Page 112 of Sunkissed Colorado

“Sorry,” Emma said, leaning her elbow on the table. “I don’t know what’s gotten into her.”

“Stella probably smells my cat on me. Chloe.”

Callum planted yet another kiss on me, then said, “Stella will warm up to you in no time. It’s impossible for her not to make friends.”

“Sounds like someone else we know,” Emma said. “You and Stella have a lot in common, Callum.”

I snapped my fingers. “Stole the words right out of my mouth.”

Emma laughed, but Callum was unruffled. “If either of you ladies think I’m going to take offense at that, you’re wrong. Uh oh. Looks like Stella’s running off with the cornhole beanbags.”

Emma jumped up, but that just made Stella run circles even faster.

“Are you going to rescue them?” I asked. “Seems like a job for a firefighter. Running headlong into the thick of danger.” Also, I’d get to admire his butt in his jeans when he bent over.

“Will you survive without me?”

“I’ll manage somehow.”

Callum aimed his dazzling grin at me and jogged over to rescue a beanbag from Stella’s jaws.

I really had to get my heartbeat under control, because this could not be healthy.

A soft chuckle came from across the table. Like me, Ashford was watching the antics. Maisie and Ollie dissolved into giggles as Callum wrestled the bright-red beanbag away from Stella. He tossed it back toward the cornhole boards, then scooped up Maisie and spun her around, making her shriek with laughter.

“Maisie’s cute,” I said.

Ashford grunted in the affirmative. “Thanks. Growing up faster than I’m ready for.”

“I hear kids do that.”

He glanced over at me. “She loves her Uncle Callum. My brother’s a kid at heart sometimes. Probably explains why he has so little filter when he’s talking.”

“That aspect of Callum’s personality is growing on me. He usually lets me know where I stand. Or more often,tellsme.”

Ashford laughed again, giving me a wry look from the corner of his eye. “You’re pretty blunt too, from what I hear. You didn’t make any secret of how you didn’t like my brother. Believe me, he was obsessing over it.”

“That changed once I got to know him.”

“Funny how that happens.” Ashford looked over at his wife. Then he shifted around in his seat. “Uh, I have a confession.”

“Oh?”

“When Callum said he wasn’t getting along with you at work, Imayhave told him to get rid of you. Just by reminding you of how small-town life isn’t always the idyllic stereotype, that’s all,” he rushed to add.

“Wow.” At least the guy was being honest. Also, it was kind of funny, since I would’ve loved to get rid of Callum at that point too. “That’s cold, O’Neal.”

“But clearly I was wrong.” Ashford side-eyed me again. “Callum might drive me nuts sometimes, but he’s really fucking loyal. In case you had any doubts.”

After a while, Ashford got up and went to join the game, and Piper slid back into her seat beside me. “Having a good time?” she asked.

“I am,” I said with a sigh. “Mostly.”

“Oh, no! What happened? Who do I need to lecture about politeness, and does his name rhyme withSmashford?”

“No, the opposite. Ashford was really kind.”

“Phew, that’s a relief.”