Page 8 of Sunkissed Colorado

“That’s not what I want, Mom. I’m doing this myself.”

Dad perked up. “We could put you in the Elevated Adventuresmain office.”

“Yes, Javi. That’s perfect. Fire that new receptionist. She’s useless?—”

“Absolutely not!” I stood up. “Mom, you’re not firing someone because of me. I’m going to handle this myself, and I’ll find my own place too.”

Mom’s gaze went cold. “Then I don’t even see why you stopped by, Zandra. You didn’t bother to tell us about Ian or warn us you were on your way. You’ve made it clear you don’t need us. You never do.”

The familiar guilt trip hit right where it was supposed to. But I was too tired and emotionally raw to play this game today.

“I guess I’ll see you both later.”

Chloe meowed as I got back in the car. “Well, that went about as expected,” I told her, starting the engine.

Right now, what I really needed was a drink.

TWO

Callum

“That’s it.I can’t take Manny’s micro-managing anymore. I quit.”

Russ Wheaton had just stormed over to the bar, where I was unloading the glass washer. I smirked and continued stacking clean pint glasses on the shelf. “No, you don’t. You love your job.”

“But I’m tempted, O’Neal. Swear to God, Manny has got me down to my last nerve. That old man needs to be put out of his misery.”

“Hey. Come on, now.” I bit back a smirk. “Let’s not wish ill on anyone. Especially our boss who’s already injured.”

“I’m not talking about him kicking the bucket. I’m not a monster. I just mean retiring. Even before the broken bones, it was way overdue.”

I shrugged, but I couldn’t disagree.

Things had been a little extra hectic around here since Manny’s accident. He’d been texting and video-calling us to check up on things. Like, every five to ten minutes. It was a lot.

He never should’ve been up on that ladder in the storage room anyway. But was I going to say that to an eighty-year-old guy who ruled the brewery like a dictator? Fuck no. I valued my own life.

At least I’d found him quickly after he fell. Kept him stable and had the paramedics there in no time flat. Fall like that could’ve killed him.

Manny Alvarez had been the owner and operator of Hearthstone for the last three decades. It had started as just a small tasting room before Manny expanded it into the thriving restaurant and bar it was today. We’d been getting accolades for the brews that Russ, as brewmaster, created. He’d been taking Manny’s recipes and updating them to the latest trends.

This place was Manny’s entire life. So I couldn’t blame him for a case of separation anxiety.

I’d been here for the last four years, rising from bartender to manager of our entire bar business. It had been 50% hard work, 50% people skills, and a healthy dash of old-fashioned charm.

Good thing I had all three, in spades.

“Look, I’ll take care of Manny,” I told Russ. “When I visited him in the hospital a couple days ago, he told me he’s starting the hiring process. Once he has his replacement, he’ll retire. He’s really doing it this time.”

“You don’t think he’ll change his mind and show up here on one of those scooter things, zooming around and shouting orders and hitting us with his cane?”

“Nah. Manny knows it’s time. I promise I’ll bear the brunt of his crazy until we can get things sorted out and replace him.”

Russ’s shoulders relaxed, and he exhaled a heavy breath. Then a new worry seemed to take over his expression. “Yeah, but that’ll mean a brand-new general manager. I like the way things are. The culture of this place might change.”

As I wiped down the bar, a wild idea popped into my head. Not an uncommon occurrence, because my mind was a wild place sometimes. “Maybe I’ll apply for it.”

“You?” Russ laughed.