I followed Chris toward the bar, where he ordered a club soda and lime—yuck—and then turned my way. “What would you like?”
“A Roy Rogers, please.”
Chris chuckled. “No Shirley Temple?”
“I’m not a lemon-lime fan.” I’d much prefer adding Coke to any mixed virgin drinks than a Sprite.
“So first we meet at the Skirted Heifer and now the governor’s mansion.” He stared into my eyes. “What are the odds?”
“Wild, right?” I forced a laugh even though my emotions were stuck in my throat.
Because seriously, whatwerethe odds? I’d never seen Christian Gamble before in my life, and in a matter of a week, I’d run into him twice.And in the most random places!
“How did you enjoy your burger?”
“It was perfection.” I smiled. Burgers were neck and neck with mountain pie. No one could beat Colorado-style pizza.
“How often do you go there?”
I arched a brow. “Were you looking for me?”
“Maybe.” Chris glanced away, taking a sip of his club soda.
A thrill shot through my middle, my curiosity piqued. “How many times have you gone back?”
“I plead the fifth.” His lips curved.
Oh. My. Word!
Were we flirting? It felt like flirting, but I was solely judging this moment on the movies I’d watched. I almost felt like Sanaa Lathan inSomething New. Though Chris wasn’t a white guy like the hero in the movie, something told me we were still opposites in every other way.
“Maybe the restaurant is a guilty pleasure and I don’t go that often.”
“But something tells me that’s not true.”
I pursed my lips, hoping to stay the grin threatening to form. “What if I like mountain pies more?”
“Do you go to Molly’s Mountain Pies?”
“Are you from Colorado Springs?” He knew the spots, but now he was here in Denver.
So are you, girl.Right. We were both out of our natural environments.
“Answering a question with a question?” Chris smirked. “Okay. I was born there but don’t currently reside in the city.”
“Then what made you choose the Skirted Heifer?”
“My work is in Colorado Springs, but I live in Woodland Park.”
“Oh.” That was a thirty-minute drive. “You commute in every day?”
Chris shook his head. “No. I’m a wildlife conservationist and run a nonprofit. Sometimes that means I’m in-house doing admin work or educational outreaches. Other times, I’m out in the wild for a variety of reasons.”
“Clever use of words.” I didn’t know what else to say.
“What about yourself? You said you’re a surgeon. Do you have more days in the OR, or do you have to do admin work equally as much?”
“It varies as well. I have days devoted to paperwork, days when I’m visiting a patient before surgery or after if they require a follow-up, then there are the OR days.”
