Page 59 of Love, Lies, and Celtic Knots

“Joselyn, I need you to understand. I spent most of my life working for the Murphy family. The Celtic Knot is in my blood. It’s what I know best. And just like I want to make things right with you now, I need to make amends with them, as well. I owe them a debt, and I must repay it. Now I have the opportunity to do that.”

My initial uncertainty vanishes, and my heart swells with pride. This is the father I know. Not the man who made one mistake all those years ago. As Emma said, there has to be more to the story. And I owe my father a chance to explain.

He continues speaking. “Take it from me. You must make peace with Brennen, too. He is a good man. He is not his father. He was hurt badly when you left. I was not able to comfort him, because I was hurting also.”

“Oh, Papa. I’m afraid. What if he won’t forgive me?”

“Speak from your heart, daughter. Just as you’ve done with me. Trust takes time to rebuild, and you must be patient. If it is meant to be, it will be.”

Chapter 4

Brennen

The last thing I expected to hear from my sister was a name from my past—Joselyn. Why now? The thought of her forces me to unpack all of the emotions I so carefully put away when she left.Love. Anger. Abandonment. Betrayal. I went through all of them. And now? I feel numb. I’m not sure I can entertain any distractions to my game plan or risk removing the walls I’ve so carefully erected around my heart since she vanished.

My thoughts are interrupted by the buzz of the intercom on my desk. Like most of the production equipment, the old-fashioned intercom system is another dinosaur from the past that’s still in use around the winery. The voice of Isabella, our receptionist, who’s really more my assistant and right hand, flows through the speaker. Normally, she’s bubbly and friendly, but now her words are cautious and to the point.

“Brennen, I’m sorry to interrupt, but you have a visitor. She’s quite insistent.”

Is itJoselyn?I make my way down the hall, bracing myself for the sight of the woman I haven’t seen in nine years.Why is she here? What’s she like now? Is she married? Kids?Ever since Emma told me about her last night, the questions have beenbouncing around my brain like a pinball machine, while visions of a younger Joselyn invaded my dreams all night.

When I reach the lobby, the atmosphere is electric with tension, but eerily quiet. Isabella is cowering behind the reception counter, pretending to focus on her computer screen. The visitor locks eyes with me instantly. She isnotJoselyn. The total opposite, in fact. She’swearing an expensively-cut business suit and an attitude to match. Her stiletto heels scream designer, and there’s a hardness about her that sends up a red flag. She invades my personal space without hesitation, planting her hands on her hips.

Holy shit, I recognize her.She’s a ghost from the past. My sister’s concerns and warnings ring like alarm bells in my head, as I greet the ghost by name.

“Candace.”

“Brennen,” she replies, her voice as smooth as silk, but deadly as poison.

This conversation is not happening out here. I turn toward the hallway, motioning for her to follow. Theclick-clickof her heels on the floor as she follows me tells me she’s not here for a social call. When we reach my office, I motion for her to enter and close the door behind us. She’s on my turf, but it’s clear to me she thinks she’s the dominant one.

“Let’s talk.”

I have no clue what happened between my brother and her over twenty years ago, but it’s obvious she’s out for blood. “Let’s not play games, Candace. This isn’t about business, and we both know it. You’re here because of something my brother or my father did to you years ago.”

“Don’t flatter yourself. Or them. I have better things to do than dredge up old grievances from the past.”

I call bullshit, but she’s not going to back down.I let her keep talking. I need to find out all I can about what she’s up to.

“This is business, Brennen. Plain and simple. And if you and your family were better at it, you wouldn’t be in this position.”

She’s wrong. It’s not business, it’s personal. I just don’t know why.“This isn’t just business. This is our home, our legacy. Why would you even want it?”

“Because it’s a good investment. And because, frankly, you’ve left it vulnerable. If I don’t take it, someone else will. You should have been more careful.”

“You’re full of shit.” I give her my most intimidating glare, but it doesn’t seem to faze her.

“You can tell yourself whatever you must to sleep at night, but facts are facts. You’re here because of your and your father’s failures. Not mine.”

The puzzle pieces fall into place. My father’s last ditch effort to sink the business before he died. The debt I inherited that I’ve been struggling to pay on my own.She’s behind all of it.And I’m sure as hell not going to let her see me sweat. “Fine. You’ll get your money. Every damn cent of it. By the due date.”

She gloats. “Oh, Brennen, don’t embarrass yourself. Look around. Do you honestly think you can scrape together enough money to pay off the note? This vineyard is falling apart, and you know it. Admit defeat. Walk away gracefully.”

I don’t take the bait; my only response is a stone cold stare.

“I’ll make it worth your while. I’ll pay off all your debt and give you three million on top of that. No fuss. No drawn-out fight. Just a clean slate. Otherwise? You’ll get nothing.”

I’ll never let this bitch have it. The Celtic Knot will always belong to my family, even if I have to burn it to the ground. My hands curl into fists. It takes every ounce of my self-control to keep from punching her. A vision of my mother flashes before my eyes. She would turn in her grave at the thought of me considering putting my hands on a woman, even if it was indefense of our legacy.Keep it together, Brennen. Don’t stoop to her level.

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