Page 86 of Stormswept Colorado

“Chief, you’re in here early.”

“Just for lunch.”

“You sure? You look like a guy who could use a drink.”

Geez, he had it right. Same exact thought I’d had earlier. But I couldn’t. “A beer would be nice, but I’m on duty.”

Yet I’d still come here to a bar, as if I wanted to torture myself over what I couldn’t have.

He winked. “I won’t tell.”

I really hoped Callum wasn’t that irresponsible. I decided to assume he was kidding. “I’ll have a root beer and a burger. Hold the onions.”

“You got it.” He went to enter my order.

Callum usually worked all day on Wednesdays. I knew way too much about people’s schedules around town, but that was my habit. Making sure things in Silver Ridge worked like clockwork and, when they didn’t, stepping in to help fix the problem.

At this current moment, though, I was the one who was messed up.

It was long past the lunch rush, and Hearthstone was nearly deserted. Callum brought over my soda. “I heard a rumor,” he said.

I tensed. “What about?”

“Another vandalism last night. That true?”

I exhaled, not even sure what I’d been bracing myself for. “Yeah, unfortunately. We’re devoting a lot of resources to finding the culprit.”

“I’m sure. They’ve all been outside of the town centers, right? More isolated areas?”

I nodded. Otherwise, I’d be worried about Piper living alone with Ollie. But they were close to Main Street.

There wasn’t much more I could say about the vandalism case. We were keeping the details as confidential as possible.

“I’ve hardly seen you since the wedding,” I said, changing the subject.

Callum’s brow creased. “Yeah. But trivia night with the Lonely Harts club isn’t really your scene.”

Okay, fair. Callum and I didn’t usually hang out much. I had my long hours at the station, and he had his bartending gig and volunteer firefighting duties.

Yet we’d known each other our entire lives. He went through life more flippantly than I did, but he was a good egg. A doting uncle to Maisie, brother to Grace, friend to Piper.

Maybe he could help, because I couldn’t go on like this.

“I need some advice,” I spit out.

“Fromme? What about?”

“A woman.”

“Ah.” He drew that one syllable out like a full sentence. “I heard some interesting things about you and Ayla at the wedding.”

“Careful,” I growled.

“Ease up, killer. I wasn’t going to say more than that.Ashfordmight. She’s important to him. But I think the gossip skipped him and Emma because they were off on their honeymoon until last week.”

I took a long sip of soda, frowning. This felt ridiculous. Asking anyone for dating advice, much less Callum O’Neal. But Callum dated constantly. Always seemed to have a different tourist on his arm. I wouldn’t go to him for tips on long-term relationships, but surely he could interpret the basics of female communication. Right? Ayla was twenty-seven, and Callum was far closer to that age than I was.

Yes, I was really this desperate.

---