Why?
Whyrightbeside me?
A ten-seater table.Two empty chairs at either end.Yet he chose this seat.Shrouding me in his dark, staticky heat.
“I’ll fix you a plate,” Cora offers, getting up.
“No need.”He waves her off.“Just a finger of whiskey.And a fork.”
As Cora leaves, he asks Lorenzo, “Will I have to move back to the Summerlin house…to avoid running into randomstrayshere?”
“Lovely table manners, as always, brother,” Lorenzo chides.
Then, with a small shake of his head, he silently warns me to let it go.
Gio, ever the peacemaker, steers the conversation elsewhere.
“Was the issue handled?”he asks Stefano.
With that, the focus shifts and business talk takes over.
When Cora returns with Stefano’s whiskey and fork, he reaches over, forks up a morsel ofmyapple strudel, and shovels it into his mouth.All without missing a beat in their conversation.
Only then do I turn and stare at his side profile.For a full minute.Because…why?
When heagainreaches over and steals another bite, I finally speak.
“Do you really need to eat from my plate?”I ask, watching him lick crumbs from his lips.“I’m sure Cora made enough for—”
“Shh,” he shushes me.Doesn’t even look my way.“The adults are speaking.”
With narrowed eyes, I look across the table at Lorenzo.“Will you shoot me if I stab him with my fork?”I hold up the utensil.“Because this would lookreallygood sticking out of his eye right now.”
Lorenzo just blinks at me, as if the question doesn’t compute.Blinks again, then resume their conversation.
They’re discussing important matters.Something about Liquid Blue and Skullaz MC…
But I can’t focus.
Not when Stefano’s arm keeps brushing against mine each time he leans over to steal from my plate.Not when his scent has wrapped itself entirely around me, thick and distracting.
It’s sensory overload.
Because he’s…him.
And he’s so damnclose.
Unable to withstand it anymore, I mutter that I’m full and excuse myself from the table.
Feeling addle-brain and worn, I pause in the hallway.
The front door feels so far away.The Pink House even farther.
So, I turn left into the living room instead, throw myself down on the big fluffy couch, and close my eyes.
Just for a little bit…
CHAPTER TWELVE
