Page 9 of Cru's Crush

Alex cleared her throat.

“Please,” he added.

“We won’t be hungry for dinner,” I commented when she walked away.

“Sure we will, considering you won’t eat a single bite of octopus.”

I folded my arms. “What makes you say that?”

“Read it.”

I picked up the menu. He was right. Serrano chili oil and smoked paprika. One, I was allergic to, and the other, I didn’t care for. I looked around for Alex, but didn’t see her.

“Want me to cancel the order?” he asked.

“Would you, please?”

He stepped around the bar and walked in the direction of the kitchen.

“How did you know?” I asked when he returned.

“Las Golondrinas.”

“Wow. What was I? Maybe sixteen?”

“Seventeen, and Beau ate a pepper, then dared you to do the same thing.”

My eyes opened wide. “That’s right. His was super mild, but he gave me the hot one.”

Cru nodded. “Dickhead,” he muttered.

I laughed. “And the paprika?”

“We were at somebody’s house.” He looked off into the distance, then shook his head. “I can’t remember her name. Anyway, her grandmother made dinner for everyone, and whatever it was had paprika in it.”

“I had hives all over my body.” I looked up at him. “You called your mum, and she came to the house with allergy medicine. That was nice of you, Cru.” I reached out to touch his hand, but he moved it away.

I took another sip of wine, then squared my shoulders. “Look?—”

“I’m sorry. It’s just that?—”

I slid off the stool, reached into my bag, and pulled a couple of twenties out, then threw them on the bar. “I’m pretty tired. I think I’ll pass on dinner. Please thank Brix for the invitation.”

He stood too. “Wait. What? No. I, uh, wanted you to see the house.”

“The house?” I shook my head. What had I missed?

“Remember, I said I had a place where you could stay? I’m buying Brix’s house.”

My eyes scrunched, and I gripped the back of the stool. “I think the wine went straight to my head. To be honest, I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Just come to dinner with me. We’ll make it an early night. I promise.”

“I still need to find a place to stay. It’ll be easier to do it now. If I wait, there might not be any vacancies.”

He shook his head and leaned closer. “I’m not leaving you alone, Daph. Whoever the guy was who locked you in that fucking room is still out there. What if he comes back?”

I hardly needed the reminder. The nightmares were bad enough. “I suppose I can return to Seahorse.” I rolled my shoulders. “You know what’s a better idea? I’ll stay there tonight and, in the morning, catch a flight home.”