clear she felt vulnerable around the question. “Do you?”
Becca nodded and rolled them over so they lay on their sides facing each other. “You don’t have to be afraid of me, Joey. I’m really pretty boring.” She gestured around her bedroom. “See? Those paintings are from Bed Bath and Beyond. That one’s a painting of a vase over there. A vase. You can’t get any more basic than that.”
That coaxed a laugh and lightened the mood. Joey’s eyes were beautiful in the moonlight. The rain outside seemed to have ebbed, as if intertwined with their trajectory. “Becca Crawford. From the second you walked into Tangle Valley, I knew there was nothing basic about you. You’re sophisticated and sexy and controversial and—all right, I’ll admit—pretty wonderful.”
“That was hard for you,” Becca said, enjoying this.
“Yeah, but it’s getting easier.”
“I can tell. You’re letting your guard down a little at a time. I love it.” Becca ran her forefinger along Joey’s cheek. “You’re also putting your outrage to the side. Nary a town speech in weeks.”
“Yeah, well, maybe that outrage was a little premature.” She held up a finger. “Still doesn’t mean I love The Jade.”
“You don’t have to keep saying so. I’m aware.” Becca eased her thigh between Joey’s, angled upward, and watched her eyes flutter. “So noted in the record books for posterity. You know what else is going in the books? Your hands.” She covered her eyes. “What they did to me earlier.”
“You like my hands,” Becca said. Joey nodded wholeheartedly. “Then allow me to introduce you to my mouth.” She moved down the bed as a brand new clap of thunder struck.
* * *
The next afternoon, Joey moved through town like there was air beneath her feet, a spring in her step, and rhythm in her walk. A happy soundtrack underscored her day, and she grinned at herself, giddy from the night before and the tawdry time she’d shared with Becca Crawford, sexy executive.
She hadn’t planned on staying the entire night at Becca’s, but she hadn’t been able to bring herself to leave. Not when Becca alternated between sweetly holding her close and taking her body to such heights. She’d make up the sleep another time.
This afternoon, she had a mission, and that was to buy up everything on her holiday decorating shopping list to get the vineyard ready for the season. The Nifty Nickel was a great place to start because Brenda Anne always had a variety of fantastic seasonal decor.
“Well, hello there, Josephine.”
She looked up and smiled at Thelma, one of the Biddies. Only she seemed to be out on her own today. “Hey, Thelma. Good to see you.”
“You, too.” They continued their joint perusal of the store’s goods for several moments before Thelma jumped back in, not taking her eyes off the Frosty the Snowman figurine she held. “Someone saw your light blue truck outside the home of the manager of the giant hotel.”
“Did they now?” Joey looked up from the tissue paper. “Well, that’s interesting.”
“I thought so. Are you two an item?” Thelma feigned new interest in a shiny red Christmas ornament across the room, but Joey wasn’t fooled. She was gathering intel to take back to the Biddies, who would drop little nuggets of gossip all over town like the hearsay fairies they were. Didn’t little old ladies used to have other things to do? Whatever happened to bridge club and bake sales?
“We are not an item,” Joey told her. “We’re just people. Would you look at that? Nutcrackers are two for one. Good gracious, that’s exciting.” And it was true. She and Becca weren’t an item. Becca had every right to date other people, though the thought made Joey instantly nauseous. She would have to explore that reaction later.
“But you are special friends? I think that’s so sweet if you’re special friends.” Brenda Anne’s eyes went wide, and she swiveled her focus to Joey as if watching an exciting tennis match.
“Thank you, Thelma, for that show of genuine support,” Joey said politely. “I think that ornament would look beautiful on your tree. You should buy it.” Brenda Anne swiveled right back to Thelma.
“Does Ms. Crawford have a tree up?” Thelma asked.
Oh, this woman was a pro. “You should ask her. She’s very open about all things related to home decorating.” Brenda Anne smothered a smile and waited on Thelma’s response, probably wishing for a snack with her show.
“I could. But it’s you I ran into, and I’m just so glad, too. You’re such