Two to Tangle (A Tangle Valley Romance #2) - Melissa Brayden Page 0,23

what did she have to lose? She decided to speak her mind now that anger fueled her courage. “Also, I don’t know if you noticed, but there are a few water bottles, soda cans, things like that along the steps outside. Can we maybe get those cleaned up?” She tried to sound brighter, friendlier when she said it. Courage didn’t always last.

“Understood. I’ll get on it. Tell the guys less mess.” She looked at the column and back to Gabriella with a sigh. “Anything else?”

Gabriella pursed her lips. Regret fired. “No. I’ll, uh, let you get back to work.”

Ryan nodded, forced a polite smile, and flipped on the sander, ending any chance of further conversation, which was probably for the best. As Gabriella walked back to the truck, she pondered it all. Where did Ryan get off going rogue and pivoting from their agreed upon design? The challenging smile had also gotten under Gabriella’s skin. You know what? So did Ryan’s casual behavior with those women the night before. She tried to shake it off as she got back to work, but Ryan had definitely irked her. Gone was the lust of this morning, and in its place, irritation rose and stayed with her throughout the lunch service. She rolled out her pasta with extra force. She seasoned her sauce with excessive vigor and tossed her pizza dough a little higher than normal.

That helped. What would also help? The softball game she had on her schedule for later that afternoon. She’d slug a few softballs into oblivion, hammer a couple throws from third to first, and help right her state of mind.

She plated a slice of prosciutto and arugula pizza and handed it to a customer with a smile. Ryan Jacks was someone Gabriella needed to move to the back burner of her brain. In fact, done. Banished. Life was too short for good-looking young things with way too much confidence for their own good.

Chapter Six

Ryan arrived at the duo of ballfields with her bat bag over her shoulder and Wayfarers on her face. Perfect day for a little softball, and she, for one, could use the release. Her four-mile morning run had long worn off, and her muscles were ready for a little action. She could also use the distraction. Her day had gotten off to a rocky start with that run-in with Gabriella Russo, who maybe wasn’t so sweet after all. Sassy was a better word for her. A spitfire. Opinionated, too. Something about her had Ryan perpetually on her heels, and that left her out of sorts and wildly uncomfortable. Okay, and a little pissed off. She knew the column shape was perfect for the space, but she’d swallow her opinion in the future and keep her damn head down.

“You ready to take out a few Muskrats?” Billy asked, turning his cap backward as he leaned against the dugout. “Pick ’em off like little bitches?”

Ryan winced. “Harsh.”

“I know. Trying something new. No?”

“Not really you. But to answer your first question, yes. Been dreaming about this game all afternoon. How’d it go at Ruby Lane?”

“Homestretch. I bet we wrap up tomorrow. Next day at the latest, and then I’ll head back to you at Tangle Valley. Did you see Wrigley is here?” Billy turned and waved at his daughter in the stands, but it was Ryan Wrigley pointed and waved at. She hurried to the fence and blew the little girl a kiss. She caught it and blew one back. Their own little game. Wrigley was seven going on sixteen and into all the latest clothes and trends, and anything girly. Ryan tried her best to keep up and spoiled her rotten whenever possible.

“You think your dad’s gonna make it on base today?” she called to Wrigley.

Wrigley stole a glance at Billy and shook her head sadly. “Probably not. Didn’t last time.”

“Hey!” He looked between them. “Have a little faith in me, please. I don’t come to your soccer games and predict your failures to other second graders.”

Wrigley laughed and so did Ryan. They double-teamed him a lot.

The rest of the Otters were already warming up on the grassy area next to the diamond, throwing pop flies and grounders and cheering for each other to get the energy up. Ryan had joined the Otters as their first baseman three years prior, and after winning the championship last season, she was ready for a repeat. Sure, there were only four teams in the league, but a championship was a