Loving a Santini

by Schroeder, Melissa

She snorted. “I don’t know magic.”

  “I disagree.”

  “I have never pulled a rabbit from a hat.” As she hoped, her friend laughed. “How are things without Marco around?”

  “The same. But different. This pregnancy is throwing me out of whack.”

  “I think he should go on more deployments. That way, you might not get pregnant so often.”

  “Probably,” she said, a smile in her voice. Sunshine felt like a heel. She should have been checking up on her friend. Being pregnant and having two young kids was hard enough. Being left for a few months because her SEAL husband had been deployed made it difficult.

  “Should I come out there? I can do it today after I close up.”

  “I think that would be fantastic. I’ll double check and text you if there’s an issue.”

  “Great. And I get to see the munchkins. Oh, shoot, I didn’t have time to make them cookies.”

  “I think they’ll survive.”

  “I have a feeling Jon would disagree. When does Marco come home?”

  “Twenty-eight days.”

  “Not that you are counting,” she said with a chuckle.

  “Are you kidding me? I have it down to minutes.”

  She adored Alana—hard not to when she was such a sweetie—but she was also very envious of her life. Marco adored Alana. Sunshine wondered how that felt. To love a man and have that love returned must be the most wonderful feeling in the world.

  She pushed those thoughts away. “So, this cousin, what does he need?”

  “Not sure, but he’s willing to listen to you, and I think it will do him good.”

  “Okay. Why don’t I just meet with him tonight and then set something up? That usually works better. I can see if he is actually interested and if we would be a good fit.”

  “That will work. We’ll do dinner.”

  “You don’t have to cook, Alana.”

  “I’ll make Nando grill.”

  “Nando?”

  “Short for Fernando. He’s the youngest of the family. You know Anthony?”

  “Yes,” she said. Another friend who had married a Santini. “Wait, this isn’t a setup, is it?”

  Alana laughed. “No.”

  “What’s so funny?”

  “He asked the same thing. I know your rules. I truly think some Reiki would help him.”

  “He’s getting therapy?”

  “Yep. Not sure if it is through the military, but I know he’s been seeing someone. And it isn’t anything like the hyper vigilance or anything. He just needs to clear out some of the bad mojo.”

  “Mojo?”

  “You know what I mean.” She sighed. “This pregnancy has zapped my braincells.”

  “No worries. Let me check my schedule.” She looked over the clients she had for the day. “My last client is at three today, so I can head out afterward.”

  “Sounds good. You’re still eating fish, right?”

  “As long as there are veggies I’m fine, so make whatever.”

  Sunshine was mainly a pescatarian—a vegetarian who sometimes ate fish. Every now and then, she would have other meat, but it wasn’t her thing really.

  “I can’t wait to see you.”

  “Same here,” Sunshine said.

  “See ya later.”

  They hung up and Sunshine looked at her schedule. It was odd that she didn’t have a later appointment, but it was as if the Fates wanted to make sure she made it to Alana’s today.

  Of course, the Fates worked like that. She’d been raised to believe in them, even though she excelled at science. Her mother, though, believed that things worked out the way they were supposed to.

  Unfortunately, the Fates apparently only cared about Sunshine’s career. Her love life, that was another matter. That had been as barren as life on the Moon. Well, not always, but the last year had been kind of boring. Add in one irritating customer getting a little too attached to her, she had really been through the ringer.

  Sunshine knew she needed to date again. It was just so hard to find a good guy. Her work schedule didn’t help. She’d only had the shop for eighteen months. In that time, she had saved every penny she could to put back into the business. Just last month, Mary had persuaded Sunshine to stop seeing customers on Sundays. She worked only six days a week now. Currently, she spent Sundays cleaning her house and crap like that. The idea of getting dressed up and going out with a man just didn’t appeal to her these days.

  How are you going to meet your fate unless you try?

  Her mother’s voice echoed in her head. She snorted. If the Fates were so damned good at their job, they would throw a man in her path.

  There was a knock at her door before it opened. “Hey, your nine o’clock is here. Jenny.”

  She nodded and smiled. One thing she loved doing was pregnancy massages. The women always seemed to have the most pleasant auras. “Be right there.”

  Mary left, Sunshine stood then grabbed her lotion holster. The name of the belt she wore to hold her lotions always made Sunshine smile. After grabbing the two lotions she would be using for the treatment, she slipped them into their slots, then she slid it around her waist clipping it.

  She might not have help with her romantic life from the Fates, but they were doing a great job with her business. And for now, that was enough.

  Chapter Two

  Nando had a bitch of a day dealing with an angry major who didn’t like dealing with subordinates. By the time he got home, he felt like he was running behind. He was running behind. Alana had texted him to tell him they were cooking out for dinner. She didn’t presume he would eat dinner with them every night, so he knew it was important. The trades had disappeared today, so the ride to Kaneohe had been hot and sticky, so he took a quick shower, then dressed in a pair of board shorts and a t-shirt.

  As he donned his flip-flops—slippahs if he wanted to go local about it—he realized it wasn’t the job so much he hated. He was finally getting to use his finance degree and he liked it. Working budget wasn’t most people’s idea of fun, but Nando had always liked numbers. His sister Elena had once referred to him as a human calculator. The fact that after six years in the Marines, he was finally getting to use that degree was satisfying. He liked infantry, but he loved numbers even more. He smiled, then hurried out the door. He didn’t want to keep Alana waiting.

  He walked in without knocking. It still felt weird, but Marco and Alana had insisted. Alana said if she didn’t want him in her house unannounced, she’d lock the door. All of the Santinis were like that though. If they lived in the same city, it would be worse. They would be in each other’s business and in and out of each other’s houses regularly. Hell, getting all the cousins together required a ballroom or park.

  “Hello,” he called out. Insane kid music was playing softly in the living room.

  “Hey, Nando,” Alana called out. “I’m here in the kitchen.”

  He walked in and shook his head. “I told you not to cook for me all the time.”

  “I don’t mind. Last trimester will be a different story. And this isn’t all for you.”

  “Oh?”

  She nodded as she picked up the salad bowl and put it in the refrigerator. “My friend Sunshine is coming by to talk to you.”

  “So, she’s coming here for dinner?” Nando asked. He couldn’t hide his suspicion.

  Alana frowned at him. It was hard to get a frown out of his cousin’s sweet wife, so he knew he had hit a nerve. She pulled out some hamburgers and a couple large portabellas prepared for grilling. He knew Alana liked a good hamburger—and she made some damned fine ones—so the mushrooms had to be for Sunshine.

  “Don’t use that tone. I thought it would be best for you two to meet in a more relaxed setting.” She set the plates down on the counter and grabbed the big spatula she used for grilling.

  He said nothing, and she looked back over her shoulder at him.

  “What?” she asked.

  “This isn’t a
setup?”

  Her eyes widened. “Good God, no. That would be bad. Sunshine doesn’t date military…ever. It’s kind of a rule. I told you all of this.”

  She said it in a tone that told him that she thought he might have lost his mind. Still, Aunt Joey had great influence over all of the women in the family. She wanted more marriages—why…he didn’t understand. All her kids were married, so she should be settled. But she wanted all of them paired off. He’d been there three months without Alana trying to set him up, but there was always a first time.

  “Do you want a beer?”

  He nodded and took the Kahana Blonde Ale from Kona Brewing Company she offered. She knew that it was his favorite at the moment. He twisted off the cap and took a long drink. He hadn’t been sure he’d like the local beers when he moved to Oahu, but he’d started trying a few more of them from time to time. This though, with the light taste and hint of mango was his favorite. It was perfect on such a hot day, especially since work was shitastic.

  He eyed Alana. “I take it back. I am ready to settle down. Forget Marco and run away with me.”

  She chuckled. “You Santinis are always trying to get me to leave my husband.”

  He set his beer on the counter and grabbed her, then dipped her. “You had my beer cold for me. That’s all I need out of a relationship.”

  She giggled and swatted at him to let her up. “That seems like a shallow relationship.”

  He grabbed his beer again. “Hey, it’s more complex than my last hook—” he glanced at the boys who were watching them. He cleared his throat. “I meant relationship.”

  When he looked at Alana, her eyes were dancing with laughter. “Please tell me more.”

  He shook his head. Alana was a sweetie, but she could also be devious.

  “So, this Sunshine doesn’t like military men, but she helps them?”

  She sighed. “She doesn’t like dating them. It’s a rule.”

  “Why?”

  “Why what?”

  He rolled his eyes. Her pregnancy hormones were making her just a little forgetful.

  “Why doesn’t she date military?”

  She settled her hands on her hips. “You were just worried it was a setup and now you’re mad it isn’t?”

  He shrugged. “I’m a Santini. We’re kind of masochists.”

  She laughed. “Yes, I know. That’s why your Aunt Joey says you need to be tamed by special women.”

  Before he could say anything, there was a knock at the door.

  “That must be Sunshine. Could you get it?” she asked as she rummaged through the refrigerator. “Sure.”

  He walked to the door and opened it—and instantly had his brain cells fizzle and his body go on high alert.

  She was a tiny woman, probably no more than five foot two. Dark red hair pulled up in a sassy pony tail. She was wearing a yellow Hawaiian dress that wasn’t form fitting, but the light breeze caused the fabric to cling to her breasts and hips.

  Damn.

  “Nando?” she asked.

  He wanted to see her eyes. He was betting they were green. “Yes. You must be Sunshine.”

  She smiled, and he felt his world tilt a bit, then she pulled off her big sunglasses. He was right. Green eyes and red hair weren’t his usual turn on, but for some reason, he felt the slow crawl of lust slide through him.

  “I am.”

  Then they stood there. For a long moment. “Are you going to let me in?”

  “Sorry,” he said with a chuckle.

  “No worries,” she said. He stepped back, and she walked by him. She even smelled like sunshine. Bright and warm and he wanted to touch her. Great, the woman was making him sound like a freaking creeper. She stopped to shuck off her shoes before she walked into the kitchen.

  He shut the door and followed her.

  “Hey, woman,” she said with a laugh as she hugged Alana. “You look so wonderful.”

  Alana blushed as she always did. “Thank you but I feel huge.”

  “You are not.” She leaned down so that her face was close to Alana’s belly. “You are going to be as beautiful as your mother.”

  Alana laughed. “All babies are beautiful.”

  Sunshine straightened. “All babies are beautiful because the world hasn’t had time to ruin them yet.”

  He blinked. That one statement said more about the woman than anything else she could have said at that moment.

  She set her massive purse down on the counter. “Please tell me there will be some veggies on that grill.”

  “Always for you,” Alana said waving at the plates. “Come on. We’ll throw these on the grill.”

  “Where are my boyfriends?”

  “I’m here,” Jon yelled out running to her.

  She leaned down and grabbed him up into a bear hug. “There’s a boy.” After giving him a smacking kiss, she set him down just as Eddie came toddling into the living area.

  “Oh, there you are, precious.”

  Another smacking kiss. Marco and Alana’s house was always inviting, but with Sunshine there, the entire house seemed warmer, happier…sunnier.

  As he followed the women out onto the lanai, he couldn’t help but smile. The laughter from both of them was intoxicating, but the entire house felt less stressful. Alana had been on edge and Sunshine seemed to lift her worries.

  “I should have brought my bathing suit.”

  “Not having one never stopped you before,” Alana said with a laugh.

  “Stop saying things like that. Nando here will think I’m some kind of nut job.”

  “Well, you don’t eat meat, so I think you are weird,” Alana said. “Skinny dipping is just another odd thing to be added to your list. Take a seat.”

  Nando shook his head and took the spatula from her. “No, you take a seat. I’ll take care of this.”

  “I’ll get the side dishes.”

  “Nope. I’ll do it,” Sunshine said.

  “I am not an invalid.”

  “No, but you did all the prep work. Plus, I’m sure I can get Jon to help me.”

  Nando doubted that. Jon had been particularly bad these last few weeks. He knew part of it was acting out because Marco was deployed. He was just happy that he and Anthony were around to give Alana a break sometimes. The long days without her husband were starting to wear on her, although he knew she would never admit it.

  “Jon, my love, will you help me in the kitchen?”

  “You didn’t bring cookies.”

  Sunshine winked at Nando, her mouth curving. Damn, but the woman had a great smile. She looked a bit like a mischievous fairy.

  She sighed. “I know. I had work and I didn’t have time. But, I have a feeling I can talk your mom into letting me come here and bake next weekend. You could help me. How does that sound?”

  “Yes,” he said with a little miniature fist pump. She held out her hand and just like that, Jon went with her. Eddie waddled behind them.

  “It’s disgusting,” Alana said.

  “What?”

  “The way kids just do anything she wants.”

  He glanced at Alana. “That’s because she is new to them.”

  “Nope. They are always like that. Animals are the same way. It’s like she is part of the Menehune. She entrances them to do what she wants.”

  He smiled. Hawaiian Mythology said Menehune were magical dwarfs who lived in the hills and valleys. They were said to pierce the hearts of angry people to turn their emotions to love.

  “I was just thinking she looked like a fairy. Is she always that happy?” he asked as he put the burgers on the grill. One thing he really liked about Hawaii was the year-round grilling. His parents had that in Arizona most of the time, and he really liked to grill.

  “As long as I have known her. Considering her life growing up, it’s amazing.”

  He opened his mouth to ask about her childhood, but she came marching out holding a tray of food, followed by her two chaperones.

  “All good, an
d this all looks fab. I didn’t get to take lunch.”

  “I’ve told you not to skip meals,” Alana said as Nando ran over to help her with her chair. “Thank you, Nando.”

  “I was booked solid today, then you remember the polo player I work with?”

  “There are a few of them,” Alana said with a laugh.

  “No. I dated a couple of them over the years, but this one is just one of the players. He’s had some back issues and hurt it today. So I fit him in during lunch.”

  “I bet Mary wasn’t happy about that.”

  She chuckled. “No. But that’s why I keep protein bars at work.”

  “I had no idea that polo was so big in Hawaii until I came here,” Nando said.

  She arranged the sides on the long table. “It’s not that big, but the one percent really like it.”

  “How did you get hooked up with the player? Do you work for the team?”

  She shook her head. “The trainer is a friend.”

  “Did you date him?” Alana asked.

  “No, and it’s a her. You know I don’t swing that way, and I don’t date as much as you seem to think I do.”

  Alana laughed. “I know. I just like teasing you about it.”

  She settled her hands on her hips. “If you aren’t nice, I’ll refuse you the pregnancy massage I planned on giving you before I left this evening.”

  Alana made a motion like she was zipping her mouth.

  “I brought my chair and lotions, so we are all set.”

  “That sounds fantastic.”

  “You need to book regular massages. I’m sure Santini here will cover the kids if you need one every few weeks. You don’t want to get overly stressed out with Marco deployed.”

  He heard the worry in Sunshine’s voice and decided right then and there, she was definitely good people. Lots of people would be around for the parades and celebrations, but it was times like this—being separated and pregnant—that people often forgot about. Sunshine did not. Which made her even more intriguing. A woman who would not date a military guy but cared for the families. It was easy to see.

  He shook himself and concentrated on the burgers. There was no reason to think about Sunshine and her motives. Doing that would only lead to trouble, and for now, he wanted to avoid that as much as possible.