Milo and his friends were up. Noah looked past her to the boys. “DDSS,” he cautioned.
“Got it!” Milo said exuberantly as he got in his innertube and zoomed away with a loud whoop. His friends hopped in their tubes and went after him.
“DDSS?” Piper asked.
Noah’s face creased into a grin. “Don’t do stupid stuff. Because if you do, you’ll pay the stupid tax.”
She giggled. “DDSS. I’ll have to remember that. I certainly don’t like paying the stupid tax,” she quipped.
He pulled a face. “Me neither. My dad’s always saying that to me and my siblings. Zoe says it all the time to her kids.”
“Zoe?”
“My sister.”
Noah positioned the tube. “You get in first,” he said, holding it in place. The tube was elongated like a fat figure eight with seats in the front and back and handles on the sides. Piper’s heart was thumping as she got in, partly from what they were about to do and partly from knowing that Noah was behind her. Her cells did a mad dance when he sat down and scooted in close. She wondered if he could hear her heart pumping erratically. She sucked in a quick breath, trying to regain her composure.
“Relax,” he urged.
Tentatively, she rested her back against his hard chest, clutching the handles. Piper’s senses were so deliciously alive, making her hyper aware of him behind her. Noah gave them a shove, and they were off. Her stomach dropped as they sailed over the packed snow, the cold air kissing her face. Rapturous laughter pealed in her throat as she embraced the thrill of the experience. Noah’s warmth blanketed her from behind as they soared down the slope.
When they got to the bottom, the tube slowed and came to a stop. “That was awesome,” Piper said with a note of exultation, about to get out of the tube. Noah’s strong arms encircled hers as he pulled her to him.
“Yes, it was,” he murmured, his warm breath tickling her ear.
Dizzying currents hopscotched over her skin as ribbons of heat cascaded through her stomach. Sheesh. He was incredible. Were her feelings so intense because this was new and spontaneous, or would it always be like this? It had only been a couple hours, but those precious hours were a great reminder that Piper needed to be less consumed with her career and more willing to enjoy those spontaneous moments that gave zest to life. Speaking of enjoyment, it was heaven to have Noah’s arms around her.
She sensed his reluctance as he let her go and they got out of the tube. Milo and his group were waiting for them off to the side. Noah reached for the innertube as they went to join the boys.
“Let’s do it again,” Milo said, his expressive eyes sparkling. With just enough baby fat to be cute, he had dark hair and a fair complexion. The chill air brushed strokes of red across his nose and apple-polished cheeks. Two of his friends were lanky, the third more heavyset. They were all dressed in name-brand sportswear and snow boots.
“I’m afraid we might be at this for a while,” Noah said, giving Piper an apologetic look.
“I don’t mind,” she answered truthfully. She could do this all day if it meant riding with Noah.
The boys took off to the ski lift. Piper was about to follow but Noah caught her hand, turning her around to face him. She gave him a questioning look.
“I’m glad our paths connected,” he said, cupping her chin, his gloved thumb moving softly back and forth across her skin. Her pulse hammered in her ears as she stepped closer, her face upturned as she gazed into his fascinating eyes, which had melded into warm gold in the sunlight. Her hand went to his forehead as she touched a strand of his hair. The temptation to know what he looked like beneath the beanie was too great. She lifted it off his head.
His eyes widened in surprise as he chuckled. “What’re you doing?”
“I want to see your hair.”
He winced. “I have flat hair.”
“Yes, you do.” With his hair pressed flat, it accentuated the firm planes of his features, making him look even more masculine.
He stepped back and vigorously rubbed his hand over his hair, lifting it. “Well, how do I measure up? It’s not too late to turn and run.” There were boyish touches of humor around his eyes and mouth.
The messiness of his hair only increased his attractiveness. A smile played over her lips. “I think I’ll stick around for a while.”
“Good answer,” he drawled.
She squared her chin. “You do need to be more forthcoming about your career and your background though.” As much as Piper wanted to live in the moment, the practical side of her argued that she needed to find out as much as she could about Noah Romeo before falling head over heels for him.
He let out a pained sigh. “Piper Kell, you’re one demanding woman.”
“And, you’re evasive,” she countered.
He motioned with his head. “Shall we go find the boys? We’ll talk as we walk.” He caught hold of her hand and linked his fingers through hers. Piper was grateful for the warmth of their gloves, but she couldn’t help but wish the gloves were off right now.
“I’m kind of a jack of all trades. I dabble in lots of things … stocks, real estate.” He gave her a sidelong wry grin. “In some ways, I guess I’m still trying to find my true purpose, know what I mean?”
“I know exactly what you mean.” She pushed out a self-deprecating laugh. “I feel that way all the time. The more I try to chase my dream of becoming a professional photographer, the more elusive it becomes.” Her stomach tightened, her longing for success welling inside her.
“That might not be a bad thing.”
They reached the ski lift and took their place in line. Piper followed Noah’s trail of vision and spotted Milo and his friends, spread between two cars, moving up the side of the mountain.
Piper turned to Noah, cocking her head. “What do you mean?”
“Sometimes the chase is more fulfilling than actually obtaining the goal.”
She considered his words, shaking her head back and forth. “I’m not sure that I believe that.”
He pursed his lips thoughtfully. “Well, what if when you become a famous photographer, it’s not all it’s cracked up to be?”
She made a face. “Photography makes me happy.” It was more than happiness. Piper felt compelled to take pictures. It was her craft, her passion.
“Yes, because you’re photographing what you love.”
“Exactly,” she shot back.
He gave her a shrewd look. “Take Nolan Vant, for example. Do you think he has the luxury of photographing what he wants, or is he influenced by the commercial market, his agent, and a hundred other constraints? You said yourself that you like his early work. Maybe he does too.”
She considered Noah’s words. “I haven’t thought about it that way.”
A shadow crossed his face. “You start out doing something you love, and then you monetize it, systemize it, repeat the same process day after day. Before long, you forget why you’re even doing it.”
It was their turn to get on the lift. They stepped forward and sat down as Noah placed the innertube on a rack attached to the back. The attendant lowered the safety bar as they started their ascent. Piper’s stomach balled into a tight fist. Being suspended with her legs dangling, well, it was terrifying. Don’t look down! Her knuckles clutching the safety bar, Piper angled to face Noah, picking back up on the conversation. She was grateful to have something else to focus on beside the empty air and how the ground was growing farther away the higher they climbed. “What was it that you used to do?”
His eyes widened. “What?”
“A minute ago, when you were talking about forgetting why you’re doing something. You sounded like you were talking about yourself.”
A dry smile touched his lips. “My sister, actually.”
“What does your sister do?”
“She’s a sculptor.”
“Wow, that’s impressive. What type of sculpting does she do?”
“Modern art. She loves work
ing with wood and metal. She’s very talented. Before she had kids, she was diehard about it. Now, she does it as more of a hobby.”
“That’s awesome. Is her work in any of the galleries in Park City?”
“I believe so.” He flashed a large grin. “You should ask her.”
A corner of her lip tipped in puzzlement. “Huh?”
“After we finish tubing, I’m taking Milo and his friends to Zoe’s house.” His eyes lit with hope. “Will you go with me? I promised Zoe I’d go caroling with her and the kids tonight.”
“Caroling?” She laughed. “Do people even do that anymore?”
“We do,” he said confidently.
“I’m a horrible singer,” she lamented.
He pursed his lips, assessing her.
“What?” she asked, feeling a little self-conscious.
“I’ll bet you’re a better singer than you’re letting on.”
“No, I’m not,” she said honestly. Piper liked to sing in the shower but not in front of people.
He looked thoughtful. “Well, how are you at decorating cookies?”
A smile ruffled her lips. “Decent.”
“Alright. You can decorate the cookies, and I’ll sing.”
She didn’t understand where this was going. “What does decorating cookies have to do with caroling?”
“Zoe’s baking cookies for us to take to the people we visit when caroling.”
“Wow, that’s nice of her.” Noah and his sister were impressive. It made Piper feel guilty for being so consumed with her photography. She and Cori didn’t know their neighbors. Piper hadn’t even sent Christmas cards out this year. She’d bought a few gifts for her parents and brother, which she would bring to her parents’ house on Christmas Day, but that was about it.
He nodded. “Zoe’s great at giving back to the community and her family. Her husband and boys are her life.”
A pang went through Piper. She wanted to find someone to have a family with, but she assumed it would be down the road after she became successful. Zoe’s mother was always urging Zoe to take her zeal for her photography down a notch and broaden her interests. It was commendable that Zoe had put her art on the back-burner to focus on her husband and children. Piper wanted to meet Zoe so she could see how she balanced her life. More than that, Piper wanted to spend as much time with Noah as she could.
“Whaddaya say? Will you come?”
“Sure, I’d love to.” Piper had told Scotty she’d be gone for the rest of the day. Scotty was perfectly fine with it. Evidently, things had gone super well when he stopped by the chocolate shop and talked to Cori. The two of them were going on a date this evening. Scotty was so ecstatic about the date that Piper probably could’ve told him she was taking the rest of the week off, and he would’ve been great with it, even if it meant that he’d have to pull double duty. Piper wouldn’t do that to him, of course. She was only taking today. Piper felt a little guilty for skipping work, especially since she was doing it without Deidre’s knowledge. Piper prided herself on being a responsible employee. She’d never done anything like this before. She was moving into uncharted territory with Noah Romeo.
The ski lift jerked. Clutching the bar, Piper looked up as it changed tracks.
Noah dipped his head, his eyes holding amusement. “You’re afraid of heights.”
“A little,” she admitted with an uneasy laugh.
“Is this your first time on a ski lift?”
“Yep.” She glanced down at the ground and the evergreen trees, which looked tiny. Bad idea! She gritted her teeth as a wave of panic rolled over her.
His voice went up a pitch. “How long have you lived in Park City?”
“A couple years.”
“And you’ve never been on a ski lift.” He shook his head. “Wow.”
She felt a burst of heat despite the cold. Now that she’d revealed that tidbit of information, he would know how much she wanted to be with him, enough to brave one of her biggest fears.
“You’re something,” he said with a note of appreciation. She looked at him, taken aback by the tenderness in his eyes. “Thank you,” he added softly.
A smile trembled over her lips. “For what? Being such a scaredy cat?” She was so frustrated with her weakness right now! People rode ski lifts all the time and were perfectly fine. Piper just had to keep reminding herself of that.
“For being you. It means a lot that you would do this with me.”
The distance between them shrank as they shared a smile. “You’re welcome,” she responded genuinely.
Noah scooted close and slid his arm around her shoulders. “Relax,” he urged. “I’ve got ya.”
Her muscles gave up their tension as she settled into the curve of his shoulder. Noah couldn’t know how thrilling those three words were. Yes, he did have her. In a short two-hour span of time, Noah Romeo had indeed swept her off her feet. She was doing things she’d never done before. And, Piper had the distinct feeling that this was only the beginning.
4
Piper blinked, clenching her fist. “This is where your sister lives?”
“Yep,” Noah answered like it was no big deal.
It was a big deal! The enormous luxury home sat at the top of a ridge, affording a bird’s eye view of the exclusive neighborhood below. The home had a modern, rustic feel with the rock siding and large timbers that framed the roofline. As impressive as the front of the house was, with its massive wooden door and scores of windows, Piper could only imagine how amazing the back of the home was. No wonder Zoe wasn’t concerned about her art. She was wealthy. Piper could tell from the clothes Milo wore that he came from money. Also, the SUV they were in must’ve cost a fortune. Noah explained that it belonged to Zoe and that he was driving it so that all of the boys would fit.
Piper had grown up in a middle-class home. Her mom was a high school math teacher and her dad was a sales manager at a car dealership. They’d always had what they needed but there wasn’t a lot of surplus. Now that Piper was on her own, she had to budget carefully so that she’d have enough to not only pay her rent but to fund her photography. Her equipment wasn’t cheap, nor was it cheap to have her work made into prints. She’d been working for several months to get enough prints to show at the reception that Deidre would hopefully have for her after the first of the year.
The boys opened the doors and darted inside.
Noah turned to her. “You ready?”
“Yup,” she said, forcing a smile.
Piper could tell from Noah’s expression that he’d picked up on her reservations. It was uncanny how intuitive he was. He caught hold of her hand and squeezed it. “Don’t worry. You’ll get along great with Zoe.”
Why was Piper so nervous? She and Noah had only just met. It wasn’t like the two of them were an item and that he was bringing her home to meet his parents. There should be zero expectations. She should be calm as a cucumber rather than a bundle of nerves. Oh, well. Feelings weren’t rational. There was no sense in going rounds with herself. Piper was nervous and intimidated by the grand home.
Noah said he dabbled in lots of things for his career, which was code for one who had wealth. Was he a self-made man, or had he inherited the wealth? After looking at Zoe’s home, Piper thought it might be the latter. Then again, Piper didn’t know what Zoe’s husband did for a living. Maybe the wealth had come from him.
Piper didn’t even know why she was so concerned about the house or SUV. It wasn’t like she sought after wealth. Her desire to be successful in her photography went beyond a mere desire for money. She wanted her work to be appreciated. Still, one couldn’t easily separate the money from the success. One equated the other. Piper needed money to live, and if she were compensated for her photography, then she could spend more time on taking photos rather than having a full-time job and taking photos in her spare time.
As they went up the walk, Noah placed his hand on the small of her back. His touch was easy, protective. Having him by
her side gave Piper a boost of confidence. When they stepped inside, the fragrant scent of baking cookies caused Piper’s stomach to rumble. She glanced around the spacious foyer that opened to the family room with the open ceiling and exposed beams. Piper took in the wall of windows and double doors that led to the back deck. The view was impressive in the afternoon, but Piper imagined it was awe-inspiring in the evening.
The decor was tasteful and homey, not over-the-top fancy. Piper’s gaze swept over the enormous Christmas tree with the white lights and red and gold ornaments. Brightly wrapped packages were stacked neatly beneath the tree. Fresh garland and red berries topped the mantel, and there were various size and style stockings hanging on hooks. Piper’s eye caught on the large bronze sculpture on the other side of the room. The base was fashioned out of driftwood and the bronze was sculpted into what looked to be twisting flames. “That’s incredible,” Piper murmured.
“Yep, Zoe’s good,” Noah grinned with a touch of pride as he removed his gloves. “Can I take your coat and purse?”
“Thank you.” Removing her gloves and placing them in her purse, Piper unzipped her coat as Noah did the same. He removed his beanie and ruffled his hair. He was so darn cute that she couldn’t help but smile.
“What?”
“I like your hair.”
He grimaced. “It’s a mess right now.”
“I know,” she answered matter-of-factly. “I like it messy.”
He pointed. “I love your curls.”
The compliment sent a dart of warmth through her. “Thanks.” Piper had a love/hate relationship with her hair. Her curls had a mind of their own. She could fix her hair exactly the same way and it would turn out looking different. Today, it had done well … thankfully.
He opened a door beside the large entrance door, revealing a coat closet. He placed his coat on a hanger before reaching for her purse and coat. She tucked her hair behind her ears before pushing her hands into her pockets. She looked down. “Would you like for me to remove my shoes?”
One Perfect Day Page 4
