Chapter 4

4

Just before dawn, Brando woke up. After all his years in the military and being raised by a Marine, it was usual for him. Brando had spent most of his life getting up before dawn, no matter where he was in the world. He didn’t mind it. It gave him time to watch Kaitlin sleep.

He lay next to her enjoying the quiet moment. The only sound in the room was her breathing and the cute little snore she had every now and then. It was hard to believe he had actually gotten his chance with her. It all seemed to be coming together, just like his mother had always said it would. All the Santini mothers claimed that he would know when he met the one . The moment he met Kaitlin, he had known. She had smiled at him and he felt it to the soles of his feet. He had never had such a reaction to a woman before.

When she had told him she was engaged, it had made him doubt all the Santini Curse talk. Since he’d never had that feeling again, Brando had been sure the Curse was not for him. No matter how attracted he had been to the women he dated or how fantastic the sex was, he never felt that click like he did with Kaitlin.

Now, though, he had to admit that his mother had been right. He had almost skipped the trip to New Orleans. He was getting too old to be going out with the guys for a night of rowdy drinking. But something had told him to come. Sure, he was moving back to the area, but he probably wouldn’t have looked for her too hard. He had been worried how much it would hurt to see her with another man. It had almost killed him last time.

A small shaft of light peeked through the curtains. It was weak, just that first light that rose over the horizon. It brought out the lighter gold strands within the tangled curls dripping over her shoulders. He couldn’t stand it any longer. He had to touch her. With a light touch, he skimmed his fingers down her back. She wiggled this way and that, then sighed and settled down. He smiled. He had known she would be sweet, but she had surprised him with her naughtiness. There were layers to her he wanted to discover. There was so much he wanted to know about her life now, but he hadn’t been able to stop from taking her twice more. Even after all of that, he wanted her again. He knew they had just a few more hours until she had to leave for the airport.

“Are you going to keep staring at me?” she asked, her voice filled with sleepy amusement.

He glanced up and found that she was smiling, but her eyes were still closed.

“I was going to let you sleep.”

She opened one eye. “Really? You do a strange impression of letting me sleep.”

He smiled. “Well, I said I was going to let you sleep. Didn’t mean I could stop touching you.”

She rolled over onto her back. “Whatcha thinking about, Brand?”

“I’m thinking that we need to get to know each other again.”

She giggled. “I know you a lot better now than I did back in college.”

He shook his head even as he smiled. “Not just that way. Lord, if I had known you were this bad in college, I definitely would have passed out from lack of blood to my brain.”

“So, what do you want to know?”

“You said you’re working with senior citizens?”

She nodded. “Mainly. My specialty is stroke survivors. Not everyone who has a stroke is a senior citizen. But working at the home is enjoyable. My grandmother lives there right now, so I get to spend time with her every day.” She took his hand in hers. “What made you go back to teaching?”

He shrugged. “Not really sure.”

“Bull.”

“What?”

“Brando Santini, that is a lie. You know exactly why you are doing it. You don’t do anything without a plan.”

He couldn’t fight the chuckle that rumbled in his chest. “You always did know how to call me on my BS. Okay, yes, I have been thinking about it. About after the Marines. I still have a few years left, but I have always thought about teaching.”

“College?”

He nodded as he threaded his fingers through hers and rubbed his thumb over the top of her hand.

“I have my Masters already.”

Her eyes widened. “So, you aren’t just all American Marine Dude, you are also the same nerd I knew back in college. Well, if you could be called a nerd.”

“What do you mean by that?”

She leaned closer and whispered, “You know you’re kind of hot, right?”

For the first time in a really long time, he felt his face flush in embarrassment.

“Is that a fact?”

For a second, Kaitlin didn’t say anything. Then, she let loose a deep, rich chuckle. “Oh, my God. I made you blush.”

Damn. His face burned hotter. “I am not blushing.”

“Yes. Yes you are.” She untangled their hands and cupped his face. “It makes you even sexier, if you want to know the truth.”

“Yeah?”

“Oh, yeah.”

She leaned closer and brushed her mouth over his. It was sweet and sensual at the same time, just like the woman. It only took another second or two before the kiss was out of control. He rolled them over the bed until she was straddled on top of him.

He looked up at her and felt his heart catch in his chest. Damn, she was amazing. Her long curly hair was a tangled mess, her mouth was still swollen from his kisses, and she had beard-burn on her neck. The rest of her…lord. Full breasts and rounded hips filled out the package.

“What?”

“I’m thinking just how lucky I am I ran into you. How have you not gotten snapped up by some guy?”

She gave him a shy smile. “I guess I was waiting for one night in New Orleans.”

“Not just one night,” he said.

“Don’t make any promises.”

He opened his mouth, but she stopped him.

“No, don’t. My engagement ended because a man couldn’t keep his promises. I know that you would never intentionally hurt me, Brand. But, I would rather not make plans. Let’s just see how this goes.”

He wanted to argue, but they had so little time together before she had to leave, and he was moving to her town in just three weeks. He could wait until he got there to start showing her he meant what he said.

So, for right now, he would show her.

He leaned down and kissed her, trying to show her all the love he felt in his heart. She would not accept the words, but he decided to use what little time they had left how much he needed her.

Brando insisted on taking her to the airport. It was definitely sweet of him to do, but it was also horrible. She hated goodbyes at airports, especially when she didn’t know when she would see him again. Or if she would see him.

She knew he had promised to call, but she had learned that not all men meant what they said. Like when Glen had said there was no one else in his life. That had been a major lie.

Kaitlin pushed away those morbid thoughts as Brando walked to the security line with her. Again, She didn’t miss the looks she was getting from women as they passed by. One woman almost walked into a wall because she was spending so much time catching a glimpse of Brando’s rear end.

She really couldn’t blame them. He was wearing jeans that allowed for a great view. Of course, Brando seemed completely oblivious to the reaction he caused. All his attention was on her.

“So, you land when?” he asked.

He sounded grumpy, and she just assumed it was because they hadn’t had much sleep. Declan was like that. Her younger brother slept half the day away, but that was mainly because he was up until three in the morning.

“I get in there about three. My friend Wendy is picking me up.”

He nodded as he stopped by the security line. “Please call when you get in. I need to know you made it okay.”

She smiled and nodded. “And you said you would be out my way by the end of the month.”

“Yes. I still need to find a place to stay, but that’s nothing new.”

Before she could help herself, she said, “You could crash with me until you find a place.”

The moment she said it, she regretted it. She probably overstepped some imaginary line of one-night stands. She was never good at this kind of thing. She expected him to make excuses. Lord knew she’d learned enough about these types of things from Aeden, her oldest brother. He made it a rule never to get involved with anyone. Sex, he was okay with that, but feelings and complications had never been his thing.

Brando’s lips curved and his expression seemed to lighten. “That sounds great.”

Something heavy lifted off her chest. “Well, I better get through security if I am going to make my flight.”

He nodded as he wrapped his arms around her. Without closing his eyes, he bent his head slowly and kissed her. Kaitlin was pretty sure he had planned on giving her a simple little kiss goodbye. Instead, his arms tightened around her waist as he deepened the kiss. She willingly opened her mouth, enjoying the taste of him.

A burst of applause filled the air around them. Brando pulled back, his eyes dancing. She looked around and realized that most of the people around them were watching.

“Oh, God.”

“Nope, my name is Brando. I think I told you that a few times last night. Of course, in a month I’ll be more than willing to prove it again.”

She shook her head and gave him another quick kiss.

“I’ll call when I land.”

Then, she stepped back, grabbed her rollaway from him and took her place in line. He watched her until she made it through to the other side. As she hurried to make sure she actually made her flight, she realized that she felt like crying. Why? He said he was going to call, and if he didn’t, she would have the memories of their night together.

A wave of melancholy swept over her as she picked up the plastic bin and placed it on the table. She couldn’t fall apart right now, and she couldn’t think of the worst scenarios. She would deal with that when the time came. Thinking about it now would just turn her into a mess. Kaitlin Fitzpatrick was not a wuss. She did not cry in public.

She would wait until she got home to cry.