Page 75 of Beneath the Sapphire Sky

He pulled out a large, fancy-looking Christmas cracker that sparkled glittery silver and gold with a bright green filigree pattern. He waved it around.

“I’m going to call out a table number and whoever is sitting at that table gets to come over and pop this sucker.”

His twin, Gerry, held up a small container and Joe Junior reached in, his head turned away so he wouldn’t see what he pulled out.

He held up a folded piece of paper to the room and opened it, grinning.

“Table number seventeen!”

Belle looked down at the brass number embedded near the edge of their table.

17.

She gasped. “That’s us!”

“No, it’s sixteen.”

She looked up at Gerry’s low voice. Joe faced his brother, frowning. “No. Seventeen.”

Gerry covered the mic but everyone could hear him anyway. “No, Max saidsixteen, you numbskull.”

Joe grabbed the mic and grinned at her and Dante. “Table numberseventeen, head on over. That’s Belle and Dante.”

Dante stood. Belle frowned. How would he know what number their table was?

She shook her head as they headed over. The O’Briens played at the Cow often enough they probably even knew where Max kept the spare key.

“Stop there!”

Belle jerked to a stop halfway across the dance floor, Dante slightly in front of her.

“Look up,” Joe said, grinning.

Belle looked.

The mistletoe.

She opened her mouth to tellhimto stand under the mistletoe when Dante’s mouth hit hers.

Well, now. I suppose I could suffer through this…

Cheers and catcalls surrounded them.

Dante licked his bottom lip, his eyes darkening. “Coconut. You taste like the beach today.”

Belle pulled back, laughing. Now that they were out as a couple, Dante had no problem with public displays of affection. His reasoning? He loved her and thought the whole town should know it.

“How many of those things do you actually have?” he asked.

Belle grinned. “Enough to keep you guessing for a long time.”

Joe Junior’s hand interrupted her thoughts as it shoved the cracker between them. “Here ya go.”

Dante glanced at it and took one end, holding the other out to her. Belle gripped it.

Joe Junior had the mic. “Okay people! Three, two, one!PULL!”

The cracker popped with a loudbangand Belle squeaked, then laughed at her own reaction. A tiny pale blue box fell from the open end of the side she held.

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