Two to Tangle (A Tangle Valley Romance #2) - Melissa Brayden Page 0,70
came to the vineyard for lunch, which she took as a sign of success. They truly were meeting a need in the community, apart from the ongoing tourism. Her food was beginning to have an impact and generate buzz. Inspired by the Biddies and their now wildly successful joint Instagram account, Gabriella decided to create an account for Tangled, apart from the vineyard’s social media presence, and showcase picturesque shots of her dishes to get folks excited about the upcoming opening. After plating a gorgeous pork belly and rosemary mash, she took a photo of it paired with an oversized glass of dolcetto, the beautiful hillside in the background, and threw it up there. Joey reposted it, and the followers started rolling in. This town really did pass things around like wildfire. She wondered absently as she plated a round of toasted ravioli if Ryan had seen it.
Once she’d gone to food war and won for the day, Gabriella decided that a glass of pinot grigio sounded refreshing as hell and headed over to the tasting room after ditching her chef’s coat for jeans and a purple T-shirt with the words Maybe Later scripted across the front. The soft fabric only contributed to her happy place, and oh, it was happy. She took a seat at the bar and grinned at Loretta. “One glass of the good stuff. Put it on my tab, bartender.”
Loretta laughed and held up an open bottle of the white wine Gabriella had pointed to, and she nodded.
“First of all, not a bar, you weirdo,” Joey said, walking down the counter after pouring a tasting for a group of guests. “Second of all, you don’t have a tab. You drink for free here. Why can’t you remember that? You’re part of the Tangle Valley family now, and until you start drinking cases at a time, we can carry that expense for you.”
Gabriella grinned. “I’ll work on free wine acceptance in my spare time.” She accepted a generous pour and took a sip. Bliss in a glass. Why hadn’t she always lived and worked on a vineyard?
“You’re all glowy. Why? Oh my, you’re also tired, aren’t you?” Joey said quietly, moving out of earshot of a group of guests down the bar. “I know the glowy-tired combo. I’ve lived it. I still do.”
Gabriella grinned from behind her glass but said nothing.
“Did you happen to have an extra-sexy sleepover last night?”
On one hand, it felt in poor taste to kiss and tell, but on another, she would have murdered Joey full-on if she’d withheld details all those months back when things were coming together with Becca, aka Sexy Execsy. It was her friend duty to reciprocate, wasn’t it? Plus, she really, really wanted to.
She set her glass down. “There might have been. It might have been amazing, and I might want another sleepover again really soon.”
“She’s a tiger, I bet,” Loretta said casually and strolled back to the guests with an open bottle of dolcetto for their next tasting.
Gabriella stared after her and pointed. She looked to Joey. “Sometimes I just don’t see her coming.”
Joey nodded. “She’s not what she seems.”
“Indeed, she’s not.” With Loretta out of earshot, she lowered her voice. “She might be having a few sleepovers of her own.”
“Gasp and awe. With who?” Joey whispered, coming closer.
Gabriella made sure Loretta was busy. She was. “I’m not positive, but I’m a sneaky detective currently on the case. I suspect your uncle Bobby.”
Joey blinked and paused. “No. That can’t be right. She used to have a little thing with my dad. Just a flirtation, but he and Bobby are so different, you know? Plus, Loretta’s all talky and into fun things. Bobby is just quiet and happy with a ball game on TV. Plus, he rarely says much, the lovable lug.”
Gabriella held out her hands, realizing her suspicions were just brushed off. “I think they have a clandestine romance, and I get this sense that it’s fiery. Decadent.” She sat back and let that bomb fall.
“With Bobby.” Joey grappled. She blinked. She looked down the bar at Loretta as if to try it on. She turned back, befuddled. “God, if they have a secret, clandestine thing, I’ll be so mad.”
“No, you won’t,” Gabriella scolded. “You’ll be happy for them.”
“Well, yeah, but only after I’m epically mad at being excluded.”
“Which will be brief. We have to stop giving each other hard times for what our hearts want.”
Joey nodded, and understanding sparked. “That statement is about Madison’s reaction to