The lunch carried on, though I couldn’t stop myself from glancing in Luca’s direction every so often. He lingered nearby, pretending to straighten napkins or refill glasses, but his eyes were on me. Watching.
Good. Let him watch.
I leaned a little closer to Alessio, letting my fingers lightly trail over the back of his hand where it rested on the table. His sharp eyes flicked to me, his brows raising slightly, but he didn’t pull away.
“You’re awfully quiet,” I murmured, keeping my tone light.
Alessio’s lips curled into a faint smirk, his hand turning over to catch mine. His long fingers wrapped around mine, the warmth of his touch sending a shiver through me. “Just enjoying the view,” he said, his voice low and rich.
“Is that so?” I asked, feigning innocence as I glanced at him from b
