Chapter 7
Chapter 7
Miles
I drive back to Celtic Knot with a mix of determination and apprehension twisting in my gut. This morning’s encounter with Emma and that guy rattled me more than I care to admit, but that’s not why I’m headed back to the winery this afternoon. At least, that’s what I keep telling myself.
There’s something about Brennen Murphy’s setup that doesn’t sit right with me. The wines I tasted were good, damn good, but I know there’s more to this place than he showed me. I didn’t get a glimpse of the special batch I’ve been hearing whispers about.
I park my rental in the same gravel lot as yesterday and take a deep breath. The Florida heat is already unbearable, and it’s barely mid-morning. The sun beats down relentlessly, the salty air thick with humidity.
As I approach the entrance, I can’t stop thinking about the other night. Or the fact that she’s my best friend’s baby sister. I’ll be on thin ice here if Ryan finds out about us. I’m wondering what kind of reputational damage Brennen would inflict, though. I’m not afraid of Brennen, but I’ve seen Ryan’s knife skills…he might kill me and feed me to the Florida gators.
Inside, the tasting room is quiet. A few employees are milling about, rearranging wine displays and cleaning up for the day. Brennen is nowhere in sight. I make my way toward the back offices, my steps echoing in the cool, dimly lit hall. When I finally find Brennen in his office, he’s leaning over a large map of the vineyard, scribbling notes on a notepad. He looks up as I enter, his expression tight.
“Mr. Dawson,” he says with a strained smile, standing up and offering his hand. “Back so soon? I wasn’t expecting you.”
“Please call me Miles.” I shake his hand, keeping my face neutral. “I wanted to talk about yesterday’s tasting.”
Brennen’s eyes flicker with unease, but he quickly recovers, gesturing for me to sit. “Of course. What can I help you with?”
I take the seat opposite his desk, watching him carefully. “I wasn’t fair to you yesterday. The wines you showed me were excellent, no question about it. But…I couldn’t help but feel like there was something missing. Like I didn’t get to taste your premier wine. Am I right?”
His smile falters for a second before he replaces it with an overly bright grin. “Missing? I’m not sure what you mean.”
I lean forward, resting my forearms on my knees. “Come on, Brennen. You’ve got to know everyone’s talking about some secret batch you’ve got cooking. Everyone in the industry knows it. What didn’t you show me yesterday?”
He shifts in his seat, clearly uncomfortable with my directness. “I’m not hiding anything, Miles. You tasted everything that’s currently available.”
I give him a hard stare as I catch his non-admission to a secret batch, watching as his discomfort grows. Brennen seems like a decent guy, but he’s not a good liar. His eyes dart around the room, avoiding mine, and his hands fidget on his desk. I could really clean up if I ever sat behind a poker table with him.
“You’re holding back,” I say, cutting through his weak attempt at denial. “You didn’t let me taste that special reserve batch, did you?”
Brennen freezes, his eyes widening for a brief second before he regains his composure. “The special reserve isn’t ready yet. It’s still aging.”
That explains the hesitation. There’s too much at stake for Brennen to release that batch before it’s ready. “I’ve heard rumors about your secret project, Brennen. And I get it. But if you don’t trust me to give you an honest critique, then you’re wasting a prime opportunity.”
Brennen’s face hardens. “It’s not ready, yet. That reserve is my life’s work… my family’s name is at stake here. It’s not just another bottle of wine. If it gets released too soon, it could ruin everything.”
I sit back, crossing my arms over my chest. “Then let me help you. Give me the full picture so I can write another review; a more accurate one. Let me be the first one to taste it. That will help you and me. I’ll be in town for the next week or so. Your winery’s future could depend on it.” To keep my standing in the wine world, I need to be the first one to taste the wine and critique it. If I’m not, then I’m just another wine critic.
Brennen’s jaw tightens, his eyes locking onto mine. For a moment, I think he’ll show me the door. He lets out a slow breath, the tension draining from his shoulders. “I’ll think about it,” he says finally, his voice low and resigned. “I’m not ready to show it yet, but when I am, you’ll be the first to know. Okay?”
I nod, accepting his answer for now. I can’t push him too hard, and I can’t make him take my help if he doesn’t want it… no matter what Ryan says.
“Thanks, Brennen. I’ll be staying at The Pelican Point Inn. Here’s my number if you want to talk things through.” I hand him my business card.
As I leave the office, my mind spins with the possibilities. Whatever Brennen’s working on, it’s big. I just have to figure out how to get to it before anyone else does, for my sake and Brennen’s.
Outside the winery, I spot something that makes me pause. As I’m driving back into town, near a row of small local businesses, I see a familiar face from the wine world—Candace Prescott, the woman who owns a rival winery along with many other ventures, Sapphire Development. She’s talking animatedly with what looks like a group of business owners, her sleek black dress catching the sunlight as she gestures toward the properties behind them.
I narrow my eyes, my suspicion growing.
What the hell is she up to?
Without giving myself a chance to think too much about it, I park my rental and approach the group. The business owners seem to be listening intently to whatever Candace is saying, nodding along as if she’s offering them the deal of a lifetime.
“Candace,” I call out, my voice sharp.
She turns, her expression briefly startled before she smooths it into a smile. “Miles Dawson. What a surprise.”
“Didn’t expect to see you here,” I say, crossing my arms. “What brings you back to Pelican Point?” I’ve reviewed the wines from her winery in Texas and her biography on Sapphire’s website stated she’s from this town. In a million years I never thought I’d see her here, though. I also know that there’s history between her and Ryan, although I don’t know what that history entails. This is no mere coincidence. She’s up to something and Ryan will not like this.
She gives me a coy smile, one that doesn’t reach her eyes. “Business, of course. I’m just here checking on a few potential investments.”
I glance at the business owners, their expressions wary as they watch our exchange. “You mean you’re trying to buy out these local shops?” It’s something she does…buys property at a basement level price, knocks it all down and redevelops that site, essentially stealing it from small business owners.
Candace’s smile widens. “Just exploring opportunities, Miles. Nothing official yet.”
I don’t buy it. Candace has always been cutthroat when it comes to acquisitions, and if she’s here, that means Sapphire Development is trying to expand or take over. But what caught my attention was the specific location—right across from Celtic Knot. This isn’t a coincidence. She’s making moves to either surround or challenge Brennen’s winery.
The business owners exchange uneasy glances, clearly unsure of what to do.
“Do you really think selling your businesses is in your best interest?” I ask them directly, ignoring Candace’s warning look. “Pelican Point thrives on its local culture and small businesses. If you let outsiders take over, you’ll lose what makes this town so special.”
The guy who looks like the owner of the small café steps forward, his face creased with concern and his apron covered in flour. “We’ve been struggling lately. Miss Prescott made a generous offer.”
“And you’ll regret it,” I say bluntly. “Her offers always come with strings attached and at a lesser value than the property is worth. Don’t let her take advantage of your situation.”
Candace’s smile finally fades, replaced by a cool glare. “You’re out of line, Miles.”
“Maybe,” I say, meeting her gaze without flinching. “But I’m not wrong.”
Candace narrows her eyes but says nothing. Instead, she turns to the business owners and gives them a tight smile. “Think it over. My offer is good for the next seven days.”
With that, she struts away, her heels clicking on the pavement as she disappears down the street.
I turn back to the business owners, who seem unsure of what to do. “Don’t rush into anything,” I tell them. “Take your time. This town needs you.”
They nod, muttering their thanks before heading back to their shops. I watch them go, my mind racing. If Candace is buying up property around Celtic Knot, that means she’s planning something big. And whatever it is, it’s not going to be good for Brennen or Ryan.
I need to find out more about her plan—and fast.