One More Taste by Melissa Cutler Page B

Granny June was not trying to play matchmaker for Emily. And especially not with Knox, of all the men in the world. Granny June knew Emily didn’t date. She knew how critical this month was for Emily’s career. What the heck was she thinking?
    Over the years, Emily had been a gleeful spectator of Granny June’s matchmaking antics around the resort and the town of Dulcet. The woman had practically strong-armed Carina and Decker into falling in love, as well as a lot of other Briscoe Ranch employees. Emily had even played assistant matchmaker on occasion, delivering covert gifts and acting as wingman for Granny June’s plots, but Granny June had never tried to set Emily up with a man before, so Emily had figured she was in the clear.
    And yet, here Emily was, duped into a boat ride with her hunky boss. In the moonlight.
    Granny June really was a master of subterfuge.
    â€œYou don’t see it coming when it happens to you,” she muttered.
    â€œWhat?”
    Emily shook her head. “Nothing. Never mind.” Boy, would Granny June be in for a disappointment with this misguided attempt. It was totally going to ruin her matchmaking success rate.
    An awkward silence settled over the boat, with both Knox and Emily sitting, frozen as though stunned, as the boat drifted farther from shore.
    â€œWe don’t have to…” Knox’s voice trailed off.
    â€œNo, definitely not.”
    With stiff, robot-like movement, Knox took up the oars. Fog swirled over the water and reflected the moonlight, shining bright silver over the fathomless onyx depths of the lake.
    Nearby, a fish jumped, landing with a tremendous splash and rocking the boat. Knox seemed to come to life again. His eyes glittered as he scanned the water. “I think that was it.”
    â€œA fish?”
    He scooted to the edge and looked directly down into the water, frowning. “Not a fish. The fish.”
    â€œA friend of yours?”
    â€œMore like a mortal enemy. The son of a bitch that knocked me over when my truck rolled into the lake. It’s like some crazy, huge attack fish. And now it’s taunting me, jumping out of the water every time I’m near it.”
    She grinned. That might have been the most preposterous thing she’d ever heard, except that she had also seen a huge fish performing acrobatic feats out of the water that week. “An attack fish?”
    â€œLaugh if you want, but it’s no joke. That thing was insane. It definitely wanted a piece of me.”
    Emily felt the muscles in her back relax. She enjoyed Knox’s company, especially this side of him that believed in ghosts and sentient fish. Just because they were out on a boat together didn’t mean it had to be romantic. Nothing wrong with having a bit of platonic fun. “I think your fish enemy needs a name. Hot tip, though. Moby Dick’s already taken.”
    â€œHow ‘bout just Dick?”
    â€œSince you’re already being haunted by the ghost of your dad, and now you’re being shadowed by a fish, how ‘bout we call this guy Phantom?”
    Knox gave a slow nod. “I like it. Phantom.”
    â€œTell you what. If you catch Phantom someday, I’ll cook him for you. Even if it’s after the challenge is done and I’m busy with my new restaurant.”
    He offered her a keen smile, as though they were co-conspirators in a diabolical plot. “Deal.” Then his expression turned contemplative. His eyes seemed to take in their surroundings again. They’d drifted far out toward the center of the lake. What a beautiful, peaceful night. There was a nip in the air every time the breeze picked up, but Emily’s chef jacket was thick enough to stave off a chill.
    As though in preparation to row the boat back to shore, Knox rolled up his sleeves to his elbows, revealing the perfect musculature of his forearms beneath a dusting of dark hair and the same designer watch he’d worn