Page 27 of Sunkissed Colorado

Walking into Hearthstone now, a week after I’d started my “two-month trial” with Callum, I didn’t feel any of those warm and fuzzies. More like a mix of dread and anticipation over seeing my nemesis.

Why did Callum O’Neal have to work here and ruin my one comfort zone in Silver Ridge?

“Afternoon.” I nodded hello to Alice, the head chef, as I passed through the kitchen. I’d parked with the other employees in the rear lot, coming in through the back door.

“Hey, Zandra. I emailed you and Callum my thoughts for the specials next week. Manny told me to go through both of you, butalsocheck everything with him. No offense, but three bosses is a lot.”

I laughed. “I was just visiting Grandpa at the hospital this morning. I’ll keep working on him. They should be releasing him to recover at home soon.” The nurses had him up each day using his walker, but he’d also had some complications.

“Maybe that’ll make him less of a pill.”

“One can dream.”

Over the past week, I’d been doing my best to get to know everyone here. I’d been soaking up as much knowledge as I could from shadowing the other managers. Callum had set up a good schedule for me, I had to admit. There was so much to learn.

Just so long as I didn’t have to learn it fromhim.

A slender blond in a mini skirt and a pink tank top was already behind the bar when I approached. She squealed when she saw me, almost spilling the pint she’d been pouring from the tap.

“Zandra, is that really you?”

“It’s me. Hey, Winnie.”

“You remember me?” She finished the beer and set it in front of a customer.

“Of course. Also, I saw your name on the schedule, so…”

Winnie pointed at me. “Always the smart one. Get over here. I need a hug.”

Winnie Peyton had been a couple years younger than Jessa and me in school. A cheerleader, not the usual person I would’ve spent time with outside of class. We hadn’t been part of the same circles, and I doubted the cheer squad would’ve wanted to hang with me either.

But Winnie had dated Leo, Jessa’s little brother. She’d been one of the few bright spots in my life after Jessa died. As in, she would actually talk to me without judgment and accusations in her eyes.

This was the hard thing about working at Hearthstone. This place was a minefield of memories, and some of them hurt so much more than the others.

Winnie pulled back from the hug, holding my arms. “I’ve been hearing for days about how you came back to town, but I didn’t really believe it until I could see it for myself. You look so good!”

“So do you.”

“Hardly. I look like a lady who got barfed on for three days straight and barely slept a wink the whole time. That’s why I’ve had to keep calling in. My niece Ally was sick and my sister had nobody to watch her. She’s already struggling to pay the bills so she couldn’t take off work, you know? A lot of bosses would’ve told me tough luck because Ally’s not my daughter, but not Callum.”

My brow wrinkled. “I’m so sorry. Is Ally better? If you needed to take more time?—”

“No, she’s all set now. Ally’s with her dad, my sister’s asshole ex. He wouldn’t lift a finger while Ally was throwing up, but at least he’s good for watching her some of the time. He’s sweet to her when it’s convenient.”

“I know a thing or two about asshole exes.”

She nudged my arm sympathetically. “Even the big city girl has love trouble?”

“Former big city girl. Lost my job and my guy. I could write a country song about all the ways my life imploded.”

“Then screw ’em, right? It’s you and me working the bar tonight. We’re going to have a blast.”

I laughed. “Oh, I’m here for it. I’ve been getting an overview of Hearthstone’s operations, but I haven’t worked any shifts at the bar yet.” Because I’d been avoiding anything that would meandealing with Callum. He wasn’t working tonight, though, so that meant I should be safe from his muscles and smirks and those expressive eyes.

Winnie’s gaze moved over me, scrutinizing. “You’ve got comfy shoes. Good. That button-down won’t work though. It gets hot as Hades back here when we’re really moving. Tonight’s trivia night, so it’ll be packed.”

“I have a camisole underneath.” I started unbuttoning my shirt, and Winnie whistled.