Entangled

by Melissa Brayden

  “Well, you’ve come to the right place for that. I hope you like wine.”

  Gabriella laughed. “I hear it’s all the rage.”

  “How about a tour?” Madison asked.

  “I thought you were going to ask for a tasting first.”

  “Don’t think I didn’t want to,” Maddie said with a wink. “I’m anxious to taste last year’s yield.”

  “It’s not out yet, so you’ll be one of the first. I have a sample bottle on hand. We can do a barrel tasting later as well, if you like.”

  Gabriella seemed to still be taking it all in. “I can’t believe this is real. I feel like I’ve stepped into the pages of a calendar. First that downhill drive onto the property and now this.”

  Maddie slung an arm around her shoulder. “Get used to it. You live in a Thomas Kinkade painting.”

  Joey clapped her hands together. “Speaking of living, follow me to your cottages, freshly remodeled, though I promise the paint is dry. I’ve also left you some fresh baked goods from Loretta—she’s so excited you’re both here—and of course, I’ve stocked your places with wine because I’m not a criminal.”

  “I’m just thrilled to say that I live in a cottage,” Gabriella said, as they walked the path along the perimeter that took them to the onsite housing. She added an extra hop in her step and a sway of her hips.

  Joey laughed. “I think you’re going to like them.” Uncle Bobby also had a place on the property, as did Loretta and Deacon. “I thought I’d drop you guys off, let you get situated and refreshed, and maybe we could meet in the tasting room?”

  “I think that’s the best plan ever,” Gabriella said. Joey was beginning to understand that she was a cheerful, positive person. The kind that might be really nice to have around.

  “Sounds great to me. I’m ready to get started. Quick question,” Madison said.

  Joey looked over at her as they walked, her heart just so happy that they were, at long last, here. “What’s up?”

  “The construction we passed on the turnoff to Tangle Valley. What in the world is that place? It’s huge.”

  Joey bristled. It pained her even to think about the monstrosity down the road. In fact, she’d shoved it from her mind once her father had his heart attack and kept her feelings simmering on the back burner as she worked feverishly to keep the vineyard up and running. But with things moving in the right direction now, it was time to face facts.

  “That’s the site of a giant hotel going in, brick by brick. It’s almost done.”

  Madison stared at her. “Here? In Whisper Wall?”

  “I know. Even worse? It’s an Elite Resorts property. The hotel chain?” Joey shook her head in distaste. “The charm of Whisper Wall is rooted in its out of the way, small, quaint look and feel. It’s our bread and butter. We’re a small town, and people come here on their vacations to get away from the world, drink good wine, look at the lush green landscape, and watch the sunset. The end. We depend on those visitors.” She extended her arm in the theoretical direction of the hotel. “The Jade, or whatever it is they’re planning to call that thing, is a problem. It’s a boil, an eyesore on our”—she gestured to Gabriella—“calendar photo.”

  Madison grinned. “No problem is too big for the perfect bottle of wine. It’s up to us to make sure we produce it and ignore that place.”

  Gabriella grabbed both Madison’s and Joey’s arms, grinning down the path at the two cottages, just a short distance apart from each other. “Get out. Seriously?”

  “All yours.” Joey gestured to the second cottage as Madison approached the first. “I’ll see you soon for wine and snacks.”

  “You’re my favorite new friend and boss,” Gabriella said, with a celebratory clap. She and Madison thanked Joey and headed into their new homes to say hello and settle in. In the meantime, Joey had a list of tasks still on her daily to-do list, including approving the updates to their labels for last year’s vintage, which would be bottled soon. Not far from her mind, however, was what she was going to do about The Jade. She made a point of moving that little obstacle to the top of her list.

  * * *

  If Joey wanted to impress her friends and new colleagues with all the work they’d put into their wines, it seemed to be working. Later that afternoon, the three of them gathered in the corner of the tasting room while Loretta tended to the small number of visitors who lingered shortly before closing.

  “Calling it now. I think the dolcetto was my favorite,” Gabriella said, admiring the last swallow in her glass. “But I’ve always been partial to any and all Italian influences. Heritage, you know.” She kissed her fingertips in jest.

  Joey touched her glass to Gabriella’s. “Oh, you know what? We’re going to get along. You and me. We’re probably going to get into a little trouble, too.” She could tell Gabriella liked wine as much as she did.

  They’d already done tastings of all four varietals from both last year’s yet-to-be-released vintage as well as several of the more popular blends, not to mention the vintage from two years ago, currently in distribution and on the tasting room floor. Madison swirled her glass and took a final sip of near-ready-but-not-quite pinot. “Jack made strides between the two. He deserves a lot of credit.” She took another sip and then dumped the rest of the glass in the bucket at the center of the table. If they consumed all the wine Joey had poured that afternoon, they’d be drunk off their asses.

  “He wanted to bring the fruit forward. Tweak the acidity levels.”

  “And he did.”

  Gabriella set her glass down. “I love it. That’s for sure. Mellow, but satisfying.” She dumped the rest.

  Joey smiled. “My dad would have loved that you used the word satisfying. He believed that’s exactly what a good wine should do—not draw huge attention to itself, simply satisfy.”

  “Well, it’s true. Do you know what else I love? That cottage. Joey, I don’t know who you paid to get inside my head and mimic my exact style, but they knocked it out of the park.”

  “Oh, did they?” Madison asked, pointing at her face.

  Joey dipped her head. “Madison told me a little more about you, and that helped with the decor, but feel free to make any changes to make it more you.” She’d supplied the cottage with basics like curtains and paint but had chosen to leave the intricate details to each inhabitant. Maddie was easy enough. She’d toss a couple paintings of nature on the walls and high-five herself, practical person that she was, but Joey had a feeling Gabriella was different. The details would matter.

  “What had me excited is that most of my stuff will match perfectly.”

  “Flowers,” Madison told Joey with a laugh. “Think lots and lots of flowers. Like a bouquet of flowers walked into a room and multiplied like gremlins dipped in water.”

  Gabriella passed her a look. “We can’t all have charts and graphs on our refrigerator.”

  “Oh, can’t we though?” Madison said wistfully.

  “People who visit think you’re CIA.”

  Madison grinned and held her now empty glass off to the side, allowing it to dangle from her hand. She seemed so damn sophisticated and put together these days. Wine magazines ran features on her. Young winemakers looked up to her because of all she’d accomplished in her short career. Joey was not only blessed to have her talent on board, but her pride in her friend’s accomplishments welled robustly.

  Madison watched Joey. Then, finally, “We’ve had some wine. Can I ask about Simone? I filled Gabriella in on the high points on our drive.”

  “Of course,” Joey said. No, it wasn’t her favorite topic in the world, but she did just fine with casual conversations that surrounded her ex and their very public, humiliating ending three years ago. Madison had stood next to Joey on what was to be the happiest day of her life, her wedding day. As maid of honor, she was the one who’d picked Joey up off the floor that afternoon. Literally. She’d collapsed in a heap of shock, despair, and humiliation. Joey had believed Simone to be the
love of her life back then. But time helped reveal the reality. In spite of the town gossip chain a mile long, Joey was grateful for the outcome. Her life was okay. She loved her job and her Tangle Valley family, and had great friends. What more did she need?

  “So, here’s the thing I don’t get,” Madison said. “Simone leaves you at the altar.”

  “Yep,” Joey said and sipped. Gabriella winced, obviously experiencing empathetic horror.

  “Because she wants a bigger life for herself.”

  “True, again. Simone has always believed that life here is too mundane. She wanted something faster paced than, well, a farm.”

  “But then she goes and settles down with a veterinarian who’s home by five most days. How is that faster paced?”

  Joey shrugged. “It used to bother me, too. But you know what? Constance apparently makes Simone happy in a way I wasn’t capable.”

  “Do we hate her?” Gabriella asked, showing that she was, in fact, the best type of friend. “The vet?”

  Joey placed a hand over Gabriella’s. “No, but you get major points for the offer. Simone is…not my person. That’s all. Those two were meant to be. They’re honestly very sweet together. I long to hate them, dream about it even. Can’t seem to.”

  “She did one hell of a number on Joey, though.” Madison drummed her fingers on the table and shook her head.

  “Are you sure we don’t hate her?” Gabriella asked again in solidarity.

  “Still sure. And she did not do a number on me,” Joey said, adding another splash of the dolcetto to her glass. “At least nothing long lasting.”

  “No? I disagree.” The expression on Madison’s face said that she was attempting to make her point in the gentlest way possible. “When was the last time you dated?”

  Joey shrugged. “I couldn’t tell you, but I’m busy with this place, Maddie, and I really like it that way.” Why was she suddenly so defensive?

  “Anyone since Simone?” Gabriella asked, her voice soft. Those big brown friendly eyes helped Joey relax.

  “No,” she confessed. “I’m not against romance and dating, but…okay, maybe I’m against romance. It hasn’t served me well, so I stick to things that have. Friends, wine, Tangle Valley, a good sunset, and the occasional excellent bowl of soup.” Madison and Gabriella exchanged a look. “What? You’re already exchanging knowing glances. I’m fine.”

  “You did not just say soup,” Madison said.

  “I did.”

  “I’m going to die if my best friend’s excitement level peaks at excellent soup. There’s more to life.” The outrage was clear, but all Joey could do was laugh.

  “I believe you’re fine.” Gabriella smiled. “I don’t even know you that well yet, and I can tell as much. Plus, you run one of the most beautiful vineyards I’ve ever seen, so that means you’re more than fine. You’re special.”

  “See?” Joey said and turned like a victor to Madison. “I’m more than fine. Well, outside of losing my dad.” Her playful spirits dipped. Sometimes she got caught up in the day and forgot. It was never long, however, until it all came rushing back, like now.

  “But you have us here now, and you don’t have to shoulder all of this on your own,” Madison said and took a moment for a long blink. “I’m a tad tipsy, but can we talk briefly about the harvest anyway?”

  Joey didn’t hesitate. “We had a good year. The fruit is beautiful. Cooler temps at night served the grapes well, but we never got too cold. The rain cooperated, and the summer was fairly warm and dry.”

  “Sounds like we’re gonna have a lot of good wine coming out of Willamette this year, especially with the weather proving so conducive for pinot.”

  “I want ours to be at the top of every list. Entered in all the big competitions, too.” She could hear the conviction in her own voice. This year without her father would be an important one, and she wanted them to thrive. For him. For herself. For everyone who put in the hard hours at Tangle Valley on the daily.

  Maddie met her gaze. “Me, too. We’ll take on the world.”

  “What about food?” Gabriella asked. “What did you think of my preliminary menu for the truck?”

  “I loved everything you suggested. Especially the rice ball things. Good God, woman. I’ve never drooled over an email before.”

  “Arancini,” she said. “Great finger food. Perfect for a truck.”

  “I’d murder my mother for one of those right now,” Madison said.

  Joey gasped. “You keep making dead parent jokes.”

  Madison winced. “Why do I do that?”

  “I have no idea. Plus, you love your mother.”

  “And Gabriella’s balls. The rice ones. Hence the internal struggle,” Maddie said matter-of-factly.

  “My balls bring all the girls to the yard,” Gabriella said with sparkle.

  Joey laughed and could tell she was in for a ride working with these two.

  They’d made the decision to hold off on construction on the restaurant until they had a stronger handle on the direction and flavor, no pun intended. To do so, Gabriella wanted to spend some time at Tangle Valley to get a feel for the vineyard’s typical clientele and the local culture. Joey had no problem with going slow, wanting to make sure they did everything they could to achieve the best possible marriage between wine and food. Gabriella did want to get cooking, however, and pitched to Joey the idea of starting off with a food truck on the property and some additional outdoor tables. That way she could test out some dishes, work from a rotating menu, and then migrate to a full-scale sit-down restaurant the following year, maybe using summer to kick it off when the tourists arrived in droves. Joey could already envision the big marketing push now. They’d start with social media and move to heavy local advertising, making an event of the truck’s soft opening and then a big smash for the restaurant’s grand.

  “What’s our expected rollout date for the truck?” Madison asked and picked up the pen and small black journal she’d used to record her tasting observations. Leave it to Maddie to stay on top of every detail.

  “Well, we’re hoping for sometime in the next two weeks, but first we have to buy a truck. I have a lead on a couple not far from here.” She nodded toward Gabriella. “Maybe we can take a field trip?”

  “I’m in. We’ll be women on a mission. Thelma and Louise.”

  “They don’t have the happiest ending, Gabs,” Madison supplied.

  She frowned. “Bonnie and Clyde.”

  “Yikes.” Madison winced. “Seriously?”

  “SpongeBob and Patrick.”

  Madison raised a shoulder. “Sure.”

  Joey laughed, getting a feel for what the give-and-take around here was going to feel like now, and she was a fan.

  Gabriella turned to Joey. “I’d love to grab lunch somewhere in town and start to get a taste for the local flavors.”

  “Definitely. I know just the place to start. Now who wants a revisit?” Joey asked and gestured to the array of seven-plus open bottles. Two hands shot in the air. The sun was going down, Loretta was closing up shop in the tasting room, and outside the vines swayed gently in the wind. After all she’d been through lately, Joey needed a night like this one. Being around friends, one old and one new, had her heart feeling lighter. Their chemistry felt right, somehow, and she relaxed with the knowledge that she wasn’t on her own. She had a team, and together they would get through this.

  Chapter Three

  Officing out of a portable building definitely had its drawbacks. Very little space, uncomfortable furniture, and the noise from the resort’s construction just outside left Becca feeling more than a little tense. She squeezed the back of her neck, hoping to relieve a little of the pressure, as her final candidate for the position of front desk manager departed.

  “What do you think?” Carla Cortez, the assistant resort manager asked. She’d hired Carla first, so she could help staff the place. So far, she’d shown herself to be knowledgeable and eager, a transfer to town h
erself. They seemed like a great duo, already complementing each other’s styles. “He’s got the experience, and his leadership philosophies have me excited. I would be pumped for work every day if I worked on his activities team.”

  With no more interviews scheduled that day, Becca slipped out of her heels. “Right? God, my toes are angry. Do yours ever get angry?”

  “Mine bitch at me with a megaphone, the bastards.”

  “Thank you for getting that.” She switched gears. “But I had the same thought, and with a new property, that’s exactly the kind of proactive energy we need. I’ll call him tomorrow and extend an offer. He’s based in Portland, so he’ll likely want to relocate, unless he loves commutes.”

  Carla leaned against the doorframe. “Any plans for the weekend? I’m taking Pete on a hike. You’re welcome to join us.”

  “A hike? Our feet are killing us. How are you rebounding to hiker status. What’s in that water bottle?”

  “Oh, Becca. I’m hoping the new girl comes tomorrow and hikes for me. She comes every morning, fresh and ready to go.”

  “I need a new girl. Are they expensive?”

  Carla laughed. “I’ll tell you one thing—Pete loves her.” Pete was Carla’s brand-new husband. Though Becca did enjoy a good hike on occasion, she wasn’t sure she could stomach the third-wheel status that came with hanging out with the two of them. They’d been married less than a year and resided firmly in the land of Maybe You Two Should Get a Room Now. The dinner she had with them recently had easily been rated PG-13 on their side of the table, and inched its way toward R as the night progressed.

  “I appreciate the offer, but I’m not sure I can watch you suck on his face all the way up the mountain. Especially if my new girl didn’t come. She often doesn’t.”

  Carla laughed. “But what a fine face it is.” They’d spent enough hours together in the past couple of weeks to speak candidly and seemed to have a decent rapport when it came to joking around. “What do you have going in place of us?”