Page 4 of Kiss and Tell

“What?” Lucy asked, aghast. “You let a man into the inner sanctum?”

“Twomen,” Joey replied with a wink.

She pulled up in front of a cute cabin, also adorned with pumpkins and mums, celebrating the fact that fall had arrived and Halloween was just four days away. Joey wondered if the decorations had been Lucy’s doing.

Before they could continue the conversation, Miles was standing next to the passenger door, duffel bag slung over his shoulder.

Joey got out, retrieving his own bag from the car as Lucy climbed the three steps to the cabin’s porch and unlocked the door.

“My aunt Claire runs a B&B on the property with my sister, Mila. They also take care of the cabins. You have Mila to thank for the pumpkins and flowers, as well as the stocked refrigerator. She’s got an eye for design, and she loves to make everything pretty. One whole shed behind the farmhouse I share with my sisters is filled with every possible decoration for every conceivable holiday on the calendar.” Lucy led them inside as she spoke. “Levi told her she was probably taking it too far when she started decking the B&B in lightsabers, Death Star cutouts, and mini Yodas for Star Wars Day.”

Joey folded his hands in front of himself, trying to look like a somber Jedi. “May the Fourth be with you.”

“And also with you,” Lucy replied, giggling as she crossed herself.

“How many cabins are on the property?” Joey was impressed by the homey feel of the cabin they were going to call home for the next five days.

“There are ten, scattered around various places on the farm. The first three are tucked in the woods and were originally used as hunting cabins…many, many moons ago. When my grandfather took over the running of the farm, he started growing grapes with the intention of opening the winery. Once that happened, he stopped allowing people to hunt on the property. Aunt Claire was the one who suggested we refurbish those older cabins and build new ones to rent to guests, so Uncle Rex scoped out seven spots with amazing views. There aren’t many weeks that pass where at least half the cabins aren’t rented, and we sell out almost every week in the summer and fall, when the leaves are changing color.”

“I was admiring your colorful mountain when we arrived, wasn’t I, Miles?” Joey attempted to draw his friend into the conversation because, since entering the cabin, he’d been wandering around, looking completely distracted.

“Yep.” Miles jerked his thumb toward one of the bedroom doors. “I’m going to take that one, okay?”

Joey nodded, annoyed when Miles walked away from them.

“Um. Okay.” Lucy stumbled for a moment, clearly struggling to make this Miles fit with the man who appeared on her TV screen in every episode. That Miles was all smiles and easygoing, everybody’s pal, while today, his first impression screamed impatient asshole.

“Sounds like we were lucky to score a cabin then.” Joey tried to distract her from his best friend’s rudeness.

“Your producer set up the filming way back in early spring, so we made sure to save the best cabin for you. The other bedroom is over here.” Lucy pointed to the door behind her.

“Let me toss my bag in there really quick, then we can start the tour.”

Lucy nodded, but her smile wasn’t as bright as it had been a few minutes ago.

Joey gave his bedroom a cursory glance, placing his bag on the bed without unpacking before returning to Lucy. Miles had already emerged from his room, but neither he nor Lucy were talking to each other.

“Ready?” Lucy asked brightly, though her tone felt more forced than before.

“Can’t wait.” Joey reached out, clasping his hand with hers, tugging her along, hoping his enthusiasm would re-spark her own.

She laughed when he gallantly opened the driver’s side door for her, bowing as he did so. After she climbed in, he jogged around the hood, bumping Miles out of the way. “I’ll take the middle seat,” he said, acting as if he was making some sacrifice.

Miles nodded, looking annoyed.

Joey shot his buddy a glare, one that was greeted with a regretful sigh. At least Miles was aware of the fact he was acting like an ass.

“Sorry,” he muttered.

Appeased, Joey slid into the truck, shifting until he was right next to Lucy. Then he rested his arm along the back of the seat, smiling at her as she shook her head at his obvious flirting.

She didn’t call him out for it though, which Joey took as a win. Especially when he realized her cheeks were turning pink again. God, he couldn’t remember the last time he’d dated a woman who blushed. It was endearing and cute as hell.

“Okay. First stop is the winery. We’ll drive by the grapevines as we go. Let me know if y’all have any questions about them,” she offered.

“We’re just focusing on the brewery for filming,” Miles pointed out, his tone less harsh. Not that it mattered, considering his scowl was still firmly in place.

“Oh. I, um, just meant questions in general. Or we can skip that part if?—”

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