Chapter Nine

Chapter Nine

My mother always says that it's always the man's fault. My father always agrees, especially if he's within hitting distance. –Gianni

G ianni was trying to keep his temper in check, but it was hard. Kianna hadn't done a damn thing to dispel the idea that they were just having an affair. True, they had never talked about it. And she didn't really say it tonight.

He almost growled when his phone rang with Leo's ringtone.

"Hey, Gee, guess who is going to be in Valdosta tonight?" Leo asked.

"What do you mean?" He asked, still annoyed over his fight with Kianna. It wasn't even a fight. She just made assumptions and kicked him out of her house. Like he was one of her sisters.

"Your favorite brother."

"Marco made it from Hawaii?"

"Smart ass. We were just in Pensacola seeing Jesse and I suggested coming up there to see you."

Checking on him. Dammit. He expected this. It'd been a few months, but Leo had been the worst of them checking on him. Vince had classes and Marco was in Hawaii. Leo apparently was the only one of them with time off. And he didn't mind. It was just the wrong day for that to happen.

"You know how to get here?"

"About ten minutes away."

He hung up and tried to calm his anger. He knew he was wrong. Knew that part of it was his fault. She had been embarrassed by him and it had stuck in his craw. How many damned times did he get asked by women if he was an officer? Too many to count. He didn't realize until now how much that irritated him.

Gee was lucky that his family didn't care. Joey Santini always said she wanted her men happy and healthy. Everyone had accepted he would go into the Air Force to be a PJ. He would work on his degree now, but he wanted to be enlisted. But at bases with women looking for a date, there were some that just wanted nothing to do with enlisted guys. Tonight, when she had tried to rush him out of the room, he had felt used. For the first time since knowing her, he had been pissed with her actions.

And that had hurt. He struck out to hurt her the way she hurt him. He knew she wasn't racist and it had nothing to do with that. He felt like an ass for doing it, but saying she was embarrassed because she thought she was too smart for him hurt too much. Considering what the ring he had in his pocket set him back…and he had been ready to propose tonight. Okay, that might have been rushing it, but he had made the decision.

He was going to have to figure out how to put it all back together, but he wasn't going to be given a chance. He'd splash some water on his face and get ready for his brother. Gianni would make sure he would at least not make an ass out of himself in front of his sister-in-law.

"Are you going to tell me why you're being such an ass, Gee?" Leo asked conversationally. They were sitting at his dinner table. "I would think with your new lady friend you would be all happy."

"How do you know I'm still seeing her?"

Leo rolled his eyes and swallowed a quick sip of beer. "Of course you are."

"Damn, there are no fucking secrets in this family."

MJ smiled. "You know better than that, Gee. Your brothers are meddling old women."

"You have the old part right. Why don't you run off with me, leave the old guy to die alone?"

She smiled. "I thought about it, but he's grown on me like a fungus really."

Gee laughed. Of all the women his brother could have fallen for, his Marine brat, tough nosed physical therapist was probably the only one of them who wouldn't put up with crap. She was cute as a button, with huge blue eyes and her long dark hair. As usual, it was up in a tail. So tiny and now glowing with her pregnancy.

"He's avoiding the conversation he needs to have," Leo said.

MJ rolled her eyes. "Good lord, you are as about as subtle as a soldier at a tea party."

"Leave it alone, Leo," Gee warned.

Leo opened his mouth, but thankfully MJ stepped in. "Listen, babe, do you think you can run to the store and get me a snickers?"

He looked from Gee to MJ then back to Gee. Gianni sensed his brother wanted to argue, but MJ gave him one of those brilliant smiles of hers. Leo melted like he always did for her.

"Sure."

Once Leo was gone, MJ rose to clear the dishes.

Gee shook his head. "No you will not clean up the dishes. You're pregnant."

She chuckled and settled back in the chair. "We need to have you talk to Leo. He seems to think I can do anything."

"It's because he loves you."

Her eyes softened. "Oh, Gee, what's wrong? Was she mean to you?"

"She told me to leave her."

She reached out and patted his hand. "Why?"

"Well, she didn't tell me she had been married and I got pissed. I mean I love her and she didn't tell me. Plus, she won't introduce me to people she works with. She did, but well…it was implied I was just her boy toy."

MJ choked. "Her what?"

Now that he said it out loud, it sounded silly. "One of her friends at work called me that and Kianna said nothing. Then when I asked her about it, she backed off."

MJ studied him for a few moments. "And she knows you love her. You told her?"

He shook his head. "Not really." He had wanted to, had wanted to start talking of more serious things, but that stupid little fight had pushed him away.

"Okay. But she should know, right?"

He smiled. "See, that's why we should be together."

"I love you, Gee, just like one of my brothers."

"I love you too, MJ."

"So, I am going to do this out of love."

"What?"

She leaned forward and smacked him upside the back of his head.

"Damn, MJ."

She sat back and shrugged. "If you would get your head out of your butt, I wouldn't have to do that."

"Why did you do that?"

"Because you're being an idiot. That woman you say you love tells you to leave. Why?"

"I wanted to know why she hid it from me." He hadn't wanted to voice his real concerns. He thought she might have not wanted him there because of his education. That would have been worse than anything, in his mind.

"Granted, I know that she should have told you, but there might be a part of you that makes her scared to tell you."

"Why?"

"Why did they break it off?"

He sighed. "Apparently, they didn't. He was killed in the line of duty. He was a cop."

She nodded. "And, telling you might have been too scary. And I have a feeling from what you have told me about her tonight, she isn't someone who likes to show that side of herself. She's tough."

"She's not. She's soft and sweet."

"And practically raised her sisters by herself and survived losing a husband. She's tough."

"I—"

"What you need to do is go apologize to her."

He frowned. "Why should I apologize?"

"I will take a page out of Joey Santini's book on men. Go apologize because it's your fault because you are the man. If you didn't get this wrong, you will get something else wrong."

He leaned forward and gave her a kiss.

"What was that for?"

"Making me understand. I'm going to go see if I can find her. I'll be back."

He hurried out the door ready to make amends. Twenty minutes later, he was pissed. She was gone. Sure it was Friday night, but she wasn't anywhere to be found. Dammit, she had left town without telling him. Well, her next-door neighbor had been happy to tell her she had gone to see a friend somewhere. Worse, after he called five times in five minutes, he realized she was not going to answer the phone.

He parked his truck and frowned. He had to go back in and make nice with his brother and MJ. Thankfully they were staying at a hotel. His tiny apartment couldn't accommodate them and he wasn't in the mood to be around the happy couple.

And he needed time alone. Time to figure out what the hell he was going to tell the woman he loved.

That is, if she ever talked to him again.

Kianna was in one bitch of a mood. Nothing, not even her favorite malasada was helping.

"You know, just because you hate sweets doesn't mean you need to give that malasada the stink eye."

Kianna slanted a look at Max Chandler. "If you aren't nice, I'll tell Anna all the mean jokes you told behind her back about her not being able to see her feet a few months ago."

He shook his head. "Mean woman. I am surrounded by so many of you. Tell me why you're mean today."

She sighed. "Men, you suck."

"Is this a general feeling, or more of a one guy kind of thing?"

"Both."

He studied her for a second and she looked at him.

"What?" she asked.

"So, the PJ's been mean to you?"

She sniffed. "Yes. I don't ever want to see him again."

"I think you might have to deal with him sooner rather than later."

"Why?"

"Because he's walking in the shop."

She turned on the stool and realized that Max was telling the truth. Her heart leapt into her throat and then splattered on the floor.

Damn the man. He had two people with him, like he needed an audience or something. She recognized them from pictures he had shown her. Great, now his brother and sister-in-law could report back to the family. Just what she needed.

Max tsked. "Oh, and he doesn't look happy with you."

She gave him a dirty look but she wasn't given the chance to respond. Gianni had other plans.

"Kianna Mechelle Jones, just where the hell have you been?"

There was a stunned silence. She could understand why. The few regulars in shop knew Gianni and had never seen him mad. She hadn't really seen him mad either, before the other night.

Then, she realized he was waiting for an answer. In fact, he looked like he was getting madder by the moment. How dare he embarrass her?

She slipped off her stool and settled her hands on her hips. "What right do you have to know?"

"I have every right to know."

She saw his brother roll his eyes and his sister-in-law stepped around him. She gave Kianna a smile. She was so small, she just couldn't believe this was the MJ that Gianni had told her about.

"You must be Kianna."

She nodded but Gianni's brother took over.

"I think everyone knows who she is now, love," Leo said. "I'm Leo, the idiot's brother and this is my wife, Maryanne."

"I haven't been able to find you," Gianni said ignoring his brother and Maryanne. "You didn't answer my calls."

Of course he hadn't. She had slipped out of town. More like ran out of town to Atlanta for a weekend. It really hadn't been because she was avoiding him.

"I went to see Etta."

"Ran away."

She almost stepped back and apologized, but something out of the corner of her eye caught her attention. Maryanne was shaking her head and Kianna realized that she shouldn't back down.

"I went to see my sister. I figured she wanted to spend time with me and I wasn't in the mood to put up with a whiny little shell of a man."

There was a whistle and she didn't know if it was Leo or Max but it told her she might have taken a step too far. Gianni's eyes narrowed.

"You really know how to push my buttons, woman."

She didn't know what he meant by that until he stepped forward and bent at the waist. The next moment, her world tilted as he lifted her up and over his shoulder.

"Gianni put me down!"

"No."

"Maryanne," she screeched but when she looked in her direction, Maryanne was waving goodbye.

He set her down on her feet and backed her back up against his truck.

"What was that for?" she asked.

"I wanted a little privacy for what I want to say to you."

She glanced to the window and he followed her line of vision. Most of the customers and all of the staff were watching. Gianni cursed.

"I wanted them out of earshot at least."

She crossed her arms. "So say it, PJ. I don't have all damned day."

He looked at her then laughed. "I swear, Zoe was right about you. You aren't as sweet as everything thinks you are. Damned pain in my ass. I try and tell a woman I love her and she throws me out of her house and disappears."

Her throat closed up and she tried to swallow. "You love me?"

"Of course I do. God, I can't think of anyone but you." He cupped her face. "I'm sorry I was such an ass. I didn't mean to do that. I shouldn't have said those horrible things."

Just hearing him say it had tears burning the backs of her eyes. When she blinked a few of them escaped.

"Don't cry, baby. I can't stand seeing you sad."

She shook her head. "No, not sad. I should have told you about Charley. It's just…well I have a lot to tell you about that part of my life. But I never have been ashamed of you. Are you kidding me? Hell, I want to flaunt you around on campus."

He chuckled. "I'm not sure how I feel about that."

"It was exactly what I said. I hate that part of my work. I only go because…well I feel I have an obligation. I would hate to make you do that kind of thing."

He kissed her then, slowly, deeply. "I love you, Kianna."

"I love you too, Gianni."

He smiled that pretty smile of his and she couldn't help but laugh and hug him closer. "I really do love you, even if you are my boy toy."

He laughed, then sobered and reached into the pocket of his jeans.

"I know you were married before and it wasn't going the way you wanted it to before Charley was killed." He opened the box. In the center of the red satin sat an engagement ring. Not something new. It was antique, a simple solitaire. It sparkled in the bright sunlight.

"I found it in an antique shop the other day and I bought it."

She couldn't take her gaze away from it. "The other day?"

"I wasn't sure why, but for some reason, I felt the need to buy it."

She glanced up at him. "Yeah?"

He nodded and for the first time since meeting him, he looked…well…nervous.

"It's beautiful."

"It's just the thing I thought you would like. Its circa 1920." When she didn't say anything he sighed. "I'm asking you to marry me, Kianna."

Her vision wavered.

"I know it's a lot to ask for and you might be hoping to make tenure and having to move will hurt any chances of that."

She shook her head. "That's not important."

"No? Are you sure?"

"I've only cared about teaching. I love the job. Tenure was just something I thought I wanted."

"So, is that a yes?"

She drew in a deep breath and nodded.

"Are you sure? It isn't the easiest of lives."

"When you left the other day, I thought we were through. I thought that I would never see you again. That was worse than anything else I have ever been through."

He smiled.

"Yes, Gianni, I'll marry you."

He took out the ring and put it on her finger. The fit was almost perfect. He hugged her close and kissed her neck. "You've made me the happiest man in Georgia."

He pulled back and kissed her.

"Hey, Gee, get that woman in here," Leo yelled.

They pulled back and realized the whole shop had been watching them. She blushed.

"Get used to it, Kianna," MJ said. "Santinis always like an audience."

She laughed as she and Gianni walked hand in hand into the sweet shop.