Page 10 of Beneath the Sapphire Sky

Whoops and squeals of happiness startled the birds in the trees close by, who let their displeasure be known loudly. The happiness faded from Belle’s face and she looked at the letter again.

“Who’s going to look after Mum if I do this? I don’t have much spare time as it is, and this workload will be far harder.”

She folded the pages back up and took the envelope from Dante’s fingers. Sadness seeped from her like a cloud.

“It’s not possible. I’m going to have to refuse.”

She tucked the letter back into her pocket and turned her back on him, moving to unpack the food she’d brought with her.

He looked at Raph and Ria, not knowing what to say.

Because there was nothing hecouldsay.

Chapter Five

Dante straightened hisshoulders, his hands deep in his back pockets. Callum Davis glanced his way, a smile hitching his mouth.

“Hello, Dante. Here, grab hold of this.”

Dante hurried over and held the edge of the barrel that Cal had perched on the side of a vat. He gripped the rim tight and helped lower it to the dolly on the concrete floor beside them.

Dante grinned at Belle’s father. “I don’t know how you thought you’d get that on here without help, Mr D. It’s pretty heavy.”

Cal shrugged, then sent him a grin to match his own. “I hadn’t thought of that at the time. It’s part of the vintage we’re entering into the International Wine Awards.” He wiped his hands on the seat of his well-worn work pants and faced Dante. “Belle’s in the restaurant.”

Dante nodded and rubbed at his jaw, suddenly nervous. “Yeah, I thought she might be.” He glanced at Cal. There was no point beating around the bush, he needed to be upfront and honest. “I’m actually here to see you.”

Cal blinked in confusion, then delight washed across his face.

“Well, it’s about time!”

Dante frowned. Had Belle told her father she wanted to go, after all?

“I agree. She feels stuck in a rut, so I’m glad she’s going ahead with it.”

Cal’s frown matched Dante’s own. “I wouldn’t have said stuck, necessarily, but I’m beyond happy that you two havefinally figured this out.” He stood straight and held out his hand to Dante. “You have my blessing if that’s what you were after. Because I’m pretty sure you aren’t after my permission.”

Dante stared at the offered hand. He took it, confused beyond words, while Callum pumped his hand vigorously.

“Ah, Mr D? I don’t think we’re talking about the same thing here.”

What would he need Cal’s permission for, or his blessing?

Holy crap.

Shock made him gasp aloud and he pulled his hand from the enthusiastic grip of the man in front of him.

Cal thought he’d proposed to Belle? Or was going to. The timing didn’t make much difference.

Good God.

Dante leaned back against the cold steel vat behind him and fought for breath. He held up his hand and shook his head.

If only.

Belle would laugh her ass off at him if he did something as stupid as propose. He knew for a fact that she didn’t see him that way, never had.

It didn’t matter that he’d had a crush on her for years, he wasn’t going to risk losing his best friend over something as dumb as trying to get in her pants. His stupid rejection of Belle’s pass at him so many years earlier had left them agreeing shortly afterward to never revisitthatparticular mess again.

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