Page 91 of Cru's Crush

“But you promised!” my sister shouted at me.

“No, Alex, I didn’t. In fact, I never agreed to be in the auction this year or any other. The difference now is I don’t care what you threaten me with. I’m finally putting my foot down. I’m not doing it.”

“You’re already listed in the program.”

“Say it was a typo.”

She folded her arms. “You have to be there anyway to represent Los Cab. What’s the big deal about being in the auction if you’re already there?”

“Because someone will bid on me, and I’ll have to spend a lot of money on a fancy date with a person I don’t want to know.”

“It’s for charity, Cru. All the money goes to the children’s hospital. Think about that.”

I shook my head. “You know damn well that I always make a donation anyway. A sizable one.”

“Will you double it this year?”

My eyes scrunched. “I will on one condition.”

“Name it.”

“You never ask me to be in this stupid auction again.”

She drummed her fingers on the counter. “It isn’t stupid.”

“Alex…” I warned.

“All right. I’ll never ask again.”

“Wait. You said I was already in the program. What was the date?”

“Hot-air ballooning over the vineyards, followed by dinner in the old winery.”

“Get out of here, Al.”

She cocked her head. “What did I say?”

“Nothing. Just go.”

“God, you’re a moody asshole lately.”

I pointed to the door.

“All right, I’m leaving. Jeez.”

Hot fucking air ballooning over the vineyard. Why did that have to be what Alex had come up with?

I had a tuxedo.All the men in my family did. As one of the largest wineries on the Central Coast, wewere required to attend all sorts of black-tie functions, most of which were fundraisers. None were bigger than the Wicked Winemakers’ Ball, the highlight of the post-harvest season. My sister was appointed chair of the event a few years ago and quadrupled the money the event raised by adding a bachelor auction.

I’d been coerced to participate since the year it started, as had the rest of my brothers and my fellowcaballeros. Brix and Ridge were the first to get married, thus they no longer qualified to be auctioned off. Beau, his brother, Press, and Zin were also off the market enough that Alex left them alone.

Given the number of eligible men was dwindling, my sister had become more of a pest about participation. Snapper and Kick, who’d used their travel on the rodeo circuit more than once as an excuse to miss it, were here this year. New to the auction were guys I remembered being kids, but were now old enough to be bid on. The other new “kid” on the auction block this year was Bit.

On the one hand, I was pissed at Alex for forcing him to do it. On the other, it was one more indicator of “normalcy” in my brother’s life.

I got out of the shower, dried off, and got dressed. As I looked in the mirror, attempting to get the bow tied right, I studied my reflection. There was more gray in my hair than I remembered there being even as recently as last week. The bags under my eyes looked worse, and the wrinkles on my forehead were deeper. Frankly, even I had to admit I looked like shit.

In previous auctions, I hadn’t cared who’d bid on me. I only owed the winner one date, and most years, the woman was someone I’d known since childhood.