had immediately ahead of her. And today, that meant her customers in the tasting room.
An hour later, Loretta smiled at Joey from behind the marble tasting counter. “I told you they’d come.”
“You weren’t wrong. You can always count on the folks in Whisper Wall.”
Whether the town wanted to sneak a peek at the damage or simply support the vineyard during a difficult stretch, they’d certainly shown up in droves. Add them to the usual handful of tourists, and the tasting room was hopping. Joey had called in one of their part-timers, Evan, and had even taken Becca up on her offer to pour, given they were slammed. Between the four of them, they conducted a multitude of tastings, and sales by the glass. Outside, Gabriella had fired up a batch of amazing pumpkin ravioli and spicy calamari that had the smell of smoke taking second place to her fantastic aromas. The line at her truck now stretched past the seating area and showed little sign of easing up. It helped patch up Joey’s soul, seeing the outpouring of support.
“This one is my favorite. Give it a whirl,” she heard Becca tell the Biddies, her current customers. They’d gathered around, clutching their glasses, ready to listen intently to the tasting notes Becca had to offer. “The pinot noir is what we’re known for.”
“But you’re the manager of that new resort,” Maude pointed out. “You moonlighting?”
“She’s helping her girlfriend,” Thelma supplied knowledgeably. “They’re hot and heavy, remember?”
“You looked so pretty at that grand opening with all the cookies and bubbly,” Birdie chimed in.
“You’re correct. I am the manager of The Jade,” Becca told them. “But I love to come out to Tangle Valley whenever I can. Gives me a chance to get out in the community and help out our neighbors. And I get to see Joey, too.”
Joey, from off to the side, suppressed a grin.
Thelma leaned in. Her hair carried a definite blue tinge that had not been there the last time Joey had seen her at the Scoot. “Terrible about the fire. So glad no one was hurt.” Thelma meant what she said, but Joey knew the fire was also good gossip that would keep the Biddies chatting for the next week. She longed for a time when the Wilder family, or at least what was left of it, wasn’t the sympathetic talk of the town.
“I feel the same way,” Becca said and pointed to their glasses as she referenced the cheat sheet Joey had supplied her with. “This particular wine is the Tangle Valley crown jewel, and a multiple gold medal winner.” She did the same ta-da gesture with her fingers that Joey had executed the first day they met, which made Joey laugh with pride. She loved that it had resonated with Becca. But then again, Joey also remembered everything about that first day herself. It was just nice to hear that Becca did, too.
Joey made her way down the bar to get another group of new arrivals started. They were from California and so sorry to hear about the fire. As she walked them through the tasting, she couldn’t help but steal glances at Becca. Ever the professional. Still wearing her pin-striped business suit. Working in Joey’s tasting room.
The woman was kind, sexy, and hardworking, it turned out. She also showed up on your doorstep and made a killer omelet when you didn’t even realize you needed one. In the midst of a day that had Joey questioning the universe, Becca, she realized, was a blessing to count.
Chapter Fifteen
Becca sat on the steps leading to the Big House. The pinks of the setting sun were almost too beautiful for her heart to handle as she stared at the sky above the expanse of quiet farmland. She had no right to enjoy that sunset. Not while she sat there holding on to a piece of important information she should have divulged nearly two weeks ago now. She hadn’t had the courage or the right words to do so with Joey still in recovery mode from the fire. She knew that it had been the wrong move to wait. The guilt practically consumed her, and she realized she had to give the news to Joey. She never should have let this much time pass, but now that she had, her crime was exponentially worse.
She threw the ratty tennis ball for Sky and watched as he tore off through the field, galloping between the rows of sleeping vines, easily retrieved