The Santini Collection 1-4 (17 page)

That wasn’t good. It was more intimate but from the look on his face, he wouldn’t let it go. “Marco, you really don’t have to do that. I understand.”

“
I don’t think you do.”

She gave him a smile. “I do, and that’s okay.”

And if she sat there any longer arguing with him, she would get mad…or worse, cry. She stood and turned to grab her laptop, but he stopped her. He had risen too but so quietly she had not heard him. He was like that, but then, he was a SEAL.

“
No, I really don’t think you understand.”

He was so close she could smell the clean scent of the soap he had used that morning. She could imagine him in the shower, water dripping from his flesh….

Alana stopped that thought. It would only cause her more sleepless nights. She raised her eyes to his face and shivered at the look he was giving her.

Marco slipped his hands up to her face, cupping her jaw gently. She tried to swallow, but couldn’t. Her body was hot, so hot and he hadn’t really done anything. He dipped his head, brushing his mouth against hers. All the while, he continued to look into her eyes.

When he pulled back her lips were tingling.

He hesitated, then stepped back from her.

“
I think that will dispel the myth you’ve concocted in your head.”

She raised her hand and touched her mouth. “I guess.”

“
So, dinner, Friday night. Seven okay?”

“
Seven?”

His lips curved again and she felt her heart dance a little. He didn’t smile often. Not that he was dour, she just assumed it took a lot to catch his fancy.

“
Yeah, as long as Mr. Stay Over doesn’t mind.”

“
Stay over? Oh, you mean Colin. No, he won’t mind.”

“
Just so you know, if I was in his shoes, I would. See you at seven on Friday.”

He turned and walked away. She stood there on shaking legs and then collapsed on the chair.

“
Oh, my.”

* * * *

Marco was almost ready for his date when his cell phone started playing his mother’s ringtone.

“
So, did my boys behave in Hawaii?”

He chuckled. “Yes. In fact, with Leo not into women anymore of course, and Vince has turned into some old man who can’t stay up past nine at night, it was kind of quiet.”

“
Good. I didn’t call you for several days after because I know how you are. So, I deserve points.”

He smiled. His mother understood his need for solitude. It was hard in a family of four boys to get it but his mom had always known when he needed it.

“
It’s kind of late over there, isn’t it?”

There was a pause and he got worried.

“
I’m just wondering if Vince said anything to you about Jules being back in the area?”

Ah, that was the way of it. In high school, his brother had a major crush on the woman, but she had been his best friend’s girl…then wife.

“
No.”

“
Okay. He’s been avoiding her for some reason.”

“
Mom, we all know that he has feelings for her.”

His mother tsked. “That’s no reason to avoid her now. She’s single. No kids.”

“
And you want him married. Let it go.” He stopped walking toward the front door. “I take it that Dad told you to drop it too?”

“
Your father doesn’t know what his sons need.”

The disgust in her voice made him laugh. “Mom, believe me, if you push Vince, he will push back. Or worse, act out. You know how he is.”

“
Okay.”

Then she said nothing for a second or two.

“
Anything else?” he asked and instantly regretted it. The Armed Forces could learn a thing or two about gaining information from Joey Santini. He was pretty sure she had taught his father interrogation tactics.

“
I understand you have a very cute landlady.”

Shit.
He was going to kick Vince’s ass next time he saw him.

“
Yes, she is. Your sons were a bit rude to her while they were here.”

“
Really? I understood Gianni wanted to ask her out.”

And Marco had explained to Gee just what appendage he would remove if he thought of doing that, but his mother probably wouldn’t look kindly on that.

“
They were here less than seventy-two hours. I think that he didn’t have time to romance her.”

“
Vince said you’re hung up on her.”

Again, he was definitely going to beat the shit out of his brother next time he saw him.

“
I am not hung up on her.”

“
Attracted.”

“
Yes. And that’s why I asked her out and I’m about to be late to my first date. It’s not going to look good to the woman if I am late, especially since I live twenty yards from her front door. I can’t tell her I’m on the phone with my mommy, because, ya’ know, women get funny about a man so attached to his mother.”

“
Okay. I love you Marco.”

He couldn’t help but smile. His mom was one of the toughest women he knew, but she never failed to tell them she loved them.

“
Love you too.”

He clicked the phone off and slipped it into his pocket. He would rather turn the ringer off, but with his job, he couldn’t do that. Twenty-four, seven he was on duty, although he would love to disappear with Alana tonight. Just go somewhere private and do all kinds of things to her.

Not a good idea, Santini. Keep your mind on your mission.

He had to mend some fences with Alana. As he walked to her house he realized he had never had such a bad start to a possible romance—ever. Maybe that was why for the first time in years, he felt butterflies in his stomach. It wasn’t like him to get nervous over a date, but something about her pulled at him. And while it may never amount to anything, he really hoped it would.

He stopped and shoved his hands into his pockets. Damn, he was kind of hung up on her. It had been years since he’d thought about getting serious with a woman.

“
Lost your nerve, lieutenant?”

He looked toward her front door and felt those butterflies go crazy. Good God. The woman did know how to dress for a date. She was wearing a dark blue sundress that matched her eyes. The fabric clung to her body leaving no doubt she was a woman with curves. His fingers itched to explore them. His gaze slipped down her body. The dress stopped just short of her knees and she was wearing strappy high-heeled sandals. Her red toenails intrigued him.

“
Marco?”

He allowed his gaze to travel back up her body. “Wow. I’m glad you didn’t dress like that around Gee.”

She chuckled and shut the door behind her. “Really, you don’t have to keep exaggerating.”

“
Actually, I’m not. In fact, there had been a discussion of how much I would hurt him if he came over here.”

Her eyes widened. “Why on earth would you hurt him?”

“
I didn’t want him moving in on what I saw as my territory.” The moment he said it, he regretted it. “Sorry, that was…”

She laughed. “No, don’t. I actually like to be thought of as territory. Not sure I’ve ever been thought of like that.”

“
Well, I guess we should go.”

She nodded and stepped down to him. With the heels, she was almost level with him.

“
Okay, I just have to get this out of the way.”

She opened her mouth to say something, but he ignored her. Instead he leaned in and kissed her. Unlike the kiss before, he put everything he was feeling for the past three months into this one. He skimmed the seam of her lips first, then slid inside for a taste. He wanted more. Wanted it all.

By the time he pulled back, they were both breathing heavy.

“
Wow,” she said.

“
Yeah, wow. Okay, we have to go or we will never make it out of here.”

She shook herself and then followed him to the car. “You know, I do have some ability to resist your charms, Marco.”

He smiled at her as he held the passenger side door open. “I’m trained to break through the enemy’s front line.”

“
So you think of me as the enemy?”

“
No, not really. Just as someone I need to conquer.”

She shook her head and slipped into the car but not before he saw the curve of her lips. He shut the door and tried his best not to dance around the hood of his car. Tonight was going to be great.

Chapter Five

Marco chose a local place to eat that was one of her favorites on her side of the island. They weren’t too fancy but they had an extensive menu. It was always amusing seeing what a haole would pick. She should have known he wouldn’t go to one of the brand name places, but a small local place on the North Shore. In the short time she had known him, Marco had acclimated himself to the area. Most military people did. She had never seen a group of people who could settle into a different culture so easily, but she knew that was just part of their lives.

The restaurant was set off a side street, just a block from Kam Highway. It was only a few minutes from her house. The menu featured so many different cuisines, she could usually find something to suit her mood. She was there so often, they knew her by name.

“
Hey, Alana, how you doing, cuz,” Jaime the night manager asked as he showed them to their table.

“
Not too bad.”

“
I heard you might be doing a scholarship with that charity of yours.”

She forced herself not to grit her teeth. She loved her islands and her Hawaii heritage. The only problem she had was with the gossip.

There might be close to a million people on the island of Oahu, but everyone seemed to know everyone else—or their cousin. And, in her world, most people knew her, even if she didn’t know them.

“
Yeah, looking into it. Trying to set up the parameters.”

Once they were seated Marco stared at her.

“
What?”

He shook his head. “I guess I should pay more attention.”

“
To what?”

“
Your charity. You.”

She shrugged and opened the menu; although, she knew what she would order. She’d been here so many times, she knew the menu backwards and forwards.

“
Alana?”

She glanced up at him and he was still staring at her with that solemn expression on his face.

“
I guess I just thought you were independently wealthy,” he said.

“
None of us are independent. At least not in Hawaii. We are all part of the whole.”

His lips twitched. “You sound like you’re talking about a SEAL team.”

She laughed. “That’s something I have never been accused of.”

Before he could comment, the waitress stepped up to the table.

“
Hey, Alana, how you doing, cuz?”

She smiled. “Pretty good.”

After getting their orders, the waitress left them alone.

“
So, tell me how someone so young is in charge of such a big charity.”

She shook her head and sipped her water. “First, I’m not all that young. Secondly, the charity isn’t that big.”

Marco frowned at her as the waitress brought his beer to the table. He waited until she left.