Chapter 13 Cru
CRU
Earlier, I’d asked Alex to make sure two adjacent seats were open for Daphne and me.
I took her trembling hand in mine and led her out to the enclosed terrace, pleased to see we’d be seated at the far end of the table, where no one would notice if I reached under it and put my hand between her legs.
I pulled the chair to my left out for her, avoiding the gaze of everyone else at the table. No doubt those here, including my mother, were watching and waiting for a sign confirming what I was sure they all suspected—that it had taken Daphne and me less than a few days to go from friends to lovers.
We weren’t yet, but by sunrise, that would all change.
I planned to take her to bed and make her mine in every way I could.
By breakfast, I’d erase the memory of every man she’d been with before me.
No one could love on Daphne’s body the way I would, because no one loved her a fraction as much as I did.
Once seated, I rested my left hand on Daphne’s thigh, then raised my wineglass with my right.
“I’d like to offer a toast,” I said at the same time she opened her legs, then used her left hand to guide mine between them.
“To Daphne”—I turned my head to look into her eyes—“the newest member of the Avila and Los Caballeros family.”
Glasses were raised, and the others at the table offered their congratulations, but I couldn’t look away from her questioning eyes.
When I nodded once, leaned forward, and brushed her lips with mine, I heard both gasps and murmurs of happiness from our families.
After breaking our chaste kiss, I brought my mouth to her ear.
“This is just the beginning for us, Daphne.”
“I can’t wait,” she whispered.
I kissed her a second time. “Me either.”
As I turned to face the table, the first person I saw was my ma. Her smile and the tears in her eyes told me everything I needed to know. She approved. Whether she did or not wouldn’t have stopped me from pursuing a life with Daph; her happiness over it just made it sweeter.
“Do not make a sound,” I whispered before digging into the food on my plate.
I ate with one hand, refusing to take the other from between Daphne’s legs.
I alternated between cupping her bareness and stroking her clit.
Thinking about putting my mouth where my fingers were almost had me groaning out loud.
All the while, she remained silent. The only time she spoke was in direct response to a question, and then, I increased the pressure on her sensitive bundle of nerves with every word she uttered.
That she took my assault on her pleasure without pushing my hand away or asking me to stop made me hard as granite.
“Come on, Ma,” said Alex when everyone appeared to be finished eating and she stood. “The least we can do after this feast is help clean up.”
Daphne’s mom stood too, and when she started to as well, I wouldn’t let her.
“Stay where you are,” I leaned in and said.
“Cru, I should help.” Since it was the first she’d given me a hard time, I let it go. However, I couldn’t assist either, something that appeared to give Daphne great pleasure, based on her smirk. Now, that would get her in trouble.
“Congratulations on bringing Daphne on board,” said Maddox, raising what was left in his glass in my direction. I did the same and took a drink when he did.
“I can’t wait to see what she makes,” I said.
“Bringing Bradley on as winemaker at Butler Ranch was one of the smartest things I ever did. It took Naught a while to agree. I’d say he’s pretty happy about it now, though.”
Naughton had married the woman Maddox mentioned within a year of her taking over as head winemaker in his older brother’s place.
Mad shook his head. “She makes damn good wine, just like I predict Daphne will.”
“So what happened?” I asked. “How’d you break your ribs?”
He chuckled. “Don’t ask.”
“What did you do, slip and fall in the fermentation room?” The way his cheeks heated told me I wasn’t far off. “Sorry, man,” I said, chuckling.
He laughed too and looked between me and Daphne’s dad. “I’d appreciate if you didn’t let word get out.”
“I don’t know, fellas. Sounds like we should use this opportunity to get even with Maddox for all his high jinks over the years,” said Noah. “What can we get out of him?”
“Withdraw the Demetria Cab from next year’s awards,” I muttered. It was the only category I hadn’t been able to best him in, and each year, it pissed me off.
“What fun would that be?” he countered, still chuckling. “Winning by getting rid of your competition? No way would that make you happy, Cru.”
“You’re right,” I said, knowing he was.
I saw lights from a vehicle approaching the house. “This must be Bit,” I muttered. I watched the SUV pull in and park, but I didn’t recognize it.
“What’s up?” Maddox asked.
“It is him, but he isn’t alone.” When two men walked toward the house, I took a closer look. “I think Decker Ashford is with him. Would you excuse me?”
“Of course,” said Maddox when I raced into the house.
By the time I was inside, they were both walking in the front door.
“Everything okay?” I asked, meeting them in the entryway.
“Is there somewhere we can talk?” Deck asked, looking behind me.
I glanced over my shoulder and saw everyone, including Maddox, had come inside.
“Sure, follow me,” I said, leading them into the back bedroom. I stopped before going inside. “Should I get Daphne?”
“In a minute,” Decker responded.
I shut the door behind us and looked between him and my brother.
“Go ahead,” Bit said.
Decker cleared his throat. “After you and Daphne left the hospital, your brother went outside to take a break. He hadn’t been out there long when he overheard two men talking. One said something about being able to grab ‘her’ once you returned to the ranch.”
My eyes opened wide. “Do you think they meant Daph?” I asked.
“I know they did,” Decker said, nodding.
“Anyway, your brother was able to record the rest of their conversation, and it was pretty damning. When he heard them say it was time to head out, he went inside and called me. My team and I showed up right as they were exiting the parking lot. We surrounded them and waited for local law enforcement to get there.”
“You were already here?” I asked.
“Affirmative. We’d been tracking three suspects we strongly believed were the ones who’d held Daphne captive back in New York. The problem was we didn’t have enough proof to apprehend them.”
“What about now?”
Deck put his hand on Trevino’s shoulder. “Thanks to this guy, we have more than enough to hold them. The sheriff has them in custody, and I’m headed to the jail to interrogate them now. I figure one of them will be scared enough to confess and take the others down with him or her.”
“Wow,” I said, shaking my head and blinking away tears. I reached for Trev, and we embraced. “I don’t know how to thank you, Bit.”
“I was in the right place at the right time.”
“And had the forethought to record their conversation,” said Decker. “Without that, we might not have had enough to take them in. I’ve been building a case since you rescued Daphne, and I think we easily have them on kidnapping.”
“I should tell her.”
Decker nodded. “I need to head out, but your brother can answer any questions she might have.”
“What about the others here?” I asked.
“All family, right?” he asked.
“Either mine or Daph’s.”
“I don’t see a problem with you including them when you tell her.”
Decker shook Trevino’s hand. “You did good, Bit.”
When he walked out, I followed. “I wanted to ask about your fee and who’s taking care of it.”
“Since it was a kidnapping and Daphne was essentially taken across state lines, the FBI has it covered.”
“If there’s anything extra—”
“There’s not.”
I watched the man walk away, then returned inside, looking for my brother. “You saved Daphne’s life, Bit, and I’ll be eternally grateful to you for it.”
His cheeks flushed, but I also saw the flash of a smile.
“Come on. Let’s go tell everyone the good news.”
We weren’t all the way through the story when Trevino’s cell rang. He stepped aside to answer it but didn’t leave the room. When he ended the call, his smile was broad.
“Decker said he’s got a full confession. Apparently, when they first met her, the name sounded familiar, and they looked her up. Once they discovered she was the daughter of the owners of the Cullen House, they decided to cash in on their chance meeting.”
I was already standing next to Daphne with my arm around her but gathered her closer. “You’re safe now,” I whispered.
“He’s sure it’s them?”
Bit’s cell vibrated. “Are you up to seeing their mug shots?” he asked.
Daphne raised her head and looked into my eyes.
“It’s up to you. It doesn’t sound like you’ll need to identify them. At least not tonight.”
“I want to be sure,” she said barely above a whisper.
I nodded, and Trevino approached. She took his cell and swiped between the images. “It’s them,” she said first to me, then to her parents.
While the three embraced, I walked over to Bit. “You did good, brother,” I said, repeating Decker’s earlier words to him.
“Trevino?” I heard our mother say from behind me. I stepped aside and watched as they hugged. I prayed she’d realize her earlier misstep and start treating Trevino like she did the rest of us.
“He’s a hero,” said Alex, walking up to stand next to me.
“He sure is.” I put my arm around her shoulders and squeezed. After glancing behind us, I saw Daphne and her parents watching but no longer talking. “Excuse me,” I said to my sister.
“I can’t believe it’s over,” said Daph. “I don’t even want to think about the fact they were here in Paso Robles.”
“You’re safe now,” I said, pulling her close and kissing her temple.
“We don’t know how to thank you,” Noah said to me.
“Thank him.” I motioned to where my brother sat on the sofa with our ma, Alex, and Maddox.
I thought Daphne would go with them, but she remained by my side.