Page 80 of Cru's Crush

“No, since I have nothing to base it on. I guess it’s just that I don’t see…”

“See what, Cru?” I snapped, irritated that he wasn’t finishing his sentences.

“What you can do for him that isn’t already being done.”

I nodded. “There’s more to my being here.”

“The board, you mean?”

I eased from his arms and sat up. “What I mean is there is someone working very hard to steal my family’s business away while my dad is in hospital, recovering from a stroke brought on by the same person’s actions. If the bastard is successful, it would mean losing everything my parents worked their whole lives for.”

I didn’t care for the way he was looking at me. In fact, it reminded me of Beau.

“You think I’m being melodramatic.” I stood and went into the bathroom, where I knew a robe hung on the back of the door.

When I returned, Cru was sitting up with his legs dangling over the side of the bed. The sheet covered the lower half of his body.

“Don’t put words in my mouth, Daphne.”

“What choice do I have when you won’t just say what you’re thinking?”

“I’m asking simple questions. Why are you getting angry?”

I sat beside him but kept my arms folded. “You’re right and I’m sorry.”

“Come here.” Cru shifted us both so we lay on the bed, looking into each other’s eyes. He put his hand on my leg and lifted it so it rested over his thigh, causing the robe to gape open. He covered one exposed breast with his palm and leaned forward to kiss me. “I’ve missed you so much. The last thing I want to do is argue.”

“I feel the same, and again, I’m sorry.”

“I want us to be together, Daphne. Like we were before. Living together, working in the vineyards, spending all night making love—it was a dream come true.”

“But—”

“Please let me finish.”

“Apologies,again. Go on.”

“For now, you need to stay here and I need to return to Los Caballeros. We both have obligations to fulfill. I just hope that when things are sorted out with Cullen House, you can come home.”

I knew what he meant, and a few weeks ago, I would’ve agreed that Los Caballeros was my home. However, I didn’t see his commitment to his family’s business as being temporary. Why did he automatically assume mine would be any different?

“I have to see this through,” I said, looking everywhere but in his eyes.

“I know you do.”

“You do?”

His head cocked, and his eyes scrunched. “Why are you asking?”

“What if seeing it through means I have to remain in Perth? What if this is home for me?”

He looked crestfallen, but we had to accept that may be my reality.

“Cru?”

“Is that what you want?”

“The point I’m trying to make is that I don’t know. I won’t until we can move beyond the impasse we’re at now.”