by Chelsea Hale
“Is Coco’s favorite color yellow?”
Tyler raised an eyebrow. “I have no idea. Why?”
“Her boyfriend sent her yellow roses. That means friendship, not romance.” He stared straight ahead.
“I don’t know what the colors mean,” Tyler said.
“You learn these things when you’re a wedding photographer. Just, don’t be the kind of husband who gives his wife yellow flowers on Valentine’s Day, unless it’s Liz’s favorite color. Why would a boyfriend send yellow roses?”
Tyler clapped a hand on his shoulder. “You’re really interested, huh? She’s the artsy type you like?”
“She’s getting under my skin. I swear I’ve never had such a butting-heads experience while shooting.” Or such an enjoyable one laughing through a product shoot. Her eyes.
“I’m sure you’ll figure it out before the wedding.”
Peter’s face heated alarmingly fast. “I’m not ready to be thinking about that.”
Tyler blinked. “My wedding. Liz will make sure it’s perfect, and it’s my job to make sure that it is perfect for her. So, you better figure out how to work with her videographer before then, without any head-butting on the big day.”
Peter let out a big breath. Tyler’s wedding. Not his. For a second he saw himself waiting at the end of an aisle while Coco came down the long stretch toward him … and then hit him on the head with her steady-cam. “Right. No. We’re good now. It’s good.” Peter was lost in thought, almost missing lifting the tips of his skis as he dismounted from the chair lift.
They skied through trees, finding fresh powder to sink their skis into—a surprising feeling so late in the day.
Once they were on the groomed trails again, Tyler sprayed snow at Peter with the edge of his skis as he matched pace with Peter for the final descent.
After skiing, they entered the hotel. Liz and Coco were in the lobby.
“I figured you guys went skiing. Your phone went straight to voicemail,” Liz said. She gave Tyler a hug and kiss. Peter redirected his gaze. It was one thing to watch the scene when he had a camera in his hand and was tasked with capturing the moment, but without it a tinge of jealousy rose in his chest. He looked at Coco who donned a similar expression.
Liz seemed oblivious to them. “I can’t wait to show you what the event planner came up with. She said if I found you before 5:00 she would still be here. Let’s go.” She entwined her fingers in Tyler’s. “Then I think we need a romantic dinner in the Candlelight Restaurant.”
He gave her another kiss. “I’ll change and come right back.”
Liz focused on Peter and Coco, and redness blotched on her cheeks. “Oh. I don’t suppose you want to join us?”
“I’m good,” Coco said. “I’ll find something. You guys should have some couple time while you’re here.”
“Thanks, Coco. Peter, you in?” she asked.
The look on her face made it evident that she was being polite but wanted Tyler all to herself.
“I think I’ll pass … unless you wanted me to photograph the dinner.” He smiled to let her know he had no hurt feelings. Besides, maybe he and Coco could have dinner together.
“We’ll meet up with you guys later then,” Liz said, before she left.
Coco started to wander away.
“Coco, wait up.”
“Yes?”
“Want to go to dinner? The non-romantic kind, of course.”
Coco giggled. “That works for me.”
Peter looked down at his snow gear, his skis in his hand. He needed to change before dinner. “I’ll be right back.”
Peter scooted Coco’s chair in at the upscale hunting lodge restaurant down the street. They sat near the large, blazing fire. Nearly every seat in the restaurant was filled.
A small votive candle in a red glass jar flickered on their table. “This looks really nice,” she said.
“I figured since Tyler and Liz were set on doing their own thing it’d be better to go to a different place.”
Coco laughed. “What was up with that? Are we such bad company?” She gestured between the two of them.
“I don’t think so.”
“Me either.”
The waiter came and they ordered the special: pot roast, garlic mashed potatoes, and grilled vegetables. It wasn’t long before their food arrived. The smell of garlic and gravy filled their table.
“So, tell me what you do?” Coco asked him. “I know you’re a photographer, but you mentioned you have your own studio.”
“It’s in downtown Denver. I stay busy. I specialize in doing conferences and corporate events, but I do weddings every month, and family sessions, and in the spring I do a lot of senior pictures.”
“Sounds like you’re good at what you do.”
“I love what I do. Being in business for yourself can be stressful, but I like setting my own hours and schedule, and I enjoy capturing the special moments in people’s lives.”
“That’s how I feel about my work,” she said. “I really love it. It’s fun for me to be behind the camera.”
“You never know what you’re going to capture.”
“Exactly. It’s magical.” She laughed. “That probably sounds strange.”
“Not at all.” He savored hearing her laugh. They talked generally about Aspen, Liz and Tyler’s upcoming wedding, and how they both wanted to ski in the morning. The waiter came by and cleared their entrees, handing them each a dessert menu.
Coco patted her stomach. “I didn’t realize how much dinner would fill me up.”
“Want to share a dessert then?” He eyed her over his lowered menu.
She tapped a finger to her chin. “If by share you mean order one and watch me eat the whole thing, then sure. We can share.”
“You just said you were full.”
She shrugged. “There’s always plenty of room for dessert.”
Once they ordered he asked, “Have you researched your business competition in full-time wedding videography?”
She scrunched up her face. “Not really.”
“You should go to the annual Elegance Bridal Show next weekend at the Denver Convention Center. You’d be able to see what others do and maybe get an idea of what the videographers shoot when they aren’t doing weddings.”
“I think Liz is going to it, but she won’t be looking at the photography and videography area, since, you know, she already hired the best in both of those worlds.”
Her praise was a win after their bumpy start in Breckenridge. “I’ll go with you. Show you the ropes. We can bounce ideas around.”
“That’s really nice of you. You’re up for a research trip to a bridal show?”
“They’re always a great way to see what the competition is doing, and what you can improve in your own business.” It had been a while since he had walked the floor at the bridal show.
“Okay. I’d like that.”
The waiter set a single apple dumpling in front of him. It was garnished with apple flowers around it and drizzled in a cinnamon glaze. Coco’s Key lime pie looked just as fancy with lime curls and a powdered sugar dusting.
“It’s a date.” He popped a forkful of dumpling into his mouth before he realized what he’d said … again.
She arched an eyebrow at him.
He held up a finger at her as he swallowed his bite of dessert, keeping his eyes locked on hers. She had beautiful eyes. “I meant it like we’ll put it on a date for the calendar.”
“Nice recovery.”
He shrugged. “How’s your dessert?”
“Key lime has never tasted so good. Try some.”
“Do you mean I should order one for myself?” He smiled.
She laughed and pushed the plate toward him. “Take a bite. I suppose I’ll share.” He passed his plate toward her, and she took a huge piece of his apple dumpling. “Mostly I just wanted a piece of yours, so it was a fair trade.” She closed her eyes as she savored the bite. “Ooh. The Key lime is good, but
wow, I wasn’t expecting so many flavors to pop with the apple dumpling. That thing is deliciously sinful.”
“Have more,” he said. “Oh, and I looked through the photos you took when we were modeling with the snow gear. You have a great eye for photography. Have you ever thought of doing photography in addition to your videography? You know, something to do in between the lulls in wedding videos?”
She put down her fork. “I haven’t thought much about it. I really enjoy splicing videos more than I like retouching photos, though.”
“Well, thank you for your help in shooting so much. I would have had a hard time getting all of it done up here without you.”
“That might be the nicest thing you’ve said to me yet.”
As the waiter came by with the check, Peter grabbed it immediately, though Coco had a card ready for him. He waved it away.
“This isn’t a date,” she insisted, still waving the card in front of him.
“But I’m still a gentleman.”
Chapter Seven
The next morning all four of them went skiing. By default, Coco was paired up with Peter on the lift. She didn’t mind as much as she had the first day. She’d have plenty of time to chat with Liz when they were home again, and besides, it was good for Tyler and Liz to spend time together.
She lifted her ski tips as they unloaded from the chair, ahead of Liz and Tyler. She and Peter made small talk until Liz and Tyler also unloaded. They stayed together, though a few times Tyler and Liz took quick paths through the trees. Peter was next to her as she made her curves into the mountains, enjoying the clear day with the sun shining. “Thanks for letting me use this gear. It has been so warm and not bulky at all and the hat is so soft.”
“You’re welcome. They’re yours to keep.” He smiled and sped ahead.
She caught up to him when he stopped on the side of the path and put a gloved hand above his eyes to shield them from the sun’s rays.
“Really? I can keep it?”
“Anything you want. It’s the least I can do, since you helped me with all of the photos.”
“Thanks, Peter.”
“You’re welcome.” He glanced around. “Where’d those guys go?”
“Hard to tell when they went in and out of the trees so often. They might already be down the mountain by now.”
Peter nodded. “Let’s keep going then. We’ll find them soon enough.”
Tyler and Liz weren’t at the bottom of the hill. “Maybe they’re waiting for us somewhere on the hill,” Coco said.
“Yeah. Maybe. I thought we were staying together better than that.”
“It’s hard to know with the trees,” she said. “Let’s find them on the way down the same run again. We’re bound to run into them.” She stamped down the unwelcome disappointment that he didn’t want to ski with her. It was a silly thought and she shouldn’t care.
They skied for a few more hours, finally catching up with Tyler and Liz by the third run. When it was just the two of them, Coco didn’t feel so on edge with Peter, but once Liz and Tyler were with them again, she felt their scrutinizing gazes constantly flicker between them.
Sure, she was having fun with him and grateful that she wasn’t the third wheel. It was nice having a presence of someone physically being next to her. She wondered if Jeffrey would have made the trip out to Aspen if he had been in town. He wasn’t big into snow sports, but maybe he’d have come.
Peter paused before he loaded his and Coco’s bags into his SUV the next morning. He leaned closer to her. “Last chance to join Tyler and Liz.”
Coco shook her head. “I already promised Liz they could enjoy the drive together, third-wheel free. She offered, but really, I’m good.” She picked up her camera bags and loaded them carefully in the backseat.
“Random question for you,” Peter said as he followed Tyler out of Aspen. “What is your favorite color?”
“That is very random. When I was little I used to pick ‘sunset’ as my favorite color because I liked all of the colors swirled together.”
“Is that still your favorite color? Sunset?”
“I’d pick purple if I had to nail it down to one.”
Peter tilted his head. “Any second favorite colors?”
“Red.” She watched confusion crease his brow. “What’s your favorite color?”
“Blue.”
“And do you have a second favorite?”
“Red.” He smiled.
“Why are we talking about favorite colors like it’s the most fascinating thing in the world?”
He shrugged. “I thought I could guess your favorite color. Turns out, I was wrong.”
“Okay … I have a random question for you,” she said. “Do you have a girlfriend?”
He looked over at her then looked straight ahead. “That is random.”
“Not as random as favorite colors,” she said, wondering if he would be a good match for her roommate Mandy. She and Peter were both creative and artistic. He was fun, and Mandy seemed to always date guys who were energetic and carefree. Peter had shown that side of him when she helped him with the product photo shoot.
“I don’t,” he said.
Mandy would love his light blue eyes that reminded Coco of the clearest tropical ocean water she could imagine. “Well, if you ever need a date, I have two other roommates who are a lot of fun.”
“Uh … thanks.” He looked over at her, tilting his head.
Time passed quickly as they chatted all the way back to Breckenridge. The car slowed as they exited the freeway. “In the mood for a drink before we get your car? There’s a great little café on Main that serves gourmet hot chocolate.”
“Sounds delicious, but I’m buying.” She gave him a sassy smile.
“I’ve got you covered, Coco. Besides with a name like yours, you shouldn’t have to buy your own hot cocoa.”
She laughed. “That’s the silliest thing I’ve ever heard.”
Ten minutes later they sat together on a small bench in the café lounge. They took the last place to sit in the crowded place—a small love seat next to the window. The fit wasn’t too tight.
Coco sipped her peppermint hot chocolate slowly. “This hits the spot. Just enough of the Christmas spirit left. How’s the orange chocolate?”
“It’s got a spicy kick to it, but it’s good.”
She smiled over her mug. “Thanks for this.” She savored the hot chocolate, not wanting to rush the moment or end it too soon.
They arrived at Randy’s Car Shop, and her car was fixed and detailed, inside and out. Coco stared with a dropped jaw. “It looks brand new.”
Peter loaded her bags into her trunk. “They’re meticulous with the details. It’s worth the drive here just for that.”
“Apparently.” Coco didn’t think her car had ever been that clean, not even when she’d bought it.
Randy stepped to the cash register when they came back inside.
“The car looks beautiful. Thank you,” Coco said.
“You’re Peter’s fiancée, so you’re practically family,” Randy said. “Only the best for him.”
“Uh—” Coco was about to explain, but Peter cut her off.
“Randy, you shouldn’t spoil me like that, but thank you. You’re a good friend.”
“I’m still hoping you’re moving next door to me some day.”
“One day I’ll be back.”
Randy turned to Coco. “I’m counting on you supporting his decision to move out here. Remember who just detailed your car.” He winked at her.
Coco couldn’t resist. If Peter wasn’t going to tell Randy the truth, the least she could do was satisfy Randy with the answer he wanted. “It’d be a dream come true for me, Randy. In fact, I’ll trade you weekly details on my car for talking Peter into moving next door.” Her eyes widened as they landed on Peter’s slight scowl.
Peter put an arm around Coco and nudged her a little hard into his side. “Now, dear, this is a big decision. Relocating is
going to take a lot of thought. Don’t just toy with Randy’s feelings. He’s serious about it.”
She elbowed him back. “You have to think of what’s best for your fiancée.” She dangled the word and bit her lip. Looking into his eyes, it was hard not to break character. Poor Randy was going to have to be told the truth, sooner or later.
“Oh, you two love birds are messing with me. I wish you were really serious.” Randy laughed handing the paperwork to Peter.
Peter signed it, put his credit card on top of the bill, and handed it to Randy.
The movement broke Coco from her daze. She quickly pulled out her own wallet from her purse. “I’ve got this. Here, use this card.”
Randy raised his eyebrows over big eyes and looked to Peter for a response.
“You have the right card, Randy,” Peter said. “Just process it. Sometimes Coco is a little headstrong when it comes to being independent. She doesn’t know when to let a gentleman be a gentleman.”
She scooted closer to him. “My hero.” She batted her eyes at him playfully. He’d be getting an earful later on the uncomfortable turn this conversation was taking.
Randy handed her the car paperwork and the credit card receipt to Peter. “Just keep that in your glove box in case you need to reference it at your own car shop when you get back to Denver.”
“I think you’re our car guy now, isn’t that right, Peter?” She gave him a Cheshire grin then continued talking to Randy. “He was telling me about how you guys were the best of friends growing up.”
Randy’s eyes had a faraway look in them. “Peter saved me from more than one scrape before we were ten. Saved my life once, too, when I fell into a snow cave. He pulled me out with a rope ladder.” His words choked a little at the end of the sentence.
“That’s enough, Randy. Like I’ve said before, it was nothing.” Peter looked a little red in the face.
“It wasn’t nothing to me.” He puffed out his chest a little bit. “It’s a moment in your life you never forget. When you think you’re going to die and nobody knows where you are, and someone shows up to save the day. So don’t say it’s nothing.”