Taunting Callum (Big Sky Royal 3)

Gretchen clams up and purses her lips. “Or, he really likes me.”

“Gretch—”

“Just give me this, okay?” She turns and stares at me with pleading eyes. “Let me have a little fun with a sexy guy. It probably won’t go anywhere, but I’m enjoying it for right now.”

“Okay.” I hold up my hands in surrender. “It’s really none of my business anyway.”

Just then, the bell over the door chimes, and we get a group of customers, saving me from any more talk about creepy, clingy men. I worry about Gretchen. She so desperately wants to fall in love, and she always tries it with the worst guys possible.

But for the next few hours, there’s no time to think about my assistant manager’s love life because we’re busy with the lunch crowd, and those wanting one more coffee for the afternoon. At one point, all of my tables are full, and we have a line of people waiting for their drinks to go.

I’m grateful Gretchen stayed to help. Working alone this afternoon would have sucked.

“That’s the last of them,” Gretchen says after the last customers leave. She lets out a gusty sigh. “I’m glad I stayed.”

“Me, too. Thanks again.”

The bell over the door rings once more, and I half-expect to see Callum since coming at closing time seems to be his modus operandi. Plus, I haven’t heard from him in a couple of days. Not that I’m counting. Instead, it’s a guy I’ve never seen before. He grins at Gretchen.

“Hey, sugar,” he says.

“Miles!” Gretchen screeches and runs from behind the counter to fling herself into his arms as if she hasn’t seen him in years. The kiss that ensues is not just uncomfortable, it’s also completely ridiculous.

“You’re still on the clock, Gretch.”

This does nothing to dissuade them.

“You’re fired, Gretch.”

Nothing.

“FIRE!”

They jump apart in surprise, and then Gretchen flushes as Miles drapes his arm around her shoulders and tugs her tightly against him.

“I just thought I’d surprise my girlfriend when she got off work.”

“She’s not off work yet,” I reply coolly, watching him with hard eyes.

“But we’re done,” Gretchen says. “It’s only ten minutes early, and I worked an extra shift.”

“Yeah,” Miles says. “She did you a solid. So we’ll be going.”

“Hold up.” I walk slowly around the counter so I don’t slap this piece of crap across his arrogant little face. “This is my business, Miles. I call the shots here, not you. From now on, if you’re going to meet Gretchen after work, you can either wait in here like a gentleman or stay outside. This little display of…whatever this was won’t happen again. Do you understand?”

“So, you work for a bitch, babe,” he says, never breaking eye contact with me. “She probably hasn’t gotten laid in a while.”

“Well, you just made my mind up for me. You can definitely wait outside. Thanks for making it easy. And as for my love life, that’s none of your damn business. Gretchen—”

“Miles,” Gretchen says, clearly embarrassed. “Aspen’s awesome.”

“Right. Let’s go.”

She sends me an apologetic smile and follows the dirtbag out the door.

I let out a long sigh and reach out to flip the lock.

“Oh, Gretchen, this is nothing but trouble.”* * *I haven’t seen Callum in a week. Not that I counted on seeing him, it had just suddenly become a habit to run into him every few days. Especially after the picnic in the park and that sexy-as-all-get-out kiss after we played in the water, I thought I might see more of him.

But Callum seems to come and go on his own schedule. I’m grateful that I’ve been nice to him, and even a little flirty, but not all-in.

Callum isn’t the kind of man I can get invested in. He’s made that crystal clear. And I’m done feeling angry or bitter about it. He didn’t promise me anything. He’s never promised me anything.

Besides, it could be worse. He could act like Miles, who seems to be stuck to Gretchen like Velcro. I’ll take Callum over Miles any day of the week, for several reasons.

I take the groceries out of my car, hurry through the rain to the front door of my house, unlock it, and let myself in. I closed up the café an hour ago, and I’m taking the next two days off.

I can’t freaking wait.

I fired Kelli after she admitted that she wasn’t really sick but was out on other job interviews. The next day, I hired two college students to replace her. Both of my new hires, Paula and Rachel, are mostly trained, eager for the work, and ready to go. So with Gretchen in charge, they, along with Wendy, my other regular morning help, have it under control.

I’m going to read a book and paint a bathroom. I might even take a nap, which just sounds decadent. If this rain ever clears up, I’ll go for a walk.