Page 71 of Restless Hawke
A momentary reprieve…
I accept the passed food, piling my own plate high and offering each item to Allegra, then drape my arm around the back of Allegra’s chair and lean in. “I’ll give you the quick rundown of everyone. It may help you understand some of the dynamics you’ll see tonight, but if you don’t remember them all, it’s fine.”
Her eyes drift over everyone digging into their food. “There’s no way…”
Smirking, I start at the head of the table. “Obviously, Nana’s in the place of honor. To her left is Skye and her partner Gabe, then their daughter Astrid.” She gives us a smile as if she heard her name. “Her twin brother, Atlas, and his fiancée, Wren, aren’t here.” I sweep over the two empty chairs, my gut tightening. “Next, my Uncle Landon and Aunt Storm and their daughters, Angelina and Alessandra, the blonde one in between them is Jude, Angelina’s boyfriend, and Allie’s best friend. Next to Al is her boyfriend, Pope. They have a son named Benjamin, who you saw Pope holding when we arrived.”
She nods, following my fast non-introductions.
“Then Byron and Luca, Jude’s adoptive parents.”
When her gaze finally lands on him, she tenses. “Why is he looking at me like that?”
I brush a light kiss to her cheek. “Don’t worry about it. Luca looks at everyone like that.”
Ignoring his stare as I continue the quick intros and everyone else eats, I move past him. “At the foot of the table is Savage, then his wife, Dani, they’re Kennedy’s parents. Then Kennedy, the CFO of Hawke Enterprises, her husband, Cass Whitaker, and their daughter, Charlotte. Isaac, his wife, Giacomina, who everyone just calls Jack, and their daughter Viviana. They have a baby boy named Giovanni, who is sleeping somewhere in the house. Then on your other side are Bishop, and her and Pope’s parents, Caroline and Saint.” Mom gives me a small smile from the end of the table. “And then my parents, Stone and Nora.”
“Wow.”
She reaches out and grabs her wine, taking a long sip. “You’re right, I do need this.”
I chuckle and cut into my lasagna. “Things are just getting started.”
* * *
ALLEGRA
Despite Coen’sassurances not to worry about the dark and stormy Luca, a shudder rolls through me under the scrutiny of the man sitting on the other side of the table. Even with several feet of solid wood between us, it doesn’t feel completely safe to be in his sights.
I knew when I saw him in Monaco that something was up with him.
He seemed to see right through me, even for the few seconds we were in the same room together. The way his gaze goes so far beneath the surface and tries to dredge up those things I keep locked away makes me shiver, despite the warmth in the room.
The last thing I want is more scrutiny.
Too much digging is going to resurrect things better left buried.
I reach out and take another sip of my wine to try to calm myself.
Coen was right. I did need this.
The sharp tannins and rich flavor fill my mouth and immediately help settle me slightly, and my hand barely trembles as I place the glass back on the table above my plate that Coen filled with delicious-looking dishes.
Better to concentrate on the food than what one of his uncles may or may not think of me.
As everyone starts eating, chatter fills the room, the focus no longercompletelyon me, though I catch various quick glances in my direction. Especially from Coen’s mother near the end of the table to my left, who seems to be deliberately trying to give me some space rather than bombard me with questions.
With so many people talking, it’s impossible to follow the conversations, even as I try to eavesdrop the best I can as I dig into my dinner. The delicious flavors of home-cooked Italian food dance across my stomach, and I issue a little moan at how damn good it is.
Coen’s hand slides to my knee again and squeezes, and when I glance at his face, he’s barely able to contain a smirk before shoving a bite into his own mouth.
I watch him chew, and his tongue darts out across his lips.
Hell.
Was it really only yesterday that his mouth was devouring me?
If I keep staring at him like I want to eathimduring dinner, things are going to get a lot more awkward—fast.
