Page 41 of Beneath the Sapphire Sky

Chapter Fifteen

You should see the view from my balcony. Even you’d be impressed, Miss B.

Belle smiled at Dante’s text message. She wasn’t a huge fan of cities at the best of times, something he knew very well.

It must be pretty incredible for you to be so sure about that.

A photo popped up of an expansive view of the lit-up Sydney Harbour Bridge with the water beneath, looking close enough to touch.

Impressive.

Told you so. ;)

“Smart ass.”

Why don’t you come down tomorrow? You know, stay here and do the markets or something while I’m at the course. Then on Friday we could be complete dags and bum around on some of those ferry tours.

Belle’s breath caught. Her heart raced and a massive smile erupted. He wanted her to come down. To spend the night. She hadn’t expected an offer like that.

If you don’t want to drive, you could bus it to Bialga and either fly or catch the train down, then come back with me?

Sounds fantastic. Let me confirm with Dad. Talk soon.

She tried to contain the happy squeak that wanted to escape. She looked around the bar area of the Emerald Barrel. Nope. Noone had noticed anything out of place. She tucked her phone into her back pocket and flicked her shirt down over the top.

Wednesday night crowds were never particularly boisterous. They were busy enough that all tables in the restaurant and outside were full, but most were content to eat their meals and chat amongst themselves. Soft classical music overlaid the room’s gentle buzz of conversation.

She checked each table, smiling and making small talk. Satisfied everything was as it should be, she made a beeline toward the kitchen, where she’d seen her father disappear only moments ago.

Jack stood emptying the huge commercial dishwasher and looked over as she came through the door. Her father pointed at something on the menu and Adele nodded.

“Hey, Dad?”

Her father looked up.

“Would it be possible to get Alex and Summer to come in for a few extra days? Like, tomorrow and Friday? Possibly even Saturday?”

Her father frowned. “Why? Are you ill?”

Belle shook her head. She didn’t often ask for the extra help of the juniors. She usually tried to do most of it herself. “I thought maybe I’d take a run down to Sydney. Dante wants to show me around the ferry tours down there.”

Her dad blinked. Jack choked on a laugh.

“I’msurethat’s all he wants to show you.”

Belle gasped. Did her brother know what had happened between them? How? Had he said something to their father? Jack’s sarcastic words widened her father’s eyes so much Belle worried they’d pop from his head.

“Now, Jack…” Callum warned.

“Thanks …ex-brother.”

Jack shrugged and held up his hands. His wide grin betrayed his amusement. “Just keeping it real.”

Belle frowned. Jack looked far too happy with himself. He definitely knew something was up. Or, at the least, suspected.

“I’m sure we can cope without you for a few days, Belle. Adelaide is here with your mum through the days now, and I’m sure we can do a workaround for Saturday. Isn’t there a special thing on at that big old art gallery down there?”

Belle dragged her attention back to her father, trying in vain to stop her cheeks from heating. “Um, yeah. The museum. They have pieces on loan from Egypt.”

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