said, trying to play coy and mysterious and wondering how effective she was. She had an inkling, not very. “I’ll let you find Bruno. Have a nice night.”
Becca took one last lingering look at Joey, her outfit, and the whole setup before wandering away seeming perplexed.
Five days later when Becca made her way through the lobby of The Jade to find Joey sitting on one of the couches, she blinked in surprise. “Joey?”
“Hey, Becca.”
“Well, this is twice in one week. To what do we owe the honor?” Becca wore a belted black dress and heels today. She never disappointed in the fashion department. Yes, these were the things Joey allowed herself to notice again, react to. And God, did she ever have a physical reaction.
“I’m meeting a friend for lunch in the restaurant.” It was a lie. She was not a liar, but she was lying now because a black dress had her flummoxed, and she should have prepared a cover story in advance.
“Oh, in that case, I’ll let the staff know we’re having special guests.”
“Please don’t,” Joey said, standing so that she looked Becca in the eye. “I might get stood up and then it’s a whole thing.”
“Oh. So a date.” Becca’s face fell whether she realized it or not. Joey couldn’t help but celebrate.
“Not at all. No. Definitely not a date. Very much a friend thing only.”
“Okay, okay,” Becca said with a grin. Perhaps Joey had put up too much of a protest.
“How was your week?” Joey asked. She was genuinely curious. She hated not knowing the basics of Becca’s life that she used to be so intimately connected to. “Did you remember to turn off your straightener?” It had been a running joke when they tried to leave the house together.
“I only went back to check twice this week.”
Joey placed a hand on her chest. “I’m feeling very proud of you right now. This is a moment.”
They laughed, and when it died, they just stared at each other for a moment. Joey had never felt connected to another person the way she did Becca, and even when she tried to step away, she just…couldn’t. Being near her now, laughing with her, just confirmed all of it.
“What about you? How’s business?”
“You’re not going to believe this, but our visitor rate is up quite a bit.”
“Can’t imagine why,” Becca said and looked up at the ceiling in an I told you so.
“It turns out, maybe you know a thing or two about the hospitality industry. I’m not saying everything, but a thing. Or two things.”
“Josephine Wilder, I think you just admitted to being wrong.”
“Let’s not get carried away.”
“Too late.” This would usually be the point in the conversation when they would sink into a toe-curling kiss, but the barrier she’d put between them remained.
“About that drink,” Joey said, feeling the twinge of energy that meant she was taking a tentative step forward. “I was thinking Thursday.” She lifted a shoulder. “We can…catch up.”
“I would need to move some meetings around that could go late, but I think I can make that work. What about that new place on Center Street. Truth or Dare, I think it’s called.”
Joey swallowed. “Well, doesn’t that just sound ominous.”
“Well”—Becca flashed a smile—“I’m feeling brave. Meet you there at seven?”
“Yeah,” Joey said, sliding her hand into her back pocket. “I’ll see you then.” She nodded, turned, and headed for the door.
“Joey?”
“Yep?” She turned back.
“Your lunch with your friend?”
She waved Becca off. “All an act to get to see you.” She shrugged. “I can’t stand lying.”
Becca seemed to suppress a smile. “Understood. See you soon, Joey.”
* * *
“Do you think she’s courting you?” Stephen asked with a squint.
“I think she is,” Monty said and put his hands behind his head. “This is a full-on courting scheme. She wants you back. Bad.”
After work on Wednesday, Becca needed a sounding board, so she’d driven out to the ranch unannounced and crashed the cowboys’ dinner. Luckily, they always made a ton of food and didn’t hesitate to set her a place at their table. With the after-dinner dishes pushed to the side, the three of them sat around the table with Sky and two of the boys’ rescues lounging nearby.
“Oh, I wouldn’t go that far.” She shook her head. “Joey knows what she wants, and it doesn’t seem to be a relationship with me. She’s made that clear.” She sat back and reflected with a shake of her head. “Is my heart broken? Yes. More than I can describe.