Page 17 of Beneath the Sapphire Sky

He tweaked the irrigation dripper at the base of the vine and pulled a clump of grass that was too close. No point watering the grass instead of his vines.

“It’s a shame they had to postpone the awards this year, what with travel restrictions and all.”

Dante shrugged and grinned. “Yes and no. It gave us some more time to prepare, at least.”

Raph leaned against the large fence post at the end of the row and plucked one of the ancient roses that bloomed there. Their father had planted them at the end of each row when he was a kid. They were like the proverbial canary in the mine—if there were insects or fungal diseases on the rose leaves, you could be damned sure you needed to check your vines.

“About Belle—do you think she’d go out with me if I asked her?”

Dante’s gut tumbled. He’d been trying not to think of her all morning.

That kiss.

Wow.

He couldn’t believe he’d let Leo bully him into it. Well, “bully” was a touch strong. He hid his grin behind his hand as he wiped his face and yanked a few more weeds to appear busy. The taste of her mouth had blown what little of his mind he’d had last night.

Zesty orange lip balm. She’d tasted like a mix of salty popcorn and oranges.

He’d wanted to be alone with her so badly. And he’d deliberately chosen a horror so she would snuggle close when she got scared.

He wasn’t above admitting it. He liked how she felt next to him and the way she grabbed on to him with the jump scares.

It was a way to have her close and not risk their friendship in the process. Because as much as he wanted to be with her, if he lost her if things went sour, it would kill him. Her friendship meant everything.

Raph’s question finally sank in. “What? You’re really going to ask her out?”

Raph plucked a few petals and dropped them to flutter aimlessly to the ground. “Why not?”

Dante went to answer but found he had no real reason to oppose him. Other than his own feelings, but that point was moot.

Raph glanced at him and raised a brow in question. “What? No angry rebuff? NoGet away from my friend, Raph, you evil manwhore, you?”

Dante tried not to laugh, tried to keep a straight face. It was impossible. Laughing, he said, “Shut up. I can’t stop you chasing her. She’s an adult. If she’s so… inclined… to go out with you, then there’s nothing I can do to stop her.”

Raph crossed his arms and gripped his biceps. “While that’s true on one hand, on the other you could always let your interest show.”

“What, and have her choose between us? No, thanks. I’m not into self-flagellation and the subsequent misery of being passed over for my brother.”

Dante frowned at Raph’s intense scrutiny. His piercing gaze was getting uncomfortable. He hated the thought that Belle might choose Raph, really hated it, but short of doing exactly what Raph suggested, he had no other options.

“What makes you think she’d choose me?”

Exasperation made him snappy. “How would I know? She’s not likely to choose me, now is she? Not when I’ve never mentioned any interest. She’d just think I was being a jealous friend and that it wasn’t real. I don’t wantthat, either.”

Raph shrugged and shook his head. “You’re going to have to make a decision one day.”

Dante spun to stalk off up the neatly mowed row. “I thought we were looking at the vines? Let me know when you want to talk wine, instead of mining me for information about Belle.”

He glanced at the rogue weeds popping up here and there beneath the grapevines. He’d have to get Leo out to chip them. Raph’s voice behind him spurred him to walk faster.

“You might not want to hear it, little brother, but whether it’s me or someone else, you’re going to get left behind if you don’t ’fess up. What could’ve been an option could end up being too little too late.”

*

“Izzy?”

Belle looked over behind the bar as she pushed through the swinging doors of the galley. Her dad had called out her childhood nickname. He rarely called her that these days.

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