Page 48 of Sunkissed Colorado

“Your ex, the dick?”

“That’s the one.” I sighed.

My head fell back against the brick wall for another moment as I tried to collect myself. The rough texture bit into my shoulders through my top, pulling me toward the present.

But the memories still had a hold on me.

Jessa. Not just her death, but everything that happened after. That broken window…

Callum was waiting, and I had to tell himsomething.

“I only got here about a half hour ago. After Russ saw the broken glass, he called the police and my grandpa, and then Grandpa called me.”

“And?” Callum prompted.

And then, when I got here and saw the glass, I might’ve…crashed out. Just a little.But I wasn’t going to confess that bit of truth aloud.

“It’s upsetting to see someone throw a brick through Hearthstone’s window,” I finished saying. “This place means a lot to my family.”

Callum’s dark eyes were studying me way too closely. “But you’re all right?”

“Yep.”

“Good. Next time, I’d appreciate a call when things go wrong. It’s still the trial period, and we’re supposed to be in this together. I was down the street at Silver Linings with no clue what was happening here.”

I groaned. “Crap, I meant to call you. I told Russ I would, but then…” I gestured vaguely at my phone, feeling heat creep up my neck.

“The ex called?”

“Yes. Ian. I’m sorry. I didn’t leave you out on purpose, I swear.”

“All forgiven,” Callum said easily.

“Really? That fast?”

He winked. “People do accuse me of being fast.”

And we were back to the flirting. The baseline Callum always seemed to return to.

Over the last couple of weeks, things had been pretty good between us. We’d worked together most days with hardly any arguing. Well, onlynecessaryarguing. Because Callum loved to poke at me, and when he did, I couldn’t hold my tongue.

Winnie had also caught me checking out Callum at work. I’d denied it, but yeah, I’d been obvious. The man had an ass made for ogling. So sue me.

The truth was, I liked Callum. Alot. Just like everyone else in town did, and it was disconcerting. I felt like I was in one of those old sci-fi movies where an alien slug takes over someone’s brain.You’re one of us now.

But at the moment, his ridiculousness was just what I needed for a reset.

Okay. My freakout was over. Ready for business.

“We should go talk to the police,” I said. “Then call a handyman about putting plywood over the window.”

“On it.” Callum opened the back door and steered me inside. “But first, breakfast. I assume you haven’t had your coffee yet?”

“Coffee. That is exactly what I need.”

His long fingers ghosted over the small of my back.

In the kitchen, the staff was getting started on prep work after the unexpected drama of the broken window. Instead of going for the coffeemaker, Callum grabbed a couple of to-go cups marked with the Silver Linings logo.