Chapter 7 Cru
CRU
There were two ways to get to Brix’s house. One went through the back, and not many people knew about it. Since there was someone right behind me, I kept going and pulled through the main gates.
This way would go by the winery buildings and the main residence. Ma wouldn’t give me grief for not stopping in; she was at the diner.
When I got close, I saw someone else sitting on the porch. So I pulled off the drive and parked.
“Hey, Bit. Nice to see you.” My dad had been the one to give Trevino the nickname.
At the time, he’d called him Little Bit, since he was so much smaller than the rest of us.
Even Snapper and Kick, who were two and three years younger than him, were taller by the time Trevino was ten.
He eventually shot up in height and filled out enough to be on the offensive line when he played high school football.
“Where’s Ma?” he asked.
“At the diner.”
My brother nodded.
“Do you need something?”
“Thinking about breakfast.” He’d always been a guy of few words. I couldn’t say whether his head injury had made it worse or not.
“I haven’t eaten if you wanna go with me.”
He stood, walked down the porch steps, and I followed.
“Where’s your car?” I asked after we were in mine.
“Parked by the caves.”
I cringed. The caves were where Trevino was attacked, and it was where he always went first when he came on the property.
Once on the road, I drove in the opposite direction of Moonstone Beach and headed into the historic part of Paso Robles.
My gut ached and my shoulders were tense ever since I left Daphne at the diner.
I was supposed to be watching over her, protecting her, and keeping her safe.
I just prayed she kept her promise and stayed with my sister or her parents.
“Joe’s or Cowgirl’s?” I asked once I found a place in town to park. Either one was fine with me. They both had good food, although neither was as good as the Olallieberry Diner.
“Cowgirl’s,” said Trev.
“Dad liked Joe’s better,” he mentioned when we walked into the other place.
“Was Cowgirl’s even open before he died?”
He shrugged. “Probably not.”
We were seated and had ordered breakfast when I told Trevino that Brix and Addy had left that morning.
“He messaged, and I saw them earlier.”
“I’m really glad, Bit.”
He nodded. “I hung out with Snapper and Kick a couple of weeks ago too. They won big at NFR.”
“Cool.” I hadn’t even known that. National Finals Rodeo took place in mid-December. I saw my two youngest brothers at Christmas, and they hadn’t mentioned how they did.
“I saw Cris too.”
“Sounds like you’re making the rounds, bro. Anything up?”
“I’m leaving California.” His words were like a punch to my gut, unless he was headed to Mexico.
“Where to?” I asked.
“Don’t know yet.”
“Have you seen Uncle Tryst?”
“Might go there first.”
The waitress brought our food faster than it seemed they could cook it.
“You should, Bit. I’m sure Brix could use some help on his house.”
He didn’t say much else until he finished eating. “Brix said you’re bringing Daphne on to take over the second label.”
“That’s right.”
Trevino pulled out his wallet, threw some cash on the table, and stood.
“Ready to go?” I asked.
“If you are.”
I wasn’t, but I could get the rest of my food to go. I signaled the waitress, who brought a box over.
We drove to the ranch in silence. I figured my brother had said everything he wanted to already and didn’t press for more.
“Do you want me to drop you at the caves, or are you sticking around?”
“Are you moving out of the guest cottage?”
I glanced over at him. “I am. Why?”
“Could I move in?”
“Of course you can, Bit.”
“Cool. Maybe I’ll stick around a while longer, then.”
Trev had never been interested in making wine, or I’d have asked him if he wanted a job too. “I can take you there now if you’d like.”
When he nodded, I turned the SUV around.
“I have clothes to pack up and some other personal stuff, but everything else comes with the place.”
He turned in a circle in the living room once we were inside. “Was Daphne here last night?”
“She was. It was late, so rather than finding another place to stay, she bunked here.” I pointed to the pillow and blanket on the sofa. “I slept there.”
Trevino nodded. “You should marry her.”
“Yeah?”
“You two are perfect together.”
“Thanks, Bit. I think so too. I’m not sure Daphne feels the same way, though.”
He shrugged. “You’ll never know if you don’t ask.”
Trevino and I got all my stuff packed and looked around to see if Daphne had left anything behind. I’d gotten her bag out of the SUV before we left for the airport. After she showered and changed, she’d packed it up and I took it back out, figuring we’d drop it off at Brix’s place later.
I chuckled.
“What’s funny?” Trevino asked.
“I’m buying Brix’s house. I guess at some point, I need to figure out something else to call it.”
“Casa Del Sol.”
I thought it over for a minute. “It’s perfect.” I’d always consider the house warm and welcoming. “Thanks, Bit.”
“You should follow all my advice.” He glanced over his shoulder and smiled.
“You got that right, brother.”
“Where to?” Trevino asked when we carried my stuff inside.
The one thing Daphne and I still had to figure out was who would sleep where. I had a feeling she’d want the bedroom on the second floor since she appeared enamored with the sleeping porch. For now, I’d unpack my stuff in the one on the main level, which was directly below the one she’d be in.
“In there,” I said, pointing in that direction.
“Got it,” said Trev. He brought half the stuff into the bedroom, then went out to get more.
I sat on the bed, wondering why I was here and Daphne wasn’t. How had things gone wrong so quickly? Not to mention, I’d vowed not to leave her alone, and that’s exactly what I’d done.
Still need more time? said the message I sent.
Good on time. Now, I need clothes. Yours are all too big for me, she responded.
I nearly wept with relief. While things would continue to be awkward as we got used to being around each other, we were going to be okay.
Where are you? I asked.
Outside.
I rushed over to the front door and saw her sitting on the porch swing, laughing with my brother. All I could think as I watched them was how I wished every day could have moments like this. Having Trevino home felt so good. That I’d wake up every day knowing I’d see Daphne, felt even better.
“Hey, guys,” I said, walking out to join them.
“Daphne needs wellies, jeans, and sweatshirts.”
“Yeah, Bit? Is that all?”
He looked up at me and smiled. “I’ll let you figure the rest out.” He got off the swing and walked off the steps.
“Where are you going?”
He thought for a minute. “Shit. I gave you the good name. I’ll have to think of something else for the cottage.”
“How about Casa de la Luna?”
He laughed out loud. “Or Casa de la Luna…tic.”
My brother never seemed more like his old self again as he did while walking away. I loved him so damn much and worried about him constantly. I just prayed he’d decide to stay here instead of taking off to wherever he was thinking about going earlier.
“I forgot you call him Bit,” said Daphne. “It certainly doesn’t fit him now. I mean, I like it. It’s just that out of all your brothers, Trevino is the most, err, muscular.”
“Thanks a lot,” I joked. “I’m about the only one he lets get away with calling him that.” I studied her. “We good?”
“Better than.”
“Wanna go shop?”
“Have you eaten?” she asked.
“Yeah, um, I’ve got half a breakfast burrito left if you want it.”
She shook her head. “Your mum made a traditional Avila breakfast, and while it was just for Alex and me, she doesn’t know how to cook for fewer than seven people.”
“Think you’ll be hungry again for dinner with your parents?”
“If I walk enough of it off while we shop.” She winked.
God, I loved her. All it took was her smile to remind me how much I did.
We spent all afternoon in downtown San Luis Obispo, shopping for clothes for her and me. I knew I’d love everything I bought, only because Daphne picked it out.
Between each store, I took the bags and put them in the SUV.
“What are you doing?” she asked when I waited outside rather than follow her into a store called Fanny Wrappers. Based on the window displays, they didn’t carry men’s underwear.
“I’ll stay out here.”
Daph shook her head and wiggled her finger. “Get in here, Enzo. I need your opinion.” She held up a pink lace bra. “This or that?” She pointed to a peach-colored one in the same design.
I pictured the thin material covering the generous curves of her breasts. Her frame was slight but powerful, with defined muscles honed by years of running, surfing, and walking miles and miles of vineyards.
Knowing that if I didn’t turn away, imagining her wearing anything they sold in this store would give me a raging hard-on, I looked out the window rather than at her. “Both.”
“What about purple?”
“Yep.”
“Black?” she asked.
“Every color of the rainbow. Although black isn’t one of them. Every color they have.”
“There are matching thongs too.”
My eyes rolled back in my head as I imagined the thin, colored lace peeking out between the cheeks of her pert, hard ass.
I glanced over my shoulder at her and saw she was covering her mouth, trying not to laugh.
“You are such a brat.”
Daphne giggled, took my hand, and led me to another part of the store where she plucked a garter belt from a display table and held it up. “What about this?”
It was sheer with navy flowers. “Fuck me,” I said under my breath.
Daphne raised a brow.
“That means yes. You should get it.”
“I think I’ll wear it.” She carried her armload of purchases to the checkout counter but held up the garter belt. “Would you mind if I wear this after I’ve paid?” Daphne motioned to a fitting room.
“Have at it, honey,” the woman said, looking me up and down. “I know I would.”
Between her shenanigans this morning and this, she had a helluva lot of payback heading her way.