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

saw the light on from my front porch.”

As if they’d summoned her, Gabriella Russo—her ex and their best friend—stood behind them with her hands on her hips and pink bunny slippers on her feet. With all three of them living in such close proximity on the property, it was hard to have any real privacy. When your work light was on, people took notice.

Madison raised an eyebrow. “Well, it’s not a pink bunny soiree, but join us.”

“A shame, then.” Gabriella shot them a smile. “What’s the actual occasion for this early morning gathering? I’m not caught up.”

“Madison is overworking herself,” Joey said. “It’s after midnight, and she’s still at this damn desk. I’ve threatened murder. We’re waiting to see if it worked.”

Gabriella nodded. “Murder Madison at Midnight. Has a ring. Could be a book.” She raised a shoulder and nodded at her ingenuity.

Madison’s mouth fell open. “Coming from the innocent in the bunny slippers. Et tu, Brute?”

Gabriella puffed with pride. “You heard the boss lady, and I have her back. To bed with you.”

Madison stared at her serious-looking friends, gave in, and closed her laptop. “Fine, but you guys can’t threaten me every day. Good wine doesn’t just appear in the bottle. There are actual processes involved. Plus, my mojo.”

“Yes,” Joey said. “You wave your magic wand all over the grapes, which is why I hired you. For your fairy dust.”

Joey Wilder had been her closest friend since early grade school when they’d been assigned seats next to each other in Mrs. Davidson’s homeroom class. Hell, Madison had practically grown up on Joey’s family’s vineyard, which made it extra special that she was now their head winemaker. There was something special about the place that made Madison move all the way home from the Finger Lakes of New York when Joey called up and offered her the job.

As they walked the path from the barrel room, where Madison kept her office, she took a cleansing breath of the fresh night air, invigorated to be outside and have the autumn chill against her skin. “Damn. I love this place at night.”

Gabriella smiled over at Madison, her arms wrapped around herself. “There’s a sort of magic, isn’t there?”

Joey nodded, staring off at the acres of vines. “I used to think it was just me.”

Madison stopped walking to take it all in, and her friends joined her, leaving them standing in a small circle. “Do you ever stop and wonder about the forces that brought us together? We’re standing here, right now, for a reason.”

Joey nodded. “All the time. When I lost my dad, I thought the world had ended, and I had no idea what would happen to Tangle Valley. But then you two arrived, and I get to work with my best friends. I can honestly say that you saved this place.” She shrugged sentimentally. “And me.”

Gabriella bumped Joey’s shoulder with hers. “I know I feel every bit as blessed. I get to make my food at Tangled every day and then step outside to all of this gorgeousness.” She swept her hand in the direction of the farmland. “Don’t get me started on how much I love my cottage. And I say things like cottage now because I live in a small town.” She sighed. “But working with you guys? That’s the best part.”

“Why are we all sappy under the sky in the middle of the night?” Madison asked with a laugh. Moments like these, while special, weren’t exactly her comfort zone. “Who are we? Let’s trade insults and get back to normal.”

Joey linked her arm through Madison’s. “We’re the best. That’s who we are, so you’re just gonna have to suck up the emotion, my stoic friend. Becca may be the love of my life, and that one over here”—she jutted her chin to Gabriella—“has Ryan. But this?” She reached for Gabriella’s hand, while still linked up with Madison. “This combination has been my rock, okay? So you let me say it. I know I can count on you two for anything.” She laughed at her own sentimentality. “And now I’m even more sappy under the stars in the middle of the night. Stop me now.”

“I like sappy JoJo,” Gabriella said.

Madison shifted uncomfortably because a lump had lodged in her throat. Dammit. “Now let’s take our magic selves home because I’m up early with the grapes. We harvest soon, so I’ll be testing.”

“Deal,” Joey said.

They walked the short distance to the Big House where they dropped Joey to flit