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

  “Really? I thought you liked Anthony.”

  Jon settled his head on Marco’s shoulder. “No cookies for breakfast.”

  Marco laughed.

  “Hey, I offered you pancakes.”

  “Hmm, pancakes,” Marco said, with the same smile his son had tried to use to get cookies.

  Anthony rolled his eyes. “Come on. I guess I can offer up a breakfast for a returning hero—even if you are in the Navy.”

  Marco laughed and followed him. “And, you know, bacon sounds good.”

  “Of course it does. In the fridge.”

  Marco easily handled getting the bacon while still holding his son. He set it on the counter next to the stove.

  “I wanted to thank you for keeping an eye on Alana while I was gone. I know she can handle herself, but it’s nice to have family nearby.”

  He nodded. “And you repay me by mooching breakfast off me?”

  Marco laughed. It was nice to hear. When his cousin had returned the night before, Marco had smiled, but there had been shadows. They were still there, and Anthony understood them. He had his fair share of them. Anthony was just glad Marco had someone to help him through those times.

  “Well, that is one reason I’m here. Alana wanted to have you over for dinner. Sort of a welcome home thing.”

  “A party?”

  Before he could answer, Anthony’s phone rang. He saw the caller ID and rolled his eyes.

  “Aunt Joey. It’s kind of early.”

  “Oh, please. You are all alike. You are up and ready to go. I bet you’re cooking breakfast.”

  The woman was canny. She always knew what they were all doing. “Yes, but maybe I have company. And maybe she wouldn’t understand a woman calling me this early.”

  There was a pause. For one split second, he felt victorious. It was hard to get one over on Joey Santini. Of course, she proved to be the same Joey Santini he grew up fearing in the next second.

  “So, have you told your mother about this woman?”

  “Ahhh, hmmm, not sure my mother would be happy with my choice. I mean, she’s truly one of the most accepting people, but she might draw the line at a stripper.”

  Marco ruined it by laughing.

  “That is my boy laughing in the background. And I am going to tell your mother what you did.”

  “I wouldn’t expect anything less of you, Aunt Joey. Want to talk to Marco?”

  “Yes. Although, I want to know how you’re doing first. Are you liking Hawaii?”

  “Yes. Enjoying it and NCIS here. A lot less political.”

  “Yes, it’s hard to be in any military organization with the last name Santini. People always expect you to be going after things. Been out much?”

  “Not much,” he said laying the bacon in the pan. “Every time one of my siblings gets married, I have to hop over to the mainland.”

  “Yes, well, one of these days we will all come there for your wedding.”

  A cold chill rushed down his spine. “Good Lord, Aunt Joey, don’t say that.”

  She laughed. “Why?”

  “Whenever you say that, people end up married. I have too much on my plate right now.”

  “Like what?” she asked sweetly. “You’re not getting any younger.

  And she was evil. Just stone cold evil.

  “I’m training for the triathlon.”

  “Oh, well, I’m sure the bacon I hear sizzling in the background isn’t going to help.”

  “I happen to be cooking breakfast for your son and your grandson.”

  “Aw, now aren’t you sweet. Okay, I’ve sufficiently harassed you and can report back to your mother. Let me talk at that boy of mine.”

  The boy was a full grown Navy SEAL who could easily kill someone with two fingers, but Anthony knew that Joey thought of them as boys and always would.

  He handed the phone to Marco. “Hey, Mom. I just talked to you yesterday.”

  Marco laughed and Anthony turned back to the stove to work on breakfast. The faint scent of plumeria drifted through the window, as the sun sparkled off the waves of the Pacific Ocean.

  It was a damned perfect way to start his day.

  CHAPTER THREE

  Lalani Hawkins was just waking up when her phone rang with one of her favorite Brother Iz’s songs. Alana Santini. Of course, she would give one of her favorite people in the world the ringtone. She rolled over and smiled as she grabbed her phone.

  “Hey, Momma, what you doing out of bed? Didn’t your sexy SEAL get home last night?”

  Alana laughed. She was always such a happy person, and it was one of the reasons Lalani loved her. Even with everything Alana had suffered early in life, she could find happiness. Of course, being married to someone as wonderful as Marco Santini probably helped.

  Through her, Lalani had learned how to deal with life’s disappointments.

  “Well, we were lucky and had a babysitter last night.”

  “Oh?” Lalani said, raising her legs in the air and pointing her toes. The performance last night had been invigorating, but she was definitely not as young as she used to be. Her calves were a little tight this morning.

  “I told you about Anthony, right? Marco’s cousin.”

  Of course Alana had. More than once. In fact, she had spent most of their pedicure time talking about Marco’s cousin.

  “Yes, the Marine.”

  “He’s out now. NCIS.”

  Lalani chuckled. “No, sweetie. They are never “out”. This is a Marine brat talking. Once a Marine, always a Marine.”

  “Yeah, they all say that. I have a feeling every Santini thinks that way, no matter what service they are in.”

  “You always talk about them like they are a class of gods.”

  Alana sighed. “You’ve met Marco. And they are all exactly like that.”

  “Hmm,” was all she said as she lowered her legs. That was saying a lot. She had only met one of Alana’s brother-in-laws, Gianni. He had been sweet to his wife and their baby, and just enough of a charmer to make her feel beautiful. Marco was the same way, but in his own very quiet way. A family of men like that would definitely be defined as gods. Still, Lalani did not want to give Alana any more encouragement.

  “Lani?”

  “Sorry. So, what about Marco’s cousin?”

  “He offered to let Jon stay over with him last night.”

  “Aw, that was sweet. Why didn’t I think of that?”

  “It’s easier with Anthony right here. If Jon freaked, it would have been convenient to bring him back over. Also, you had a performance last night.”

  She sighed. “Yeah. There was that. Although, Dad would have had a good time with his little fishing buddy.”

  “What went wrong?”

  “Nothing.” She had enjoyed dancing for the benefit the night before. She hadn’t done a lot of performing since she opened her school a few months earlier, and it had felt good. But there was a missing part. “It’s hard to perform now. It is getting easier each time, but I keep looking for my mother at the end of the performance.”

  She had lost her mother eighteen months earlier to cancer. It had been one of the reasons she had resigned her post at the NYC Ballet Company and returned home. In New York, it had been okay not to have family in the audience, but when she was in Hawaii…when she was home, it was difficult.

  “Oh,” Alana said, sadness shading her voice. “I should have been there.”

  Lalani smiled. “No. You had a sexy SEAL in your bed for the first time in six weeks. I would have done the same thing. Well, as long as he wasn’t military.”

  “How does a brat get so judgmental about military men?”

  “By being a brat. Oh, and dating a military man. That one dip into the military pool was enough. It was a disaster from start to finish. You know how I deal with orders.”

  It had more to do with the man than with his job, but she used it whenever anyone tried to set her up with military men. Lalani wasn’t in the mood to date.


  When she heard Alana laugh again, it eased her worries. She knew that her friend had been tense about Marco being gone. That was never easy with a toddler and another baby on the way.

  “Did you want to come over for dinner tonight?”

  “You don’t have to cook for me. You know, my dad lives here. I do have other friends.” But Lalani and Alana had grown closer since she returned to the islands. Losing her mother…that loss was something Alana understood. She had lost her family to a drunk driver…father, mother, and brothers. At least Lalani still had her father.

  “I’m not. I’m making Marco cook out. It should be a pretty sunset tonight, and we can eat on the lanai and enjoy the trade winds.”

  “I should say no.” She had a million things to do, but it was too tempting. Alana had a great view, and she loved spending time with Marco and Jon on top of it.

  “But you won’t. Besides, it’s free food. Come on. I am out numbered with men here.”

  A suspicion moved through her. “You aren’t trying to set me up again, are you?”

  “No.”

  “Alana, after you tried to set Colin and me up, I thought you promised no more.”

  “I promise.”

  “He’s still mad at me because I assumed he was gay.”

  “I still wish I had been there for that conversation.”

  She closed her eyes as the memory sprung up. He had been so angry with her, and even angrier when she had apologized. It had taken them two months to finally be able to talk to each other…at which point, they had become friends.

  “I am sure he told you all about it. He’s so…”

  “You were surrounded by men who are particular. That is the word you were going to use, right?”

  “Listen, I knew a dancer who everyone was convinced was a homosexual. He turned out to be very, very hetero—and in the most delicious of ways.”

  “Anyway, I was talking about Marco and Jon. They gang up on me.”

  Lalani grunted. It wasn’t lady like, but the set up had been one of the worst she had been on. Not that Colin and she had not become fast friends. They had fun together. Lots of fun together. Like brother and sister. They also were good at filling in for awkward occasions where they needed dates. But, she wasn’t ready for any more interactions with men on that level.

  “Okay. Then I will. What time do you want me there?”

  “How about five? We can talk about that idea we had for a fundraiser.”

  “Sounds good. What do you want me to bring?”

  “Just yourself.”

  “Okay. Kiss that cute hubby of yours for me, and definitely tell my boyfriend, I’m expecting his undivided attention.”

  “Jon will be thrilled.”

  After she hung up, Lalani lay in her bed staring up at the ceiling. The sun was peeking through the blinds, and she could already hear the bustle of the streets below. When she first moved back, she had lived with her parents. Her father had needed help, and she had wanted to spend every possible moment with her mother. She never regretted the decision to return, but she had missed the sound of the city. Honolulu definitely wasn’t New York City, but it did the trick. Her uncle had moved back to the mainland and let her live in his big, fancy apartment for very little money.

  With a sigh, she slipped out of bed and decided to start the day. She had some things to go over, a few calls and emails to return, and she had to go buy Alana some cookies from the Honolulu Cookie Company before she drove over to her house.

  * * *

  Alana hung up the phone and turned to find Marco staring at her. Jon was holding a cookie and smiling.

  “Unca Ant gave me a cookie.”

  “I hope he didn’t give you that for breakfast.”

  He shook his head. “Pancakes and bacon. Talked to Gramma Joey.”

  “He sent you some over,” Marco said, handing her a tinfoil covered plate.

  He set Jon down on the floor. Jon ran over to Alana, pursing his lips and closing his eyes, almost running into her. She bent down and gave him a kiss, then he ran off to play.

  She straightened and looked at Marco. He wasn’t saying anything, so she made a big production of putting the plate on the counter. Anything to fill the time. Normally, she would be happy to look at him all day long, especially when he’d been gone so many weeks. But there was a tilt to his smile that told her he knew she had been up to something.

  She cleared her throat. “Your mother called?”

  “She called Anthony.”

  “And you got to talk to her again?”

  He nodded. “Alana?”

  She smiled. “What?”

  “Don’t even try that smile on me. I know better. What are you up to?”

  “Nothing.”

  “No, you invited Lalani over. And Anthony. You promised her no more fix ups, and my cousin is not in the mood.”

  She sighed. “It isn’t. Not really. Besides, we want to ask them to be godparents, right?”

  Nodding his head, he walked toward her. Slipping his arms around her, he pulled her closer, then smiled when they both felt the baby kick.

  “I love you, adore you, but I have to be honest with you. This has disaster written all over it.”

  She rolled her eyes. “Santinis are so melodramatic.”

  “We are not. And setting my happy to be a bachelor cousin Anthony up with Lalani is not a good idea. She hates all military men, except me and her father.”

  “Anthony isn’t in the Marines anymore.” He gave her a knowing look. “Okay, yeah. But it isn’t a set up. Truth is, they both helped a lot when you were gone. I felt much better knowing I had both of them to call on. So, this will be just a thank you for that.”

  “That’s it?”

  She crossed her heart. “If I wanted to fix them up, I would have done it before you got home.”

  “God, I missed you, baby,” he murmured. Love and seduction shimmered beneath the surface, as heat danced through her blood. He lowered his mouth to hers.

  “Daddy. Daddy. Daddy.”

  Marco sighed and set his forehead on her shoulder. “Cock blocked by my own son.”

  “What’s wrong, Jon?” Alana said, then laughed when she saw him. He was standing in the doorway naked.

  “I wanna go swimming.”

  Marco turned around and laughed himself. “Well, I think we better get some trunks on ya before we go, son.”

  He looked down, then looked at Marco. “Why?”

  “Just cuz. Let’s go.” He gave Alana a kiss. “Go sit down and rest.”

  “I will. I’m making a list for the commissary for you. Then, I plan on sitting by the pool, eating these pancakes, and watching my boys.”

  She watched as he headed off after their son. Hopefully, her plans would work out. She didn’t see Anthony getting married, but he was starting to worry her. He was going to work, training for the triathlon. He was becoming a hermit.

  And if he clicked with Lalani, well, that might help get him out and about. Lalani wasn’t much better, especially now that her and Colin had become bosom buddies. They were both saying marriage was off the table for them. She wouldn’t worry about Colin right now. Lalani was the one she was most worried about. Some romance was always a good thing, and while nothing might come out of it, there was no harm in testing the waters.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  The sound of a car pulling into the drive woke Anthony up. He could tell that it was close to five in the afternoon because the way the sun was slanting through the windows. He rose, stretching his neck. Damn, he shouldn’t have fallen asleep on the couch. He’d put on a movie he’d seen fifteen million times, and he woke up to the final credits.

  He rolled his shoulders and tried his best to clear the fog of a nap that went on too long. He was really feeling his age after the long night with Jon. Rising from the couch, he walked to the window. There was a hot little convertible sitting in the driveway. Then, he saw the driver. Talk about hot little number.

 
She grabbed something from the passenger seat and then slid out of the car. The moment he got a good look at her, every hormone in his body stood at attention. She was tall, really tall. Her hair was a dark tumble of curls that she had left loose. He could just imagine her flying along Kam Highway with the top down, her hair dancing in the wind. It spoke of a free spirit, and of a woman who took chances. Anthony remembered that once upon a time, he liked a woman with a wild side.

  Her skin was the color of cocoa, and she had a smile that could stop traffic. Damn, the woman had a set of legs. She had to be an athlete of some type to have that sort of definition. He couldn’t see the color of her eyes because she wore big, pink sunglasses.

  Then it hit him full force. This was a damned set up.

  It had to be the friend. Well, he wasn’t going to sit still. He hurried out his door and approached her. It was better if she knew what was going on so there were no hard feelings.

  * * *

  Lalani was rounding the front of her car, when she noticed someone hurrying from the guesthouse.

  She knew Alana rented it to mainly military folks, but recently, there seemed to be a stream of Santinis occupying the quarters. She turned around with a smile and froze. The man walking toward her was all lean, long muscle and golden flesh. His dark hair was a mess, as if he’d just dragged himself out of bed, and he needed a good shave. He also wasn’t wearing a shirt. If a man looked this delicious messed up like this, she could just imagine what he would look like if he put some effort behind it.

  “Hey, there,” he said.

  It took her a good five seconds to get her brain to work so she could answer him.

  “Hey.”

  “You must be one of Alana’s friends.”

  “I am. You must be a Santini.”

  He grinned. “I see that my family reputation has preceded me. Anthony.”

  “Lalani.”

  “Now that we have that out of the way, I have an idea that Alana is trying to fix us up, and I just wanted you to know right up front, I’m not interested.”

  She blinked as she felt her smile fade. “What?”