Page 60 of Hearts on Ice
“Part of what makes it fun is knowing we’re doing it for fun, not for competition.”
“That’s probably true, but I always thought competing was fun.”
“You would always be stressed out.”
“Well, sure, I wanted to do well, and we always had one element that I wasn’t sure we could land.” She shifted on her seat and avoided his gaze. “I did have a thought, though, while I was looking at their competitors on the internet. I saw some instructional videos alongside the competition videos, and I thought maybe we could do something like that. You know, kind of what we’re doing with Josh and Lexi, but more general. Show step-by-step instructions for some of the more intermediate and advanced moves, or transitions, something like that.” Her tone grew more animated as she leaned forward, her hands clasped together in her lap.
“I have a camera up in the office, but I don’t know how to edit,” he said. “I just use it for practice sessions.”
“We could use our phones. Mine has a pretty good camera, and I think the software for editing is pretty simplified now. I think it could be a lot of fun. We’d be skating together, which would be fun. We would get views from people who want to see us skate together. We could be drawing in potential clients. I don’t see a downside.”
“Recording moves is going to require a cameraperson,” he pointed out. “We won’t just be in one spot on the ice.”
She frowned, considering his words. “I thought about that. Do you think Meghan would come do it for us? While the kids are at school? We pretty much have the rink to ourselves then.”
He grimaced. “She’s just gone back to work, so I don’t think so.”
“What about Sandra, then?” She gestured to the lobby. “The snack bar doesn’t have a lot of business during the day. It would just be an hour or so every day. We wouldn’t want to do more than that, and it wouldn’t be every day. Do you think you could ask her to do that? Maybe pay her a bit more so she could do it?”
He was surprised at the excitement that rose up in him at the idea. They would be skating together and teaching, which had been his dream for years.
“Let’s give it a shot.”
Declan was kind ofsurprised that Sandra seemed excited about being their cameraperson, but he wasn’t at all surprised that Colby had a plan. She had an idea of what elements and combinations they’d teach, and after she finalized Josh and Lexi’s program, she made a schedule of the videos she wanted to make.
What did surprise him was how much fun he had making the videos. Colby, of course, was comfortable talking to the camera, comfortable with the instruction, and she started off with easy enough elements and combinations to teach.
But his own comfort with the medium, his willingness to address the camera over her shoulder, usually trying to get a reaction from her.
And damn, he loved skating with her. He loved everything about it, touching her, lifting her, moving in rhythm with her.
Looking into her eyes as they skated, even for those brief exchanges.
Sandra fanned herself as she handed back over the phone the second day of recording.
“Your battery is running low. Too bad you can’t charge it from the electricity in here. You two are going to be a hit.”
Declan felt his face heat as Colby laughed and took the phone. Sandra worked for him, and he wasn’t crazy about her speculating about his love life.
Hell, once these videos were live, everyone would be speculating about it, and they were right back to where they ended, back in the public eye. As much fun as making the videos was, he had to wonder about Colby’s endgame here. What did she expect to accomplish with them? She said more students, and he knew there was probably a way she could monetize the videos, which would help with her finances.
But what if she was using this as a stepping stone to get back to Hollywood? To leave him behind again?
CHAPTER 24
“Hey,” Meghan said when Declan answered his phone. “Just wanted to make sure you’re coming to the birthday party this weekend.”
He sat back in his office chair. “Sure, of course. Is there anything in particular Tristan wants?”
“I mean, I could give you a list, but what he wants most is his uncle Declan.”
“Okay, well. Ah.” He sat forward, leaning on his desk, and looked toward the open door. Colby was in the lobby, working on the video editing software on his laptop. He lowered his voice just a bit, even though he knew she was so focused she probably wouldn’t hear him. “Do you—I’d like to bring Colby, if that’s okay with you.”
Meghan was silent a moment. “That’s still going on?”
“She’s staying with me right now.”
“I mean, I saw the news and everything, but I wondered if that might just be her doing, you know, pushing a story that has no basis in reality.”
