Page 64 of His Reckoning

Lucia nods thoughtfully. “She sounds nice.”

“You’ve never met her.”

“I know a nice name when I hear one.”

Cole leans closer again. “So, when does everyone else get to meet her?”

“They’re not meeting her.”

“It sounds serious,” Hudson says with a smile.

“It’s not.”

“Sure it isn’t,” he replies.

I take a drink of wine.

Sunday dinner continues exactly the way it always does. Loud, everyone talking over each other, and crowded.

For a moment, I forget about everything waiting back at the penthouse.

* * *

It’s nearly ten when I get home. The apartment is quiet. Kayla is sitting on the couch with her laptop when I walk in.

She glances up. “You disappeared today.”

“I had dinner.”

“With who?”

“My family.”

She blinks. “Your family?”

“Yes.”

She studies me like I just said something unbelievable. “You go to Sunday family dinners?”

“Yes.”

“That’s surprising.”

“Why.”

Kayla tilts her head slightly. “You don’t seem like theSunday family dinnerkind of guy.”

I set my keys on the counter. “And what kind of guy do I seem like?”

“The kind who eats takeout alone while working on his laptop.”

“That also happens.”

She laughs softly. “So, you have this big Italian family dinner every week?”

“Yes.”

“With pasta and yelling and wine?”