Belle followed Dante into the Spotted Cow. Christmas decorations adorned every available surface. Thick garlands swung across the ceiling, huge festive bells hanging at random intervals along the lengths.
A large sprig of mistletoe hung from one, dead centre in the parquet dance floor.
“Max really went all out this year,” Belle said above the music coming from the band onstage, all dressed as Christmas characters.
Dante laughed and pulled her towards a booth with a Reserved sign in the middle.
“It’s barely December. The guy’s nuts.”
Belle shook her head. “Is this where I mention your own, fully decked-out tree at home?”
Dante had to be one of the most Christmas-loving people she’d ever met. He was obsessed over the season. He was even more obsessive over how the tree had to look.
She looked up to see Max heading toward them, menus in hand. Millie Stevens sat at the bar, one shapely leg over the other, her designer outfit in stark contrast to all the costumes in the room. She kept glancing in Max’s direction.
How odd.
“Finally get a night off, Belle?” he asked.
Belle leaned back and smiled up at the eldest Jameson brother.
“Sure did. It’s been ridiculous since that irresponsible brother of mine won that silly award. It’s nice to have a breather.” She nodded in the general direction of the bar.
“I thought there was no entry without a costume? Millie isn’t wearing one.”
Max’s cheeks flushed. “Millie doesn’t do costumes.” He looked away from her questioning gaze and shrugged. “Well, enjoy the music. I’ll have Amy come grab your orders in a few minutes. Would you like any drinks?”
How very odd, indeed.
“Just a cola, with lots of ice,” Belle said. It was hot tonight. Thankfully Max had his air conditioning running along nicely.
“Same,” Dante said.
Belle straightened the skirt of her dress and looked up in time to see Max nod at Dante, who nodded back.
She narrowed her gaze at the two men. What was that all about?
Dante noticed her stare and grinned at her, nodding in her direction. “Nice dress.”
“Thank you.”
Belle sat back and brushed her hands over the lightweight material. A knee-length, red and white Santa dress had been her choice.
A good choice, if the look on Dante’s face was anything to go by. The fitted bodice cupped her breasts. Coupled with the help of a push-up bra, it gave her a healthy cleavage she couldn’t wait to try out on him. The butter-soft material fell from the tight waist to skim her hips.
He leaned back into the leather of the booth seat and tilted his head, letting his gaze drift over her.
Belle shivered, goosebumps spreading. She knew that look.
“It would look even better with all of those tiny buttons undone.”
Belle laughed. The only way in and out of the dress was via those tiny buttons, which ran from the length of the bodice at the front.
“I think Max might object. People are eating dinner, after all.”
Dante glanced up as Amy delivered their drinks. He nodded and smiled at her as she spun to take some to another table.
“Maybe later then.”
Belle smiled against the glass and pretended to be suddenly interested in The O’Brien Brothers Band’s insane Christmas costumes.
“You think Gerry made them do that?” she asked, nodding in their direction.
Dante turned around and took in the twins and their brothers. “Probably.”
An elf, complete with hat and curled booties; Santa; a reindeer with two random hooved legs hanging from its butt; and a very annoyed-looking grinch on Celtic drums.
Belle had to laugh. Connor looked as angry as possible in a Christmas setting. Amy headed back to take their dinner order.
They ordered their meals and sat back, enjoying the easy company and music.
Dante fiddled with the edge of the table napkin in the fancy centre display. “I was talking to Dad today.”
Belle raised an eyebrow. That wasn’t something that should warrant him starting his sentence with. He spoke to his father many times a day.
“About?”
“I was thinking about building a house.” He glanced at her. “You know, something of my own? A bit of privacy would be nice, since Angel stole the damned cottage.”
Belle let out a small laugh to cover her surprise. “It would.”
While Dante griped about a lack of privacy every now and then, she’d thought the lot of them would still be there in the family home for the foreseeable future. It made sense; they all worked at the winery or in the vineyard. Why waste money on a rental or moving when you could walk to work in three minutes flat?
It was also why she hadn’t moved out yet. It was far too convenient to be able to finish work and walk the twenty metres to her back door to collapse after a busy night.
He flicked the napkin, not looking at her. “Would you help me look at designs? I’m not that great with visualising that sort of thing.”
Belle blinked, happiness that he’d ask overtaking her surprise. “Of course. Where are you thinking of putting it?”
He shifted in his seat, getting more comfortable. “Down near the riverbend, where we go swimming.”
Belle sat forward, her elbows leaning on the table. “That would be a perfect spot! It’s so pretty there.”
While technically only a few hundred metres away from the current house, thick stands of trees separated the river and the main part of the farm. The area was so picturesque you could have easily found it on a postcard. And of course, her favourite tree on the entire place was there.
Dante nodded, a brief smile flashing over his beautiful mouth.
She focused on his lips. How she loved to kiss them. And he kissed so darned well.
Those lips curved into a huge grin and she refocused on his eyes, embarrassed.
“That look on your face will get you in trouble, B.”
She flushed at the intensity in his blue eyes. She’d have to ask Max to fix the air, it was getting hot.
“It’s not my fault you have a sexy mouth.”
A laugh barked from him, as Amy came back with their food and a bucket with a bottle of sparkling wine.
Belle frowned when she put it down. “Amy, we didn’t order any wine.”
Amy slid the food in front of them and shrugged. “Don’t ask me, I just deliver the stuff. You’ll have to talk to Max about that. He sent it.” Her huge grin made Belle suspicious.
What is going on?
The song finished and Joe Junior pulled the microphone closer. “Since it’s so close to Christmas, we have a surprise for you folks tonight.”
“Christmas isn’t for nearly three weeks, Joe.”
Joe frowned at the comment from the other side of the room. “If you don’t want to participate, that’s fine with me, Mick Pierson. Now pipe down.”
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 said sixteen, you numbskull.”
Joe grabbed the mic and grinned at her and Dante. “Table number seventeen, 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 tell him to 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 loud bang and Belle squeaked, then laughed at her own reaction. A tiny pale blue box fell from the open end of the side she held.
“I won!”
Dante grinned at her and dropped to one knee to pick it up.
He opened it and held it up.
Belle’s jaw nearly hit the floor. The most beautiful, teardrop-cut emerald sat in a gold band, a baguette diamond on either side of it.
“Belle Davis, will you marry me?”
She started nodding, slowly at first, then faster. Tears pricked the backs of her eyes.
Dante stood and took the ring from the Tiffany box. He’d even known she’d always dreamed of an emerald, not diamonds, for an engagement ring.
“Is that a yes?”
She grabbed his head and kissed him hard. “It sure is.”
He swung her around as the room erupted for a second time. Placing her feet back on the floor, he slid the ring onto her finger and lifted her chin.
“Will you help me build our house, B? The willow will be in our front yard and you’ll be able to look at it as much as you like.”
She bit her lip and nodded, unable to stop the tears welling. She couldn’t believe he’d planned all of this.
Movement behind Dante caught her gaze. Ria had her hand over her mouth, tears sparkling in the fairy lights that hung around the room. Jack and Patrice stood behind her, with Leo, Raph, and Angel. Their massive grins squeezed her heart.
“Looks like we just scored ourselves another sister,” Leo said, his eyes suspiciously bright.
The tears won. Her lip wobbled and her face crumpled. She threw her arms around Dante’s shoulders again, not wanting the entire town to see her fall apart.
“I love you guys so much. I’m finally one of you.”
Dante’s arms tightened. “You always have been, il mio cuore.”
The End
Don’t miss the next book in the With Love, From Kurrajong Crossing series, A Country Christmas!
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