in his eyes.”
Becca sat back in her chair. “What would your dad think of me? Sometimes I wonder about that.”
Joey paused, a bite of omelet halfway to her mouth. “He’d have to get past the evil empire thing, but after that, he would think you’re a pretty cool chick. That I’d leveled up.”
Becca pressed her lips around her fork and elegantly slid a bite of her omelet into her mouth. Joey watched, enjoying the view. Becca’s mouth was a favorite, even when her brain could barely function. “Is that what you think?” Becca asked, sitting back in her chair. “That I’m a cool chick? I had no idea.”
Joey didn’t hold back. “Becca, you are the coolest chick I’ve ever met. That’s why I take my clothes off whenever you blink in my direction, and don’t think that’s not unnerving for me. God, this is good.” She shook her head at her plate. “Who knew that omelets help curb devastation?”
“I did. What else can I get you? A nap? Fuzzy slippers? A distraction? I can be that, too, sweetie. Just tell me what you need.”
Joey sighed and met Becca’s gaze. “Nothing. Just you. That’s the craziest part. Having you here makes a real difference.”
“I’m glad. And I’m not going anywhere.” She pushed her plate to the side, leaving half of her omelet uneaten, which was a crime in this house. Joey let it go. “What do we have to accomplish?”
Joey thought on it, still amazed that the day went on in spite of what had happened. “Well, Loretta doesn’t want to close the tasting room. She thinks it’s important that we let everyone know we’re okay and still open for business. I imagine lots will be stopping in to check things out. Small towns tend to be more curious. Might as well sell them a glass of wine.”
“I like the plan.”
“Speaking of enterprising, I want to thank you again for putting together that deal with the resort. I’m forcing myself to concentrate on it. It was the one thing that made me feel we could survive all of this. Can you imagine? The Jade, the entity I hated more than anything, is now my savior?” She shook her head. “Life is so unpredictable.”
“Oh,” Becca said, brushing past the sentiment, “not a big deal.”
“It is.” Joey grinned. “So thank you.” She leaned across the table and kissed Becca, who gave her hand a yank, pulling Joey into her lap where they kissed some more. “I like this jacket,” Joey said, running her thumbs over the lapels and using them to pull Becca back in again.
“Put it to work,” Becca murmured around the kiss. “I’m yours today, boss lady.”
“Seriously?” Another kiss. “You want to pour Tangle Valley wine? We’re a scandal now. Well, I should say, again.”
“It’s my dream to pour scandalous wine.” Becca kissed the soft spot just under her jaw.
“Hired.” She pressed her center against Becca’s thigh. “Maybe there is something to this distraction line of thinking. I could lose myself in you for hours. Forget the realities of the world, of today.”
Becca passed her an amused look. “I’m available for that kind of hiring as well.”
Joey felt that offer low in her body and checked the clock. She smiled ruefully. “We open in an hour, and I need to shower. Later?”
“Of course. I’ll be around.”
Joey dove in for another long, lingering, and breathtaking kiss that would have to hold her over until later. She climbed off Becca’s lap and carried her plate to the sink, scarfing the rest of her omelet as she walked. “Back in fifteen,” she told Becca, who had already started gathering the dishes for washing.
“Take your time,” Becca said, holding up a plate. “I got this.”
Once Joey was alone and standing beneath the hot water stream, the details of the day came rushing back, and the weight upon her shoulders rose to an unbearable level. She gripped the walls for support. Her thoughts felt scattered and disjointed as if pelting her like missiles in a video game. She thought of her father, the fire, stupid Caleb Hollis from Fable Brook, who likely caused this whole thing with his buddies, how wonderful Madison and Gabriella had been last night, and about Becca and The Jade. Her heart swelled with gratitude for Becca, who today had proved to truly have her back. As she stepped out of the shower, she gave herself a stern pep talk. She would reel in those thoughts and focus on only what she