Page 70 of Restless Hawke

She raises her brows. “Never?”

I shake my head, somehow still holding her gaze, even though she must be able to see how uncomfortable that admission just made me.

It may seem innocuous, but it means more than she can possibly imagine.

Or maybe she can, given the shock on her face.

I finally tear my gaze from hers, scanning the table as Uncle Savage pours a glass of wine from one of the waiting bottles at the foot of the table and passes it down our side.

It finally reaches me, and all eyes seem to follow my movement as I pour a glass for Allegra and then for myself. “You’re going to need this…”

And many more.

With so many ears listening, I don’t say that part out loud, just scan over everyone at the table, trying to preemptively determine who poses the most danger to the woman at my side.

The only open chairs tonight are Atlas and Wren’s, since they still aren’t back from Bali after deciding to extend their stay, and Luca’s, but he steps into the dining room last, probably coming in from the backyard where he likes to enjoy his pre-dinner drink.

His eyes immediately land on Allegra.

That steely, dark gaze of his sweeps over her the same way it did in the hotel room in Monaco.

Assessing her.

Seeking out her weaknesses and intentions.

Anger immediately heats my blood, that protective instinct kicking in when Allegra certainly doesn’t need my protection. That doesn’t stop me from sliding my hand down onto her bare knee in support.

Goosebumps pebble on her skin at my touch—or maybe it’s fear, given the man who is staring her down.

I lean in, letting my breath ruffle her hair. “Don’t let anyone at this table intimidate you.”

She turns her head toward mine, so our lips are a mere hairsbreadth from each other’s. So close it’s indecent. Especially in front of everyone watching us like hawks. “Nothing intimidates me.”

Hell…

I believe her.

Even when I had my hand between her legs in a very public place and wasmillisecondsfrom getting her off, she held her ground and maintained her composure.

Mostly.

Still, the Hawkes circling promise to be far worse—especially the man taking the seat across from us. He continues to watch Allegra as Nana, Storm, and Skye enter with the food and start placing the serving dishes around the table.

The grub arriving is the only thing that distracts everyone from their assessments of Allegra and briefly redirects their attention as they all start grabbing for serving spoons, baskets of bread, and bowls of salad.

All except Kennedy, who grins from her end of the table near her parents. “I am thrilled you could join us, Allegra. There are so many questions to ask?—”

I toss her a warning look she should know well after all these years. “Kennedy, play nice…”

Cass snorts as he places a serving of lasagna onto Kennedy’s plate, then Charlotte’s, and finally his own. “You forget who you’re talking to.”

Kennedy elbows him enough to make him flinch, but he just grins at his new wife.

His arm slides across the back of her chair. “I love you to death,cherie.But one thing you are not isnice.”

She scowls, but the annoyance doesn’t quite reach her eyes. Rather than argue with him about something she knows is true, she digs into her food, shoving a bite into her mouth and chewing a little too violently.

At least temporarily, I’ve managed to intervene and cut off the start of the inquisition, but it’s still coming. Once everyone settles in and has a few bites of food and sips of wine, the questions will start rolling in.