Page 67 of Cru's Crush

“Of course, Daph. And just so you know, I alerted Beau and Tryst already.”

I breathed a sigh of relief. After our exchange in Las Vegas, I dreaded calling Beau. I was sure he’d be sympathetic and kind, but truthfully, I was still miffed at him over the way he’d treated me, particularly after his mother passed. I’d been close to her for most of my life, and her death hit me hard. That Beau didn’t have the decency to acknowledge how I might be feeling hurt more than I cared to admit.

I sighed, and tears flooded my eyes again. “I miss you so much.”

“I miss you, Daphne, and I love you.”

Our call ended with me promising to get in contact with him tomorrow unless there was news about my dad before that. We also agreed that our next call should be via video so we could see each other. The anticipation that we would gave me great comfort.

“Daphne?” I heard my mum call my name.

“I’m here,” I said, walking toward her. “Is everything okay?”

“The doctors are on their way to speak with us.”

I tucked my mobile away and followed her into my father’s room.

Thankfully, they encouraged us to go home, saying my father was stable but they wouldn’t consider bringing him out of the coma until tomorrow or the following day.

After getting my mum settled,I lay on the bed in what had been my childhood room and stared up at the ceiling. I prayed hard that when my father came to, his condition was better rather than worse. Regardless, I doubted I’d be able to return to California anytime soon.

I stared down at the engagement ring Cru had given me, pushing away thoughts that it would be impossible for us to consider marrying now. We’d figure it out, somehow, wouldn’t we?

I covered my eyes with my arm and groaned. How, though? At least until my father came out of the coma, I’d have no idea how long I might have to remain inPerth, and for the next three months, at least, it would be impossible for Cru to get away. I rolled to my side, pulled out my mobile, and studied the photo I’d taken without him realizing I had.

Everything about him was conveyed in the image. He was a beautiful man, with striking looks, a hard, muscular body, and a soul like none I’d ever known. Deep in my heart, I knew he loved me and always would, but would it be right to ask him to wait for me when it could be months, maybe even years, before I could return to Los Caballeros?

He’d certainly have to hire a second-label winemaker right away. Maybe he already had.

I traced his face with my fingertip, wishing so much he was here with me now.

When my mobile rang with a call from him, I nearly fell off the bed.

“Could you feel me thinking about you?” I asked, staring into the face I already missed more than I dreamed possible.

“Hello, Daphne. As good as it was to hear your voice earlier, seeing you now is so much better.”

“I was just looking at a photo of you,” I confessed.

“Where areyou?”

“Home, err, at my parents’ house.”

“What’s behind you?”

“Hot-air balloons,” I said, laughing. “I was obsessed with them as a child, so my mum had a mural painted of them.” I moved so he could see it better.

“It looks like they’re floating over a vineyard,” he said.

“Good eye from thousands of miles away,” I joked. “Speaking of the vines, how goes it at Los Cab?”

“Terrible.”

I cocked my head but smiled. “Truly?”

“No. Everyone is stepping up, especially Bit.”

“I’m so glad.”