Page 40 of Cru's Crush
I told him I agreed, and while everyone assumed I was devastated by his relationship with Sam, I wasn’t. In fact, I was relieved. I wouldn’t have turned my back on him after his mother’s death—it hadn’t even been a month yet since it happened—but I was glad he’d reached out to Sam instead.
I thinkCru was right when he said I’d sensed he was in the cottage two nights ago. I couldn’t say whether the reason I felt so safe with him was because he’d rescued me or because I’d felt that wayfor years.
He was always there for me when Beau wasn’t. Even when he and I were on again rather than off. I hoped things were different between him and Sam—that he loved her enough to take care of her instead of expecting she’d always be the one to see to his every need. I didn’t know Sam well, but based on the little I did, I couldn’t see her being Beau’s doormat.
Cru had always put me first, and after being stepped on so many times by Beau’s metaphoric dirty shoes cleaned off on my rough exterior, I wondered if Cru felt the same way about me now. Did he look at me and wonder if I’d ever put him first? Had I ever? I was ashamed to think that, if I had, it wasn’t as often as I should have.
“They’re in,” I said when he set his mobile down.
“My ma and Bit are too.”
“This will be such fun. Do you have any ideas about what we should serve?”
“I haven’t thought about it yet. Do you?” he asked.
“What would you think about sushi tacos? If raw fish is an issue, we could cook some of it. I was thinking salmon, tuna, and yellowtail. We could also substitute one of these for lobster. I’d make different salsas or sauces for each and use both raw and toasted nori.”
Cru’s eyes opened wide. “That sounds amazing. Are you sure it isn’t too much work?”
“Hardly any at all, actually. It’s just a matter of cutting up the fish, then making the salsa or sauce. Toasting the nori only takes a few seconds if we do it on the stove.” I walked over to the cooktop and removed the griddle, exposing the grill side.
“I’m in. Just tell me how I can help.”
“I’ll need a ride to the market,” I said, winking.
Rather than go north oncewe reached the coast, Cru went south, in the direction of San Luis Obispo. A few miles into the drive, he pulled off the highway onto a dirt road.
“Where are we going?” I asked.
“To the best wholesale fish supplier on the coast.”
“I never knew this was here,” I said when he parked in front of what looked like a shack.
Inside, though, was nothing like I’d imagined. While not on the same grand scale as the Sydney Fish Market, this was equally impressive. I took my time perusing the options.
“What do you think?” Cru asked.
I chuckled. “I could shop here every day. Everything looks so fresh.”
“Not far down the road is another wholesale market that sells produce, and next door to that is a bakery.”
“I can’t believe Beau never brought me here.” I regretted the words as soon as I said them, but Cru didn’t appear fazed.
“He doesn’t know about it.”
“I’m surprised.”
Cru chuckled. “I kept it a secret since I wanted to be the one who brought you here first.”
I studied him when a man behind the counter initiated a conversation. Cru was hot as fuck, but he never acted like he knew he was. His arms strained against the fabric of his shirt in the same way his powerful thighs filled out his jeans. That, along with the mental picture I had of his hardness from yesterday morning, had me squeezing my legs together.
As if he sensed my gaze, Cru turned his head. His eyes met mine, then traveled to my hardened nipples that had nothing to do with the temperature inside the fish market. I didn’t bother trying to mask my attraction—the desire I felt was far too powerful to hide.
“Hey, Daph. Come meet Captain Bob.”
The man’s skin was tan and weathered, but his hair had no gray, making it difficult to guess his age. “If I were ten years younger, you’d have competition for this beautiful woman.”
“I’ve got plenty of it now,” said Cru, putting his arm around my shoulders in the way he might if we were more than just friends, and I loved it so much I beamed up at him.
