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

  “What did she do for you?”

  “Nothing important.”

  “Thanks a lot,” his father said from the backseat.

  His mother ignored him. “So, what do you have planned for us?”

  “You said you didn’t want plans.”

  She sighed. “Marco said something about Friday night plans.”

  He needed to remind his cousin that he might be a SEAL, but Anthony could still kick his ass.

  “He did? What does he have planned?”

  His father chuckled.

  “Anthony Michael Santini.”

  “Oh, in trouble now, son.”

  “Okay, I have a friend who is having a recital on Friday night.”

  “A friend. She’s having a recital?”

  “I guess you could say it was for her students, but it is the first big one.”

  “Oh.”

  He glanced over at his mother. “What does that mean?”

  “Nothing.” She was smiling like she had won some kind of victory, and she seemed pleased now. “So, how is Alana doing? I didn’t want to stay at the house because we would be a burden this far along in her pregnancy. I’m hoping she will let us steal Jon away for a day while we’re here.”

  “That would be good.”

  “We need practice with two grandchildren on the way. No thanks to you.”

  “How do you know that?”

  She didn’t say anything at first, then she snorted. “You were always a bad boy.”

  “Do me a favor?”

  “Yes?”

  “Don’t start that baby talk around Lalani when you meet her.”

  “Why is that?”

  “She’s heard rumors about Joey.”

  “Ah. And so, we are going to meet her?”

  He smiled. “Yeah, I think you should.”

  He pulled into Alana and Marco’s driveway and was surprised to see Lalani’s sporty little car parked there. He pulled up beside it then slipped out of the car.

  The door opened and Jon came running out. “Auntee Ella, Auntee Ella!”

  Only two people called his mother Ella. His father and Jon. His mother jumped out of the car and caught the little boy.

  “Jon!”

  “I thought you would never get here.”

  “I know. It took us forever and ever.”

  She kissed the little boy several times on the cheek. She handed him over to his great uncle as she walked to Alana and hugged her.

  “Marco told us he would be at work today.”

  “Yes, he had a meeting that he couldn’t get out of.”

  His mother kissed her cheek and waved her comment away. “No problem. You know we all understand military life.”

  Then his mother’s attention was caught by something behind Alana. Lalani was standing in the doorway looking like she wanted to be anywhere else but there.

  “Hello,” his mother said, a confused smile on her face.

  No one said anything for a long moment, so Alana stepped in to do the introductions. “Oh, Marcella, this is Lalani Hawkins, one of my friends. Lalani, this is Marcella Santini and Tony back there hanging Jon upside down.”

  “Hello.”

  “Lalani Hawkins. That name is familiar.”

  “You and Mr. Santini know my father. Doug Hawkins.”

  “I’ll be damned,” his father said with a wide smile on his face. “I knew the Hawk moved back here, but I had no idea you knew Marco.”

  “And me, she knows me.”

  “Of course, dear, I’ve met Lalani before, but I’m sure you don’t remember. You were toddling around and Tony and I stopped in to see your folks.”

  She laughed. “No, I don’t remember.”

  “Even then you danced. You could barely walk, but you loved music.”

  “Why don’t we go in? I have some tea made, and I’m sure you would like to get comfortable,” Alana said.

  His father carried Jon with him like a football under his arm. Lalani waited for his mother, Alana, and his father to go inside. He grabbed her when she turned to go in.

  “Hey, there.”

  “Hey.”

  “I didn’t know they were coming out here.”

  “Alana warned me. It’s okay.”

  He nodded. “I thought maybe we could get my parents and your dad together while they are here.”

  She smiled. “He’d like that.”

  Then, because he couldn’t resist her any longer, he gave her a quick, smacking kiss.

  “Anthony, really, give the poor girl a break,” his mother yelled out.

  Lalani laughed. “Your mother has your number.”

  She patted his cheek and walked into the house. If she only understood her own power, he thought. She’d figure it out soon enough. Every Santini woman understood the power she held over her mate at some point, but for right now, while he was still trying to figure it out, he’d let her stay in the dark.

  * * *

  “We were really sorry to hear about your mother. She was a force of nature. I don’t think you ever met her, Anthony, but she had this way about her. You have it too,” Marcella said, directing the last bit of the conversation in her direction.

  “Thank you.”

  “Is that why you moved back here? I heard you were in New York with the ballet.”

  “Partially. It was supposed to be just a leave of absence, but when I returned, I realized this is where I want to be.”

  “Understandable,” Tony said. “With a nephew and now our son here, we plan on making as many trips as possible.”

  She smiled. She hated to admit it, but she liked them. Of course, she should have known she would. Her father didn’t suffer fools, and he had said that Tony and Marcella were good people.

  “So, you opened a studio?” Marcella asked as she sipped her iced tea.

  “Yes. We are having our first recital this week.”

  “I’m going to get the burgers,” Anthony said.

  Panic surged as she watched him walk away. Alana offered her a reassuring smile.

  “What ages?” Marcella asked.

  “Excuse me?”

  “What ages do you teach?”

  “Oh, mainly elementary school right now. I am building up a clientele. I also want to start offering ballroom dancing, but I need to find a teacher.”

  “Tony could help you.”

  She glanced at the man in question, and she had to fight a giggle. Anthony’s father was actually blushing. She couldn’t laugh because she didn’t want to hurt his feelings.

  “You know how to ballroom dance, Dad?”

  “Your mother made me take lessons a long time ago.”

  “I did not make you take lessons.”

  “You wouldn’t answer my phone calls, so I joined your class.

  She shared a glance with Alana, who looked equally fascinated by that little bit of information.

  “That’s another story for another time,” Marcella said. Lalani couldn’t help but feel deflated by that, especially since she was sure Marcella was going to start interrogating her again.

  “Is the recital open to the public?”

  She nodded. “Anthony said you would want to come, but you don’t have to. I’m sure you have other things to do on a Friday night in Honolulu.”

  “We would love to go. And I am sure Jon is going to be there.”

  The little boy smiled. “There’s going to be cake.”

  Alana laughed. “It was the only way I could get him to go.”

  “Well, that being said, I need to get going.”

  “Oh, I’m sorry. Can’t you stay and have dinner?”

  She shook her head. “I have a meeting with a couple of the lighting people, and this is about the only time we could get together. They are volunteering their time, so I have to fit into their schedule.”

  Lalani stood. “It was very nice to meet you both.”

  “Thank you, Lalani,” Marcella said.

  Anthony smiled at her, then grabb
ed her hand when she tried to walk past him. He held her there and said, “I’ll be right back.”

  He walked her out.

  “You didn’t have to treat me like a date.”

  “You’re not a date. You’re my woman.”

  Dammit, why did that send a secret little thrill through her? It shouldn’t, but it did.

  She said nothing as she stepped out onto the front step to the house. He yanked her back and against him.

  “Say it.”

  She smiled and blinked up at him, trying to look as innocent as possible. “Say what?”

  He growled as he leaned down to kiss her. She knew he had meant it to be simple but as usual, their desire for each other took over. She didn’t know what would have happened if Marco hadn’t beeped his car horn.

  Anthony didn’t jerk away, but moved back slowly. “I might just have to kill him.”

  “Hey, stop with the PDA, Anthony. I have a kid inside who might see that.”

  “Suck ass, Marco.”

  Marco wasn’t offended, of course. He just laughed. “Your parents made it okay?”

  He nodded. “Burgers tonight.”

  “You’re not staying for dinner?” he asked looking at her.

  “Sorry, got a meeting with the lighting people.” Unable to resist, she gave Anthony another quick kiss. “I’ll call you later.”

  Then, she hurried over to her car. She was already behind by ten minutes and with traffic, she just hoped to make it there on time. She’d opened her door when Anthony caught her attention by shouting.

  He was standing alone by the front door.

  “What?”

  He said nothing for a long moment. “Be safe. Text me when you get there.”

  She had a feeling that wasn’t what he had planned on saying, but she smiled. “Yes, sir.”

  Slipping into her car, she backed up in order to drive back to the main road. When she looked in the rearview mirror, she saw him standing there watching her.

  The damn man was going to be the death of her.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  Anthony sighed with relief when the curtain came down signaling that the recital was over. It had been a long week. He had only gotten to see Lalani a few times. With his parents on the island, and all the work Lalani had to do for the recital, they just hadn’t had time. But tonight, he knew he was going to be invited back to her apartment. Or he would invite himself. Either way, he was spending the night with her. He hadn’t had good nights’ sleep in the last three nights. He knew it was because she hadn’t been with him. Anthony didn’t want to think about it too closely. If he did, he might have a panic attack.

  So instead, he focused on the irritation with the uncomfortable chairs they had to sit in. He shifted back and forth before his mother leaned over.

  “Try not to be impatient, Anthony. You only have to share her for a little while longer.”

  He hated that he was so transparent to his mother. He had enjoyed the recital, but he was ready to leave. He knew there was a reception afterwards. And while he was damned proud of her and what she had accomplished with her students, Anthony was feeling a little possessive of her. He knew it all had to do with his revelation. Realizing he was in love with her made him very antsy.

  One of the mothers came out with the students as they took their final bow. She had a mic with her, which confused Anthony because he was sure that Lalani would be the one on the stage. She had done all the announcements, explaining what each piece was, and how hard all the kids had worked.

  Alana leaned over to whisper in his ear. “Did Lalani tell you she was going to dance tonight?”

  He glanced at her and shook his head.

  “She was really nervous because she choreographed it herself.” She patted his hand. “I think she wanted to surprise you.”

  As the applause for the students died down, the mother on stage smiled.

  “Thank you friends and family for coming tonight to see the performances. Each one of the girls and boys here worked very hard, but not as hard as their teacher. We are truly lucky to have a dancer of Lalani Hawkins’ caliber here to teach in Hawaii. When she returned last year, it was New York’s loss and Honolulu’s gain. So, please welcome Lalani Hawkins.”

  The room filled with applause and the lights went down. For a long, tense moment, nothing happened. He heard steps across the stage as if someone had settled down. In the next instant, beams of light came from several different directions, and there in the center of the stage was Lalani. She sat on the floor wearing nothing but a leotard, some kind of stretchy looking pants, and her ballet shoes. The moment Anthony heard the first chord of Hozier’s song; she began to move. Slowly at first, then, as the music grew, she rolled over the floor, and then up to her feet. As the chorus started she ran, then jumped in some kind of split leg jump. She seemed to float through the air, come down on her feet, and turn and do another.

  He didn’t know the names of the moves, but he knew beauty when he saw it. Over and over, she jumped, floated, turned…and he was mesmerized. Then, she was on the floor again, on her knees, arching back over and touching the floor behind her. She was up again as the music rose to the final crescendo, turning over and over, until he was sure she was dizzy from it.

  She floated through the air one last time before she strutted to the middle of the stage, dragging her toes along the floor. She sank to the floor as the song played the final notes. One by one, the lights went out, until the last chord vibrated through the air and the stage went dark.

  For a long moment the entire audience was silent, suddenly they erupted in applause. People jumped to their feet. He might have been the first one. If he hadn’t realized he loved her before the performance, he would have known afterwards. With each leap she took, each turn she finished, he had held his breath.

  The lights came up and she stood, her spine straight as a board. She bent at the waist in the most elegant curtsy he’d ever seen—and that was saying something with the English Santinis having royal blood in them.

  She quieted everyone down, but he barely heard her speak. His heart was still smacking against his chest as if he had just run a hundred miles in the last few minutes. The applause began again, and the curtain came down.

  “She is amazing,” his mother said to him. She studied him. “You’ve never seen her dance?”

  “No. I’ve known her for less than two months.”

  She patted his arm and opened her mouth to say something, but Lalani’s father and his friends interrupted them. He noticed that she had come back out in front of the curtain and was chatting with people. Without a thought of his family, he strode in Lalani’s direction. She was laughing when he reached her.

  “Anthony,” she said, but if she was planning to say anything else, it was lost. He grabbed her and did the one thing he needed to do. He bent his head and kissed her. And not some peck on the cheek, or even a simple kiss. He cupped her face as he deepened this kiss. The world around them faded away as he took his time to show his feelings in the kiss.

  The only thing that stopped him was more applause. She pushed against him, and he forced himself to let her go. Absently, he realized they were the reason for the applause.

  He smiled. “That was the encore, folks, but I think we have cake and punch waiting for us.”

  As the crowd moved into the reception area, she leaned closer. “I should stab you for doing that to me in front of the students.”

  “Do you always have to have an audience?” she asked.

  He shrugged and she rolled her eyes. When she turned to flounce away, he caught her and pulled her back against him.

  “You were amazing.”

  She glanced at him over her shoulder, a rosy tint colored her cheeks and she smiled. “Thank you.”

  The simple words filled him with even more pride. The fact that she had wanted to impress him bode well for his plans in the upcoming weeks.

  As she hurried away, Anthony knew for a fact that she n
ot only held his heart, she’d captured his soul.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

  “So, your young man is definitely up to snuff,” her father said to her as they caught some time alone. He was drinking punch while she knew he would rather be sharing a beer with his buddies. But he was here, as he always was when she was growing up. If he wasn’t deployed, he made the performance. Because he was her Daddy.

  She leaned over and kissed his cheek. “You know you’re the best Daddy in the world?”

  He blinked and for a second or two, she was afraid he would cry. The only time she had seen him do that was when her mother had died. He composed himself a moment later.

  “Hard not to be with a perfect daughter.”

  She laughed. “Please. You didn’t think I was so perfect when I wrecked the car my first night out alone.”

  He chuckled. “I don’t want you any other way. Now, listen before more of admirers come and slobber over you. I like Anthony Santini, but if he hurts you, I’ll kick his ass.”

  She blinked. “Really?”

  “Yes, when you and that Ron broke up, your mother forced me to stay home and not butt in. I will not take another man hurting you.”

  “Oh, Daddy,” she said looking across the room at Anthony and his family. “If he hurts me, I’ll kick his ass myself. I am a Marine’s daughter after all.”

  He threw his head back and laughed out loud. “And you have your mother’s spirit.”

  Lalani just hoped that she didn’t have to put her ass kicking skills to the test.

  * * *

  Later that night, Anthony busied himself in her living room. She had needed a shower and to decompress. While he had wanted to disagree, he saw the exhaustion, and knew she needed a break from people in general. So, he had retreated from the bedroom to give her time to take a shower and relax.

  He looked around her living area and smiled. Anthony realized that in the week he had been staying there, he hadn’t paid much attention to the furnishings—probably because they had spent a huge chunk of their time in the bedroom.

  He knew most of the furniture was her uncle’s, but there were bits and pieces of the woman all around the room. There was a massive picture of the New York skyline, professionally matted and framed. There were also the personal pictures. One was with her father and another with Jon. He stopped in front of the pictures with her father, of Jon…and then with her mother. He moved closer and couldn’t fight the smile. They were standing on Waimanalo Beach, and they were both laughing into the camera. Her mother was shorter than Lalani, frailer. He could tell from Lalani’s age in the picture, this had to be taken while her mother was dying. But, they were laughing. Just like he always thought of her. Music and laughter. He would always associate those with her.