Chapter 31
CHAPTER
Cruz had missed El last night. He’d expected his interview with Bindi to be brief, but she’d ended up staying in the kitchen until ten and, in a small way, he hadn’t minded.
Though she hadn’t told him exactly what had happened with her ex, he’d read between the lines—she’d been seriously hurt by the prick, to the extent she’d fled with barely enough money to survive.
It made him think about his mum. Is that why Ferne hadn’t left his father? Had she been terrified of ending up with nothing?
He would’ve never let that happen, but his mum had her pride and perhaps didn’t want to ask him for help, financial or otherwise.
And considering Ferne hadn’t worked for years beyond managing the farm, it would’ve been difficult for her to find employment as a social worker, her original job, in her sixties.
His poor mum. While he hated being stuck here for the next year, he was beyond thrilled that she could finally start living again and enjoying her independence.
It’s why he hadn’t reached out to her. He wanted to give her a few days to adjust to city life.
Besides, he had a feeling if she asked him how he’d settled in, he couldn’t lie, and would blurt how badly he wished he could return to Melbourne.
Because of how late Bindi had left, he hadn’t knocked on El’s door as intended and had slept fitfully as a result, memories of their night together playing like an X-rated movie in his head. With a little luck, he could have a repeat tonight.
He headed for the kitchen, intent on grabbing a coffee before telling El the good news about Bindi. As he switched on the coffee machine, a loud pounding on the back door made him frown, before he realised it could be El.
However, when he opened the door, Kyle’s smug grin indicated his farm manager knew something he didn’t.
‘Want a coffee?’
‘Yeah, but you might need something stronger,’ Kyle said, entering the kitchen and closing the door.
‘What’s that supposed to mean?’
‘You haven’t seen it?’
‘Seen what?’
Kyle’s grin faded. ‘Crap. I’m the one breaking the news?’
‘What the hell are you talking about?’
Kyle blew out a breath. ‘You’ve gone viral on Instagram.’
‘Huh?’
‘El’s managing the farm’s social media accounts at the moment, yeah?’
Cruz nodded, the first sliver of unease worming its way into his brain.
‘Well, El uploaded a video of you by the pool yesterday and it’s gone viral.’
Cruz snorted. ‘She mentioned she’d done it. People have too much time on their hands if they want to watch a video of me getting my gear off before diving into the pool.’
‘There’s more …’ Kyle trailed off, his expression pained.
‘What?’
‘As El filmed you, she, uh …’ Kyle blushed. ‘She added commentary.’
That niggle of unease intensified. ‘What did she say?’
‘I reckon you should hear it for yourself. I’ll leave you to it.’
With Kyle already edging towards the door like he couldn’t escape quick enough, Cruz had a bad feeling about the video. ‘Hang on.’
‘I’ve got work to do—’
‘What the hell’s going on?’ Cruz fished his phone out of his pocket and brought up the farm’s Instagram page.
‘Mate, it’s probably better if you watch it—’
‘Wait.’
As the video started playing, Cruz cringed, but also thanked the personal trainer he’d invested in last year when he’d had to get in shape after tasting one too many dishes. If the world had to see him, at least he looked ripped.
‘I can’t hear anything,’ he said, belatedly realising he had his volume off. Once he tapped the sound icon, he heard a low moan, and the hairs on the back of his neck snapped to attention. He’d already heard that moan: when he’d been going down on El.
It got worse from there, as she articulated in detail what she’d like to do to him and how appealing she found him, including his package.
Hell.
‘How many people have seen this?’ Cruz glared at Kyle, who shrugged and looked away.
‘Check the figure at the bottom of the reel,’ Kyle said.
Cruz’s heart stopped when he saw that 1.5 million people had seen him undress and heard El’s excruciating commentary.
‘Son of a bitch,’ he muttered, flinging his phone onto the benchtop and dragging his other hand through his hair. ‘How fucking embarrassing. What the hell was she thinking?’
‘Hey, on the bright side, she’s probably put this place on the map.’
‘At my expense!’ he yelled, and Kyle grimaced.
‘I really do have work to do,’ Kyle said. ‘I’m interviewing pickers this morning.’
‘Fine,’ Cruz muttered through gritted teeth. ‘Sorry for taking my frustration out on you.’
‘Not a problem.’
‘By the way, Bindi will be moving into the studio today.’
‘Why?’
‘I’ve hired her to help me set up the restaurant. There’s a shitload of work, so it made sense for her to stay on the property.’
‘Okay,’ Kyle murmured, but, by his pained expression, it wasn’t, not by a long shot.
Cruz didn’t want to betray Bindi’s confidence, but he had to say something. He liked Kyle and if he had true feelings for Bindi, better he knew now to give her space rather than be shot down.
‘I had a good chat with her last night and she’s looking forward to working here,’ Cruz said, trying to come up with the right words to protect both his friends. ‘I get the feeling she’s had a rough time and is hoping to regroup and get her life back on track.’
Kyle sighed. ‘If that’s your way of telling me not to tell her how I feel, I hear you. She has no idea about my feelings. She didn’t know back in high school and is still clueless.’
Kyle had loved Bindi that long?
Cruz’s shock must’ve shown on his face because Kyle said, ‘Yeah, I know, pathetic, huh?’
‘There’s nothing pathetic in knowing what you want, and it’s none of my business what you do in your personal life, but for what it’s worth, I reckon take things slow with Bindi.’
Kyle nodded. ‘Shall do. Thanks for the advice.’
‘No worries.’
‘What are you going to do about the video?’
‘Leave it with me,’ Cruz said, knowing exactly what he had to do, and dreading it.