping up from the chair ready to rush down to the beck- oning sand.

``Uh, no,'' Cat said, holding out her wrist and pointing to her watch. ``We won't have time. Deirdre's dinner semi- nar begins in an hour.'' 264 Victoria Laurie

I glanced at my own watch and moaned. This was gonna suck. I took my chair again and pouted for a good ten minutes before I asked, ``So what's for dinner?''

``Sea scallops or chicken, I think,'' Cat said, tilting her face to the sun.

``I hate sea scallops,'' I grumbled moodily. ``And the chicken will probably be overcooked.''

``That's what I love about you, Abby, your positive atti- tude,'' Cat said dryly as she leaned back in her lounge chair and closed her eyes.

I scowled at her and stuck out my tongue, punching the plastic straw into my drink testily. I waited for Cat to con- tinue the conversation, but she seemed content to quietly soak up the sun for a while, so I drank the rest of my margarita; then went inside to unpack and change.

I entered the bedroom, which was large and splendid, with light rose�colored comforters topping two queen-size beds layered with soft cotton sheets. After unpacking my clothes I walked my toiletries into the bathroom and couldn't help saying, ``Wow,'' out loud.

The bathroom was extravagant, with a large Jacuzzi tub, enclosed shower, and, next to the toilet, a bidet. Good for getting sand out of those hard to reach places, I guess.

Once I was finished unpacking I went back into the bath- room and looked longingly at the tub. It had been a long time since I'd been in a Jacuzzi. I glanced at my watch again and decided I had time for only a quick shower, and even that was pushing it.

I rushed through the shower and combed my hair, think- ing I'd just leave it down and au naturel for the evening. I changed into a pair of black cotton slacks, a sleeveless coral-colored blouse, and black sandals just before Cat came looking for me.

``Abby? You ready to go? We don't want to be late,'' she said, poking her head into the bathroom.

``I'm just putting on some mascara,'' I said as I tucked the tube back into my makeup case and turned to follow her out of the room.

We exited the suite and walked the hallway to