Two to Tangle (A Tangle Valley Romance #2) - Melissa Brayden Page 0,60
do I do about this?” She lifted her phone, needing outside guidance.
“Can I give it a shot?”
“Knock yourself out.” Maybe Billy had the magic touch for saying no. For her, it was a new, unflexed muscle.
He narrated as he typed. “Fuck. Off. I’m. Taken. Bitches.”
She laughed. “Effective, yet I don’t see that really working out well for anyone. I’d like to keep my tires inflated if at all possible.”
He erased his work and tried again. “Wrong. Number. Who. Dis?” He turned it back around for approval.
“Nope. I’m not great at lying. I lied to my guidance counselor once and couldn’t sleep for three nights.”
“Wuss.” He smacked his lips and gave it another shot, taking his time, but no longer reading his work.
Finally, he handed the phone back, and she read the message he’d constructed. “Great to hear from you, but not the best time for me. I’ve met someone and am concentrating on our relationship right now. But hope you’re out there killin’ it with the other lady chicks. Do lots of lady kissing.”
“Not bad. You had me up until lady chicks.” She amended the last section. “Hope you’re well and we can catch up soon.” She glanced at Billy. “That sounds a bit more like the friend zone, yeah?
“Not if by catch up, you mean…” He raised his eyebrows to punctuate.
“No. I don’t.” She erased the last sentence and tried again. “Hope you’re well. Take care.”
“Probably better. Don’t add a heart. Or any topless women.”
She squinted at him. “What kind of emoji does your phone come with, Billy?”
Joey Wilder appeared on the path just as she hit send on the message, which she would reuse as needed later.
“I’ll let you chat with your client,” Billy said and headed back inside, break over. “Hey, Joey,” he said over his shoulder.
“Billy the Kid.” They’d been lab partners back in the day.
Ryan shaded her eyes against the late morning sun and stood. The day was beautiful and amazing aromas from Gabriella’s truck wafted all over the property. “Hey, Joey.”
“How’s it going?”
Ryan nodded. “A few minor setbacks with the appliances, but I think we have it all sorted out.” She pointed to the ground. “I got your email about the walkway not extending as far out as you were hoping, so I have my guy coming back this week to add to it.”
“Happy to hear it. I don’t want to take too much of your time, but I want to be sure we’re on track for our soft opening.” Joey’s blue eyes sparkled. She was great at dealing with people. “We’re inviting about fifty of our VIP wine club members on the fourteenth to coincide with the release party for our chardonnay.”
“Right. I remember, which was going to be quite the push.”
Joey’s grin didn’t waver. Positive assumption. That was friendly Joey Wilder. “Do you still think it’s doable?”
She hesitated, knowing they’d be cutting it close. The release was just over three weeks away, and Gabriella was already hiring staff and setting up trainings, cutting into any chance of overtime in the space. “I think it’s possible, but it also means we have no cushion. If anything else sets us back—inspections, permits, a water leak, a nuclear attack—we’re a no-go, and I’d hate to screw up your party.”
Joey rocked back on her heels, her blond hair bright in the sunlight. “I think we have to risk it, right? I’m counting on you.” A pause. “In more than one sense.”
Was that a nod to Ryan’s personal life? It had been a couple of days since comfy couch night with Gabriella, and she imagined as a close friend, Joey might have been given the skinny. “I have the best of intentions and big plans.” A pause for emphasis. “In more than one sense.”
That earned a bright smile. “Good. And listen, I really appreciate you sticking as close as you could to our budget. I’ve heard horror stories.”
“Well, that’s not how I like to handle things. I plan for the hiccups, and it tends to pay off.”
“In more than one sense?” Joey asked. Then she dropped her shoulders. “Okay, I’ll stop with the code. I know you and Gabriella are moving into a new lane, and you and I have known each other peripherally since high school days, right?”
Ryan nodded.
“I’m looking out for my friend. She has the biggest heart of anyone I know, and I want to make sure this isn’t some shiny thing you’re following until you get bored and want to be back up