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

  “Yes. It’s been awhile since we’ve been over there and our anniversary is coming up. I feel a need for some sun.”

  “You live in Arizona. There is always tons of sun there.”

  “Don’t get smart with me. Besides, I want to see you and my boyfriend.”

  Anthony’s lips twitched. Marco’s son Jon and his mother had hit it off. Now that he thought about it, Jon always had women, young and old, flirting with him.

  “You could wait a month or two, and see the new baby.”

  “Hmm, that’s true, but Joey will be there and I will be in the way.”

  Not true at all. All the Santini women enjoyed each other’s company and had a grand time when there was a new baby to coo over.

  “When are you planning on coming then?”

  “Maybe next week.”

  He was enough of a man that panic set in. His parents. In Hawaii. Damn. He had just started dating Lalani. “That soon?”

  “Yes. We were going to get tickets, but I wanted to check with Alana. She said she’d send a plane.”

  “It’s good to have a millionaire married to my cousin,” he said.

  “True. We aren’t going to be staying there with you. We’ll be staying in Honolulu.”

  Well, at least there was something to be said about that.

  His boss shouted his name and he looked at the time. “Mama, I have a meeting right now. I’ll talk to Alana tonight and find out when and where you are getting here. I’ll see if I can take some time.”

  “Now, don’t waste your leave on us. We can entertain ourselves quite well.”

  “Is that a fact?”

  “As your father says, we didn’t have six children because we found each other boring.”

  He closed his eyes. “Please, you know how sensitive I am.”

  “As sensitive as a bull.”

  He opened his eyes as he smiled. “There is that. I will take off to pick you up though.”

  “Okay. Go to your meeting, Anthony.”

  “Yes, Mama.”

  “I love you, Anthony.”

  “I love you too.”

  As Anthony gathered up his papers, he made a mental note to call Lalani. He needed to give her the heads up that his mother was coming. There would be no way to avoid her running into his mother.

  With a sigh, he headed off to his meeting wondering just how to break it to Lalani that they would have to cool it while his parents were there. If not, both of their lives would become unbearable.

  * * *

  Marcella Santini looked out the window across their backyard. Tony was fussing with the pool and cussing up a storm. Like father, like son. It made sense that the child they named for the father was just like him. Stubborn to the end.

  She wasn’t stupid. She knew he wasn’t that thrilled about them coming to visit. Anthony wanted to see them, but there was something else going on. She knew it the last few times she had talked to him, so she had decided a visit was in order. The phone call to Alana had confirmed it.

  Tony threw down something he was working on, called it a name, then came walking toward the backdoor. She watched, her heart still turning over at the sight of him. He had always been the one for her from the moment she saw him. Of course, she hadn’t known it at the time. She had just picked him from a crowd of Marines, thinking he would help her with her plan. Over twenty-five years and six kids later, Marcella still marveled at how wonderful her failed plan worked out.

  “What happened?” she asked.

  He grunted.

  “I just talked to Anthony. Told him we were coming over.”

  Tony glanced at her, then strode to the refrigerator. “You think we need to go?”

  “Yes.”

  “You’re not going to meddle in his life, correct?”

  She didn’t say anything as he opened the cupboard and grabbed a glass. He turned to face her.

  “Marcella?”

  She smiled. “Of course not. But, with babies coming from all directions, I assumed we would be tied to the mainland for a while. This way, I get to see Jon, help Alana get ready for Joey’s visit, and spend time with my first born.”

  He sighed. “You are the worst liar.”

  She gasped. “I do not lie.”

  He set down his glass as his lips twitched. “You do. A lot.”

  “Anthony Santini, I have never lied in my life.”

  He gave her a knowing look and started toward her. She stepped back and fought a giggle that threatened to escape. He caught her before she could make a run for it. He slipped his arms around her waist and pulled her closer.

  “You lie all the time, babe. Especially on the night we met.”

  She frowned at him, but he dipped his head and kissed it away.

  “Now, tell me why we need to go to Hawaii so badly.”

  “Do we really need to have a reason?”

  He cocked his head and studied her for a second or two. “Okay, keep your secrets. At least, you can keep them for a price.”

  “Is that a fact?” she asked.

  He nodded, not taking his gaze away from hers.

  “And what would that be?”

  He leaned closer and whispered in her ear. Even after all the years they had together, he made her blush. She laughed as he grabbed her hand and led her down the hallway to their room. She’d worry about their trip later.

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  “Ms. Lalani,” Abigail Chen shouted as she ran to her. She smiled at the enthusiastic six-year-old.

  “Yes?”

  “My Tutu is going to be at the recital next month.”

  “Abigail,” her mother said, chasing after her. Susan Chen was holding Abigail’s younger brother and looking, as she always was, exasperated with her daughter.

  “No worries, Mrs. Chen.” She looked at Abigail. “Having your Tutu here will be wonderful.”

  “Yes,” the little girl said clapping. “She said she would not miss it for the world.”

  She leaned down so that she was eye level with her student. “And you must thank her for coming.” Abigail nodded. “And, you must stop running off from your mother. She’s got Daniel here to worry about, and it’s hard to keep up with you.”

  “I am very fast.”

  “Yes you are.”

  “Come on, Abigail. We need to stop by the grocery store before heading home.”

  She watched them leave hand-in-hand and had a sense of déjà vu. Her mother had always been the one at her practices and recitals. Her father was there when he could be, but it had always been her mother there.

  She sighed and folded the happy memory away. A year later and she could get through a thought like that without tearing up. It was getting easier, but then, her mother had prepared Lalani for life without her.

  After closing up, Lalani walked out of her studio and found Anthony waiting for her. He was leaning against the window of the store next door looking just as scrumptious as he had the afternoon he’d taken her out. He was wearing a dark red polo shirt and a pair of black cotton shorts. How could a man who never seemed to care about what he wore look so damned good?

  She hadn’t seen him since their date, but they were both extremely busy with their jobs. Still, he had called or texted her every day. It hadn’t been what she had expected from him. Funny little memes along with the pictures he sent of Jon. No matter what, he was always surprising her, like now.

  “Hey, Santini, what are you doing here?”

  He shrugged. “Wondered if you wanted to take a walk on the beach and maybe get a bite to eat.”

  It wasn’t a question. Not really. He was making a statement of what he wanted and he expected her to go along.

  “I’m not going out like this.”

  He had those damned mirrored glasses on, but she had an idea that his gaze traveled down her body and then back up. His mouth twitched.

  “You look fine to me.”

  The way his voice rolled over the words shivered across her senses. Sh
e knew a lot of men who could seduce. In fact, dancers were known for that particular skill. They would use intricate details to do everything they could to get you into bed. It was something she learned the hard way a long time ago. With Anthony, though, all he had to do was give a compliment and the tone of his voice had her melting. It was probably because she knew Anthony Santini would live up to the promise of that voice. Right now, she could imagine hearing him whisper naughty things in her ear as they lay in bed together.

  “Lalani?”

  She shook herself mentally, and realized he was staring at her with a knowing smile. Dammit. He knew just how he got to her.

  “What?”

  “I asked why you didn’t want to go to the beach dressed like that.”

  She rolled her eyes. “I’m in a leotard and tights. Not really beach walking material.”

  “Okay. Are you parked around here?”

  She shook her head. “I walked today.”

  He hesitated for a second, which was very un-Anthony like. He always seemed to be a man with a plan. Then, something moved over his expression that she did not have time to figure out before it disappeared.

  “I guess we should head back to your place.”

  Now it was her turn to hesitate. He was going to be in her space, see her things. The first thing she tried to remember was if she had cleaned recently. She was notoriously messy. Her father hated it because he lived like he was still on active duty. It was her one way to rebel against him. But, as she thought about it, she remembered she had actually cleaned the living room the day before and done laundry. Then, she had to think if she wanted this man in her space. She knew having him in her apartment was a temptation she could not resist. But, once she went down that path, she knew there would be no going back to casually sniping at each other. Their lives were intertwined.

  “Cat got your tongue?”

  She looked at him; irritated she still couldn’t see his eyes.

  “No. Just remembering what you said last time you were in my apartment building.”

  He gave her one short, definitive nod. “True, but I think I might be able to control myself long enough for you to change into something more suitable.”

  With a sigh, she shook her head. “Come on, Santini.”

  As they walked side-by-side, she knew he said he could control himself, but at the moment, Lalani wasn’t so sure she could control herself.

  Pushing that thought aside, she turned and waited for him to follow. There wasn’t much traffic since she had gotten a great location for her studio. She often walked to work because it was just down the street from her apartment building.

  “You could have come in to watch, you know.”

  She didn’t look at him, but she felt him glance over at her for the briefest moment. “Not that I would have minded, but I didn’t feel like walking into a dance studio filled with little girls.”

  She snorted. “More likely, most of the women would forget all about their little girls the moment you walked into the room.”

  He said nothing, but she sensed he was amused by her comment. Much like Marco, Anthony might understand that he was considered attractive, but it didn’t seem to matter to him. Of course, pretty men like him never really understood what it was like.

  “So, calls and texts and then you just show up on a Friday afternoon. I might have had plans.”

  “I would expect a woman like you to have plans.”

  “But you would expect me to cancel them.”

  He didn’t say anything to that for a few moments. “I would expect you to tell me to fuck off if you had other plans and would rather keep them.”

  She digested that as they walked around a family more interested in their argument than where they were going.

  “Well, I would rather you to call and make a date.”

  “You like things formal.”

  Not really, but she would not sit around for a man ever again. “No. I like to be appreciated.”

  She didn’t mean to make her voice so sharp, but realized she had when he glanced at her.

  “I didn’t mean to make you think that I didn’t.”

  “Sorry. I just…when you have dealt with men who have egos as big as the Hawaiian shoreline, you get a chip on your shoulder.”

  “Understood,” he said, stopping to let her step in front of him so she could unlock the door.

  They stepped onto the elevator and he pushed the button for her floor.

  “Are you going to come in tonight, or wait in the hall?”

  He took off his sunglasses and looked at her. “I’ll come in.”

  She smiled. “Nice to see you finally got the nerve.”

  “It wasn’t about nerve.”

  “Is that a fact?”

  “Yes.”

  The word was ground out from behind his teeth.

  She crossed her arms beneath her breasts and cocked her head. “So, what was it about?”

  “I told you.”

  “But you can control yourself tonight?”

  His eyes lit up as he leaned closer. “Let’s just say I’m willing to take a chance.”

  She said nothing. She couldn’t. Her body was reacting to the look in his gaze and the way his voice had deepened over the words as he said them. Heat shifted through her as she felt her nipples harden. The man had yet to touch her and she was ready to jump his body.

  Thankfully, the door dinged open and she released a breath she didn’t know she’d been holding.

  He stepped back with a knowing smile curving his lips.

  “Gives a whole new meaning to being saved by the bell.”

  She said nothing to that as she stepped out of the elevator. She didn’t run, but it was a very near thing. After unlocking her door and checking her messages, she turned to face him.

  “Need something to drink?”

  “Point me in the direction of a glass and I can help myself to some water.”

  “Cupboard by the sink has glasses in it, and the water from the fridge is filtered.”

  He nodded but didn’t move. He just kept standing there staring at her. If she stood there much longer, she might just lose all of her control and beg him to take her.

  “I’ll be just a minute.”

  She left him there, but she felt the fine hairs on the back of her neck stir. She knew he had watched her until she shut the door. She leaned back against it and closed her eyes. Lord, what was she going to do. They had been moving in this direction probably since the first time they had met. And she wasn’t a woman who had a problem with her sexuality. But this felt…different.

  With a shake of her head, she pushed away from the door. She could control herself tonight. Hopefully. She had to because she needed to figure out just why he seemed so damned important to her happiness after such a short time.

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  Anthony stared at the closed door for several moments, waiting for his legendary patience to take hold. Okay, he really didn’t have any patience. Not when it came to his personal life. Work, he was good. It was one of the reasons he made a good NCIS agent. No matter what he was working on, he could sift through the evidence and find the culprit. Too bad he didn’t have that patience when it came to women—especially Lalani. Really, only Lalani. There was something about her that got under his skin.

  He drew in a deep breath and counted backwards from ten. He needed something to keep himself busy. He went and got that glass of water he said he wanted. He sucked down the first glassful and then filled it up again. This time, he sipped it as he went back into her living room.

  This was his fault. It had been his dumbass idea to come down to see her. It had been so hard not to casually stop by in the last few days. He had fought the urge for a little while, but now…he didn’t know what the hell to do.

  He walked to the sliding glass door that led to her lanai and studied the bustling street below. It was late afternoon so locals and tourists littered the s
treets and the beach. It was especially hot today, but no one cared. They were in Hawaii, they had spent a fortune and they refused to take it easy. He shook his head. What a fucking waste. Then he smiled. Damn, he might become a Haole yet.

  “What has you looking so smug, Santini?”

  He turned and stopped at the sight of her. She’d let her hair down, and the curls cascaded over mostly bare shoulders. Anthony was sure she thought nothing of the yellow sundress she’d slipped on in a hurry. It was simple in its form, but it draped over her curves perfectly while adding a glow to her skin. His fingers itched to slip beneath the spaghetti straps.

  “Santini? Anthony?”

  He shook his head, then cleared his throat. “I was just thinking about how stupid tourists are.”

  She smiled. “Why did you think that?”

  “It’s hot out, but they are running from place to place, ignoring the beauty around them.”

  She nodded. “Ready?”

  Ready? He was beyond ready. He was probably ready the moment he saw her.

  “Ah…”

  He had to make a decision. It was wait forever, and let the feeling fade away, or confront his attraction head on.

  His father raised him to be a Marine, and that left him with one option.

  He stepped forward and slipped his arm around her waist, drawing her closer to him. Her eyes widened slightly, but she didn’t resist. If anything, she moved with him just as he would expect a dancer to react.

  “I know this might be stupid,” he said. “So, I guess we should both walk away.”

  “Screw that,” she said and rose up to her tiptoes to kiss him. It was a simple kiss at first, just a pressing of her lips against his. Then, she slipped her hands up from his shoulders and cupped his face. He had the joy of watching her eyes flutter shut as she opened her mouth to let him invade.

  The moment he did, he was lost to her. He pulled her closer. She pulled back abruptly, and he growled. Instead of being afraid, she laughed. He opened his eyes. Her eyes were shining with amusement, her smile wide. Something tugged at his heart. She was such a happy person, and being with her made him so fucking happy, he didn’t know what to make of it. Before he could come up with an answer, she took control of the situation.