Page 6 of Beneath the Sapphire Sky

They both answered him at the same time.

“You got a spare pair of board shorts?” Raph asked.

Dante motioned over his shoulder with his chin. “In my chest of drawers. Second drawer.”

Raph nodded his thanks and disappeared. Belle bumped Dante’s shoulder as he came level with her and they went back toward the kitchen.

“Well? Why didn’t you tell me he was home? That’shuge!”

Dante shoved a hand through his thick, dark hair and pushed it back off his face. “I did. I sent you a message about an hour ago.”

“Oh.” Belle pulled her phone from her pocket. “So you did.” She checked the side. The stupid thing was on silent again. She showed Dante and he shook his head.

“You need a new phone, B.”

“I know. I think the button’s busted. It keeps flicking to silent when I put it in my pocket.”

She grabbed the picnic basket off the counter where she’d put it and followed him outside toward the four-wheeled motorbikeparked near the kitchen door. He wasn’t saying much about Raphael being home, which struck her as odd.

“Dan?”

“Hmm?”

He swung onto the bike and looked at her. She strapped the basket to the carry tray on the back and slid on behind him as she’d done since they’d been old enough to ride on their own.

“You don’t seem too happy that he’s home.”

He gunned the engine and shrugged. “I am. I think I’m in shock.”

Belle bit her lip and frowned. She held on to the grips as the quad bike started to move. Dante and Raph had never been super close, but she’d have expected a bit more excitement than she was seeing. Dante had always looked up to his eldest brother.

They trundled down the two-lane dirt track toward the river, which lay at the rear of the property. Seed heads of long-stemmed rye grass slapped against the front of the quad from the centre of the track, just able to be heard above the motor.

Belle closed her eyes and breathed deep. She loved summer in the mountains. The early evening air had lost the worst of the sting of heat, leaving behind a balmy end to the day.

The rumble of another motor behind them caught her attention. She glanced over her shoulder to see Raph and Ria on a quad behind them.

She grinned at them. She wouldn’t be surprised if Leo and Angel turned up, too.

Lucky she’d packed extra, after all.

The huge old willow tree that was her favourite tree in all of Kurrajong Crossing came into view as they neared the riverbend. A soft breeze blew, moving its long fronds that trailed lazily in the slow-moving water.

A large, mowed area with a huge, ancient, picnic-style bench sat near the tree, only metres from the riverbank.

They rumbled to a halt and piled off the bikes. Belle set the picnic basket on the table. She eyeballed the water.

A swim first. They could help themselves if they wanted food.

Chapter Four

Dante watched asBelle stripped to her bikini, then quickly averted his eyes. It wouldn’t do for her to catch him drooling.

But heck did she have a nice rear.

He breathed deep and lay back on the picnic blanket and pillowed his head on his arms.

Just don’t look. That’s the easiest way out of it.

---