Page 45 of Sunkissed Colorado

“How’s Ollie doing with his summer league?” I asked.

“He’s killing it. Three home runs last week alone.” Pride radiated from her as she steamed the pistachio milk.

“Damn. Future in the major leagues.”

“He missed you at his last game. Next one’s Thursday evening.”

“And I’ll be there. Had a firefighter training at the same time as the last one, and work’s been crazy, but I’ll be there Thursday. Wouldn’t miss it.”

Piper was perpetually single and liked it that way, just like me. Though I blamed her terrible ex-husband for some of her cynicism about relationships, since she hadn’t been anti-love before. But Piper had plenty on her plate between running Silver Linings and raising nine-year-old Ollie.

“I really am sorry I missed his game,” I added. “Ollie’s my guy.”

She smiled, rolling her eyes a little. “You don’t have to be everything for everyone, Callum. I was just giving you a hard time earlier. Anything else?”

“Just a large black coffee. Those tongs didn’t touch the gluten stuff, did they?”

She was grabbing the muffins I’d ordered and placing them in paper bags. “Relax. I know what I’m doing.”

“Just making sure.”

Piper rang me up at the register. Then she asked casually, “So, how are things going with you and Zandra Alvarez? That’s who the pistachio latte is for, right?”

“What makes you think that?”

Piper sighed, leaning against the counter. “Because you think you’re subtle, Callum, but you’re really not.”

I scratched the stubble at my jaw, not really sure what she was implying. “Zandra’s doing great, actually.”

“She doesn’t hate you anymore?”

I glanced around to make sure nobody else was listening, because Manny’s spies were everywhere. He was barely mobile, but that didn’t matter with access to a phone and the internet.

“I’m deep in the process of winning her over.” I pointed at the latte and muffin. “As you can see. Practically got her wrapped around my finger.”

“Riiight. So this is all part of your plan to get the job?”

“Exactly.” I tapped my forehead. “It’s all tactics and strategies in here, Piper. I could’ve been a chess master.”

“Just don’t forget, while you’re working hard to charm her, that you’re in competition with this woman.”

“How could I possibly forget that?”

“Because you’re a people pleaser, Cal. Classic middle child.”

I scoffed. “That’s ridiculous. Layers, Piper. You might not know me as well as you think you do.”

“Okay. Sure. You’re an enigma of masculinity, and I couldn’tpossibly understand all the complex things happening in that brain of yours.”

“Thank you for acknowledging that.”

“Aww, do you feel better?”

“Yeah, I do.”

She emptied the espresso grounds from the machine. “So you’re really serious about the general manager job.”

“Yep. Haven’t even picked up any women lately. This is what professionalism looks like.”