Issue #9 - Greta Gets Ready for a Hot Summer

Greta sat on a bench in Vineyard Haven, waiting for the ferry back to the mainland, and sipped her latte from The Black Dog Café. It was a brilliantly sunny day and she was glad she had applied sunscreen--specifically, GreatSkin's Advanced Protection SPF 30 with Z-Cote. It not only guarded her skin against damaging UVA and UVB rays, but it was an amazing moisturizer.

"I see you’re a fan of The Black Dog?" a man asked sitting next to her.

Greta looked up to see a handsome silver-haired fellow with a beautiful black dog. A real black dog. "This is Dolly," he said, smiling as Greta petted the sweet animal.

"Hey, you look sad," he said suddenly. What's the matter?"

"Oh, nothing!" Greta said quickly, but that was not true. She thought back to the weekend at The Thompson Compound. On the first night, Guy had taken Greta for a drive to Peaked Hill, the highest point in Chilmark on Martha's Vineyard. From there, they could hear the distant murmur of the ocean and the clang of the bell buoys in the darkness.

Guy pointed to the stars in the night sky. "Look, there's Orion's belt," he whispered pointing to the stars in the night sky and leaning slightly into Greta.

It was an amazingly romantic night and Greta was sure it was the beginning of a great romance.

But, Zane Craven arrived the next day and all that changed. In fact, it seemed to Greta that Zane had gone to great lengths to annoy Guy, although Guy's family was clearly delighted when the movie star played charades and staged a re-enactment of his last pirate movie, ending the scene by grabbing Greta around the waist and announcing that she would make the perfect "pirate wench."

The nerve!

Greta made a quick exit, upstairs to her room and decided she would put the evening behind her and pamper herself with a spa treatment. She started with a shower using GreatSkin's Mint Body Scrub. It was delicious and refreshing with invigorating minty crystals. She rinsed, patted dry and applied GreatSkin's Firming Body Lotion with Marine Minerals, which made her skin feel soft and silky smooth. Next she applied GreatSkin's Peppermint Foot Therapy. The aroma truly lifted her spirits. Finally, she moisturized her hands with GreatSkin's Moisture Mitts Hand Therapy, and went to sleep dreaming of silky smooth skin in summer swim wear and an invite back to The Thompson Compound--this time without Zane Craven!

Unfortunately, the next morning Guy was out and Zane was waiting for her in the kitchen, peeling a fresh orange. "Want some?" he asked holding out a slice.

"No," Greta said quickly and started to walk away, but then Zane took her hand and stopped her. Their eyes met. He had a hypnotic gaze. "Greta--" he began and then Guy walked into the room and stopped.

"Hey, I was just offering Greta a slice of orange," he said all too quickly and then Guy walked out of the room.

And now Greta sat all alone, waiting for the ferry. Although, that's not true. She wasn't completely alone. There was this charming man and his black dog, Dolly.

"You know," he said, breaking her out of her reverie. "The sun's going to be awfully strong today. I hope you brought something to protect your lovely skin."

Greta smiled. Yes, she thought hopefully, if I can't always protect my heart, at least I can protect my skin.