Page 105 of Love, Lies, and Celtic Knots

“Candace,” Brennen greets her as we get off the motorcycle and head towards the porch. His tone is surprisingly warm, and I watch as she blinks, clearly caught off guard.

“Brennen,” she replies, her voice steady but cautious.

“I wanted to say…” He trails off, rubbing the back of his neck like he’s not used to apologizing. “I didn’t know. About the pregnancy. About the crash. Dad never said a word.” His voice softens. “If I had known, Candace, things might’ve been different.”

Her shoulders relax slightly, and she nods. “Thank you for saying that,” she says quietly. “I appreciate it.”

I watch as some of the tension melts between them, and for the first time, it feels as if my family—all of it—might just have a shot at healing.

Candace reaches into her bag and pulls out the folded note, handing it to Brennen. “Here,” she says. “It’s signed, and it’s yours now. Take it to the bank, and everything will be settled.”

Brennen stares at the paper for a long moment before looking up at her, his expression unreadable. “That’s an awful lot of money to just give away.”

Candace smiles faintly, her gaze flicking to me before returning to him. “I have something worth a lot more than money,” she says simply.

Brennen looks between us, something softening in his eyes, and he nods. “Well, damn,” he mutters, tucking the note into his pocket. “Thank you, Candace.”

She nods, and I can see the emotion flickering behind her cool exterior. I squeeze her hand, grounding her as much as myself.

A Week Later

The vineyard is alive with activity by the time the sun begins to set. The lights strung between the rows of vines twinkle like stars that have fallen to the ground, casting everything in a warm glow. Tables are set with white linens and fresh flowers, and the smell of grilled food wafts through the air.

Candace is suspicious—she knows something’s up—but she hasn’t said anything yet. She’s watching everything with wideeyes, her gaze darting to me every few minutes like she’s trying to figure out what I’m up to. She’ll find out soon enough.

Joselyn is bustling around, her clipboard in hand, directing the caterers like a general leading her troops. Isabella is chatting with a group of social media influencers she called in to help boost the vineyard’s presence. Sophie is by the bar, overseeing the unveiling of the new line of wines with Alex practically attached to her hip. I have to admit they’re kind of cute together, but I hope he knows that girl will keep him on his toes.

And me? I’m a bundle of nerves, but I’ve never been more certain about anything in my life.

My sister sidles up next to me. “Ready?”

“More than you can possibly imagine. And I expect you to learn to behave. Dawson isn’t going to put up with your sass.”

“And if I don’t?” she teases.

“I’ll introduce Dawson to the advantages of having a spanking horse in your bedroom as well as a set of restraints.”

“Ryan!” she exclaims, turning red. Good to see I can still shock my baby sister. “Don’t you dare.” She turns and heads to Dawson. Poor baby sister. She has no idea… Dawson already knows these things.

“Ryan,” Candace says, coming to stand beside me as the first fireworks light up the night sky. “What’s going on?”

I grin, my heart pounding. “Just wait.”

I lead her to the center of the gathering, where everyone is beginning to quiet down, their attention shifting to us. Brennen steps forward, raising a glass.

“I want to thank everyone for being here tonight,” he says, his voice carrying over the crowd. “This vineyard has been through a lot but tonight is about new beginnings. And we have someone very special to thank for making that possible.” He looks directly at Candace, his smile warm and genuine. “Candace Prescott,thank you for being the catalyst in bringing my family back together again, and helping us fulfill my mother’s legacy.”

The crowd erupts into applause, and I can see the surprise and emotion on Candace’s face as she looks around.

And then it’s my turn.

I step forward, taking her hand and drawing her attention back to me. “Candace,” I say, my voice steady despite the adrenaline coursing through me. “From the moment I came back, you’ve kept me on my toes. You’ve challenged me, pushed me, and reminded me of everything I was missing. You’re the reason I’m here, and you’re the reason I’m staying.”

Her eyes widen, and I drop to one knee, pulling a small box from my pocket.

“I thought I was coming back to rescue the vineyard,” I say, my voice thick with emotion. “But the truth is, I came back to rescue myself. And to rescue us. You’re my home, Candace. You always have been. Will you marry me?”

The crowd holds its breath, the moment stretching into eternity as she stares at me, her eyes glistening. And then, finally, she smiles—a brilliant, radiant smile that lights up the night—and drops to her knees in front of me.

---