Page 18 of Sunkissed Colorado

“I’ll step out,” Rosie volunteered cheerfully.

“No, wait.” Callum pushed back his hair from his forehead. “I actually need to have a quick word with Zandra. If that’s okay.”

I crossed my arms. “I don’t see why. I don’t see what we would have to say to each other.”

He smiled, though it looked strained. “Silver Ridge High alumni stuff. It’ll just take a minute.”

“No, I don’t think?—”

“Just go talk to the kid!” Grandpa interrupted. “I want the nurse to change my catheter bag.”

I got up and followed Callum out into the hall.

Once we were out of earshot of Grandpa’s room, Callum spun on his heavy boot heel. “Look, about last night?—”

“It doesn’t matter,” I cut him off. “Mystery solved. You know who I am now.”

“If I offended you, I’m sorry.”

I scoffed. “You didn’t offend me.”

“You don’t look like you did back in high school. I mean…” He let out a low whistle, then quickly forced his eyes up to meet mine. “Shit. Ignore me. I can be an idiot.”

“Oh trust me, I’m well aware.”

His lips slid into that angle he clearly thought was disarming. “But we’re good, right? You’re not pissed?”

“Why would I be pissed?” I asked, though I could hear the edge in my own voice. “We barely know each other. We’re basically strangers.”

“I was coming on pretty strong last night. I wouldn’t have done that if I’d known you were the boss’s granddaughter.”

“But otherwise you’re fine making moves on women you meet while you’re on the clock? Noted.”

“You make it sound bad.”

I arched an eyebrow.

“Are you going to say something to Manny about it?” he asked quietly.

I didn’t actually want to cause problems for Callum with his job. But he didn’t know that, and I didn’t mind making him sweat a little. “I haven’t decided yet.”

“Would you at least warn me? Please? This job is important to me.”

Something in his voice made me feel a twinge of guilt. So I relented. “I wouldn’t actually say anything.”

He cursed under his breath, exhaling with visible relief. “Thank you.”

“Don’t take it as a favor.”

But that cocky grin was already sliding back into place. “I’ll probably be seeing you around the brewery a lot, now that you’re back in town. We should catch up.”

“I don’t think so.”

“But you said you weren’t mad.”

“About last night? Not really.”

I remembered watching him get hit on the football field in high school. He’d always been so quick to bounce back up, brush off the dirt, and get back in the game. Nothing could keep Callum low for long.