What a Tangled Web (Tangle Valley #3) - Melissa Brayden Page 0,2

of scribbles. Her calculations littered the page, her own mathematical madness. “So why should I?” She took another sip of hot cocoa from her thermos.

It was after midnight at Tangle Valley Vineyard, smack dab in the middle of lush Oregon wine country. As winemaker, Madison LeGrange was at home with the extensive hours, if not a little exhausted. They produced four varietal wines at the vineyard along with a handful of rotating blends, which meant there was always more to do. She’d pulled another long day, but with new assistants to train, machinery to keep clean, grapes to care for, and a calendar to maintain, she’d had her hands full. Plus, everyone needed something, and the quiet of the evening gave her a chance to knock out some of the items on her to-do list without interruption. This wasn’t her first late night, and it wouldn’t be her last.

“Um, what in the world are you doing out here so late? Again,” Joey Wilder asked, peeking around the open door to Madison’s office with a stern look. “I saw the light on in the tank room, so of course I stomped over to investigate this crime against slumber. Here you are. Guilty, as suspected.”

Madison blinked a few times at Joey, while her brain acclimated to communication with others. Her neck ached, and she was hungry, having missed dinner. These days, she preferred to lose herself in her work. Life felt easier that way. “Just making plans for harvest since we’re almost there. Our yield should be good. I’m also getting my day organized for tomorrow, and”—she held up her notebook—“working on leveling out the acidity in the chardonnay.” She flipped open her planner. “Oh, and do we still have that private tasting happening on Thursday after lunch?”

“Yes, I’ll play hostess, but I’d love it if you could make an appearance. Maybe say a few science-like words about the creation of the magnificent wine and make them feel special. But you know what?” She closed Maddie’s notebook for her. “We can talk about that tomorrow when regular people talk about work things, Maddie.”

“What? You don’t like now?” She grinned widely.

“I don’t, strangely. After we’ve slept, I’m all yours. We’ll be like the rest of society.”

“Definitely, but while you’re here, I was thinking about the pinot harvest, and if we schedule on—”

“Madison. Look at me. Into my eyes.” Madison obeyed and found her best friend’s baby blues. “I love you, but I’m going to have to murder you and hide the body, Dateline-style. This next part is important. Please make sure I’m the beneficiary of your life insurance.”

“Wait.” Madison balked. “You can’t murder your best friend and then take the money.”

“Can so. Will do it, too.”

“Then I will Dateline you right back.”

Joey frowned. “Are you even listening? I already Datelined you. There’s no double Datelining. It’s impossible.”

Madison tossed her pencil onto the desk, angry to have lost the murder competition. “I will be faster next time. With the Dateline. Mark my words, buddygirl,” she said, employing her childhood nickname for Joey.

“Marked and highlighted.” Joey pointed at the desk, the scene of the overworking. “I’m serious, though. You’ve always been a workaholic, but this has gotten out of control, even for you. Wanna talk about why, because I have definite ideas.”

“Of course you do, but I’m fine.” Madison shrugged off the concern, while at the same time copping to it because Joey was right. She likely needed to slow down. She had a demanding job, yes, but she had been pushing extra hard lately because nothing felt quite right. Almost as if something hadn’t clicked into place that should have.

“You’ve been this way ever since Gabriella and Ryan got back together. Have you noticed?”

“Yes.” It definitely hadn’t been easy to have her ex-girlfriend who worked just across the vineyard fall in love with someone else while she watched, but she’d survived and had made her peace. Everything had worked out as it was supposed to, and Madison actually believed Ryan was perfect for Gabriella now that she’d seen them in action. She could also see that she and Gabriella were not a good match in the romance department. “I think I just needed a temporary distraction when that all hit. But I’m great with Ryan and Gabs now.”

“So you just forgot to turn it off?”

Madison frowned because she didn’t exactly know. “Yeah, maybe.”

“Is there some kind of party in here that no one invited me to? Ryan fell asleep on the couch, and I