Page 26 of Shared By the Mountain Men

“Nah,” Noah replied. “This was way before he and Sam started that place.”

“Sam? Who’s Sam?”

Noah tensed. “I, uh, probably shouldn’t have said that.”

“Who’s Sam?” I repeated.

“Someone you’ll have to ask Jack about.” He leaned back in his chair and grinned. “So I rented a room from Jack for the first year, then purchased an empty lot by the river. I camped on the land for a year while my house was built, taking morning baths in the river before going to work at the clinic. Now I’m happier than I ever thought I could be.”

“It must have been hard to move on,” I said sympathetically.

“Sure. But it’s in the past.”

“You seem so positive and happy,” I insisted. “I never would’ve guessed you experienced all those horrible things.”

“I lived through an explosion and only got a scratch on my leg,” he said bluntly. “I’m the luckiest guy in the world. It’s the other guys who have reasons to dwell on their trauma. Compared to them, I’ve got it easy.”

Our meals arrived, and I chewed on his comments while chewing my actual food. Compared to what he went through, getting cheated on and spraining my ankle were quaint little speed bumps. If he was able to move on, it gave me hope for myself.

Enough about that, I told myself.Relax and enjoy your date with Mr. Amazing Doctor.

12

Melissa

The conversation was lighter for the rest of dinner with Noah. Music, movies, television shows. Noah paid for the meal—despite my protests—and then we walked outside. The sun had set, but there was still plenty of activity on Main Street.

“You know, you’re required to take whatever prescription I give you. I’m a doctor.”

“I’ve been taking the anti-inflammatories,” I said, surprised by the sudden topic.

“Not those,” he replied. “I’m giving you a new prescription. Two scoops of ice cream.”

I rolled my eyes. “That was cheesy.”

“Not cheesy. Creamy. You have to try this place two blocks over.”

“Fine, but I’m buying this time,” I replied. “I budgeted enough money for supplies and snacks along my hike.”

“I won’t say no to that.”

I got two scoops of chocolate in a waffle cone, while Noah ordered one scoop of coffee ice cream and one scoop of salted caramel. Cones in hand, we took a leisurely stroll down Main Street.

“I really like this town,” I said.

“Me too.” Noah paused to take a long lick. “I’ve been all over Colorado. Telluride and Aspen are too snooty. Ouray is too small. Salida and Durango don’t have the views. But Crested Butte? It has everything. The people, the location, the vibe… it’s all perfect. For me, at least.”

I could see what he meant. It was the perfect little mountain town. My hike would have taken me a hundred miles east of here; I never would have seen it if not for my sprained ankle.

And the detour forced on me by Jack.

I wasn’t going to admit that, though.

We walked along, laughing and peering in shop windows. I found myself ogling Noah the longer the date went; he was wearing Brooks running shoes with snug blue jeans, and a well-fitted polo shirt with the Crested Butte Health Clinic logo stitched over the heart. The blue color perfectly matched his eyes.

Whenever he caught me looking, I smiled warmly at him. I felt comfortable with him, not awkward the way I usually did on first dates. It probably helped that the stakes were low on this date; I was leaving town as soon as my ankle healed, after all. I could make a complete fool of myself and the embarrassment would only last another week.

“Want to get another drink?” I asked as we passed a bar with a large outdoor space, and a musician playing the guitar on a small stage. It was the right amount of crowded, where we could find standing room if we wanted.

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