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After nine years as a hair stylist, Amanda had done the hair and makeup for dozens and dozens of Montana brides, and there were two things every bride wanted on her wedding day—her groom and good weather. But in Montana, good weather was never a sure thing, much less the first weekend in March.
As expected, heavy gray clouds gathered all morning, the clouds hanging low in the sky, promising snow. The snow held off, though, until early afternoon when Brooke, the bride-to-be, was finally the one in Amanda’s chair.
“You’re going to get beautiful photos,” Amanda said as she finished sliding another pin into the updo that looked effortlessly chic and elegant but had taken an hour to create. “And with luck, it might not even snow until later tonight.”
Brooke flashed her phone. “The weather channel said it’s supposed to start snowing in the next hour.”
Amanda checked to see if the style was secure and then reached for another pin. “And if it does, all that white will make a perfect backdrop—”
“But you won’t see my dress against the snow. I’ll just be a blob of white.”
“Your skin will look luminous and your gown is that of a royal princess. It’s going to be magical. Trust me.”
“My bridesmaids are in purple.”
“They’ll gleam in the snow, especially when you do your pictures in front of Miracle Lake.”
Brooke blinked back tears. “This is so stressful.”
“Don’t let it be.”
“We don’t have weather like this in California. It’s almost always sunny in Newport. I wish we were in California now.”
“Well, true, but Scott is a rancher here, and you love Scott. You said he’s your best friend and he makes you happier than you’ve ever been.”
“He does, and he is. And I don’t hate Montana, but everyone was saying it was going to be gorgeous this weekend. Unusually warm. Spring-like.”
“Montana weather is notoriously fickle, and unpredictable. The moment they say good weather, brace yourself for wind and rain.”
Brooke glanced out the salon window, up at the dark sky. “Or snow.”
“It’ll still be beautiful… maybe even more beautiful.”
“Promise?”
“Promise.”
“And you’ll be there for the photos at Miracle Lake and Emerson Barn? And you’ll stay until I walk down the aisle?”
“You invited me to stay for the whole dang thing. I believe I RSVPed yes, too.”
“Yes, you did. I’ll see you soon?”
“I’m right behind you. I just need to pack up my things and I’m on my way.”
But fifteen minutes later Amanda was still in Marietta, trying to find a ride out of town as her car refused to start, and the RV, which would be perfect for today’s location shoot, was still not running.
Amanda dashed back into the salon, shivering. “Emily, can I borrow your car? Mine won’t start and Brooke is expecting me at Miracle Lake any minute for her photo shoot.”
“Mandy, I’d give you my car if I had it, but Mitch dropped me off today. He had to go to Missoula and didn’t trust his car, not with the possibility of snow later.”
Amanda glanced at the sky which seemed to grow darker by the moment. “I’m praying there won’t be snow.”
“It’s inevitable.”
“Grr.” She bit her lip, knowing she had to get there. “What about the other girls? Anyone have a car today?”
“Tamara drove but she’s got her son’s basketball game in a bit and driving kids.”
“That’s right. I’ll just call Charity. If she’s parked downtown, I could just run and grab it.”
But Charity didn’t pick up. “I’ll try Bette,” she said, hanging up.
“Or maybe Bette’s grandson. He has an SUV rental, and we all know he’s back in town.” Emily paused. “And he’s really hot.”
“He’s Bette’s grandson. And he’s not that hot.”
“You get totally flustered every time he’s around. Which means you think he’s really hot.”
“You have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“I’ve worked with you for almost four years. You had dinner with him last night. And he’s the first man that makes you blush and giggle—”
“It was really more like drinks last night, and I do not giggle.”
“And you better call him, or I will.”
“You don’t have his number.”
Emily typed on the keyboard and read his number off the screen. “I have everyone’s numbers. It’s my job.”
Amanda groaned. “Okay, read me his number. But he doesn’t make me giggle.”
Tyler was at the salon in minutes. Amanda had everything by the front door and raced out when she spotted the black SUV pulling up in front of the salon. She carried her makeup and hair kits, while Emily carried out her dress and shoes for the wedding since she was staying. Amanda didn’t know how she’d get home yet but was certain there would be a familiar guest who could drop her off afterward.
“You really don’t mind giving me a ride?” Amanda asked breathlessly as she slid into the passenger seat. “It’s going to be a good twenty-minute drive there, and then if you wait during photos, another hour on top.”
“I don’t mind waiting. I have nothing else to do.”
“Maybe just drop me off and you could come back—”
“I’m not going to leave you on the side of Copper Mountain.”
“It wouldn’t be on the side, it’d be at the lake.”
And just then, the first flakes began to fall, small, light white bits falling from the sky. Soon it was falling harder, a steady curtain of white. Amanda frowned at the view out the windshield. “I’d told Brooke that there wouldn’t be too much, but it’s coming down.”
“Can you change the location for the shoot?”
“I’ll ask when we get there.”
Amanda’s phone rang just then. She answered, thinking it was Brooke, and she was right. “We’re almost there, and I was going to ask you that very thing. We don’t have to do the outdoor shots—”
“Scott thinks this is great,” Brooke interrupted hoarsely. “He’s enjoying this, and thinks we should at least try to get some shots in the snow. But he’s wearing a suit jacket. The girls are wearing a little bit of silk and that’s it.”
“Then we’ll just shoot the boys at the lake, and we’ll do the girls at Emerson’s bar
n.”
Brooke was silent a moment. “Do you really think the pictures would be pretty at the lake? With the snow?”
“I think if you didn’t freeze to death, it’d be gorgeous.”
“Should we go for it?”
“We can try, and the moment you’re miserable, we’ll pack up and head to the barn. See you soon. We’re almost there.”
Miracle Lake was a favorite spot for ice skaters in the winter, as well as an excellent place to hike and picnic in the summer. But today, in early March, the road leading to the lake was deserted except for the handful of cars for the wedding party. The branches of the big evergreens lining the road looked frosted, while the low clouds hid the peak of Copper Mountain.
“Where is the lake?” Tyler asked, parking in the spot Amanda indicated.
“Over there,” she said gesturing toward a meadow. “We’ve got to walk down that little slope to get there.”
“All the girls are walking down that slope in dresses and high heels?”
“I’m hoping they’ve changed to cowboy boots. That had been the plan.”
“She’s right. They will freeze.”
“Hoping we can get a couple quick, fun shots and then pack up. In Marietta, we do a lot of brides in snow pictures. Winter weddings are becoming increasingly popular.”
She climbed out of his SUV and opened the back to collect her makeup box kit and tote bag with hair styling products.
“The dress?” he asked, gesturing to the hanger.
“For later when I transform from hired help to favored guest.”
“Got it.” He closed the back of the car and took the kit from her. “Lead the way.”
She opened her mouth to protest because no one ever carried her things for her. “You don’t have to carry my stuff.”
“I know.”
Her gaze met his and held for a beat.
She frowned, a little befuddled, not quite knowing what to do with him, or how to think of him. He wasn’t the enemy anymore. And he wasn’t a boyfriend. And they weren’t dating, so what was he? Because he was something… most definitely something. Every time he was near, her heart beat a little faster and she felt so sensitive, her skin hot and prickly, her insides churning with nerves. No one flustered her, but he did. He made her feel sixteen, and as excited as she’d been at her first prom.
