Page 17 of Sunkissed Colorado

“But that’s not happening, is it, Pa?” Rosie patted his hand. “You’re not going back to work. You’re eighty years old and your hip is shattered.”

Grandpa made a wry face in my direction. “See how supportive my children are? My best qualities skipped a generation.”

“Oh shush.” Rosie waved him off. “You’ve already agreed with Javi and me that it’s time for you to retire.” She turned to me. “And this works out for Zandra too, doesn’t it?Youcan take over as general manager for Hearthstone. It’s like it was meant to be.”

I blinked. “Wait. Hearthstone?Me?”

Grandpa angled his head. “I suppose my daughter does have some good ideas.”

“I’ve never run a restaurant or a brewery,” I pointed out.

“But you’ve always accomplished whatever you set your mind to,” Rosie said with the kind of unwavering confidence that made my chest tight.

“Mistakes involving Ian notwithstanding,” Grandpa added. “Why else did you go to that fancy business school except to run a business?”

Protests rose to the tip of my tongue. Because I didn’t have the best track record recently, did I?

But I’d gotten my MBA. I’d learned a lot in the years since, much of it the hard way. Maybe I could do this.

“I’m…interested,” I heard myself say.

“I haven’t hired you yet, mind you,” Grandpa warned, though his eyes were twinkling. “I’ll need a résumé.”

I couldn’t help smiling. “Yes, Grandpa.”

“And I need to see what other candidates are interested. Have to be fair about this. I’ve got some loyal employees who’ve worked their way up. Like Callum.”

My smile faltered. “CallumO’Neal?” I asked, as casually as I could manage. The shrewd look Rosie gave me suggested I hadn’t managed all that well. “Didn’t expect him to be in the running.”

Grandpa nodded. “He’s bar manager. One of my best employees. Good kid.”

“He’s the one who found your grandpa after he fell,” Rosie added. “Practically saved his life.”

“Are you sure we’re referring to the same guy? Jock, unruly brown hair, backwards baseball cap?” My heart rate increased as I thought of his over-the-top handsome features. That smirk and the way he puffed out his chest like he expected to be admired.

Then a new voice chimed in.

“Talking about me?”

I spun around to see the man himself standing in the doorway, and my heart did this annoying skip.

Unfortunately, he was even better looking than he’d been last night. No ball cap today, his messy waves out in full force. He had a touch more stubble on his jaw, and his chocolaty brown eyes were warm and inviting, creasing lightly at the sides.

Then in slow motion, he seemed to register that it wasme, the woman from the bar last night. And his easy confidence drained away as horror dawned on his face.

Was I awful for feeling just a little smug?

Grandpa gestured for him to come in. “Callum, this is my granddaughter, Zandra.”

“We’ve met,” I said coolly.

He cleared his throat, hands diving into his jeans pockets as a flush climbed up his neck. “We, uh, went to high school together.”

My lips pressed into a thin line. “We did.”

Rosie’s eyes bounced from Callum to me.

Just then, the nurse poked her head in. “I’m sorry, folks, but we can only have two visitors at a time.”