Belle glanced over the menu at the swanky upmarket restaurant she and Dante had just been seated at. It was early to be having lunch, only eleven AM, but they’d wanted to miss the lunch rush, then spend some time wandering around The Rocks and taking a ferry tour. She hadn’t been to Sydney in more years than she could remember.
So much lovely food.
She loved visiting new venues to see what the offerings were. It didn’t hurt to plan their own fare around what was popular in the fine restaurants in the cities. Many of their customers were tourists from these areas, and they had certain expectations. It was her job to make sure they got what they wanted.
Her phone vibrated, barely heard over the muted melody coming from the white baby grand piano in the centre of the room.
She glanced at it in her small handbag, the glow from the screen brightening the insides of the dark leather.
No. This was her and Dante’s time together. She wasn’t going to check messages or answer silly questions from the restaurant. They’d never been away together before; she wasn’t blowing this chance. It might be the only one she’d ever get.
Longing and tentative hope wound through her. She wished with all her strength that wasn’t the case. She’d love it if they got to the point where they went away together officially, leaving in the same car, everyone knowing they were together.
She sipped the merlot she’d been poured, eyes closed, and moved it around her mouth to activate all the flavours.
Notes of plum, black cherries, and the tiniest hint of vanilla rolled through her mouth.
She couldn’t help the smile that widened her mouth.
“That good, huh?” Dante murmured.
Belle opened her eyes to see him watching her carefully, his gaze glued to her mouth. She let the smile grow.
“Almost as good as sex.”
His eyes widened and he huffed a laugh. “I must be doing something very wrong, or that drop is something pretty special.”
Belle tilted her head and regarded the wine, swishing it slowly around the glass. She couldn’t resist stirring him. “Oh, I don’t know. I didn’t think it was that special …”
Dante grabbed the hand holding the offending red liquid and leaned close over the small table. Deep blue eyes glittered in the softly lit room, his intent etched across his face.
“Well, I might just have to get inventive once we leave here. Maybe even take you up on that raincheck.”
A massive shudder rippled down her spine, the echoes of it reaching her toes. Her lungs suddenly didn’t seem to know their function. Her eyes couldn’t possibly get any wider. Heat flooded her veins.
Oooh …
Their night had been nothing short of spectacular. He’d made her feel things she hadn’t thought possible.
Sure, she’d hoped sex would be on offer when she made this trip, and had been rewarded with him being as insatiable as herself, but it was far more than that.
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 breath expelled 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?
She knew it wasn’t her fault, couldn’t possibly be when she wasn’t even in the same district, but that knowledge didn’t stop the overwhelming guilt and fear from trying to crush her.
She should’ve been looking after her mum, not Adelaide. She should’ve taken her to the market. She clicked the magnetic button closed and turned to grab her handbag. Dante stood by the door, his small suitcase sitting on the floor beside his feet.
Belle stared at it, uncomprehending.
“You’re leaving, too?”
“That goes without saying.” Dante sent her a slight smile. “You didn’t think I’d let you go through this alone, surely?” He took her tote bag and slung it over his shoulder, then pulled the extender handle on his suitcase. “I checked flight times. We have enough time to get to the airport and get you on today’s flight to Bialga. I’ll follow with the car. Let’s go.”
Belle wrapped her arms around her waist and nodded. She didn’t look back at the massive bed where they’d spent all night and morning making love. She couldn’t think about it, couldn’t think about what they were walking out on, or what they were walking into.
The door clicked shut and echoed in the long hallway, making her jump.
“We’ll find her.” The confidence in his deep voice belied his worried face. “We have to.”