Melissa Schroeder - A Santini Takes the Fall (The Santinis Book #9) Read online

  She sighed. “Fine.”

  At that, she slipped into the bathroom. He waited until she came back into the room to grab her and pull her closer. They were both still naked.

  “I don’t have time for this.”

  He tugged on her hair until she bent down. He kissed her, slow and easy, before pulling back.

  “Good morning, Lalani.”

  She smiled. “Good morning. Now, get dressed.”

  He chuckled and let her go. Life wasn’t too bad. He’d had a night with one of the most amazing women he had ever met, and he planned on being back here for more time with her. He had nothing on his schedule this weekend but spending time with Lalani.

  * * *

  “Why don’t we go pick up my car? I need to swing by my house and get a change of clothes.”

  Lalani stopped at the street corner and waited for the light to change. She didn’t respond. She really didn’t want to talk to him. Not at the moment. The man was being completely pigheaded. Hell, he had practically marked her as his. And in front of her father. Worse, her father seemed okay with it. That irritated her more than anything. He’d treated most of her boyfriends and dates as if they were criminals. But Anthony, he welcomed with opened arms like he was some kind of hero.

  Okay, he was a hero. Marine and NCIS Special Agent, but still. He practically offered her up to him like she was a prize.

  Men.

  “Lalani?”

  She looked at him, then turned away. “I think you can make your way back to your house without me.”

  “Hey,” he said, pulling her away from the street. He was frowning at her and looking hurt. Dammit. It made her feel like a bitch. Probably because she was being a royal bitch.

  “What?”

  “Is there something I did?” he asked.

  She crossed her arms and tried to get her temper under control. The truth was, he hadn’t been that bad, but something was under her skin.

  Anthony. He was under her skin. He had been since the moment he’d announced to her that he wasn’t interested in her. She could admit that now, but she wasn’t about to admit it to him. If she did, he could use it against her. It was her soft spot. The man held so much control over her and she barely knew him…that did not make sense.

  Pushing those thoughts aside, she shook her head. “No. I just…never mind. I need to do some work today.”

  Not true. It could wait until Monday. She needed time and space to think.

  “How about we get my car, run out to my place, then I can come back here with you? I’d love to see your studio.”

  “Yeah?”

  He nodded. “Of course. It’s part of you, so I want to see it.”

  He wasn’t trying to be pushy. How could she fault a man who said things like that? She’d have to be a bitch. There was not a doubt in her mind that he was telling the truth. He really did want to know more about her.

  “Okay, but can’t you pick me up when you get back in town?”

  She needed time to think, but apparently Anthony wasn’t going for that.

  “I thought you would want to come by and see Jon.”

  Oh, the man wasn’t fair. She saw the little smile he gave her, and knew she would not be able to resist a visit with her favorite kid.

  “Fine.”

  She turned to walk back in the direction of her apartment, but he shook his head. “Come on. I parked at the Hale Koa parking.”

  He took her hand and led her down the street to the parking structure.

  “A ride with me is just what you need to bring back your smile. I know it will do wonders for me.”

  She didn’t miss the humor in his voice. “What is that supposed to mean?”

  He had the nerve to try to look innocent. “Nothing.”

  “Yeah right.”

  “I think you have a dirty mind.”

  She snorted. “Again, kettle, pot.”

  He smiled as he slipped on his sunglasses. “Then I guess we make a good match.”

  She couldn’t fight the bubble of laughter, and she suddenly felt lighter. With the sun on her face and a sexy man to spend the weekend with, Lalani decided to push aside her worries and enjoy her good fortune.

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  Anthony turned off the tap and wiped the water from his face. He was pleasantly satiated from the entire weekend. Saturday he had gotten to see her studio, and then they’d spent the day at her apartment. He’d cooked for her, and there had been no more strained moments. It was as if she had accepted something and moved on. He wanted to know what that ‘something’ was, but at the moment, he wasn’t going to pry. At some point, if she didn’t tell him, he was going to go to Alana. It wasn’t his style, but he didn’t want to make any mistakes with Lalani.

  They had started the day making love, then went swimming. He was behind in his training, so he convinced her to go out into the ocean. Now, he was going to try and convince her to cook for him because the swimming that morning—along with other activities, had really worked up an appetite.

  Anthony stepped out of the shower and heard the music. Of course there was music. There was always some kind of melody when he was around Lalani, even if it was in her head. She was singing along with Tim McGraw—and she was horribly off key. It was so bad and she was singing it so loudly, that he was amazed the neighbors didn’t call the police to complain. Or maybe animal control because, good God, she sounded like she was killing a cat.

  He smiled as he finished drying off, then draped the towel around his waist. He opened the door and saw her. She was swaying to the music and smiling, so happy. He didn’t think he’d ever seen a person who enjoyed music the way she did, but it was part of her blood. His gaze traveled down her body, past the tank top and lava wrap to her feet as she moved about the kitchen, moving this way and that. She turned to face him, her eyes sparkling with happiness. That’s when he felt it—the shift in his chest, the thunk of his heart. It stole his breath and left him dizzy. And, for the first time in his life, Anthony stopped running. Right then and right there, he knew he had been captured.

  “Anthony?” she asked as she approached him. “Are you okay?”

  No, he wasn’t fucking okay. How the hell was he going to handle this? He had walked straight into The Curse. He had been so damned sure he could avoid it. He didn’t need this shit. But here he was, knee deep in love with a woman who drove him insane. She had a bad temper, made cracks about his age, and fought him on every level. He didn’t want that. He wanted a simple, normal life. Easy.

  There was nothing easy about Lalani.

  Too shaken by what he had just realized, he shook his head and took her hand, pulling her closer.

  “Santini, you’re scaring me.” Her voice shook.

  He felt one side of his mouth curl up. “Good, because I’d hate to be scared all by myself.”

  Before she could question him further, he tugged her into the bedroom. There he laid her out on the mattress, unhooked the lava wrap and removed her tank.

  With almost a reverent touch, he loved her. Using first his hands, then his mouth, he worshiped her. Soon, though, it wasn’t enough. He stripped off his towel and joined her on the bed. He pulled her up, so she straddled his lap. As they moved together, he kept his gaze locked on hers. She closed her eyes and tipped her head back. He took the time to kiss the long column of her throat as she moaned.

  As he felt his orgasm approaching, he said, “Lalani, baby, look at me.”

  She did as he ordered, then he said, “Come with me.”

  It only took another two strokes and she found her release, her gaze locked with his until her eyes went blurry with pleasure. Ripples of her release washed over him, through him, and he joined her.

  They collapsed on the bed together. As he held her close, he listened to the music in the other room. He waited for irritation, fear, some kind of emotion to hit him. There was only one thing he felt.

  Satisfaction. She was who he was supposed to be with, to love,
to build a life with.

  He drew in a deep breath and contemplated on just how to get the woman to agree with him. She hadn’t said what her distant plans were. Sure, she had started a studio, but all it needed was her name on it. She could hire someone to take care of it and run back to New York.

  Anthony frowned. He didn’t like that idea. He wanted her here, and he wanted them to stay in Hawaii.

  And if she didn’t like it…too bad. They both would have to accept it.

  * * *

  Lalani’s phone rang not too long after Anthony left. She knew the ring even before she saw his stupid face.

  “Hello, Viktor.”

  “So, I have word they are looking for a new dancer here.”

  “Yeah, so? They are always looking for a new dancer.”

  “But this is a move up for you.”

  She sighed. “I’m not moving back.”

  “Also, I need a new roommate.”

  The man was an idiot, but she loved him like a brother.

  “That does not entice me in the least. I have other things going on right now.”

  There was a pause. “What things?”

  “My school is having their first recital this week.”

  “Are you performing?”

  “Yeah.”

  Although, she hadn’t told Anthony. It wasn’t that she kept it from him. Okay, she had kept it from him, but it wasn’t exactly on purpose. She didn’t understand why she did, but once she had, she didn’t know how to tell him. The fact that she wanted to impress him sort of bothered her. She had never questioned her ability, but something told her this was more important. It was really messed up.

  “What are you dancing to?”

  “Take Me to Church.”

  “Oh, I like that. I can set up an exhibition here.”

  She rolled her eyes. “I have one coming up here for a charity.”

  When Alana had asked her, she hadn’t been able to say no. It was one of the things she loved most about not being in a company anymore. She could volunteer for things.

  “But you could spend a week…or more with me.”

  “I have other priorities.”

  Another pause.

  “You met someone.”

  Dammit. Viktor might make people think he was some kind of dilatant, but he was actually very observant. Too observant.

  “Why do you say that?”

  “Oh, shit.” He sounded as if he had just lost a family member. “I can’t believe you did that. Please tell me it isn’t some idiot who doesn’t appreciate you.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “I was with you after Ron. I don’t think I could go through that again.”

  He was no longer joking, she could tell by the tone of his voice. “You. Go through that again?”

  He sighed. “Lani, it hurt to see you hurt. It…I just don’t know if I could do that again.”

  Irritation made her temper flare. “So, you want me to have surface relationships that are about nothing more than sex?”

  “Oh, ouch.”

  Immediately, she regretted it. “I’m sorry.”

  “No, I was being an ass. I deserved it.”

  She sighed. “You know my temper.”

  “And I have the scar to prove it.”

  “You do not have a scar.”

  “I do. It mars my perfect male beauty.

  “If you had ducked faster, you wouldn’t have been hit by the brush.”

  He chuckled. “What the hell was that made out of anyway?”

  “It was a silver brush my father gave me.”

  “Fucking thing hurt.”

  “You deserved it.”

  “No, I don’t think I did. It was when I said Ron wasn’t good enough for you. And I was right. I just want to know if you finally agree with me.”

  “I do.”

  “So, tell me about this guy.”

  “Don’t laugh.”

  “Can’t promise that.”

  “He was in the Marines.”

  And true to his word, he started laughing. “Oh, that is rich. A Marine.”

  “Now NCIS.”

  “Are you dating Jethro Gibbs? He seems a little old for you.”

  “Smartass.”

  “Better than a dumb one.” She sensed he was hesitant, but he apparently decided to take the plunge. “Does he love you? You don’t have to tell me you love him. I can hear it in your voice.”

  Again, too perceptive. “He hasn’t said anything, but neither have I. It’s all new.”

  “But you’ve slept with him. It’s been a long time.”

  She sighed. “He doesn’t know that. But, yeah, we have slept together. I just…”

  She thought back to the night before, from the stunned look on his face to the way he had made love to her…she had hope.

  “What?”

  “Nothing. I am still trying to figure it all out. He makes me happy and he is a bit of an ass.”

  “Ron was an ass.”

  “No, Ron was a dick. Anthony, well, he’s just who he is, and there is no way around it. He says exactly what he is thinking, and he doesn’t give a damn who he offends. Especially me.”

  “Oh, this sounds like a story I need to hear.”

  She smiled and started telling him, taking comfort in the way he laughed. When she finished, he sighed.

  “Lord, I have lost you to the islands. I will never get you back.”

  “You will just have to find another wing man.”

  “Please, I don’t need one. I just…you’re my sister.”

  Tears burned her eyes. “Awww, you getting soft on me?”

  “Just make sure he treats you like you should be treated.”

  “I will.”

  After hanging up with Viktor, she felt out of sorts. Telling him about Anthony was inevitable, but she wasn’t sure if it had been a good idea. Viktor gave Ron a broken nose after the breakup. Of course, he had deserved it, but it had worried her that Ron would use his influence to get him fired. Thankfully, nothing had happened because firing the Bad Boy of the Ballet wasn’t that easy.

  Thinking about that time, of the pain, she sighed. How long would she have gone before she found out he had been cheating on her? Hell, he hadn’t been cheating on her. He had been cheating on his fiancé. She had been the other woman without knowing it.

  Worse, his mother had known. Lucinda Wright was a patron to the arts in New York City. She supported artists, writers, and dance companies. And she had known of the affair, disapproved; but to this day, she was positive it had more to do with the color of Lalani’s skin.

  When she had found him kissing another woman in a restaurant, Lalani had been thrown into a world of pain. The weeks that followed were a blur, and they ended with a rush back to Hawaii, not to hide, but to spend her last days with her mother.

  And now she was taking the chance again. She thought of Anthony and the way he made her feel. Joy tingled through her. Lalani wasn’t sure about where they were going to end up, but she would get through meeting his parents and her recital this week. Then, she would figure it all out.

  She bounced out of bed and headed to the kitchen. There was a cup there next to the Keurig with a note on it.

  Sorry about keeping you up too much the last few days.

  —Anthony

  P.S. Not really sorry.

  Lalani smiled then started laughing. Being in love with a Santini definitely wasn’t easy, but she knew she would never be bored.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  Anthony stowed his parents’ luggage then slipped into the driver’s seat.

  “Did you want to stop by the hotel, or did you want to go right out to Marco’s?”

  “Alana is expecting us. And it’s so early. We can’t check in yet,” his mother said. She was sitting beside him, and his father was in the seat behind his mother.

  “Okay,” he said, taking the H-1 East exit.

  “So, you’re settled into the little house
?” she asked.

  “Yes.” Although, he hadn’t spent much time there in the last few days. Lalani had spent last night with him, but every other night since Friday he had spent at her place.

  “And you are liking your job?”

  He nodded as he sped around a slow moving sedan.

  “Are you just going to answer me with one word or head movement?”

  He glanced at her and nodded. His father chuckled.

  “And don’t you laugh. This is your fault.”

  “What did I do?” his father asked, laughter filling his voice.

  “You don’t talk enough.”

  “You do enough for the both of us.” She opened her mouth, but his father said, “Son, be nice and tell your mother how you like living here.”

  “I didn’t know how I would like it, but I really have started to love it here.”

  “What about it do you like?”

  He shrugged. “The lifestyle. Everything is so laid back; and, well, I can swim and cycle year round.”

  She sighed.

  “What did I say?”

  “Nothing. I just hoped you would want to move back to the mainland.”

  “So you were hoping I was miserable?”

  “I hate having all my children far away from me.”

  “Carlos is close by.”

  “Carlos.” Irritation threaded her voice.

  “Oh, what has he done now?”

  “Nothing. But he told your mother to butt out of his business; and, well, you know, your mother wasn’t too happy.”

  “As if I meddle. I’m not like Joey.”

  Before he could respond, her cell phone went off. His mother cussed in Spanish.

  “Hello, Joey. Yes, we made it just fine.”

  She listened to her sister-in-law. “Ah, I said we just got here. But I will tell you, I am about to be able to kiss your grandson.”

  Then his mother laughed. “Such horrible language.”

  She was quiet for a long time as Joey talked. “Well, if you let me talk to my son, I might send you pictures.”

  She hung up. “She’s got a contract with the devil, that one.”

  His father chuckled. “Now, Ella, don’t get so upset. You know you owe her.”