'Damn, I love it up here, ' Chris realized as he stepped out into the chill of the morning air, 'There's nothing like the fresh smell of pines.' He couldn't help shivering while admiring the view, 'So beautiful, and clear ... if it weren't for the surrounding peaks, I could probably see forever.

'But, I can't believe how cold the nights get, even in the middle of the summer.' With that, Chris reached back inside the camper and grabbed his coat. Bone tired after pulling in late and getting everything set up, he'd dropped it just inside the door on his way to bed last night.

Chris had no sooner zipped his jacket up than his nose picked up the odor of a nearby campfire. 'Even that smells good, ' he thought with a smile.

As he glanced around the campgrounds, Chris noticed a tight pair of sexy jeans going into the ladies restroom, and couldn't help wondering, 'Is she taken?' Then with embarrassment, realized, 'Of course she is you dummy. Any gal that good looking would not be alone.'

Suddenly, the wafting aroma of fresh brewed coffee triggered a hunger pain which shifted his thoughts to, 'Breakfast. That's what I need ... hope the lodge is open.'

Chris knew that after catering to tourists all weekend, a lot of the local businesses closed on Mondays. And since he owned his own company, he realized, 'I don't blame them. It's my fault anyway for not getting up here on Friday as I'd planned.

'Oh well, at least arriving on Sunday got me a choice spot. Most of the campers had already packed up and left, headed back to the city and the old grind.'

Shaking his head, he thought, 'Hell, I should sell out ... or just move my business and live here year round.'

Chris looked towards the lodge and noticed there were no vehicles in the parking lot, 'Damn, bet they're closed. Oh well, won't find out standing here.' With that thought, and since it was only a short distance, he took off on foot, enjoying the scenery and mountain air every step of the way.

He knew before trying the door handle that it was locked. Using his hands to block the glare, Chris leaned forward to peer through the front window. He could see the lights were off and no one was inside.

Then with a chuckle, he wondered out loud, "Why does everyone do that? There's a damn sign on the door, plain as day, 'We're Closed on Mondays'."

Suddenly from behind him came a sexy female voice, "I don't know. But would you believe it took two Mondays in a row before I quit pulling on that stupid handle?"

With shock and surprise, Chris spun around to find the cute lady he'd spotted earlier. She was standing with her fingers tucked into her hip pockets.

While pondering how she ever squeezed anything, including herself, into those tight assed pants, he couldn't help taking the opportunity to study her build, starting from the feet up. When he finally got to her face, he found her grinning, and evidently not very shy when she asked, "Well? Like what you see?"

Red faced, Chris stammered, "Hell miss, I ... I'd be lying if I said no. That's for sure."

"Good," she replied. "Then you can drive me down the road to the only café in town that's open, and buy me breakfast. I assume that's what you came down here for?"

With a smile, Chris said, "Let's go, I'm starving. By the way, what's your name."

"Teresa ... and yours?"

"Chris ... pleasure to meet you Teresa."

"Maybe ... we'll see," she replied still smiling.

As they entered the small café, Chris noticed a waitress with a cute smile. She was chatting with a few customers while refilling their coffee cups as she slowly worked her way down the counter.

Teresa laughed, and said, "Down tiger. You'd be wasting your time."

Chris looked puzzled, and asked "Why's that? She married?"

"Nope, but wants to be. Jamie has a one track mind, find a husband and have a family, that's all she's looking for. But ... she's too damn picky. Several of the local studs would probably entertain the idea, but she's shot them all down. Now most of them, other than being friendly, shy away from her," Teresa informed him.

"I see," Chris replied.

"Well, with her, that's about all you will do. But, now with me ... you just might find what you're looking for," Teresa teased him.

Embarrassed, Chris asked red faced, "And what would that be?"

Teresa's laugh even sounded sexy as she replied, "The eyes don't lie, and yours are speaking volumes. Enough said, let's find a table and get some breakfast. I'm starving."

"Me too," Chris responded, "it might be the mountain air, but up here, I always feel famished in the mornings."

Teresa selected a table by the front windows, Chris was glad, since he never tired of looking at the scenery. They had no sooner sat down, than Jamie was there to take their orders.

After Teresa introduced them, Jamie said, "Nice to meet you," offering her hand, "and welcome to the finest eating place in town ... at least on Mondays it is."

Chris and Teresa couldn't help but laugh at Jamie's quip, especially the way she said it.

"My pleasure," Chris replied and shook her hand.

He didn't miss Teresa mumbling under her breath, "You're very generous with all that pleasure." Glancing at her, he had to grin at Teresa's teasing smile.

Just as Chris and Teresa finished their breakfast, two men walked in. One of them noticed Teresa and elbowed his buddy. When the other looked, his eyes lit up and he came over to their table. "Teresa," he smiled, "haven't seen you in few days."

Chris couldn't help but notice that Teresa's eyes had been dancing from the first moment she spotted this guy. "Chuck!" She exclaimed, "Where in the hell have you been?"

About that time she noticed Chuck was checking out Chris with a kind of puzzled, 'Do I know you' look.

"Oh sorry," Teresa said, "Chuck, this is Chris. He's up from the city, taking a few weeks off to clean out his lungs."

Chris chuckled at her light humor and said, "Glad to meet you," as he shook hands with Chuck.

"What, no pleasure?" Teresa laughed.

Red faced, Chris cocked an eyebrow and embarrassingly replied, "Not this time."

After the introduction, Chuck said, "Well I'll catch you later, Teresa," and after excusing himself, returned to join his friend.

"Seems like a nice fellow," Chris said.

"Uh-huh," Teresa uttered as her eyes followed Chuck all the way back to his table.

As she turned her attention back to Chris, he said, "Well if you'll hold the fort down, I need to make a trip to the little boy's room."

Smiling, she said, "No problem ... I hope everything comes out all right."

Chris chuckled, "Old joke ... but, still funny."

When Chris came back from the restroom, he noticed Teresa was sitting at Chuck's table ... and she had taken her coffee cup with her.

Chris immediately had flashes of his teenage years, 'It's been a while since I've played this game. But if my memory serves me right, the guy always loses.'

Since his coffee cup had been refilled while he was gone, Chris went ahead and sat back down.

After about five minutes, there was no sign that Teresa had any intent of returning. She was sitting with her back to Chris, and hadn't even bothered to turn around and look at him.

Being ignored with no hint of direction, Chris had gradually become irritated to the point that he finally finished his last sip and decided to leave.

"Chuck and her go back a ways," Jamie said.

Chris was startled to look up and see the waitress standing at his shoulder. "Oh yeah?" He replied.

"If you sit here long enough, she'll come back over. She always does," Jamie grinned.

Chris wasn't amused, "Well I have a life ... which means I don't have time to wait all day. Can you bring me the check, please. I need to get going."

"Do you want me to divide it? She won't mind paying for hers. It won't be the first time," Jamie asked.