Two to Tangle (A Tangle Valley Romance #2) - Melissa Brayden Page 0,75

with gusto. “I love wine that isn’t afraid to say, Here’s my fruit. Just take it.” She looked at her glass with hearts coming out of her eyes. Those two were trying so hard.

“What has it been for you guys?” Madison asked Ryan. “A few days? That’s a good handful of hours. Admirable.”

Madison knew damn well it had been much longer, and Ryan had known trivializing the past would get under Madison’s skin. It had worked. These two were destined to fight it out at this dinner table, and Gabriella wasn’t sure how much more she was prepared to sit through. She wasn’t into childish. She set down her loaded fork. “I have an idea. Why don’t we enjoy dinner? Talk about interesting things. How about that game tomorrow? The char on these brussels sprouts. Anything.”

“Who’s playing?” Becca asked. “The popcorn alone gets me there, but the game is fun, too.”

Ryan glanced up. “Otters versus Muskrats. Round two.”

Joey moved to make the face but read the room and abandoned ship halfway through.

Gabriella jumped in. “We’re approaching playoffs, which is really just one championship game. So the records are really starting to matter. Should be quite the game.” She directed her comment to Joey and Becca, the only people she felt like speaking to at the moment.

“My money’s on the Muskrats,” Madison said.

“They do have a killer third basewoman,” Ryan added. At least they were agreeing on something. Ryan smiled at Gabriella. “And in addition to your killer arm, you also make the uniform look great.”

Madison looked around Gabriella. “Score one for feminism.”

“What did I say?” Ryan asked. She looked to Gabriella, concerned. “I didn’t mean to offend you. You’re fantastic on the field.”

“It’s fine,” Gabriella said. “You didn’t.”

“Of course not.” Madison shook her head and set her empty glass down, reaching for the bottle in the center of the table. “You didn’t say anything that isn’t typical Ryan.”

A pause. “You think you know a lot about me.” Ryan couldn’t seem to let that one go.

Madison shrugged in half apology. “Well, the whole town does. Objectively.”

That went too far. Gabriella dropped her fork with a clang. “That’s enough. Both of you.” She turned to Madison. “This was supposed to be a nice night out for all of us, and you immediately started in, already playing offense.” She turned to Ryan. “And you fed right into it, matching her, and behaving just as badly.” She took her napkin from her lap and deposited it on the table. She looked across the table to Becca and Joey, who had sympathy and horror written all over their faces. “Thank you for arranging all of this for us. Please let me know what I owe you.”

“On me,” Becca said.

“Very generous.” Gabriella smiled in gratitude. “I think I’ll walk home a little early.”

Ryan stood. “No. You don’t have to speak to me, but I’m at least driving you there. It’s dark.”

“Fine.”

“Hey,” Madison said quietly, tugging on her wrist.

“No, Maddie. I can’t right now,” she said without even looking back. She had no idea what was happening to their relationship, but there would come a point where they’d have to figure that out. It was not, however, going to be tonight when her blood was set to boil over.

They rode the short distance to Tangle Valley in silence, pulled up to the cottage, and Ryan turned off the truck. Gabriella got out as fast as she could, still shocked and angry.

“I’m sorry,” Ryan offered, following her out.

Gabriella stared into the night, hands on her hips. “You should be.”

Ryan came around the truck, energized. “She’s wrong about me, and I couldn’t just sit there and take it.” She touched her chest. “You know me.”

Gabriella nodded. “I get it, Ry. You play hard, you love hard, and you’re authentic. Mostly, that’s wonderful. But I need you to work with me as far as Madison goes and hold your tongue to keep things from getting worse.”

Ryan looked at the sky, exasperated. “I know. I should have.”

“She’s important to me, whether you like it or not. That means to keep the peace, you have to behave. Both of you do.”

Ryan looked at her. “How important?”

“What?” The implication was surprising.

“How important is she to you, exactly. That’s what I need to know.” Concern was written all over her face.

“Oh God,” Gabriella said, letting her head drop back in frustration. “Seriously? It’s not like that.”

“Are you sure? Because she’s not. That much was clear tonight. She’s not as over you as you seem