He looks up as I’m staring at him. He’d been speaking with Brittany about her upcoming marriage and honeymoon.
“You should ask Dr. Michaels about going to San Francisco for your honeymoon,” he recommends as he looks over at me. “I believe you are from there, correct?”
Staring at him for a second, I realize he probably read my background check for work. “Yes, I’d be happy to tell you about San Francisco, Brittany,” I reply, lying through my teeth. I don’t even want to think about San Francisco, much less think of happy honeymoon spots to visit in that city. But I don’t want him - or anyone, really - to know how much I hate that city and all its memories.
“Thanks, Dr. Michaels, but I think we want to go to Hawaii,” Brittany chirps, smoothing down her blouse and puffing out her chest a bit. “My fiancé wants to see me in a bikini for our honeymoon.”
“Hawaii is wonderful, and a perfect honeymoon place,” I tell her, laughing silently at the look on her face. “Well, this has been fun, but we have a patient coming in for a visit in about ten minutes. I’m going to go review their chart. Thank you, Lowell, for a lovely lunch. Apology accepted.”
“My pleasure,” he replies quietly. Aware that I seem upset about something, but not exactly sure what prompted it, I’m sure he’ll leave and dissect every bit of conversation from the past few minutes. “I’m heading out anyway to write a few more chapters. I’ll see you later.”
I FINISH UP PATIENTS early and walk over to Lev’s bar to grab dinner and a glass of wine. After eating lunch with Lowell, I’m feeling overwhelmed. I think I’m attracted to two men, but maybe it’s just my imagination. I met with Lev only for a few minutes the other day, and what if he was just being friendly? I can’t tell. I’ve dated very little in my life. Since Collin died three years ago, I haven’t been on any dates, and he and I either had been dating or married for the previous seven years. It’s literally been only Collin the last ten years of my life. Before him, I dated a little in college, but with my class load, it was tough.
I pull the brass handles and open the door to The Black and Gold. The inside is huge. It looks like he renovated an old factory. The floor is brick laid in a herringbone pattern, ducts and pipes fill the tall black ceiling, and the lighter wood tables and black chairs pull it all together. To the right of the entry is a beautiful, polished wood bar.
I spot Lev standing behind the bar, pouring a drink. Pow! That man sure packs a physical punch. He’s wearing a tight black “The Black and Gold Bar” T-shirt and jeans, and he wears them well. Both mold to every inch of his body. When he spots me, he motions me over and steps out from behind the bar.
“Well, hello, Dr. Michaels,” his voice husky as he greets me. “Is everything OK?”
“Kate, please. Yes, everything at the practice is going well. I thought I’d come by and see this bar of yours and get dinner and wine, if that is OK?”
“Absolutely, Kate.” Grabbing my hand, he pulls me over to a barstool at the corner of the bar. “Sit here, and I’ll grab you a menu. Do you want red or white wine?”
“Red,” I answer as I sit down and put my tingling hand in my lap. Yep, tingles. Just looking at this man makes me feel all tingly.
He pours a glass of wine and brings it to me. “Here, try this red blend. It’s from a new winery down the road. Very smooth, a bit dry, but fruit forward, not smoky. It’s my new favorite.”
Taking a sip, I am surprised this wine came out of Montana. It’s so good. “Delicious. I usually like a good Malbec, and this blend is like a close sister. Did you say this came out of a winery near here? Can you text me the address? I’d like to go and pick up some. We could even do a tasting.”
“Sure. Actually, why don’t we go together sometime? I received that bottle from my supplier, but I’d love to visit and taste their other wines to see if they have anything else,” he suggests.
Go together...did he just ask me out on a date, or a friendship-only road trip? Sigh, I can’t tell. “Going together” could be anything.
“Sure, that sounds like fun,” I tell him. I mean it, because I know he will be fun to go with, even if it’s not a date.
Cocking his head to the side, he studies me for a second, then winks. “Great, it’s a date. Look at the menu, and I’ll be right back. Specials are on the back.”
I sit there, stunned. Could it be that easy? A date. I have a date.
Smiling, I look down at the menu.
The old man next to me leans over, chuckling. “Damn, that boy is smooth. Reminds me of myself in my younger days.”
I turn to look at the old man. He’s exactly what I pictured a cowboy from Montana should look like. Lean frame, tanned and weathered face, dark hair, and brown eyes. With the well-worn prerequisite boots and cowboy hat.
Smiling, I hold out my hand. “I’m Dr. Kate Michaels. It’s nice to meet you. He was a bit smooth, wasn’t he? How about I flirt with a genuine cowboy, so he can see he’s got competition?”
His eyebrows raise, and he lets out a loud laugh. “Nice to meet you, Dr. Michaels. I’m Hank Guthrie,” he says, gently shaking my hand.
“Hank, it’s nice to meet you, too. Please call me Kate. What’s good to eat here?”
“Well, now, seeing as how I own a cattle ranch and Lev gets his beef from me, I’d be a fool if I didn’t recommend the steak. Although, the spaghetti and meatballs are really my favorite,” he whispers, winking at me.
I laugh. As I go to reply, Lev comes back and eyes the two of us laughing. “Are you flirting with my girl?” he growls at Hank.
“If I was younger, I’d give you a run for your money,” Hank tells him. “Beautiful woman like her, and smart, too? She’d never settle for your playboy ways when she could have a hard-working man like me treating her like a queen.”
Lev laughs. “Hell, I guess I’m lucky you’re just an old fart now, huh?”
“’Old fart!?’ See if I give you the good beef in the next shipment,” he rasps, scowling at Lev. He turns to me. “See how he treats his elders? You may want to rethink that date. Maybe you should pick Lowell or Shaw to go on a date with instead of Lev. They know how to treat their elders.”
I shake my head in mock agreement. “I will think about it. I like a man who treats his elders with respect, and if that’s not Lev...” Trailing off in disappointment, I shake my head.
Laughing, Hank eases off the stool. “It was good to meet you, Dr. Michaels.”
“Call me Kate,” I remind him.
“Kate, I’ll see you around. Lev, you treat this girl right on your date.” Hank shakes Lev’s hand and strolls out of the bar.
Lev crosses his arms. “Already flirting with someone else? I’m gone for five brief minutes.”
Crossing my arms, I lean back and stare at him. “Your girl?”
His eyes twinkle as he leans over the bar. “I would love to claim you right now, but I’ll settle for a date or two before we get to that stage. No need to rush into things.” He laughs. “So, what can I get you for dinner?”
Blushing, I stare at him. I cannot tell when this man is serious and when he is joking. I could swear he is serious. But that’s ridiculous, right?