Page 51 of Beneath the Sapphire Sky

A soft touch here, a gentle kiss to the shoulder or hand, the stroke of a knuckle across her stomach. He’d lured her body with sex and satiated her soul with tenderness.

If she hadn’t already been half in love with him, she would’ve been by morning.

She frowned, remembering Jack’s parting comment.

Did he see something she couldn’t? Dante had always treated her carefully, never rough or boisterous like he was with his brothers. She’d put it down to the fact that she was female and his dad would kick his ass if he accidentally hurt her.

Dante’s phone shrilled out a discordant jingle before she could think of an answer for him. A soft curse left his lips as he glanced at the screen, a small frown appearing above his eyes.

“I’m gonna…” He stabbed at the screen. “Yes, Jack? What do I owe this fabulous interruption to?”

Belle choked on her swallow of wine, the laugh following it almost turning into a snort. Dante glanced quickly at her, the frown deepening. “Sure. I’ll hand you over to her.”

He held out the phone. “Apparently it’s important.”

Belle put down her glass and took the offered phone, unease swamping her belly in a rush.

What would her brother be interrupting them for? He knew how much this time away meant to her.

“Yes?”

“Next time answer your damned phone.”

Belle sat back, frowning. “Don’t get snappy with me—”

“Mum’s missing, Belle.”

She drew breath to tell him off as quietly as possible, then the words sank in. “Wait, what? I don’t understand.”

She heard him take a deep breath, as if to explain something incomprehensible to a small child. “Mum. Is missing. She took off on Adelaide when they went to the markets at the Eco Lodge this morning. Disappeared into the crowd. Apparently it was packed with tourists. We’ve been looking for her for hours. I didn’t want to call you, not yet. I know this time with Dante is important to you both, but Dad insisted now that it’s lunchtime.”

He sucked in another deep breath. “I’m worried, sis.”

The anxiety and frustration in his voice didn’t quite cover the fear beneath his deep tones. All Belle’s thoughts and breathexpelled from her in a rush. She looked up into Dante’s worried eyes, her own misting, blurring him.

How had this happened?

Dante gently took the phone from her nerveless fingers. He didn’t break eye contact with her, keeping her grounded. Belle was too scared to look away, worried she’d fall apart right there if she lost that connection.

“Can you repeat that, Jack? Belle’s looking a bit freaked out here.”

She watched his expression morph as he nodded and murmured questions. He took her hand and squeezed. She clenched her fingers around his, grateful for the contact.

Dante’s face grew grim. He nodded and waved over the waiter.

“We’re leaving now. Family emergency.”

Belle hurried out of the restaurant, only to remember that she hadn’t paid for her wine and rush back toward the door. Dante looked up from tapping his credit card on the EFTPOS machine.

Her relief must have been plastered all over her face.Thank you, she mouthed to him.

“All good, B.”

He kissed her cheek and took her hand. They set off toward the hotel as fast as possible.

Belle grabbed her tote bag and shoved her things into it, looking around to see if she’d missed anything.

Why did this have to happen when she wasn’t home?

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