Page 5 of Beneath the Sapphire Sky

She opened her mouth, too stunned to actually speak. She narrowed her eyes and tilted her head. No…

It couldn’t be.

“Raphael?”

Those heart-melting eyes were a dead giveaway.

His grin widened. “The one and only.”

Belle almost rolled her eyes at the blatant come-on that seemed to fall so easily from his well-formed lips.

“Seriously? Dude! Can’t you manage to get dressed in the damned bathroom instead of wandering around naked?”

Dante’s annoyed voice sounded from behind the block of granite standing in Belle’s way. She stepped around him to see one very annoyed male.

Raphael rubbed a second towel through his hair and grinned at them both. “Nah.” He motioned to her. “So, you know who I am—who are you?”

Belle raised an eyebrow. “You don’t recognise me?”

He shrugged one well-defined shoulder.

“That’s an interesting scar you have near your temple,” she said pointedly, waiting for the penny to drop.

The small, silvery five-cent-piece-sized scar glinted in the late afternoon light coming through the window behind her. A scar she’d given him when she was sixteen.

Recognition dawned. His eyes widened and he gave her the once-over. “No way! Ding-Dong Davis?”

“Don’t call her that,” Dante growled.

Belle let out a huge laugh. “Would you like a matching one for the other side?” she asked, grinning.

Mortification rippled across his face. “I didn’t mean…” He held up his hands. “Your name—Belle. Bells ding. It was never meant to be offensive…”

“Quit while you’re ahead, bro.”

Belle could see that Raph actually meant what he said. “It’s okay, Dan. Did you just get in today, Raph?”

“Yeah. About an hour ago.”

“Ria must be stoked that you’re back. She’s missed you something shocking.” She looked at her best friend. “You ready?”

He nodded and looked pointedly at his brother. “And before you ask, no, you’re not invited.”

Raphael’s face fell.

Dante’s attitude was odd. He’d often spoken of how he wished Raph would come home. Had they argued about something already?

“Of course he can come. You know I always have enough food for extras.”

While she and Dante were usually left to their own company, sometimes one or more of his siblings decided to join them. She’d learned the hard way to pack double what she thought they might need for their regular picnics.

Resignation lined Dante’s face. “Fine.”

“Where are you headed?”

“Picnic.”

“The river.”

---