Page 15 of Cru's Crush

“Sorry, Daph.”

I shook my head. “Don’t be. It isn’t as if I don’t want to see my mum and dad. I just know they’ll try to convince me to return to Australia with them.”

“Are you sure that wouldn’t be a good idea?”

I looked at him and smirked. “You’re trying to get rid of me already, even before we negotiate my salary?”

While he laughed, his eyes appeared more concerned than amused.

“Seriously, Cru. If you’ve had a change of heart?—”

He put his finger on my lips to silence me, and all I could think of was how much I wanted him to kiss me instead.

“Let’s make a deal,” he said.

“All right.”

“If I decide I don’t want you here, or you decide you don’t want to be here, let’s agree to just say it outright. No more second-guessing. Like you said on the drive over, we’re friends.”

“You’re right. So, um, my parents are on their way?”

He nodded.

“Is it terrible of me to wish they were arriving tonight, only because then I could stay with them rather than return to Seahorse?”

He chuckled. “Not terrible at all. However, you still don’t have to. We can stay here.”

My eyes widened. “I wouldn’t want to impose.”

“Not here, here. You can stay in the guest cottage. Or the main house—my mom would love it if you did.”

“What about you?”

“I, uh, actually live in the guest cottage, which hasn’t been used as one for a few years now.”

“Good thing I didn’t say that’s where I’d prefer to stay.”

“My mom would be just as happy if I stayed with her.”

“My parents’ arrival means I won’t be able to start work tomorrow.”

He shook his head. “Not even one day on the job, and you’re already taking time off.”

“Believe me, I’d rather be here.”

“Come on. Let’s take a walk.”

“What about Brix and Addy?”

“He said she was tired and they were going to bed. I’ll need to come over in the morning to see them off. In fact, I’m taking them to the airport. You might as well ride along and meet up with your parents.”

“Good thinking.” While I said the words, I didn’t mean them. The longer I could put off the inevitable conversation about my return to Australia, the better.

“This is the cottage,”Cru said after we’d been walking for several minutes. It had a white picket fence surrounding it and a lovely front porch.

“It’s charming,” I commented when he opened the gate and led me up the walk to the front steps.

“Fortunately, it was cleaned today, or I might be afraid to invite you in.”