Almost Like Being in Love by Beth K. Vogt Page B

dotted with tables covered with rust-colored umbrellas was off to the left, surrounded by a four-foot glass wall. To their right, floor-to-ceiling windows allowed visitors to the dining room to enjoy the view, too.
    â€œNice, isn’t it, if you like rustic decor.”
    Caron rested her hands on the balcony. “I’m a Florida girl, but I like all the leather and stone, and the oil paintings of horses are stunning.”
    After a few moments, Margo led them back into the hotel lobby, her sandaled feet slapping against the flagstone floor. “Do you think Alex will like it?”
    Caron did a slow turnaround. “It’s different, but isn’t a honeymoon the perfect time for something different?”
    Emma rubbed her arms. “I didn’t realize it would be so cool up here.”
    â€œOne of my coworkers warned me that Telluride’s weather is capricious. That’s why I made sure we brought jackets, even if it is June.” Margo waved the plastic keycards for their room. “How about we go unpack, then find the coffee shop and go walk around Mountain Village?”
    Caron motioned to the small coffee cart situated in one corner of the lobby. “Change that to get coffee first and then go unpack and that sounds like a good plan.”
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    â€œSo do you think you’re going to be able to convince Alex to have your wedding here?”
    Caron would have laughed at the timing of Margo’s question, but she was too busy gritting her teeth and gripping the passenger-door handle as her friend maneuvered her car up the winding, narrow dirt road leading to Bridal Veil Falls.
    â€œI don’t know that now is the best time to ask her that.” Emma leaned forward from the backseat.
    â€œWhat’s wrong?” Margo pulled over to the right side of the road, close to the sloping edge, so a Jeep coming down from the waterfall could pass them. “This is the best part of the trip, next to the gondola ride in and out of Telluride. I think when we come back for the wedding, we should take a morning and hike up here.”
    â€œThat might be fun.” Caron forced herself to release her hold on the handle. Sit back. Unclench her jaw. “I think I might like this road better if I was walking it.”
    â€œThis is nothing. You should drive up to Pikes Peak.”
    â€œSorry I’ll miss that this visit.”
    â€œLiar.” Margo tossed her a grin. “Just look out the window and see how many different colors of columbines you can see along the side of the road. Tell me when you want to stop to take a photo.”
    â€œJust keep driving—” Caron gasped as the car turned a corner. “Stop! Stop!”
    She was out of the car before Margo had parked, careful not to slip on the slick muddy ground. The nondescript rocky road had turned into a forest vale, the waterfall plummeting down the sheer face of the rock in front of them and becoming a cascading mountain stream. Towering mountain pines surrounded the makeshift parking lot, and other sightseers wandered about, necks craning, their faces upturned as they gazed at Bridal Veil Falls.
    Alex had to see this.
    She took photo after photo, first with her cell phone, then with her regular camera, which she had slung around her neck. Emma and Margo joined her, but she barely noticed them as she tried to frame the best photograph.
    â€œWe need a photo of the three of us.” Margo tugged her toward the falls. “Get over here!”
    The roar of the falls submerged the sound of their laughter, the spray dampening their hair.
    â€œI’ve never seen anything like this.” Caron turned to face the waterfall again. “Can you imagine wedding photos up here?”
    â€œThe events planner said you could have your ceremony up at the top of the falls, right?”
    â€œYes.” Caron couldn’t stop her shoulders from slumping as she covered her camera with