Snowbound by MG Braden Page A

did slide quite a ways on her back side.” He decided to be deliberately obtuse in his answer, unwilling to get into this at the moment. Closing his book, he stood up. “I think I’m going to go take a nap. I was up early this morning.”
    She stood up with him. “Oh, that’d be good because then you’ll be refreshed for the dinner.”
    “Dinner? What dinner?”
    “Goodness, Daniel. Didn’t you see the card I left under your door? I’m having a little gathering tonight at Glaciers at eight p.m.”
    “I’m sorry, Sandra, I’m not sure I’m up to...”
    “Oh, but you must. I’ve already booked it and I really would like you there. We’d all be so disappointed. There’s no charge for anything if that’s what you’re worried about.”
    “No, it’s not the money.” He saw the expectant look on Sandra’s face and knew he wouldn’t let her down. “I’ll be there. No worries.”
    She lit up with a smile and Daniel realized how beautiful she still was—time had been good to her. “Thank you, my dear. Now you go have that nap and we’ll see you later.”
     
    * * *
     
    Sandra sat back on the couch, after Daniel walked away. He really was a good boy, but he obviously needed a little push in the right direction. She knew he wasn’t one to talk about his feelings, but hopefully this little rendezvous tonight would be a start. The idea came to her this afternoon after her conversation with Debbie and Cassidy, although she hadn’t really thought it all out yet. She needed to find a way to make everyone feel better, safer, and to maybe open their eyes to something new.
    Debbie had told her to stop interfering but Sandra didn’t see it as such. She’d spent many wonderful years with her husband, she’d known him since they were both teenagers, and she felt it was only fair to help others have that same chance of happiness. Plus, it pained her to see two such young people feeling so hurt. Life was too short to let people like Rick Bastien be your guide. Although Mr. Johnson wasn’t as spry as he used to be, he still made her heart do flip flops. They had been together quite long compared to most relationships these days and the time had seemed to pass in the blink of an eye. Enough reminiscing, Sandra. She stood up and headed over to Glaciers, the resort’s four-star restaurant. She needed to get busy making arrangements and knew that George, the restaurant maitre d’ would be only too glad to help her.
     
    * * *
     
    Cassidy stepped out of the bathroom, after a long hot soak in the bathtub. Her foot slipped on something and it skittered away. With a frown, she reached down to pick it up. It looked like some kind of invitation. She paused to wrap her hair up in a towel, then carried the card to the bed and sat down.
    Y ou are cordially invited to attend a dinner, 8pm tonight at Glaciers, as our guest. Sandra.
    Cassidy looked at the clock, realized that it was already seven-thirty and wondered when the invitation had arrived. She knew that she had been in the bath for quite a while because she had filled it up two or three times with hot water. She wanted to stay in longer to finish the book she had been reading. Arriving back in her room after the incident on Devil’s Tongue, she’d crashed on her bed for what was supposed to be just a few minutes. Unfortunately, she’d fallen asleep. When she woke up a couple of hours later, she’d been shivering with cold and had immediately gone to take a hot bath. The invitation must have arrived some time after that, or else she’d missed the card when she first went into the bathroom.
    Should she go? She was all warm and sleepy from her bath, but it did sound nice and she didn’t want to disappoint Sandra. Her stomach growled. She laughed and figured that was the answer she needed. Jumping up, she rushed to get ready as quickly as she could. Being late to anything really annoyed her, so she would just have to make do with a quick blow dry of her hair and bare