Page 48 of Love, Lies, and Celtic Knots

Her face crumbles as she puts the pieces together and everything falls into place. She whirls, fleeing the room as if her feet had wings.

“Sophie!” I take several steps forward, intent to chase her down and explain myself, but I freeze. My stomach clenches in rebellion, but I can’t forget why I’m really here: to support Ryan.

“Go get your girl, Alex,” Ryan orders, his tone soft despite the command. He turns his focus back to his brother. “Brennen and I have some family matters to discuss.”

I don’t need to be told twice and tear out of the room, my eyes scanning everywhere for Sophie. The tasting room is full today with visitors but she’s nowhere in sight. Besides, this would be the last place she’d be.

I stop at the bar and tap Tony on the shoulder. “Have you seen Sophie? Did she come through here?”

“Yeah.” Tony nods, pointing toward the main door. “She flew out of the back room like someone was chasing her. She was crying, man. I think something upset her.”

Someone upset her all right: me. My chest turns to ice, and I pray I’m not too late, that I can save what we have. “Thanks, Tony.”

Barreling out of the winery, I nearly run over Emma. “Hey, watch it,” she cries. “You’re the second person in two minutes to nearly knock me over.”

“Sorry, Emma. Have you seen Sophie?” I think my heart might pound out of my chest.

Her eyes narrow and spark with a dangerous gleam. “I sure did.”

I glance up at the sound of tires screeching on gravel coming from the parking lot and watch helplessly as Sophie’s car fishtails and then races down the road.

“Fuck!” I take a step toward my car when Emma snags my arm, pulling me to a halt. Out of respect, I don’t rip away.

“I don’t care how close you are to Ryan, Alex.” Emma’s voice was as soft as velvet. “But if you hurt my friend, I’ll make sure you regret it until your final day.” Her gaze cuts like the honed edge of a combat knife, and her resemblance to Ryan is on full display.

I give her a reluctant nod. “I’m gonna do my best to fix this right now. Don’t worry.”

“Be sure that you do.” She releases me with a bob of her head, and I follow what’s left of Sophie’s trail, my heart in my throat.

I race to her condo and scan the cars outside. But she’s not parked in her usual spot, so I keep driving. She couldn’t have gone too far, and Pelican Point is a small town. Where the fuck could she have gone?

I pass the shopping centers and don’t waste my time. There’s no way she’d go somewhere with a lot of people. She’ll want to be alone, to think.

Then it hits me. I know exactly where she is, and I step on the accelerator.

The sand bogs down my feet the moment I hit the beach, but I don’t dare slow down. I’m desperate to find Sophie and explain everything. I spotted her car in the parking lot, so I know she’s here—somewhere. I only pray she’ll listen to me when I catch up to her. I just need to find her first.

The romantic spot where we picnicked last week is empty, but I know she has to be along this stretch of beach. I spot her work boots and socks tucked beneath a short palm tree and try to follow the footsteps in the soft sand, but there are just too many of them. She couldn’t have gone far.

The pier is empty other than a handful of fishermen working their lines. I shade my eyes and scan the shoreline, looking for her honey blonde hair. Finally, I see her! Running along the edge of the choppy surf, Sophie is moving at a fast clip, and even from this distance I can tell she’s upset.

“Sophie!” I shout, but she’s too far away to hear me with the roar of the waves.

With my stomach churning, I kick my boots off and rush after her, desperate to explain my role in what she just witnessed. And more importantly, to beg her forgiveness. Instinctively, I know my window for getting through to her, for any hope at a future with her, is closing rapidly.

“Sophie!” I try again, but she’s still moving too quickly. Doubling my pace, I gain ground and within a minute, I’m ten feet behind her. “Sophie! Stop! Please!” I call out.

Without slowing, she glances over her shoulder. My heart clenches at the pain I see even from a distance, at the tears streaking down her cheeks. Her face hardens, and I can see her shutting me out as she turns her gaze forward. She picks up speed—damn, the girl is fast!—but my adrenaline is riding high, and there’s no way I’m letting her go.

“Dammit, Sophie! Stop!” I’m just a few feet behind her now.

“Fuck off!” she screams back at me.

With a growl, I launch myself like a missile, my arms wrapping around her waist as I tackle her into the sand. Sophie shrieks and fights me like a wildcat, her arms and legs flailing, but I manage to pin her hands by her head. Her body bucks, and she yanks at her hands, trying to break free.

“You asshole! Get off me!”

“No.” I soften my voice, hoping it calms her down. “I need you to listen to me, Sophie. Please, listen.”

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