Page 12 of Love, Lies, and Celtic Knots

Ryan’s voice cuts in. “But?”

I sit up, the nagging feeling returning. “I don’t think I tasted everything. Something feels off. Brennen was nervous as hell, which isn’t unusual for a winery owner, but I got the sense he was holding something back. Like he’s got another batch or another wine that he didn’t want me to taste yet.”

There’s a pause on the other end before Ryan speaks again. “You think he’s hiding something?”

“I don’t know,” I admit, running a hand through my hair. “But it feels like there’s more to the story. Something about the way he presented the wines, the way he hurried me along from one wine glass to the next as if he was in a hurry to get me out of there quickly. It didn’t feel complete.”

Ryan hums thoughtfully, clearly processing the information. “That’s interesting. I’ve been getting some reports from a few of my contacts in the industry. People have been talking about Celtic Knot. Some say Brennen’s got a secret project going—something big, but no one’s been able to confirm it.”

“Secret project?” I raise an eyebrow, intrigued. “If that’s the case, he definitely didn’t show it to me. But to be honest, I’ve been hearing rumors, too, about something coming down the pike. If that’s true, then I want—no, need—to be the first one to taste it.”

“Exactly,” Ryan says, his tone sharpening. “I need you to stick around in Pelican Point for a bit longer, Ghost. I’m working another angle, trying to find out what’s really going on behind the scenes at Celtic Knot. But I need someone on the ground to keep an eye on things.”

I exhale, knowing full well where this is headed. “You want me to play spy for you.”

“I wouldn’t call it spying,” Ryan says, amusement in his voice. “Think of it as… quality control. I just need you to be my eyes and ears, see if you can dig up anything about this supposed special project. I just want to make sure the winery succeeds.”

I rub my temple, trying to process everything. Staying in Pelican Point means staying close to Emma. And I’m not sure how either of us will handle that, considering how things seem to be going.

But the curiosity is eating at me. I need to know if Brennen is hiding something. I need to know if the wine I tasted is just the tip of the iceberg. Having the inside edge is what keeps me at the top of my industry… makes me the one that everyone listens to. If there’s a wine out there that comes to market before I’ve tasted it, it won’t bode well for my image or my career.

Not all of us can be oil tycoons like Ryan Murphy. And who am I kidding? Seeing Emma again won’t hurt my feelings any, either.

“All right,” I say finally. “I’ll stay. But you owe me.”

Ryan laughs, the sound light but full of satisfaction. “You know I always make good on my debts, my friend. Keep me posted.”

“Will do,” I say before hanging up, the phone feeling heavier in my hand than it should.

I toss the phone onto the bed and stare out the window at the horizon, the sun beginning to set. This was supposed to be a quick trip. Fly in, taste the wines, write the review, and get out. But now, things have gotten a whole lot more complicated.

With a sigh, I sit down at the small desk in the corner of the room and open my laptop to make my notes about the wines from today. But my mind keeps drifting to Emma. Her face when she saw me. The way her body moved against mine last night. The way she slipped out before I even had a chance to get her name.

I shake my head, trying to push the thoughts aside. Work first. Then I can deal with the rest.

I sit back, satisfied with what notes I’ve written. My review is honest. Brennen’s wines are good—better than good, actually.And that’s what I’ll need to convey to my readers. But there’s also an air of mystery, I have the feeling that this winery has more to offer than what I was shown today.

Now I just need to figure out what to do next. Ryan’s request to stay in town complicates things, but I can’t deny that I’m curious. There’s something going on at Celtic Knot.

And then there’s Emma Murphy.

I grab my phone again, tapping out a quick message to the number on her business card that I grabbed on impulse on my way out of the winery, and I hit send before I can overthink it.

Me: Had a great time last night. Since I’ll be sticking around a while, maybe we’ll run into each other again sometime?

I set the phone down, my heart beating a little faster than I’d like to admit. This whole situation is crazy. But I’m not about to walk away from it now.

I’ve got a winery to investigate.

I won’t get Emma out of my head that easily.

Chapter 6

Emma

This morning I’m supposed to be catching up on my work, but my mind is anything but focused. I’m sitting at my desk, staring at my laptop screen, but all I can think about is him—Miles. Or rather, Mr. Dawson, as he’s apparently known in the wine world. I spent last night researching him online, even though that was the last thing I should have been doing. But it doesn’t matter anymore since the tasting is over.

The way our paths crossed at the winery yesterday feels like a cruel cosmic joke. Of all the people to show up as Brennen’s wine critic, it had to be my one-night stand. The guy I snuck away from without so much as a goodbye. And now, here he is, holding the future of Celtic Knot in his hands.

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