Page 157 of Stormswept Colorado

Back when I was Chief Landry, it was hard to see past that title.Chief of Police. I thought I had to keep myself apart in order to take care of my town. Be the stoic, responsible one.

But falling in love with Ayla made me realize I had room for a lot of love in my heart. And being away from Silver Ridge had just proved how much I valued the people of this town.

I was still gruff, but nobody had accused me of being surly for a while.

“Do we need snacks or anything?” I asked Callum. “I’m buying.”

“Then I’mdefinitelyglad you came. Yeah. Feel free to order some apps for when everyone gets here.” Then he scowled,glancing over at the bar. “Though maybe I would’ve preferred a change in location tonight if I’d known who would be working.”

I followed his gaze to an attractive woman I didn’t know. Long black hair, striking features. But there was something familiar about her. “Problems at the office? You still work here, right? I haven’t been gonethatmuch.”

“Yeah, I still work here,” Callum snapped. “Unfortunately, now she does too. Not sure there’s room for both of us.”

The raven-haired beauty caught Callum looking and sent a withering glare right back.Yikes.

“I’m guessing there’s history between you two?” I asked. “Unless you already did something to make an enemy of the woman. I thought you were thelove doctor.” I added air quotes.

“Love has nothing to do with it. We went to high school together, and she has some kind of grudge against me. Zandra Alvarez.”

“Oh, sure. Rosie’s niece.” The Alvarez family also owned Hearthstone. “Didn’t she get a business degree from some top-tier school? Thought she’d settled in a big city. I didn’t know she was back home. Or interested in the family brewery.”

“Well, she is. I was hoping to get the manager position that opened up, but Zandra will probably take it just because she’s the owner’s granddaughter. And she hates me.”

“Why? There must be a reason.”

Color crept up his neck. “I didn’t do anything. She’s nice enough to everyone else. But not me. She might spit in my beer. Wouldn’t put it past her.” The poor guy sounded genuinely hurt.

“Then I can order your beer for you when I get the apps. I’m sure you and Zandra will sort out your issues.”

“We’ll see.” Callum’s smile returned. “I like the new, friendlier Teller Landry. Seems like being Mr. Maxwell is working out for you.”

“It is.”

Ayla showed up a little while later with Ashford and Emma. Iordered nachos, potato skins, and soft pretzels, which were Ayla’s favorite.

We found our seats around the tables. Dane and Grace joined us, then Piper and Judson. The Lonely Harts club, though everyone had agreed at our last get-together that “lonely” didn’t fit anymore. The majority of us were in relationships now, and the others weren’t looking to change their single status.

My sister in particular had vowed she’d never couple up again. And Callum seemed happy enough, given the parade of different partners who passed through his bed.

Though this Zandra Alvarez situation did make me wonder.

But we all had each other. Nothing lonely about that.

We played several rounds of bar trivia, laughing with the other tables. We did especially when it came to the music category. But Grace got the most competitive overall. The woman was known for being sweet, but when it came to trivia, she was so intense it was scary.

After trivia wound down, Ayla slumped against me. Her chair was scooted right up to mine, close enough our sides and legs were pressed together. We’d sat in the corner so the rest of our group could shelter Ayla from any curious tourists. But it hadn’t been necessary. Nobody had bothered us.

“This was a great day,” she said in my ear. “Especially dunking you.”

I laughed and took a sip of my beer. “I just might get you back for that later.”

“I hope so.” Her gaze was heated. She played with the collar of my T-shirt. Then her expression turned more contemplative. “I know it’s been hard for you, being away from Silver Ridge so much.”

“Not nearly as hard as I would’ve imagined.”

“No second thoughts?”

“Never, sweetheart.”

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