hot or anything close.” She took a moment to enjoy her cake because, as Joey had found, angels had kissed it into existence. Good God. Gabriella dabbed the frosting from her face. “Fantastic body. Lots of ambition in bed. Talked a big game about it beforehand. Did nothing for me. That’s when I knew I had to be out.” She shook her head as if it was just so clear now. “Hooked up with a random girl from the restaurant two weeks later and thought my world sparked into magnificent color.”
“Unicorn color,” Madison said. “How am I doing?”
Gabriella grinned. “Better.”
“I’m ambitious, too.”
Gabriella pointed at Joey with her fork. “So I get how one person can change everything you think you know about yourself. Who knew I was gay?”
Madison raised her hand and they laughed.
Gabriella turned back to Joey. “When is she back?”
“Tomorrow. Apparently, Carla’s been great while she was away, but she’ll have a lot of things at The Jade that will need her attention when she’s back. Hoping we can steal some time, though.”
Gabriella eyed her knowingly. “Please. I’ve seen you two together. If you’re in the same town, there’ll be no keeping you apart, little magnets that you are.”
Joey beamed, liking the sound of that. She could get used to it even, which felt reckless and terrifying. She moved past it. Maybe they’d drive to Portland this weekend, hit up a food and wine tour. She’d also like to see that new indie film Loretta’s daughter, Carly, had out. Of course all of those activities involved a little sex-laden extracurricular afterward. Joey thrummed with excitement.
There’ll be no keeping you apart. Joey heard the words again and refused to examine the natural question too closely. What if something did?
* * *
Thanksgiving in Georgia had been lovely, relaxing, and a nice break from the day-to-day grind. Not only that, but it had given Becca a chance to reconnect with her parents, her little brother, Paul, and his wife, Lara. They’d laughed together, eaten fantastic food, and she and her sister-in-law had cleaned up at charades, per usual. Yet throughout all the good, a large piece of Becca felt like it was back in Whisper Wall on a vineyard there, and she ached to return.
After a quick trip to see the cowboys and pick up Skywalker, who knocked her over, stood on her chest, and peppered her with sloppy kisses, she headed home. If she played her cards right, she’d have time to swing by Tangle Valley for a short visit before heading into the resort for the remaining portion of the workday. After leaving so much on Carla’s shoulders, it only seemed right that she take over her share as soon as possible. Carla would take the same number of days off at Christmas, leaving Becca to handle things at The Jade, a tradeoff they’d agreed upon before the grand opening.
As she let Sky off his leash and watched him bound through his living room, greeting each piece of furniture by jumping on top of it to make sure nothing had changed, her phone vibrated. Hoping for Joey but getting Carla, Becca clicked over.
“I’m on the ground and getting my doggo situated,” she said upon answering. “How are things?”
Carla chucked ruefully. “I hoped you’d ask. Jean-Luc, the chef? His girlfriend broke up with him, so he’s crying in the kitchen and calling her a cheating whore in a voice probably too loud for a four-star restaurant, all the while wielding a knife. The staff is literally in hiding. As you can imagine, the food is not making it out in a timely manner.”
“Fabulous.” Becca squinted and began pacing the length of her kitchen.
“But wait, there’s more.”
“Oh. Okay.” She braced herself.
“Our less-than-reliable front desk manager called in sick, so I’m covering things there with our attendants. Rudy, the valet, has filed a sexual harassment complaint against Frank from housekeeping and is refusing to be at work when Frank is. Both are angry and demanding to speak with you, though HR wants to be briefed first. Also, we’re having that hot water issue on the sixth floor again. A woman reported it to the front desk in a towel. I’m not even making that up. Plus—”
“You know what? I think that’s plenty.” Becca closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose. That Tangle Valley visit was going to have to wait. Damn it. But when it rained, it poured. “I’ll be there in ten and we can make a punch