Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Eighteen

Lalani stared at the woman in the mirror and came up for one word for her.

Coward .

She had always been someone who had prided herself for being an open book to her close friends. But her relationships, they were another thing all together. She had taken that chance once. It had failed spectacularly.

She couldn’t lay the entire blame on Ron. He had been fun to begin with. They had met her first year in New York, and he had swept her off her feet. He had money, a lot of it, but that hadn’t been so important to her. She’d had a boyfriend or two at Juilliard, and she most definitely wasn’t a virgin when she had met him. But she hadn’t been prepared for her relationship with Ron. When it had crashed and burned less than six months after it started, Lalani had been devastated and remained cautious until now. Well—until Anthony.

She sighed and turned from the mirror. She needed to gain her balance again, but it was hard with Anthony. He kept her guessing about what he was up to. Hell, dropping the bombshell of his parents coming to visit had knocked her for a loop. She closed her eyes and set her forehead against the door.

A Santini Mother . She had heard both Alana and Marco talk about Joey Santini. Alana had said she was a bit frightening, and the other three mothers were just like her. It was enough to make an ordinary girl have doubts. Big doubts. She had lost big when Ron’s mother had intruded on her relationship. It was the one time she had really dealt with that kind of insanity, and she didn’t want to experience it again— ever . There had been no benefit—just heartache and regret.

No matter what Anthony said, she was pretty sure his mama would know what was going on between them. She also would want to know just what Lalani’s intentions were. Her father had said they were good people, but mamas and their sons made her nervous. Who knew how his mother would act? Lalani had learned with Ron that mothers had a lot of influence in their sons’ lives.

She heard the door open, heard the low murmur of male voices. She waited until she heard the door shut before walking out.

“Hey there,” Anthony said as he set the containers on the breakfast bar.

“Hey. Why don’t we sit on the lanai? The trades are nice tonight.”

He flashed her a smile. It was one she had seen from him before, but this time, something pinged in her heart. Just a little ping, but the effect of it rippled through her entire body. Her head suddenly felt as if it were on an unending pirouette. She drew in a deep breath, bringing the scene of their dinner into her body. Her stomach growled, and she realized her reaction was probably because she was hungry.

“Do you want a fork or chopsticks?”

“Chopsticks,” he said.

“Drink?”

“Water’s fine.”

“Hmm,” as she grabbed the chopsticks, a spoon for herself, and then two glasses of water.

When she joined him out on the lanai, he was already settled in the chair waiting on her.

“What does hmm, mean?”

She shrugged. “I see you as a beer after a long week of work kind of guy.”

He took the chopsticks she offered. “Usually, I am, but I don’t want anything clouding my senses tonight.”

She didn’t miss the small curve of his mouth. “And what makes you think I’m not going to kick you out now that I got dinner and sex out of you?”

He snorted. “Give me a break. I’m a Santini.”

Lalani fought a smile. The man really was too much. “And you think that’s all that needs to be said?”

He wiggled his eyebrows and nodded as he shoved some noodles into his mouth. She wanted to be disgusted—she knew she should be. Her entire career had been littered with big egos and men that thought they could charm her. While he had the big ego, he didn’t really try to charm her. If anything, he was an ass. But that crooked smile and the way his eyes danced with self-depreciating humor made her heart melt. Hell, all of her was melting, but that moment, her chest grew tight, her breath caught in her throat.

Dammit. She had been trying to avoid this for a long time and had, up until now, been successful. Then, Anthony Santini had burst into her life and made her fall in love with him.

She was going to kill him.

“Are you okay?”

She blinked at the spots in front of her eyes, then gulped in a big breath. She turned her head to look at him.

“Lalani?” Great. Now he sounded concerned, as if there was something wrong with her. And there was. Something very, very wrong.

When she blinked and focused on him, he looked like he was going to jump out of the chair and do something. She couldn’t have him touch her right now. She might just freak.

“Yeah. I’m fine.” Not really, but she could fake it. Hopefully.

“You look kind of dazed.”

She sighed and settled back in her chair. “I’m really tired. It’s been a long week. And another one is coming next week.”

“Right.”

She glanced at him, but he wasn’t looking at her now. He was looking out over Waikiki. He didn’t look mad, but he definitely didn’t sound like he believed her. It was the best excuse she could come up with, and for right now it would have to do.

She wasn’t that happy about it, and she was pretty sure Anthony wouldn’t be either. So she tucked her revelation away and would deal with it later. Tonight she just wanted to enjoy being with him.