94. Hannah

NINETY-FOUR

Maddox shakes the hand of the guy nearest him, and they clap each other on the backs in that way men do. "I was just thinking about you the other day."

"Either you missed me, or someone pissed you off." The man chuckles.

With Maddox no longer holding my hand, I twist my fingers together in front of me and keep my focus on the men hugging because I don't want to have to introduce myself to the other guys.

"Tony." Maddox pulls away and lifts his hand to my back, pulling me next to him. "This is my girl, Hannah. Hannah, this is Tony Stoleman."

I try for a relaxed smile as I shake his hand. "Nice to meet you."

Tony is handsome, nearly as tall as Maddox, with a dimple in his cheek and hair almost as dark as Maddox's. But his energy is a little… different. Kind of intense.

"When I heard our guy was bringing the Hannah Utley to dinner, I had to crash." He winks at me. "Hope you don't mind."

The Hannah Utley?

"And this"— Maddox raises his voice as he pulls my hand free from Tony's grip— "is my friend Nate Waller. But we just call him Waller."

"Hi, Hannah." The man grins, and good grief, he's just as handsome as the other guy, only he has a way lighter feel about him.

From the opposite side of the round table, Waller starts to reach across. But before I can move, Maddox slaps Waller's hand away. "You don't all need to fucking touch her."

Waller holds his hands up and sits back down in his chair.

Maddox shifts me to his other side, so I'm between him and the last man.

This one is younger than the rest, not much over twenty, with hair and eyes that can only belong to a Lovelace.

"You must be Max. I've heard lots of good things," I tell Maddox's little brother.

"Same. Maddox doesn't shut up about you." He smiles, not moving to stand or shake my hand, just holding his hand up in greeting.

I wave back, feeling a little more at ease.

Maddox pulls out the chair next to Max and gestures for me to take it.

I had to bring my bulky purse, the only one that can fit a giant Tupperware inside it, so I shove the bag under my chair.

Maddox sits next to me, putting me between the Lovelace brothers. Tony and Waller grin at us from the other side.

The round table means it's easier to see everyone, but it also feels like everyone is staring at me.