Chapter Four

Chapter Four

A lana sat by the pool and tried to keep her mind on the figures she was looking at on her laptop. It was getting close to her quarterly meeting for the charity she headed up and she hated it. The charity, she loved. But, this…well, numbers should be illegal. And spreadsheets.

She shut the top of her laptop and frowned. She had been in a bad mood for two days and she knew it had to do with Santini. They had seemed to come to an understanding but there was still something there. She didn't know if it was her embarrassment or his, or something else. If she hadn't known better, she would say that it was sexual tension, but that would mean he was attracted to her also.

With a sigh she leaned her head back on the lounger and closed her eyes. She shouldn't be surprised that he thought of her like that. Most hot men did. They would tell her she was pretty in the same tone they would tell their sister…and that was all she would ever be to them. A sister figure. And it wouldn't hurt so much if she hadn't been letting Colin's comments get to her.

She knew she could lay the blame of all of this at Pete's feet. He had made her believe that a hot man like that would be interested in her. The romance had been fabricated, as was any kind of feelings he had for her. He had only been interested in her money and in the money she raised for the charity.

The sad thing is, she would have given it to him. Hell, to have a real family again, she would give up her money, the house…and she would do it to get her parents and brothers back. How many times had she thought about that phone call to her dorm room in the middle of night that had changed her life forever?

"Alana?"

She shook herself out her sour mood and looked up. It was Marco and he was alone. She hadn't heard him. And he was standing there looking glorious, and she was in her bathing suit. Damn.

"Is there something you needed, lieutenant?"

"No, I just wanted to thank you for being so nice to my brothers. They can be a bit overwhelming."

She nodded. "They've already left?"

He slipped his hands into the pockets of his jeans. "Yeah."

"That's too bad. To really appreciate Hawaii you need to be here at least two weeks."

"Well, Leo used up most of his leave on his honeymoon."

He said it with enough confusion she smiled. Nothing like a man who's never been in love enough to want to use his leave on a woman.

"Was there anything else you needed? I have some work to do."

He glanced at her closed laptop. Then, he looked at her for a minute. "I wanted to apologize for my behavior Saturday."

She said nothing. She had been down this road before with men. Somehow it all turned out worse than when they were an ass to her. Apologizing for not being attracted to her always hurt. She knew they thought they were being nice, but it was always very painful for her.

"Accepted."

"I don't know why I behaved that way, and part of it is I don't know much about your personal life. I know you do volunteer work, but I don't know what you do."

"Are you going to keep standing there making me look up at you or are you going to sit down?"

He gave her one of those little smiles he rarely offered and took the lounge chair next to hers. She wanted to sigh. Why she had invited him to sit was beyond her. She knew why. She was sick enough to want him to stay and be pissed because he did.

"Are you going to tell me what you do?"

She cocked her head to the side. "Why do you want to know?"

He shrugged. "I think I should know more about you."

She nodded and looked out over the pool. "I do a lot of volunteer work, but the main thing I do is head up an organization in my family's name. Which is what I was doing when you showed up. I have a meeting tomorrow and it has to do with the budget."

She hoped he would take the hint that she had work to do. Okay, she really didn't want to do it, but then, he didn't know that. Instead, he leaned back on the lounger. Being subtle with a Santini apparently didn't work.

"Are you going to tell me more or are you going to make me pull the information out of you?"

She smiled. "Our main purpose is handling several homes on the islands for battered women and their children. We are talking about expanding to raise funds for scholarships."

"And you took it over at such a young age?"

She shook her head. "I established it."

She said nothing else because she didn't know what to say. Most people in her personal life knew about her work, and most people on the islands where familiar with her story. The whole situation was odd. She never had her tenants out on her back patio. They were permitted to use it, but she mostly stayed out of the way then. And other than a cordial greeting here and there, she didn't really get to know them. She probably knew more about Santini than any of the others.

"So, you're not going to tell me more." He said it as if he were thinking some great decision over. Then she realized he had made one. "I would like to take you to dinner. You know, to make up for being an ass."

She sighed. "Lieutenant—"

"Please call me Marco."

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.