Page 46 of Sunkissed Colorado

Piper’s eyes went wide. “Wait, you haven’t hooked up? With tourists at Hearthstone, or withanyone?”

I shrugged. “Anyone, I guess.”

“In how long?”

“Like…a week or two.”

I realized it was longer than that. I hadn’t hooked up with a single person since Zandra arrived back in town.

I hadn’t evenlookedat any of the tourists coming to the brewery. Which was weird.

“Two weeks?” Piper stared at me like I’d just announced I was joining a monastery. “You feeling okay? Should I check you for a fever?”

“It’s not a big deal.”

“Whatever you say.”

“Idosay.” I tapped my payment card, grabbed the to-go bag and the coffees, and set off toward work.

People pleaser. Hardly. Just because people loved me didn’t mean I was always bending over backward to please them.

And I hadn’t forgotten for one second that Zandra and I were competing for the same job. Yes, I’d been doing nice things for her. For strategic reasons. Seeing her rare smiles was only a bonus.

Though Ididlike the idea of Zandra and me being friends. We could have both, right? Only one of us could get the general manager spot, but we should still be able to come out of it getting along.

Last week, when we’d spent that morning together at themarket, Zandra’s vulnerability had been crystal clear. No wonder she’d stayed away from Silver Ridge so long when this place brought up only terrible memories. Didn’t sound like her parents had helped there.

At least she had her aunt Rosie, and even Manny, who was gruff on the surface but a softy underneath. A personality type I was well familiar with.

Yet I still felt like there was more that Zandra was holding back from me. Like there was more to what had happened back in high school than she’d shared. It had been weighing on my mind, even as I’d been focused on work.

And the lack of hookups… That was just my new resolution to act like the boss. I had to prove to everyone at Hearthstone that I was top management material. Not a slavering sex fiend, desperate to mount anything that moved. My right hand could help me deal with temporary celibacy.

Of course, any time I’d taken myself in hand lately for a stroke session, only one face had appeared in my mind.

Full rose-colored lips, long hair, angry dark eyes…

Just the thought of Zandra made my blood rush and my cock twitch with interest. Even if that particular hookup wasnevergoing to happen. It was still an energy rush every day that I got to see her.

This pistachio latte was going to earn me another smile. Today was going to be a great day. I could feel it in my bones?—

Until I saw the crowd of people and the flashing lights of a police car down the block.

Right in front of Hearthstone.

I started jogging, trying not to spill the coffees. The closer I got, the clearer the scene became.

Bits of glass were strewn over the sidewalk, and one of our front windows was a web of cracks with a gaping hole in the middle. A uniformed officer was taking notes whilegesturing at the damage.

I spotted Russ near the entrance and grabbed his arm. “What the hell happened?”

“Someone threw a brick through the window.” His words came fast, like he was hopped up on adrenaline. “I was here early around six. Was checking the fermentation tanks. Heard the glass breaking.”

“Did you see who did it?”

“Nah. By the time I made it outside, whoever did it was gone. But when Zandra got here, she flipped. Took off.”

“What do you mean, took off?Where is she?”