Lone Wolf (Wilde Brothers Ranch #6)- Scarlett Grove Page 0,1

away,” she said wistfully. “But at least we get to have our wedding here.”

“It's a perfect time of year for a wedding,” Marcy said. “Just look at all the fall colors.”

The aspens and poplars were shedding their gold and yellow leaves, and the maples were turning orange. All set against the backdrop of the dense evergreens of the Colorado mountains, it was a beautiful sight to behold. That swept Annie up in a strange sense of longing she hadn't expected to feel. She’d always lived in the city, the concrete jungle.

She had learned to survive. Her little one-bedroom apartment was just the way she liked it. She had a nice view of the park in the college district, where there were cafés where she could work with her headphones on and feel like she was connected to the world but still isolated the way she needed to be for her comfort and sanity. But something about the sweeping landscapes of Fate Rock inspired her.

Tricia pulled up in front of Fate Rock Lodge. With big windows and a wraparound deck, it looked exactly how a mountain lodge should look. The three-story log lodge was built of local timber. The rugged gray cliffs that gave Fate Rock its name glowed orange under the light of the afternoon sun.

A porter came out to grab their bags, then everyone went inside to check in. Annie was happy she had booked a room all to herself. She was good at saving her money, so it wasn't an expense she couldn't spare. Since she wouldn't be working for the three days they planned to be there, she considered it a vacation. Annie rarely took vacations. Why would she need to? There was no one to go with. She didn't mind, though. Staying in one place, where she knew what to expect, was exactly the way she liked to live her life. But she was going to take advantage of the opportunity to celebrate her friend’s marriage and to get some R&R.

Finished checking in, she grabbed her bags, and instead of following the rest of the ladies to the elevator, she went outside and headed to her cabin. She wheeled her bag along the path and found her cabin number past the lake.

Inside, she found a crisp, clean room with a queen-sized bed. The table near a window overlooked the lake, Fate Rock, and the mountains beyond. The furniture was upscale with a hint of modern rustic. There was a large couch facing a fireplace. There was a big tub in the bathroom. The minibar held a coffee maker with gourmet coffee. She sat down and let out a long sigh. Three hours in the car had left her tense. Now she could relax, at least for a few minutes.

A knock at the door interrupted her peace. She went to the door and found Tricia on the other side.

“We’re going down to the spa. Just wanted to check if you're ready.”

“I'm ready,” she said, grabbing her purse.

She and Tricia met the others in the basement of the lodge, which had a full spa, where the ladies were going to be treated to a massage, a mud bath, a manicure, and a pedicure, all while indulging in champagne and hors d'oeuvres.

She slipped out of her clothes in the dressing room and pulled on a bathrobe. The women all went to the massage room. The basement had big French doors that looked out over the lake and let the light shine in. Three big hunky masseuses came into the room and began to work their magic. Annie cringed a little when the man's hands touched her skin.

But soon, she relaxed into the rhythm of his work and lost herself in relaxation. After the massages, they went to the mud bath room and slipped into the clay. Annie pulled her long short brown hair back into a clip and applied the special face mask.

“This is supposed to do wonders for your skin,” Marcy said.

“I'm sure Brad will enjoy the results,” Tricia said.

Everyone giggled.

After the mud bath, they all had individual showers to wash away the exfoliant. They dressed before going to the nail room, where they were served champagne and hors d'oeuvres.

“I've heard that Fate Rock is full of shifters,” Amelia said.

“It is,” Marcy said.

Tricia sipped her champagne. “You know what they say about shifters.”

Annie had heard a lot about shifters during her lifetime. Since they had come out to the public fifty years ago, shifters had been integrating into