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Leaving the lights in the kitchen on, she picked up her keys and headed out.
Fifteen minutes later, she pulled into a parking spot next to Jake’s new SUV. While he still used his favorite toy, a brand new Lamborghini, when he was alone, he always used the SUV he’d purchased a few months ago when he and Charlie went out together. She’d assumed it was because Charlie now found it difficult to get in and out of the low sports car, but Jake told her it was more a safety issue. He figured if they ever got into an accident, Charlie would be much better protected in the large SUV. She’d always adored her cousin Jake, but when he’d told her that, it had endeared him to her even more.
“I’m meeting friends tonight. I believe they’ve already been seated,” Allison told the hostess once she walked inside. “Jake and Charlie––”
“Yes, I seated them a few minutes ago. Please follow me, Miss Sherbrooke,” the hostess said before Allison could even finish her sentence. The fact the woman knew whom she meant didn’t surprise her. There was no mistaking the family resemblance; the eyes tended to be a dead giveaway, not to mention, while Allison did her best to avoid the media, she still ended up on magazine covers from time to time. Thankfully, however, she didn’t find herself there as often as her former playboy brother Trent and cousin Jake.
Following the hostess, she ignored the casual glances she received from the men seated at the cocktail bar as they passed by it.
She saw Jake stand before she reached the table, a good indication he saw her coming.
“Right on time,” he said as he pulled out her chair and then waited for her to sit.
Allison accepted the menu from the hostess but looked at her cousin. “I promised I’d be here on time.” She turned her attention to her cousin’s wife. “Hi, Charlie. How are you feeling?”
Charlie patted her stomach and smiled. “Tired but good.”
“She doesn’t rest enough,” Jake said with a frown.
“This one would have me in bed all day watching television and napping,” Charlie said, titling her head toward Jake. “He’s driving me crazy.”
Pressing her lips together, she glanced at Jake who’d turned his attention to his wife. “You’re thirty-six weeks pregnant, you shouldn’t be doing rounds.”
“And how many babies have you had?” Charlie asked.
Allison imagined her brother and his wife had been having similar conversations lately. At least the last time she’d spoken with Addie, Trent’s wife, she’d complained that Trent kept telling her to rest more.
“It doesn’t matter anyway. Yesterday was my last day at the hospital,” Charlie said before Jake could offer a counterargument.
“Wow, this conversation sounds familiar,” a female voice said from behind her.
Standing, Allison turned and hugged her new sister-in-law and smiled at her oldest brother.
“That’s because Jake and I are right,” Trent said as he pulled out a chair for his wife.
“I don’t know what the world would do without the two of you wise men.” Allison
moved closer to Trent and hugged him too.
“Please don’t encourage him. His head barely fits in the car now,” Addie teased before she leaned toward Trent and kissed his check. “Rock texted me and he’s on his way. He had to take care of something before he left the base.”
He’d passed by Siena numerous times since he’d been transferred to Quantico, but he’d never stopped in. It wasn’t his type of place. He’d preferred more casual joints where he could get a decent burger or a good steak with a cold beer to wash it down. Restaurants with fancy dipping oil for your bread and wine lists longer than his arm didn’t interest him. Even so, when Addie invited him to join her and her husband’s family for dinner, he couldn’t say no. He hadn’t seen his sister since her wedding in January. While he was used to going long stretches between visits with his family, it didn’t mean he liked it, so he took every opportunity he got to see them. She’d offered to meet him some other day while she was in the area if that worked better for him, but he’d declined. Not only did he want to visit with his sister, but he also wanted to spend some time with her husband. Addie could take care of herself, and she’d never take any crap from a guy. Still, the big brother in him needed to know Trent better. The guy was his baby sister’s husband and the father of his future niece or nephew. Regardless of the fact that Trent was a billionaire, if he ever treated Addie poorly, he’d be getting a not-so-friendly visit from him.
Rock entered the restaurant and headed for the hostess station.
“Name and party size,” the hostess said after greeting him.
“I’m meeting the Sherbrooke party. They should’ve already arrived.”
Several of the conversations around him stopped. Addie had admitted she was still getting used to being a Sherbrooke. He suspected it was because of moments like these.
The hostess smiled at him and reached for a menu. “Yes, Mr. Sherbrooke said they were expecting one more tonight. Please follow me.”
Dismissing the busy bodies in the waiting area, Rock followed the hostess past the cocktail bar, noting all the emergency exits and quickly taking stock of the customers they passed.
He spotted his sister and brother-in-law near the back wall, but before he reached them, Addie stood and rushed toward him.
“Rock.” She threw her arms around him.
