One More Taste

by Melissa Cutler

  He couldn’t sell. There had to be another way. “Give me time to match their offer.”

  “You can’t match this offer, Knox. You don’t have enough liquid assets to draw from.”

  No, he most certainly did not have ready access to that kind of money. “You’re not my accountant or my stock broker, so don’t pretend to know the intimacies of my finances.”

  Sandomir sighed. “Fair enough, but you know as well as we do that when Lux sets their mind on a property, they don’t take no for an answer.”

  He did know that. They liked to keep upping the bid until they’d choked out all their competition in a not-so-subtle show of might. But Knox had to take this chance. “You owe me the chance to try before you sell out my family business to a company that wants to destroy it and put hundreds of people out of work.”

  Healy arched a brow. “Do we?”

  Knox ground his molars together. “Give me one week.”

  “Forty-eight hours,” Healy countered. “Good luck, Knox. We’ll show ourselves out.”

  Knox was going to need a lot more than luck. Divine intervention was more like it. He raised his eyes heavenward, then caught himself. This was not about this dad. This was no longer about the rift or revenge or trusting in ghosts.

  This was about Knox doing what he had to do to preserve what had become hallowed ground for him, and for the extended family he’d never known he needed. To save the home of the woman he loved. And he couldn’t do it alone. It was time to call in every favor and cash in every stock. More than anything, it was time to swallow his pride and get the job done because he refused to be the person to disband the Briscoes’ and Emily’s entire world.

  Thus resolved, he grabbed his messenger bag and headed to the door. He had a lot of calls to make and he didn’t care to make them in his office, with its thin walls and eager ears. He threw the door open and stopped short at the sight of Haylie, Wendell, Ty, and Granny June gathered at Haylie’s desk, wide-eyed horror playing on their faces.

  Knox looked past them, to the other workers who were starting their day. Some were preoccupied, but enough of them were paying close enough attention to the Briscoes that they posed the risk of starting a company-wide panic, fueled by rumors. “Into my office, all of you.”

  Even once Knox closed the door and gestured to the chairs, nobody sat down. Even Granny June rose up off her motorized scooter to pace the room with the aid of her cane.

  “Please don’t tell me you were all eavesdropping on that meeting.”

  Haylie raised her hand. “I’ll cop to it. There’s no way to not listen in with these walls. It sounded important, so I called my dad over. And then Granny June and Wendell were just passing through. They do that a lot.”

  So Knox had noticed.

  “You got an offer to sell?” Granny June asked in a tremulous voice.

  Ty threw up his arms. “Didn’t you hear what those equity douches said? It’s over. Briscoe Ranch Resort is over. Thanks to Knox, here, it’s going to be leveled and rebuilt as senior living. Senior goddamn living!”

  Damn these paper-thin walls.

  Wendell’s face was growing redder by the second, as though he was feeding off Ty’s agitated energy. “I knew it. There have been rumors flying around the golf course since you got here that you’re going to sell and we’ll all be laid off. Frankly, it’s no surprise to me that you’re the dick who’s selling out.” He emphasized the insult by getting up in Knox’s face.

  “Wendell,” Haylie warned.

  “Shut up, Haylie. Don’t you see what’s happening here? Or are you too busy jet-setting with him to Dallas on his private plane like a proper whore?”

  Ty stepped between Wendell and Haylie. “Don’t you dare talk to my daughter that way.”

  “Daddy, please. You’re not helping.” Haylie stepped around Ty and touched Wendell’s sleeve. “I’m not sleeping with Knox. I don’t even like him. I mean, not like that. He’s my cousin. You’re the only man for me.”

  With a forty-eight hour deadline, Knox had way too much to do to stand there and placate an overgrown toddler like Wendell. “I’m going to try to stop the sale, so there’s no need to panic.” Yet, anyway. “Since you were listening in, you heard that they’re giving me a chance to make a counter-offer.”

  “We heard,” Granny June said. “Do you think it’s possible?”

  Ty snorted. “Hell, no, it ain’t. We heard that part of the meeting, too.”

  This would have been so much easier had Knox simply invited them all to join him in the meeting. “I have to try, which means I need to leave and make some calls. You’re holding me up.”

  Wendell took hold of Haylie’s arm. “Come on, babe. Let’s get out of here. Guess I’ve got a new job to find.”

  Knox registered a flash of fear on Haylie’s face before she masked it. She did not want to go home with Wendell, as riled up as he was. Knox wasn’t the only one who’d noticed the manic look in his eyes.

  “Can’t we stay and hear what Knox has to say about his counter-offer?” she squeaked.

  “Don’t matter what he has to say. He’s nothing but scum. A Judas.” This time, when Wendell got all up in Knox’s face, he flicked the black Stetson off Knox’s head. “Let’s go, Haylie. Now.” And he snapped his fingers.

  If Wendell took his anger about Knox and the Lux Universal offer out on Haylie, Knox would never forgive himself. “Wendell, why don’t you go on ahead? I’m going to need Haylie’s help, as my secretary. Her workday’s barely gotten started.”

  “No way. She quits, too. We’re out of here. Haylie, kiss this lame-ass job goodbye.”

  Granny June dropped onto the seat of her scooter and surged forward, rushing Wendell with her cane out like a jousting lance. “I don’t know what game you’re playing at, but Haylie does what she wants. She don’t respond to no man snapping his fingers at her like she’s a dog.”

  Wendell pushed the cane aside and chuckled at her. “Well, ain’t you cute as a button, Granny? Pretending to be all mighty like that. In case you didn’t notice, Haylie’s my wife, so this is none of your business.”

  “She may be your wife, but I’m not,” Ty said, stepping between Granny June’s scooter and Wendell. “And my mother’s right. You don’t get to snap your fingers and order my little girl around. If I ever hear you do that again, we’re gonna step outside and I’ll personally teach you some manners.”

  Haylie took hold of Ty’s arm and tried to pull him away from his staring match with Wendell. “Dad, butt out. Please. All of you, just back off. You have your own problems to deal with. Stop taking them out on Wendell. He’s right. We’re husband and wife, and what we do is none of any of your business.”

  With that, she took Wendell by the hand and marched with him toward the employee exit. Behind his back, Wendell held up his middle finger.

  They hadn’t made it to the door yet when Ty’s, Granny June’s, and Haylie’s phones all chimed with a text. Granny June was the first to read it off. “It’s Decker. Carina’s water broke and they’re on their way to the hospital.”

  Haylie pulled away from Wendell’s arm. “Oh, cool. She’s three days early! Change of plans, Wendell. We’ll meet you guys at the hospital.”

  Wendell snared Haylie around the waist with his arm. “Naw. No change of plans. We’re going home. I’m sick of your stupid family and I’m ready for a beer.”

  Knox had never felt more helpless—to rescue Haylie, to save the resort, to win Emily’s love. He stared down at his hands, stunned by the swift, sharp fall over the cliff his life had taken. And now, in the midst of it all, Carina was giving birth.

  Granny June’s cold, wrinkled hand settled on Knox’s forearm. “I’ll ride with you. We got a lot to discuss.”

  Knox did not have time for this. The best gift he could give Carina was to save her home. “I think you should ride with Ty. I’m pretty sure I won’t be welcome there and I’ve got a lot to do.”

  “Nonsense. I know I’ve done
a lousy job teaching you this, and I can’t blame your mama and daddy, but the whole point of family is to weather storms together. I failed you on that point too many times. I’m hoping you’ll give this old bat one last chance to show you the strength of our bonds. Like it or not, you’re a part of our family, Knox. I’m not letting you go this time. No matter what.”

  Chapter Twenty-One

  When Knox and Granny June walked through the entrance of Cambridge Memorial Hospital, Emily, Ty, and Eloise were already there, sitting in chairs near the main desk. Ty hunched toward the women, speaking what looked like harsh words while Eloise cradled a small pink leather flask in her hands, looking millions of miles away, Emily hugged herself as she watched Ty speak, her expression one of disbelief.

  Knox’s heart sank. He’d been hoping to get to Emily first, to tell her the straight story before Ty was able to spin some gross distortion of the truth.

  “Lord help us all,” Granny June muttered, sagging over her cane.

  Knox wasn’t sure what the Lord could do to help the situation unless he dropped fifty million dollars into Knox’s bank account so he could match Lux Universal’s offer.

  When Emily noticed Knox and Granny June standing near the entrance, she stood and dropped her hands to her sides. It was all Knox could do to restrain himself from stomping over, taking Emily in his arms, and running with her to some quiet corner of the world where he could tell her what had really happened and come up with a solution together.

  Granny June’s hand touched Knox’s. “We’ll figure this out, Knox. Don’t give up on this family, yet. Emily, neither. And don’t let her give up on you.”

  He didn’t plan on it. But he might not have a choice if he couldn’t come up with the money to make his investors an offer that topped Lux Universal’s. He tugged Granny’s hand. “Come on. Looks like I’ve got some explaining to do.”

  Emily’s face seemed to pale as Knox approached. “Is it true? About the offer for Briscoe Ranch? Ty told me.” She whispered the words, as though she ran the risk of making the offer real by voicing it out loud.

  Knox looked from Ty to Eloise before settling his gaze on Emily. “Let’s talk in private.”

  “Too late. The damage is done,” Eloise muttered, slipping the flask back into her purse. Knox ignored her, his only thought of making things right with Emily.

  “You were serious about selling. I mean, you told me, but I was hoping you’d change your mind. I thought—” Emily shook her head. “Never mind. It doesn’t matter what I thought.”

  “Emily, please. Give me a chance to explain.”

  She wrung her hands, then caught herself doing so and tucked strands of hair behind her ears. “Yes. That’s a good idea.”

  He reached his hand out and she laced their fingers together. For the first time since Knox had gotten the news about Lux Universal, he drew a full breath. They’d only taken a step before the closed door adjacent to the reception desk burst open and Decker stood in the door. His chest heaved and his wide, scared eyes were rimmed in red.

  Eloise was the first person to reach him, Emily not far behind. “What’s happening? You don’t look good,” Eloise said.

  Decker staggered a few steps into the lobby and sagged against the wall. He grabbed fistfuls of his hair as he bent forward.

  “My God, Decker. You’re scaring me,” Emily said.

  Decker shook his head. “They couldn’t find the baby’s heartbeat, and then they could, but it was irregular. And then Carina’s blood pressure crashed. They’re taking her in for an emergency C-section. I’ve got to get back in there but I wanted you to know. They’re going to let me be in there with her for support, so I—” Dropping his hands to his knees, he gasped, as though the explanation had used up all his oxygen. “Sweet Jesus, I’ve never been so scared in my life.”

  “She’s in good hands,” Eloise said. “The doctors probably see this kind of thing all the time. She’s going to be okay. She has to be.”

  Ty swayed, then braced a hand against the wall, clearly terrified.

  “Eloise is right,” Granny June said. “Carina’s a fighter. We’ll pray and God will make sure she and the baby are fine. End of story.”

  “I hope to God you’re right. That’s my wife in there. That’s my baby boy.”

  Emily rubbed Decker’s back. “We know. We love her, too. Granny June’s right. They’re going to be fine.”

  A nurse appeared in the doorway. “Mr. Decker, we’re ready for you. And if the rest of the family can move to the waiting area, that’d be great. We need to keep this doorway clear. I promise you that either Mr. Decker or I will come out to tell you what’s going on as soon as possible.”

  Decker hugged each person in turn, then followed the nurse down the hall. Granny June, Ty, Eloise, Knox, and Emily stood staring at the closed door for a beat.

  Then Emily sagged against Knox’s chest. “She and the baby have to be okay. They just have to.”

  Behind her, Ty snorted. “Look at you two, playing like you’re part of this family. What the hell are you even doing here?”

  Emily pulled away from Knox. “Not now, Ty.”

  But Ty wasn’t having it. “No time like the present. You stand there acting like you care one whit about my daughter, even as you’re planning to sell our home out from under us and let some corporation bulldoze it to the ground.”

  “That’s not my plan,” Knox countered. As scared for Carina as Ty clearly was, as out of control as it must feel to have his child’s and grandchild’s lives at risk, it came as no surprise that he’d unleash his feelings on Knox.

  Ty prowled around him, forcing Knox to pivot in order to keep eye contact. “Bullshit. You did this. You ruined our lives. And I’m sure that was your plan all along. Revenge for Clint, am I right? You have no place in this family. Consider our blood ties broken.”

  Granny June tugged on her son’s arm. “Ty, no. He’s family. He’s your—”

  “Like Wendell said, he’s nothing to me but a Judas,” Ty snapped.

  Eloise’s flask was back out. She held it aloft in a mock toast. “Like you were to Clint, all those years ago?”

  “Woman, don’t you dare play that card here, now.”

  Eloise drank deeply from the flask, then licked a drop off her lower lip. “Oh, please. It’s time. The rift was more than thirty years ago. Enough with the damn secrets. I kept them for you because I loved you. More than that little whore ever did, but this might be the only way to save our home.”

  A tingling started on the back of Knox’s neck. Little whore? Who? And what did that have to do with the rift? What did any of it have to do with the Lux Universal sale? “What secrets?”

  Eloise opened her mouth, but Ty thrust his open palm in front of her face. “Stop or I will make you stop.”

  Granny June sagged into her cane, tears in her eyes. “No. Eloise is right. Enough with the lies, even though it was for the best, all these years.”

  Eloise whirled on her mother-in-law, sloshing liquid from the flask onto her hand. “The best for whom? For you and your precious family legacy?”

  “I’m warning you. Stop this now.” Fists clenched, red-faced, and nostrils flared, Ty looked like a bull that was ready to charge.

  Afraid Ty might actually physically assault his wife, Knox stepped between them.

  “For Knox,” Granny June said. “All of this—the secret, the rift—Tyson and I knew it was best for Knox, and that was the only thing that mattered.”

  Knox had just about had enough of them talking about him like he wasn’t there. “Someone had better fill me in—now.”

  Eloise pulled her flask from her purse and unscrewed the lid. “What’s your birthdate, Knox?”

  “August fifteenth.”

  “Which means you were conceived in November. Do the math.”

  What the hell was she getting at? “I’ve done the math, so I’m not sure what point you’re trying to prove. My parents eloped on the second of November, right
after the rift, and my mom got pregnant with me a couple weeks later.”

  Knox wasn’t putting it together, the importance of his birthday and Eloise’s vitriol about that little whore and laying claim to Ty. What did the rift have to do with Knox and what was best for him? He hadn’t even been conceived yet.

  “November, hmm? Not December? Have you seen their marriage license?” Eloise said.

  No. No, he hadn’t ever seen their license.

  Granny June’s color blanched. “It wouldn’t matter, Eloise. Chaplain Roberts fudged the date.”

  “Are you’re trying to tell me that my mom got pregnant before they were married? Is that the big secret? I mean, I’m only half-surprised because that helps clarify why they had such a low-key wedding.” And, if they got married because his mom was pregnant, then that helped clarify why they’d never seemed much in love.

  Eloise said, “Don’t you ever wonder what the rift was all about? Why Clint and Ty would have killed each other that night if Tyson hadn’t gotten in the middle of it with his shotgun?”

  “Of course I have.” A terrible foreboding made Knox’s stomach churn, even as anticipation sped his pulse. This was it. The revealing of a thirty-five-year secret. Eloise was going to tell him what the rift was about. He turned, searching out Emily, and found her behind him, obviously hanging on every word, as Knox was. He took her hand firmly in his. “It’s time for the truth,” he told Eloise. “Spit it out.”

  Ty surged forward, knocking Knox and Emily out of the way. “Damn it, woman. Don’t you dare.”

  Granny June’s cane came up and rested against Ty’s chest. “I raised you better than this. Get back and stop threatening your wife.”

  Eloise gestured to Granny June with the open flask, sloshing clear liquid onto her hand. “Thank you, June. And, Knox, here’s the truth. Thirty-five years ago, in early December, Clint dragged Ty out to a field in the middle of the night and beat him up pretty bad. Probably, he would have killed him had Tyson not intervened, and it’s hard to blame him because it turned out that Linda, the sweet little Christian girl Clint was dating, got herself knocked up on the night of the Sadie Hawkins dance, and Clint wasn’t the father.”