Page 14 of Luna

It was then Luna noticed Dally was expecting. No one had mentioned it at the picnic, but then again, it wasn’t a topic most people discussed, particularly in mixed company. She was happy for Nik and Dally, though. The couple could look forward to welcoming a little one into their hearts and home.

“It’s very nice to meet you, Mr. and Mrs. Logan.” Luna gathered a stack of menus from the box where they were kept by the door. “A table for five?”

At Nik’s nod, Luna led them to a table near the back and waited until they were all seated to hand out the menus. Hunter’s gaze connected with hers when she held a menu out to him, his expression open and curious, as though he wanted to know how she was doing. She smiled and nodded her head once, hoping he understood she was well, before she hurried to return to work.

After bringing everyone at the table glasses of water and pouring coffee for Nik and Rowdy, she rushed to catch up on cleaning tables since people were waiting by the door to be seated.

As soon as she had another table clean and set, Elizabeth seated a group there, and the evening grew even busier. Luna couldn’t begin to imagine what the restaurant would be like on a Friday or Saturday evening.

Nik’s table lingered, all five of them enjoying slices of Caterina’s decadent chocolate crostata. The tart’s filling looked incredible, and Luna hoped there was a piece left for her when the restaurant closed for the night.

She’d nibbled a breadstick and snitched a few olives throughout the hectic evening, but she was hungry and tired, and her feet ached. Oddly, though, she also felt a great deal of satisfaction with the work she’d turned her hand to. For a few hours, she’d forgotten about her troubles and heartbreak and was able to focus on the tasks before her.

As she walked around the table to see if anyone wanted a refill of water or coffee, Nik dabbed at his mouth with his napkin and smiled at her. “You’ll have to come out to the ranch one day, Luna. Dally is always happy to show off her horses.”

“I would like that,” Luna said, wanting to know more about the woman who had captured Nik’s heart and the home they’d made together. “Thank you for the invitation.”

“The aunties and Aundy are planning to come for lunch soon. You should join them, Luna,” Dally said, offering her an encouraging smile. “I’d love to have you come.”

“Oh, well, I might—”

“She’ll be there,” Caterina said, stepping beside her and resting a hand on Luna’s shoulder. “It will be good for her to go on an outing.”

“Speaking of outings, did everyone see the notice in the paper about the circus coming to town next week?” Hunter asked as he leaned back in his chair. Although he spoke to them all, his gray eyes locked on Luna’s, and she found herself helpless to look away. Something about Hunter, something she didn’t want to consider or evaluate, drew her to him despite her multitude of reasons to keep her distance.

Finally dragging her gaze from his, she considered his question. She hadn’t read the paper, but there had been mentions of the circus Sunday afternoon, with several who were in attendance at the picnic making plans to see the performance.

Luna had been to a few circuses when she was younger, but it had been several years since she’d attended one. The thought of eating roasted peanuts and watching exotic animals circle around inside the big tent did sound like fun. Perhaps Ilsa and Tony would take Laila and invite her to attend with them.

“It’s fantastic that Buffalo Bill Cody will be part of the circus. I’ve been wanting to see that Wild West show of his,” Dally said, excitement evident in her voice. “I plan on getting tickets for all of us.”

“Great,” Nik said, kissing Dally’s cheek. “If I’m not out on a call or at the hospital doing an emergency surgery, I’ll look forward to seeing it with you, delightful Dahlia.”

Dally blushed and smiled at her husband, while Hunter rolled his eyes at them. Then he returned his focus to Luna. “If you have no other plans that evening, Miss Campanelli, it would be my great pleasure to escort you.”

“Yes! She’d love to go with you,” Caterina answered before Luna could form a response. She’d intended to refuse, but now that seemed impossible. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to spend time with Hunter. She did. That was the entire problem. She wasn’t ready for another relationship, especially not with a man who seemed to be a little … wild.

Hunter’s left eyebrow cocked upward, accentuating the scar on his forehead as he studied her. “May I accompany you, Miss Campanelli?”

“You may,” Luna said, doing her best to ignore the weightless bubbles in her stomach and the anticipation she felt at the prospect of seeing Hunter again.

“That’s grand. I’ll pick you up at Tony and Ilsa’s house at half past five.”

“But, Caterina, I’ll miss work,” Luna said, turning to her cousin.

Caterina waved her hand in the air. “What is one night of work when there is a circus to see? In fact, I may close the restaurant that night because it is likely no one will be coming in anyway.”

“Oh,” was all Luna could think to say, then faced Hunter again. In spite of her hesitancy and trepidation, she found herself smiling at his broad grin. “Thank you for inviting me, kind sir.”

“My pleasure, Miss Campanelli. Entirely my pleasure.” Hunter winked at her, then picked up his fork and finished his last bite of crostata.

Luna excused herself and returned to work, but as she cleaned tables and poured coffee, she couldn’t help it if her gaze continued to wander over to Hunter. She wondered about his relationship with Dally and Nik, acting like he was far more than a hired hand, more like family, but then so did Rowdy and Cornelia Logan. Perhaps it was just a normal thing for Westerners.

By the time the restaurant closed, Luna’s feet felt like she’d walked a thousand miles. As soon as she cleared the last table, Caterina latched onto her arm and pushed her into a chair at a table in the kitchen.

“Eat, bambina. You never took time to eat a meal this evening.” Caterina set a plate of chicken and gnocchi in front of her along with a small dish of marinated vegetables. “Eat!”

Luna took the fork Caterina produced from her apron pocket, bowed her head and offered a word of thanks for the meal, then forked a bite. She’d thought she would be too weary to chew, but the food was delicious, and she eagerly cleaned her plate, devoured the vegetables, and sighed in pleasure when Caterina set a slice of the crostata in front of her along with a glass of cold milk.

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