Chapter 2 #2
Cru nodded and took another sip, but his eyes never left mine.
I either needed to retreat to the ladies’ room and douse my body with cold water or change the subject.
“So, um, I guess I should’ve asked if there was someone else you’d rather take to dinner tonight.”
His head cocked. “Why?”
“Err, I don’t know. Maybe there’s someone special in your life who might get the wrong idea about me going with you.”
“Everyone knows we’re friends,” he snapped, turning away from me to look around the crowded room. “Would you excuse me for a minute? I see someone I need to speak with.”
“Of course,” I said, staring into my glass, knowing my flush of embarrassment had traveled up my neck to my cheeks. Thankfully, he was too focused on whoever he had to talk to that he wasn’t paying the slightest bit of attention to me.
I turned the stool slightly to see where he went. “Who’s that?” I asked when Alex returned.
“You mean the guy Cru is talking to?”
“Yes.”
She fanned her face. “Muy caliente, right?”
I nodded.
“That’s Anthony Ricci. I’m surprised you haven’t met him. I’m sorry to say he’s happily taken, though, by another winemaker.” She wriggled her brows.
I watched as the two men talked, both laughing at something Cru said. When Anthony reached up as if to touch him, I quickly turned away. It was bad enough thinking about the two men together. I didn’t need to see it.
“Are you okay?” Alex asked again. This time, her eyes bored into mine.
“Yeah. Just feeling sorry for myself. More so, knowing Anthony’s taken.” I winked and smiled, hoping she bought it.
“There are a few other, single, heterosexual guys here tonight. I’d be happy to make an introduction if any of them interest you.”
“Daphne has plans tonight. She’s having dinner with me.”
My eyes opened wide because I hadn’t heard Cru return. Alex’s did too, probably more from his tone of voice.
She looked from her brother to me. “Daphne, are you leaving town anytime soon?”
“She isn’t,” Cru snapped.
Alex put her hand on her hip. “I was talking to Daphne, who I know can speak for herself since she just asked me if Anthony Ricci was available.”
I choked on the wine I’d just sipped.
“Are you okay?” Cru asked, patting me on the back.
“I’m fine,” I said, grabbing a bar napkin to wipe my mouth. “Just tired of people asking me that,” I added under my breath.
“Anyway, what I was going to say is, just because Daphne is having dinner with you this evening, it doesn’t mean she can’t do the same with someone else tomorrow night.”
Cru glared at her. “Knock it off, Al.”
She shrugged at him, then looked at me. “Did you decide on something to eat?”
I turned the menu that was face down over and pointed. “That.” I took a closer look. “Spanish, err, octopus.”
Alex made a face. “Really?”
“If it isn’t good, why is it on your menu?”
“You’re right. It’s fabulous. Cru, what about you?”
“Bring us an order of roasted beets and beef tartare.”
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.”
Cru stepped closer. “Come to dinner with me. We’ll figure the rest out later.”
“Okay.”
He leaned down to look into my eyes. “Did you say okay?”
I smiled. “I did.”
“There’s something I need to say,” I began when we were in the car on our way to Brix’s place.
He glanced over at me. “Go ahead.”
“You’re a good friend, Cru. I don’t want to do anything to ruin that.”
“Yeah, me neither.”
I waited, but he didn’t say anything else. He also didn’t look over at me for several minutes.