Two to Tangle (A Tangle Valley Romance #2) - Melissa Brayden Page 0,17

his way to the dance floor, boots ready to go. Ryan knew better than to try to hold any conversation with the guy when he was ready to cut loose. For a guy maybe twenty years their senior, he could sure shake his ass.

“Dark brew for ya, Ry?” Patsy asked as she approached, bright red lipstick in place. She owned the place and came with a personality as tall as her hair. Though she was old enough to be Ryan’s mother, she behaved more like a sassy aunt who had no problem shooting her mouth off when guests got out of hand, and flirting with whoever, wherever. As was customary, she grabbed Ryan’s face across the bar and gave it a squeeze, which was Patsy for Glad to see you.

“I’ll take one, yeah. Since my buddy here has the cider all covered.”

“Don’t you make fun of my Billy. He’s taking it slow like a good boy.”

He held up his timid little drink and grinned proudly like a kid who’d just received high marks from a teacher. She shook her head at him, secretly adoring the hell out of the nerd. They’d worked together six years now, and when you spent that much time with a guy, you learned to trust him, depend on his solid presence. She and Billy had a friendship like none other she’d known. He was a keeper.

Patsy slid a local vanilla stout her way, and Ryan took that first remarkable sip. She didn’t get much further than that when someone said her name from behind. Oh, hello. She knew that voice. She’d heard it in the throes on more than one occasion.

She swiveled around to find Heather Leonard grinning at her, perfect teeth on display. Her top was low-cut as always, but her hair was different than last she’d seen her, slightly shorter and recently highlighted. Ryan prided herself on noticing those kinds of details because they mattered. She sent Heather an appreciative grin. “I really like your hair.”

“You have good eyes. Had it done this afternoon.” Heather gave it a subtle toss as her tongue wet her bottom lip. “We should dance tonight. Come find me when you’re through?” She gestured to Ryan’s beer, which Ryan held up in response.

“I’m there.” They held eye contact for another couple of beats, and next to her she heard Billy chuckle quietly with his back to the whole scene. Once Heather moved on, she turned to him. “What? I’m just sitting at the bar.”

“You’ve been here three minutes.”

“No way. Four.”

“Doesn’t matter. They’re already showing up. Who are you going home with tonight? And don’t say no one. My money is on Shana from the little café in the grocery store. The one who always puts the heart in your cappuccino foam. She’s got it bad.”

“Who says I’m going home with anyone? I’m actually pretty tired. Long week already.”

He laughed into his beer.

“Knock it off. I’m not that awful.”

“Who said anything about awful? Hell, I’m impressed. Fucking jealous over here. I don’t get cappuccino hearts. I wish I had your game, which honestly seems to consist of smiling and existing.”

“Drink your juice.” She turned back to her beer, unfortunately knowing that what he said was likely. She’d probably dance and chat and finally accept some sort of offer, only to do it all again next week. The whole thing lacked heart. She’d never felt it more than recently.

“If it isn’t the destroyer of walls.”

Ryan turned to her left at the declaration and saw none other than Gabriella Russo, the chef from Tangle Valley, standing next to her stool. Only she looked different than she had the few times they’d seen each other this week. She was out of her chef’s coat and comfortable shoes. Her dark hair, which she often wore halfway pulled back, fell across her forehead to her shoulders, which were partially visible in the green sundress. A surreptitious glance down showed off strappy sandals and beautifully polished toes—turquoise. Ryan found herself in a state to which she was unaccustomed: lacking words. Gabriella grinned and watched Ryan likely resembling an idiot. In desperate response, she nodded and lifted her beer. By the time she finally came up with something to say, by the grace of God, Patsy had already ambled over and taken center stage.

“The best chef in the west is here,” she crowed, then looked down the line and saw Joey and Madison, too. “Aw, shucks, it’s the whole damn gang. What did I do to