California Schemin': Book One in the Malibu Mayhem Trilogy Read Online Free PDF Page B

along the road until we reached the pink stucco mansion at the end of the beach. Two men wearing “Roland’s Renewal Retreat and Spa” T-shirts pulled open the massive gate to let us through. I noticed yellow emblems on their T-shirts—yellow sunburst emblems.
    “You guys,” I said as we made our way up the long driveway to the mansion, “did you see the logos on those shirts? I’m pretty sure they’re the same as—”
    “The makeup bottles we found on the beach.” George nodded. “Yeah, I noticed it too.”
    “Most spas sell their own products,” Bess said. “The Casabian sisters might buy their makeup here.”
    When we reached the front door of the mansion, George whistled through her teeth. “You’d think Brad and Angelina lived here,” she said.
    “They probably did at one time,” I joked.
    After stepping up to the heavy wood and iron door, George pulled a cord that rang the bell.
    “Sounds like wind chimes,” Bess pointed out.
    “At least it’s not some tacky TV tune like the Casabians’,” George said.
    It wasn’t long before a young woman wearing ablack tunic and matching leggings pulled the door open. I noticed how perfect her hair and makeup were—lips glossy, eyelashes curled, bangs and layers thick and bouncy.
    “I’m Luna,” the woman chirped. “And you are?”
    Bess introduced herself, then added, “And my friends are Nancy and George.”
    “George?” Luna said, raising a perfectly arched eyebrow. “Is that your real name?”
    “No,” George replied with a smirk. “It’s Henry.”
    “George!” Bess hissed. She smiled at Luna and said, “Her real name is Georgia. But she hates her real name more than she hates—”
    “Spas?” George cut in.
    “Well, the name Georgia is lovely,” Luna said. “Are you here for one of our treatments?”
    “We each have an appointment for the basic manicure,” Bess explained. “I made them about an hour ago.”
    “Then please come in.” Luna made a sweeping motion with her hand to whisk us in. “I’ll show you where to change into your robes and get a glass of fresh pomegranate juice.”
    “Robes?” George asked as we stepped through the door. “For a manicure?”
    “Relax and enjoy,” Bess said.
    Following Luna, we crossed under a huge wroughtironchandelier and down a long hallway. Candles flickered from iron sconces hanging from burgundy-colored walls. The air smelled like orange blossoms and cinnamon from the scented candles.
    “Mmm,” I said as I closed my eyes to take a whiff. Suddenly—
    “Hot stuff coming through!” a voice barked.
    My eyes snapped open. A guy with sandy-brown hair was coming down the hall. He was wearing faded jeans and a black T-shirt. He walked almost zombielike past us, holding a steaming mug of what smelled like peppermint tea.
    “Cute…but snooty,” Bess murmured. “He didn’t even look at us.”
    I watched the guy as he continued down the hall. Where had I seen him before?
    “Over here, ladies!” Luna stood outside a door farther down the hall. “Here’s our waiting room.”
    Waiting room? I thought.
    WAITING ROOM!
    So that’s who the zombielike guy was!

 

BEHIND CLOSED DOORS
     
    “ B ess,” I said. “That’s Brad from the emergency room at Malachite General.”
    “I think you’re right,” she whispered. Vacation or not, I had to find out what was up with Brad.
    “Nancy, where are you going?” Bess called as I raced the other way down the hall.
    “Excuse me,” I said when I caught up with Brad.
    Brad turned around. He cocked his head as if to say, Do I know you?
    “I’m Nancy,” I said with a smile. “I just wanted to see how you were feeling.”
    “Feeling?” Brad asked, stone-faced.
    “I saw you in the hospital earlier with Danielle,” I explained. “You looked pretty sick. Actually, you’re still pretty pale—”
    “I’m fine,” Brad interrupted, making me blink. “I just had…too much sun.”
    Then he slipped into a room off the hallway.
    If he