Page 77 of Cru's Crush

I got up, but rather than get another cup of coffee, I grabbed a bottle of bourbon from the pantry. I poured two fingers, finished them in one shot, then poured two more. “This isn’t funny, Bit.”

He stood his ground. “It isn’t meant to be.”

“Ican’tleave.”

“Wrong, Cru. You can’tstay.” He looked at his phone. “I’ll be back in one hour. You can give me your decision then.”

Whether it was because of the liquor or just that my brother had worn me down, I started to laugh. Once I had, I couldn’t stop. When I finally did, I stared at him with scrunched eyes. “Thank you, Bit.”

“One hour, Cru.”

I shook my head and glanced down at my phone. “My flight from SLO to LAX leaves in ninety minutes. I need you back here in far less than an hour.”

“I have a better idea. I’ll just stay here until you’re ready to leave.”

“I should probably check with Daphne first.”

“No. Just go.”

I gotout of Bit’s SUV when he pulled up to the departure area and got my bag out of the rear seat. The front passenger window was open, but when I went to say goodbye and thank him, I saw he was on the phone.

“That’s right. The Los Cab caves at nine on Wednesday. Everyone will be there,” I heard him say in a hushed tone of voice.

“See ya, Cru,” he said, setting his phone on the console. “Gotta get back to work.” He put the SUV in gear and sped off before I could ask what was going on.

Instead, once I was inside the terminal, I sent a message to Beau.

Do you know anything about a meeting at Los Cab two nights from now?

I didn’t receive a response from him before the plane took off, after we landed in LA, or when we touched down in Sydney. The only time Beau had ever taken that long to answer a text from me was after his mother passed away and he’d disappeared.

I sensed something was going on; however, since I was already halfway around the world, did it matter?

22

DAPHNE

Iwas about to pull away after dropping Martin and Hewitt at the airport terminal when someone caught my eye. I turned off the car and jumped out.

“Cru?” I yelled, waving my hands and rushing in his direction.

“Daphne?” he hollered back.

“Miss, you can’t leave your car there. This is a loading zone only,” said a traffic monitor, blocking my way.

“It’s okay. I’m loading. Or I’m about to.” I stood on my tiptoes to look over his shoulder and saw Cru within a few paces of us. “That’s my boyfriend, err, fiancé.” I pointed behind him.

“That’s right. I’m her fiancé,” said Cru, pushing past him and lifting me in his arms.

I had no idea whether the traffic guy stayed or left. All I could think about was the kiss Cru and I shared, about the way his arms felt around me, and my elation that he was here. I didn’t care why. Just that he was.

He set me on my feet, and we rushed over to my car, where the traffic guy was in the process of writing me a ticket. I sped off before he could finish, and in the rearview mirror, I saw him rip it up.

“I’d ask why you’re here when you’re supposed to be tending the vineyards, but I don’t care. I’m just so happy to see you.” I reached over and squeezed his hand.

“It’s Bit’s doing. Either I left or the workers would strike.”

My eyes opened wide. “Seriously?”