Page 28 of Sunkissed Colorado

“Take it off, girl! Tips will be better this way too.”

Another laugh bubbled out of me. “Perfect. You just tell me what to do.”

We dove straight into serving customers. I already had the beer, cocktail, and food menus memorized and was getting familiar with our computer system for ordering. But I paid close attention to every bit of info Winnie had for me.

I wouldn’t regularly be tending bar as Hearthstone’s general manager. But a good boss had to understand as many aspects of their business as possible. Also, I knew Grandpa was going to be quizzing me about anything and everything later. He didn’t think any detail was too small.

When it came to the bar business, that was Callum’s domain. The man had a major advantage. I had to make sure I knew just as much as he did.

“So, you and Callum, huh?”

“What?” I sputtered, turning to Winnie. “There is no me and Callum.”

“I mean this competition thing Manny has going. Everybody’s been talking about it. It’s kinda wild. He’s making his own granddaughter jump through all these hoops? Most people would want to keep a business like this in the family.”

“Yeah. But that’s my grandpa. Throwing challenges at us is his love language.”

I wasn’t even mad about this competition Grandpa had set up. I hadn’t come to Silver Ridge expecting handouts. And Ihadn’t even realized how much I wanted this job until it was dangled in front of me, just out of reach.

Hearthstone wasn’t some consolation prize after losing my way in Chicago. This place was home. I was going to earn it. Didn’t matter who else was up against me.

Just…why did it have to behim?

I’d resisted letting Grandpa know about our feud. Instead, every time Manny asked how Callum and I were doing, I said all was fine. If and when I earned this job, it would be fair and square. Not by talking crap about Callum behind his back.

However. I could still gossip a little with Winnie. That wasn’t crossing too many lines.

When there was a lull, I grabbed some limes and a cutting board to refill our fruit bin. “What’s Callum like to work for?” I asked. “He’s been bar manager for a few months now, right?”

“Looking for the scoop on your competition?”

I wasn’t going to deny it. “Do you blame me?”

She laughed. “Wish I had dirt to spill, but I don’t. He’s a good boss. Understanding. Responsible and keeps his end of things running smoothly. He’s the best.”

My knife paused. “Really?”

“Speaking of.” Winnie elbowed me. “Look who’s here on his night off.”

My head swiveled until my eyes landed on a broad set of shoulders, narrow hips, and a backward ball cap.

Dammit. What was Callum doing here? I’d thought I was free from him tonight.

He was dragging a few tables together, making a bigger seating space. Like he expected a bunch of friends to join him. A couple minutes later, a big guy with a grumpy expression and dirty-blond hair joined him.

Winnie hummed knowingly. “I get it. That’s Teller Landry.”

“I remember him and his sister Piper.”

“Yep. The Lonely Harts club must be getting together for trivia tonight.”

“Thewhatclub?”

“Hon, you are so behind. I gotta catch you up.”

Winnie explained that Callum, his siblings, and their friends and significant others often got together at Hearthstone. They called themselves the Lonely Harts club, whatever that meant.

“But the most exciting part,” Winnie continued, blue eyes shining, “is that if Teller Landry’s here, Ayla Maxwell must be in town too. There was all kinds of drama going on with her not long ago. She fell in love with Teller, who was the police chief until he quit to be with her. It’s only the biggest news that’s hit Silver Ridge since…ever.”