Page 21 of Love, Lies, and Celtic Knots

And the fact that they’re even considering selling means she’s winning.

My burger arrives, but I’ve lost my appetite. There’s too much at stake here—more than just Brennen’s winery. If Candace takes over, it could change the entire landscape ofPelican Point. And knowing her, she won’t stop until she’s got everything she wants.

I finish my beer, pay the tab, and head back to my hotel room. As soon as I’m inside, I dial Ryan’s number. He picks up on the second ring.

“Ghost. What’s up?” he says, his voice casual.

“I told Emma,” I start, not wasting any time.

There’s a pause on the other end. “You told her I sent you?”

“Yeah. She took it better than I expected,” I admit, running a hand through my hair. “But there’s something else. Candace is here.”

There’s silence for a moment before Ryan responds, his tone darker. “What do you mean she’s there? Candace Prescott?”

“Yeah. She’s been talking to the business owners in town, offering to buy up their properties. She’s playing off the drop in tourism since the winery scandal. If she gets her hands on these properties, it’s not going to end well for anyone.”

Ryan swears under his breath. “Damn it. I knew she was up to something, but I didn’t think she’d go after Pelican Point.”

“What’s her endgame, Ryan?” I ask, needing to understand just how bad this could get.

Ryan hesitates. “It’s personal with Candace. She’s always had her eyes on Pelican Point—ever since... well, let’s just say there’s history between us. But if she’s moving in now, it means she’s trying to take control of the town. And once she’s got control, she’ll start changing things. High-rise developments, luxury hotels, big-box retailers. It’ll wipe out the local businesses, and my family’s winery will be next.”

My grip tightens on the phone. “So, what do we do?”

“I’m working on something from my end, but you need to keep an eye on her. Don’t let her make any more deals if you can help it. And find out what Brennen’s not telling us about that special reserve batch. It could be the key to the winery’s future.”

I nod, even though he can’t see me. “Got it.”

We hang up, and I sit back on the bed, my mind racing. Candace Prescott is a force to be reckoned with, but I’m not going to let her destroy this town—especially not Brennen’s winery. As for Emma... well, things just got a lot more complicated.

But I’ve never been one to back down from a challenge.

It’s time to see what Candace is really up to—and how far she’s willing to go to get what she wants.

Chapter 10

Emma

I’m pacing around my cottage, phone in hand, waiting for Ryan to pick up. The weight of everything is pressing down on me. I know this call is important, more so than I’d like to admit.

Ryan finally answers, his voice gruff and tired. “Emma, what’s up?”

I take a deep breath, steeling myself. “I just wanted to check in. How did your conversation with Miles go?” Miles had warned me that he was going to tell Ryan that we’ve been talking—although we’ve agreed not to mention our budding relationship to anyone yet.

“He’s staying in Pelican Point for a while longer,” Ryan says after a pause. “He’s got his eye on the winery.”

“We’ve met and have been talking, comparing notes. I know you asked him to come to the winery to do the review.”

“Ah. Well, he has a few valid suspicions about what’s going on.”

I nod, even though he can’t see me. Miles had already mentioned he’d be sticking around but hearing it from Ryan makes it all feel more real. There’s so much at stake now. “Okay. Well, I wanted to let you know that Alex, your other spy, is allset to start at the winery tomorrow morning as the Apprentice Scholarship winner. Your plan is in motion.”

There’s silence on the other end of the line for a moment, and then Ryan speaks, his tone cautious. “Good. That should give us the edge we need.”

I feel a knot tightening in my stomach as I realize what we’re really doing. Ryan’s idea to plant Alex inside the winery wasn’t just about giving someone an opportunity. It was about having someone on the inside—someone who could keep tabs on Brennen and report back. It feels like a betrayal, but I remind myself that we’re doing this for Brennen’s sake—not to hurt him, but to save the winery and our family’s legacy.

“I hope this works,” I say softly, feeling a flicker of doubt.

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