Page 6 of Cru's Crush

“That’s not what I had in mind.”

“Do you know someone who’s looking?” I asked.

Cru nodded. “Los Cab.”

“Very funny. Are you telling me you’re leaving?”

“Not me. Brix.”

My eyes opened wide. “Why?”

“He and Addy want to live in Mexico. They’re building a house on the property Uncle Tryst gave them as a wedding gift.”

“I don’t see Brix giving up wine-making.”

“I didn’t, either, but he’s set on it.”

I looked at the time. It was late for lunch, but too long until dinner. While I hadn’t felt hungry for food a few minutes ago, I did now. “Stave is open, right?”

“What day is it?”

I smiled. Cru’s quirk was never remembering the day of the week. “Friday.”

“Then, yeah.”

“I could go for some tapas.” Stave was a wine bar and tasting room in the village of Cambria, which was about a ten-minute drive north from where we were. Cru’s sister, Alex, and her best friend, Peyton, owned it.

He stood. “Ready when you are.”

“I, um…”

“Are you trying to say you don’t want me to go with you?”

I gasped. “What? No. I was thinking I should find another place to stay. I mean, being here feels slightly awkward.”

“Do you have anywhere in mind?” he asked.

“Not really, but there’s probably an inn on Moonstone Beach with vacancies. I could stay in one until I find somewhere else.”

Cru shook his head. “No inns. I’ve got a place.”

I laughed. “First a job. Now a place to stay. What’s next, Cru? Are you going to find me a husband so everyone gets off my back about Beau?”

He opened his mouth as if to speak, but closed it.

“It was a joke. And apparently, not a funny one,” I muttered under my breath when he stalked off down the hallway.

“Daphne!”Alex shouted when Cru and I walked into Stave. She came out from behind the bar and hugged me. “How are you?” she whispered.

“I’m fine,” I said, pulling away and trying to figure out if she was asking about my ordeal in New York City or about Beau and Sam. “Hungry and thirsty, though,” I said with a tense smile.

“Your usual?” she asked.

I didn’t have one, but I supposed whenever I came in with Beau, I had a glass of whatever they were pouring from Barrett Family Vintners.

“Do you have anything open from Los Cab?”

Alex smiled. “Always.”