The moment we entered the dining room all eyes were on us. Luca was entirely in his element as he led me down the longest table I’d ever seen in a home to the head of the table. The other guests sized me up, many scowling as they openly judged me. Holding my shoulders straight, I was determined not to wilt under the scrutiny. Fuck them!
As soon as Mr. and Mrs. Moretti made their grand entrance, the room lost interest in me. Well, except one willowy brunette standing close to the door. Her eyes stayed glued to my face, noteven wavering when Mrs. Moretti approached her. It wasn’t until she was directly addressed that she stopped her stare down.
“Nicki dear, come sit with the family.”
The gorgeous woman strutted behind Luca’s parents. Could she walk like a normal person? It looked like she was built for the runway and could only fiercely move from point a to point b.
Mrs. Moretti motioned to the spot next to me.
Without a word to the room, Mr. Moretti pulled out his wife’s chair, then sat down in the head seat. Luca followed suit, pulling my chair out before sitting.
Ole, long and elegant next to me, sighed as she pulled out her own chair. What a fucking hardship.
They brought the first course out, and Mr. Moretti stood, silencing the room.“Thank you all for joining us this evening. Rosa has certainly outdone herself this year.” The room erupted in applause, and Mrs. Moretti’s cheeks flushed. “The holidays are a tough time for our family, but being here together with all of you makes our losses easier to bear.” Mr. Moretti gazed at Dante with misty eyes. The little boy was oblivious to his grandpa’s heartfelt speech because he was busy puffing his cheeks out at Luca.
“Tonight, we have three generations of Moretti men sitting at the head of this table, and I couldn’t be prouder.” With a sly grin, his eyes zeroed in on Luca. “Unless my son finally finds a wife and gives me a dozen or so more grandchildren.”
Laughter filled the room, but I shrunk down in my chair. Was that a dig at me? Mr. Moretti’s eyes bounced over me,landing on Nicki, and he winked! In disbelief, I watched her cheeks deepen into an outrageous blush.
Luca’s dad made some kind of toast, and glasses around me clinked. Then the parish priest, Father Anthony—a cousin or something of Luca—said the blessing, and everyone started to eat. But I sat frozen, staring at the gorgeous woman to my right. Who the fuck was she?
“Sash, you okay?”Luca’s hand squeezed my knee as he leaned into my personal space.
Slowly, I turned to look at him. “Are you fucking kidding me?”
I must have been louder than was “appropriate” because Luca glanced at the people sitting near us. Adriana was scowling at Mr. Moretti, but everyone else was digging into their food, unaware of the tension at the head of the table.
“What’s wrong?”
In a lower voice, I whispered, “Who is this fucking woman sitting next to me?”
He frowned, clearly confused. “Nicki? She’s a family friend and acts as legal counsel for my family and our businesses, along with her father.”
A foul taste sat on my tongue. “And why would your dad mention grandkids and wink at her?”
Understanding dawned on his stupid face. A deep frown pulled his thick eyebrows together as he looked past me at Nicki. Quickly, his gaze fell back on me, a hint of panic evident in his eyes. “Shit. I wasn’t payingattention.Dante and I were making faces.”
My heart softened because, of course, the big oaf wasn’t paying attention.
“Nicki and I dated in high school, but then she fucked Dante, and that was that. I can’t believe dad is even entertaining that bull shit. We’re just colleagues, nothing more.” He pressed his lips to my temple. “You have to believe me, Sasha.”
The tension in my shoulders eased up a bit. “I do, but I don’t think I can stay at this dinner. Your father clearly has a problem with me, and I can’t guarantee he won’t get slapped upside the head if he has anymore cutecomments to make.”
“Luca, what has you and your friend so engaged? Maybe the rest of us would be interested.” Mr. Moretti smirked at me, and my hand itched to backhand the jerk.
Instead of letting Luca answer, I grinned back at Mr. Moretti and said, “Just how money can’t buy a personmanners.”
Mr. Moretti’s lips remained upturned, but his jaw twitched. “What a fascinating observation. Luca, where did you find this interesting woman?”
“Honey.” Mrs. Moretti’s hand landed on his arm.
“No, Rosa, I’m just trying to get to know our son’s friend.”
“Dad.” I restrained Luca from standing up.
“It’s fine.” Leaning forward, I stage-whispered at the pompous ass. “Mr. Moretti, I met Luca at your nephew Michael’s wedding. Then I got to know himverywell—if you know what I mean.” I exaggeratedly winked at the arrogant asshole.
Across the table, Adriana choked on her wine. Dante’s little hand pounded on her back as she caught her breath. A huge smile spread across her face, and she almost looked like the woman in the wedding photos.