Page 47 of The Broken Note

At first I don’t notice.

Dutch is shirtless and sitting up again. He’s kissing my neck hard enough to leave a bruise.

I slide my hands down his muscular back, my hair in my face, mouth open in hot pleasure and eyes unseeing.

Until something comes into focus.

The ring box.

It’s on the floor, open… but there’s no ring inside.

CHAPTERELEVEN

CADENCE

I frantically climb off Dutch’s lap and drop to my knees in front of the sofa. He sits up, his brow wrinkled and his eyes hot on me. There’s a flush on his skin. His hair is mussed from my fingers and he’s breathing heavily.

“Brahms.”

“It has to be in here.” I stick my hand under the sofa and feel around in the dark. “It must have rolled out. There’s no other way.”

“Cadence.” Dutch calls my name more forcefully.

I freeze and look up at him with pure panic.

His expression shifts from belligerent to concerned. “What’s wrong? What are you looking for?”

“The box had a hook to keep the ring from falling out. It was clasped. I made sure I locked it tight last night just in case it fell out of my backpack at school.” I scramble to my feet and keep my eyes on the floor. “But these things break, right? It could have fallen out.”

“What are you talking about? The ring?” He runs a hand through his hair. His mind is still, clearly, on where things were going in the sofa. I can see him wrestling to switch gears. “You’re saying the ring fell under the chair?”

“I don’t see it, Dutch.”

“It’s fine. I’ll get you another one. My grandmother had plenty. She never could find Mr. Right.” He gets up and slides his arms around my waist.

I push him back, my heart pounding. “You don’t understand.”

“What don’t I understand?” He sounds frustrated.

“Can you move the chair for me?”

His eyebrows pinch together.

I don’t wait for him. I push at the chair myself.

It doesn’t budge.

Dutch sighs and shoves the sofa aside. I turn on my cell phone’s flashlight and shine the light behind the sofa.

Nothing.

I hunt around the table legs. Check the restored trophy case.

Nothing.

I look around Zane’s drums, even though we were nowhere near it.

I check behind Finn’s guitar.

---