Page 22 of Cru's Crush

“Iabsolutely adore you and Cru together. It’s about time, I might add.”

My mouth gaped. “What are you talking about?”

My mum’s brow furrowed, then she smiled. “There’s no reason to hide it from your father and me. We approve, darling. Not that you need us to. You’re a grown woman, able to make your own decisions.”

My parents had always supported me, and they weren’t game players. If they had been manipulative in the past, I might’ve wondered if that was a back-handed compliment.

“Recent errors in judgment notwithstanding,” I muttered.

“Daphne, please do not say such a thing.” She turned to face me and put her hands on my shoulders. “Nothingyoudid resulted in what happened in New York City. You were a victim.”

“You don’t know what occurred.”

She pulled me into an embrace. “Of course we do. Your father spoke with Laird Butler.”

My eyes opened wide. “How does he know?”

“Decker Ashford, one of the men responsible for finding you, told him. The two are quite close, you know. Laird, who is known as Burns in those circles, mentored him when he was a teenager.”

I blinked several times and shook my head. “I have no idea what you’re talking about. I do know Mr. Ashford helped locate me, but beyond that, you might as well be speaking a foreign language.”

She cupped my cheek. “No matter. You’re safe, and that’s all we care about. We appreciated Cru’s call, suggesting we catch the next flight out.”

I glanced over to where he and my dad chatted. He appeared as confused as I was. “You don’t think Dad would say anything to Cru about us being a couple, do you?”

My mum shrugged. “It wouldn’t surprise me.”

“No!” I gasped. I turned my back to the two men and put my hands on my flushed cheeks. “I’m telling you; it isn’t like that between us. In fact, I think he might be gay.”

She gasped. “Gay?”

“Shh.” I pulled her farther away.

“Sweetheart, Cru is not gay,” she said in a lower tone of voice.

“Have you ever seen him with a woman? Meaning someone he was involved with?”

She thought it over for a minute. “I guess I haven’t. That doesn’t mean he’s gay, though, Daph.”

I shrugged. “It also doesn’t mean he’s not.”

She shook her head and put her arm through mine like she had earlier. “Come on. Let’s see if our bags have arrived.”

The ridefrom the airport to the Norman estate was quiet. I knew Cru well enough to pick up on his tension. Even if I didn’t, the way he clenched his jaw would’ve been a clue.

“I’m sorry,” I mouthed when he glanced over at me. That he shook his head only worried me more.

“I always love staying here.” My mum sighed when Cru pulled through the gates and we drove past the vineyards I’d visited so many times when I was growing up.

I often wondered why my parents hadn’t invested in vineyard property on the Central Coast, but now thatI was an adult, I understood they couldn’t spend too much time away from the businesses in Australia.

“It is beautiful,” I commented. “Not on par with Los Caballeros, though.”

Cru glanced over at me a second time, still not smiling.

“I’m not just saying that. It’s always been my favorite.”

Finally, he smiled. “Mine too.”