The Santini Collection 1-4 (15 page)

“
Did you need something Lieutenant Santini?”

He shook his head. “What I mean is that I wanted to thank you again for the pineapple. My brothers really liked it.”

She smiled and he felt his heart leap into his throat. All because she smiled at him. Maybe he was still drunk from the night before. Of course, he hadn’t been drunk but there had to be some kind of explanation for the way his head was spinning.

“
That’s good. I hope you had a fun time last night. Did you need anything else?”

“
I don’t think I’ve ever seen your friend from this morning around before.”

Her face turned even pinker. “Excuse me?”

“
Well, in the few months I’ve lived here, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a man leave.”

When he said it, it sounded like an accusation.

“
You don’t come home every night, lieutenant.”

“
Oh, I just never thought…” then he trailed off when he realized he was about to stick his foot in his mouth. It was already too late. Her smile faded.

Shit
.

“
I might not be the type of woman you are interested in, but it doesn’t mean that men aren’t interested in me. Is there anything else?”

He wanted to apologize, but he knew that it wouldn’t work, not right now. He shook his head. She said nothing else as she slipped through her door and shut the door, locking it loudly.

“
Oh, way to go, bro,” Gee said from behind him.

Great. Exactly what he needed. Gee would never let him get away with this without giving him a hard time.

He said nothing to his brother as he turned and headed down the path. He needed that jog. Unfortunately, Gee came with him.

“
You know, I don’t understand why you haven’t asked her out.”

He shrugged. “She’s not my type.”

“
A woman like that is every man’s type, and I hate to tell you bro, she so is your type. You always went for the exotic looking women. And Alana is definitely that.”

For once he wished he had unhealthy brothers. He could try and outrun Gee but he was younger and he was a PJ. He’d done the training Marco had for SEALS. He was as fit as any SEAL because as a combat paramedic he had to carry men on his back.

“
She’s my landlady. What happens if we go out and the break is bad?”

“
Well, let’s be honest, it would be your fault.”

“
That’s stupid. What makes you say it would be my fault? She could turn into some kind of crazy woman with men she dates.”

“
Come on. Alana is the epitome of sweet. What woman—especially a woman with her kind of money—picks up a pineapple and cuts it herself for guests she’s never met.”

“
Lots of women would.”

“
Not a lot of women I know.”

“
You know the wrong women, Gee.”

“
Can’t help it. The dating pool is kind of small in Valdosta.”

Marco snorted. “Yeah, I can imagine. Gotta have a few sexy coeds at the university.”

He shrugged. “I have to deal with the questions about why I’m not an officer.”

Marco knew that could be an issue with some people. Out of the Santinis, he and Vince went to Annapolis. Leo and Gee both opted to enter as enlisted. Both had wanted to have jobs that were either closed to officers or had very few of them in the field. They might give each other shit, but all of them respected their chosen career paths.

“
Screw them, then.”

Gee laughed. “That’s the problem. They don’t want that.”

Marco chuckled as he lengthened his strides. Gee responded in kind without a word.

“
So, back to Alana. I think you should ask her out.”

“
And I say, none of your business.”

“
Just saying, bro, you get that pissed with us and that one guy who was leaving—and I’ll bet the dude was gay—you might want to work through those feelings.”

“
You think the guy was gay?”

“
Just a hunch. That or a friend. If they spent the night in bed together, it couldn’t have been that great if all he gave her was a kiss on the cheek, so I am saying nothing happened.”

The knot in his stomach loosened. “Doesn’t matter.”

“
Just one thing to think about. If she comes home with a guy again, are you going to be an ass? Because, if that’s the case, you might want to just go ahead and date her. I could see her tossing your ass out if you keep acting like you have this weekend. Race ya’ to the steps.”

And just like that, the little ass took off. Marco didn’t speed up. Instead, he let his brother’s suggestion infiltrate his thoughts. There was a chance that over the next two years, he would have more interactions with Alana when she was with men. There was a good chance that he would make an ass of himself again. He couldn’t help it.

All his life he was known as the quiet Santini. He could be loud around his brothers, but in groups and especially with women, he was often the quietest person in any gathering. His mother had always made the joke it had been the reason he had long-term girlfriends in high school. She was convinced all the girls thought he was actually listening to them as they jabbered on.

He smiled. His mother knew them all so well. For a woman surrounded by men, she gave as good as she got. And she always knew just what to say.

What would she say to him now? She would probably tell him to get his head out of his ass and go apologize. He sighed and looked over at her house as he slowed to a walk. He would, but he needed to wait until his brothers were gone.

By then, he might have just figured out what to say to her.

Chapter Three

Alana was standing on a chair rearranging her cupboard when her home phone rang. There was a good chance it was someone from the charity so she ignored it. It was the weekend and if it was an emergency, she would handle it. Board members didn’t accept her boundaries and their idea of an emergency was remarkably different than hers. So, she didn’t give them her cell phone and she dealt with them through landlines.

She sighed as she set another platter on the top shelf. She rarely used it, but it was her mother’s and there were things she just couldn’t let go after the accident. She glanced around her kitchen. It was still a disaster but it was shaping up. She’d spent more than two hours cleaning and rearranging her house, mainly out of irritation. It needed it, but she needed to work off her mad—not to mention her embarrassment. She knew men looked at her differently than say a super model…or a cheerleader. Still, she didn’t like to have it thrown in her face, especially by Marco Santini. It seemed worse somehow.

After her message, a woman with a thick Texas accent spoke. “Hello. This is Maryanne Santini and I am looking for my idiot husband and his idiot brothers.”

Alana jumped off the chair almost killing herself in the process but she figured it was worth it. She didn’t know where the Santinis were that afternoon, but if a wife was calling, there was a good chance something bad had happened.

She grabbed the phone, breathless. “Hello, are you still there?”

“
Yes. Sorry to bother you, but no one is answering their cells. Do you know where they are?”

Alana looked out the front window. “The car is still there, hold on. Maybe they’re on the beach.”

“
Thank you. I’m assuming your Alana, the landlady?” She continued on without waiting for an answer. “I really need to talk to Leo. Are they behaving themselves?”

“
Yes. I mean, they’re adults.”

“
That’s true, but when the four of them get together, there always seems to be a problem. Last time we were all together, Gee and Marco got in a fight about which career field was tougher, being a PJ or a SEAL. They settled it with arm wrestling.”

“
Uh, that seems civilized,” she said, trying to keep up with the other woman’s thought process.

“
It was after they rolled around in the backyard and their mother had to cool them off with the hose.”

Alana stepped out on her deck looking towards the beach. She squinted against the bright afternoon sun. The beach was packed, mainly because of the great waves and mild temperatures. Being Saturday, there were a lot of families enjoying time together. She scanned the beach thinking she might be wrong. Then, she saw them.

Good God, they were walking up from the beach, without shirts, wet…her mind went blank.

“
Hello?”

She let loose a little breath trying to calm her heart. “Sorry, they are on their way back from the beach. Hold on.”

She moved the phone away. “Leo? Your wife is on the phone.”

He took off in a sprint toward her. “What’s wrong?”

She laughed and handed him the phone. “Sounds like nothing but she couldn’t get ahold of any of you.”

He took the phone. “Hey, babe, what’s up?”

He was quiet for a few minutes. “No I’m not by myself. I’m on Alana’s phone, so she’s standing right here. Why do I need to sit down?”

He shot a smile at Alana as he listened. Then, the grin dissolved and he went white. It happened so fast, she was afraid he would pass out.

“
Lieutenant,” she yelled out as she reached out for Leo.

“
What’s the matter?” Marco asked.

She had a hold of Leo’s arm. “I don’t know, I think its bad news.”

Marco looked at his brother. “Leo?”

“
How far?” Leo asked. He laughed. “Of course I’m happy. Why wouldn’t I be happy?”

“
Have you called your father and my parents?”

Silence again.

“
Okay. Wow. I mean, shouldn’t you be in bed resting.”

She shared a look with Marco and shrugged as the other two brothers joined them.

“
I’ll call you in the morning. Call your dad and I’ll call Mom. She will flip out.”

He hung up the phone handed it to Alana, then grabbed her by her upper arms and gave her a loud, smacking kiss.

“
Hey,” Marco said.

“
Can’t help it. Had to kiss a pretty woman because I am going to be a father.”

There was a moment of stunned silence then they all started talking at once. Questions and pats on the back from the others, but apparently Marco wasn’t as happy as the others. He was frowning at Leo.

“
You can let go of her, Leo,” Marco said.

“
Oh, sorry,” he said with a sheepish smile.

She smiled and patted his arm. “No problem, Leo. Congratulations, daddy.”

He went white again. “Daddy.”

She laughed and gave him a kiss on the cheek.

“
This calls for a celebration,” Vince said. “Know a good place to eat, Alana?”

“
Sure, what are you looking for? Dressy or just hanging out?”

“
I think a hanging out kind of place. How about one of the shrimp trucks we passed?”

“
Yeah, that will be good. I can give you directions if you can’t remember how to get there. Let me get a pad of paper to write on.”

“
Why would you do that?” Vince asked.

“
So that you can find your way.”

“
Vince means he expects you to go with us,” Gee said. “You can sit in the backseat with me.”

“
She’ll be sitting with me up front to give me directions.”

She glanced at Marco and wondered about his tone. “Maybe since it’s my SUV and I know where I’m going, I should drive.”