Page 122 of Sunkissed Colorado

Darius patted me on the shoulder. “Guess we all have to grow up sometime.”

Zandra and I headed in for work that afternoon. Sundays were always busy at the brewery. A lot of people dreading the start of the work week, getting their drink on one last time before Monday hit.

Today though, I didn’t give a damn what day it was. My biggest challenge was not pulling Zandra into a kiss every time I saw her. Because she wasmine. My girl. My Sunflower.

Kissing at work was probably never going to be appropriate, especially whenshewas the one in charge around here. But at least I wouldn’t have to hide what I was feeling about her.

About an hour into our shift, Winnie and Russ pulled me aside while Zandra was in the office.

“Okay, what’s going on with you?” Winnie demanded. “You always seem upbeat, but you’re acting like somebody shot a glitter bomb up your butt. You’re fucking sparkling.”

Russ nodded. “We have a bet. I think you got the job.”

“You’re way off, my friend.”

“Iknewit,” Winnie said triumphantly. “You and Zandra finally got together.”

She held out her hand, and Russ dejectedly slapped a twenty onto her palm. Ridiculous.

I glanced around to make sure no one else was listening, then leaned in closer. “You guys have to keep this quiet until tomorrow, but yeah. We’re dating now. We’ll be able to tell everyone officially soon.”

“But does Manny know?” Russ asked.

“We’re telling him tomorrow. That’s the only wrinkle left.” I almost laughed, because Manny had his share of wrinkles already, but that would’ve been rude of me. I basically had him to thank for Zandra and me winding up together.

Winnie lifted her hand for a high five. “Nice.”

“Wait, dude, I’m getting secondhand stress from all this,” Russ said, running his hands through his hair.

I clapped him on the shoulder. “There’s nothing to worry about.”

“You don’t think this is going to affect the competition for general manager?” Russ asked. “How could it not?”

“Because I’ve got a plan. I’ve got this under control.”

When we’d started this competition, I’d been afraid I wouldn’t have a chance against Manny’s granddaughter.

But who needed a job title when what I really wanted was the girl?

Winnie and Russ’s third degree had reminded me, though. I had an email to send. A text might’ve been enough, but this felt like it needed to be more formal. When I next had a break, I found a quiet corner and pulled out my phone.

Dear Manny, I began.

It was getting late when Zandra hooked her pinky around mine and nodded toward the office. “Can we talk?”

“Talk? Is that code for us grabbing a quickie?” I said under my breath. I loved that she couldn’t even wait another hour until closing to get with me again. Not that I was complaining.

“That is not what we’re doing.”

We got into the office, and she shut the door, wearing her most serious expression.

“We need to have a game plan for the meeting with my grandfather tomorrow morning.”

I sat on the edge of the desk. “We’ll be fine.”

“This is not the time for you to be cute or just assume it’s all going to work out okay. The minute he tells us his decision about who gets general manager, we tell him we’re together and plan to stay that way.”

She was pacing around. I watched her fondly, thinking this was adorable.