Page 6 of Kiss and Tell

Even better, he got the sense she felt the same attraction because she’d matched him touch for touch, grasping his forearm as she leaned close to be heard over the brewery equipment, lightly smacking his upper arm whenever he said something funny, and shoulder-bumping him in the truck to get his attention when they passed something she wanted him to see.

As they walked toward the house, Joey offered her some reassurance. “Don’t worry about Miles being overwhelmed, Lucy. He’s spent plenty of time with the Morettis. While the first couple of times were a shock to his system, I think we’ve worn him down enough that he’s prepared to meet your family.”

“It’s cute that you think I’m not still shocked by your family,” Miles said in a deadpan voice. It was his first joke of the day, and Joey and Lucy both laughed.

She reached out to Miles, and Joey was delighted when his friend took the hand she’d proffered. Joey was at ease with her after spending so many hours together, and he wanted Miles to be a part of that. The three of them walking side by side like this felt?—

Joey shut the thought down instantly. Because there were places he didn’t let himself go, not even in his own head.

They stopped just outside the front door, Lucy grinning at them. “Gird your loins, boys, because the Storm family is a force of nature.”

ChapterTwo

The three of them hadn’t even reached the front door before they were nearly deafened by the sound of too many people talking and laughing inside the house.

Lucy resisted the urge to roll her eyes at the fact the whole family had shown up. Not a single Storm was capable of “playing it cool.” They were far too passionate about the things they loved, and there wasn’t a soul in this family who wasn’t over-the-top proud of the farm and the businesses and the things they had created here.

Joey, true to his word, didn’t seem the least bit bothered when she opened the door to reveal no less than twenty people milling around between the living room, the dining room, and kitchen. In addition to her family, she spotted a few farmhands and tasting room employees.

The house smelled like bliss, the spicy scent of Aunt Claire’s chili and Mila’s buttery cornbread filling the air.

Mercifully, her family didn’t descend on Joey and Miles as a pack. Since Maverick, Sam, Theo, and Mila had already met the guys, they hung back, helping Aunt Claire in the kitchen, while the others came over in small groups to introduce themselves. Uncle Rex came out of the kitchen, handing both men a beer with a wink before moving on.

Joey and Levi shook hands, greeting each other like old friends. Levi had spoken to Joey on the phone a few times and said he seemed like a pretty nice guy. Personally, Lucy thought Levi had underplayed how cool Joey Moretti was because the man was miles away from just “pretty nice.” He was sexy, smart, inquisitive, funny, sexy, observant, and charming as hell.

Yes, sexy deserved to be mentioned twice.

“Sorry I couldn’t join you on the tour,” Levi said. “It was one catastrophe after another all damn day.”

“Murphy’s Law,” Joey replied good-naturedly. “And don’t worry about it. You left us with a very capable and entertaining tour guide.”

Joey reached out, claiming her hand, and tugging her close when she’d tried to move back, not wanting to monopolize him and Miles. She’d had them to herself all day, so it felt as if she should share them with the rest of her family. Even if she didn’t want to.

Mercifully, Joey didn’t look intent on letting her escape. He squeezed her hand, giving her a smile.

She’d never met such a tactile man. Joey had found ways to touch her all day, whether he was wrapping his arm around her shoulders, nudging her knee beneath the table as they sipped wine, or holding her hand whenever they walked over uneven terrain outside. She was as independent as the day was long, but damn if his overtures—some were gentlemanly, some were flirty—didn’t have her melting because they were so hot.

“Our family is thrilled about you featuring Rain or Shine Brewery onManPower. We’re hoping it will draw in more visitors to all the businesses,” Everett said as he joined their group. In addition to the B&B, rental cabins, brewery, and winery, they were in the process of building an event barn for weddings, anniversaries, and other large celebrations.

Lucy introduced Everett as her “bookworm” cousin, the one who worked his magic inside on the computer as opposed to outside in the dirt.

Joey smiled. “Miles and I have gotten countless emails from previous guests, thanking us for the exposure. One guest referred to the response from the public as sheer magic. I hope it does the same for you.”

Everett soaked up that information, and Lucy could almost see the wheels spinning in his mind as he tried to figure out how to capitalize on their appearance on the show. Her cousin was a marketing guru, one of the most creative people she’d ever known, and an amazing graphic artist. He was the total package, and since he’d taken over—okay,createdthe farm’s marketing and IT department—they’d already seen a huge increase in tourism, as people now viewed them as a not-to-miss destination whenever they visited the state. Of course, it also helped that they were only sixty miles outside of D.C.

She, Levi, Joey, and Everett continued to chat for a little while before Lucy realized Miles was gone. She glanced around, wondering where he had wandered off to. She wasn’t surprised when she spotted him standing in a quiet corner of the dining room, chatting with Uncle Rex.

She hadn’t exaggerated when she told Joey she was a huge fan of the show. She’d watched every episode at least three times, and that was before she’d found outManPowerwas coming to Rain or Shine Brewery.

As such, it felt like she’d known Joey and Miles before they arrived. It was probably why she’d launched straight into a conversation without even remembering to introduce herself, like a crazy person. In her mind, they were already friends.

Five minutes with Joey proved her ease with him hadn’t been misplaced. The real-life Joey was exactly like the guy she saw on TV. He had a boisterous personality, a great sense of humor, a contagious laugh, and she wasn’t sure she’d ever been so comfortable with someone after only eight hours together. She was a social butterfly, so making friends had never been a struggle for her, but she’d never felt such an instant strong connection to someone. Being with Joey was almost effortless, and it was like they’d known each other their entire lives.

Although Lucy had to admit her thoughts were a lot more than just friendly when she looked at the man. In addition to that connection, she’d also experienced an immediate attraction to him—a crank-up-the-AC, chug-down-some-ice-water, fan-herself kind of attraction. She’d never truly understood the meaning of hot and bothered before today.

Miles, however, was a different story.

While he was obviously the straight guy on the show, the calmer, quieter host, he still came across as the kind of man you wanted as a friend. The one who would help you move, stop on the highway to help you change a tire, the fella you called when your kitchen sink was leaking.

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