Chapter Twenty-One

Chapter Twenty-One

Anthony stowed his parents’ luggage then slipped into the driver’s seat.

“Did you want to stop by the hotel, or did you want to go right out to Marco’s?”

“Alana is expecting us. And it’s so early. We can’t check in yet,” his mother said. She was sitting beside him, and his father was in the seat behind his mother.

“Okay,” he said, taking the H-1 East exit.

“So, you’re settled into the little house?” she asked.

“Yes.” Although, he hadn’t spent much time there in the last few days. Lalani had spent last night with him, but every other night since Friday he had spent at her place.

“And you are liking your job?”

He nodded as he sped around a slow moving sedan.

“Are you just going to answer me with one word or head movement?”

He glanced at her and nodded. His father chuckled.

“And don’t you laugh. This is your fault.”

“What did I do?” his father asked, laughter filling his voice.

“You don’t talk enough.”

“You do enough for the both of us.” She opened her mouth, but his father said, “Son, be nice and tell your mother how you like living here.”

“I didn’t know how I would like it, but I really have started to love it here.”

“What about it do you like?”

He shrugged. “The lifestyle. Everything is so laid back; and, well, I can swim and cycle year round.”

She sighed.

“What did I say?”

“Nothing. I just hoped you would want to move back to the mainland.”

“So you were hoping I was miserable?”

“I hate having all my children far away from me.”

“Carlos is close by.”

“Carlos.” Irritation threaded her voice.

“Oh, what has he done now?”

“Nothing. But he told your mother to butt out of his business; and, well, you know, your mother wasn’t too happy.”

“As if I meddle. I’m not like Joey.”

Before he could respond, her cell phone went off. His mother cussed in Spanish.

“Hello, Joey. Yes, we made it just fine.”

She listened to her sister-in-law. “Ah, I said we just got here. But I will tell you, I am about to be able to kiss your grandson.”

Then his mother laughed. “Such horrible language.”

She was quiet for a long time as Joey talked. “Well, if you let me talk to my son, I might send you pictures.”

She hung up. “She’s got a contract with the devil, that one.”

His father chuckled. “Now, Ella, don’t get so upset. You know you owe her.”

“What did she do for you?”

“Nothing important.”

“Thanks a lot,” his father said from the backseat.

His mother ignored him. “So, what do you have planned for us?”

“You said you didn’t want plans.”

She sighed. “Marco said something about Friday night plans.”

He needed to remind his cousin that he might be a SEAL, but Anthony could still kick his ass.

“He did? What does he have planned?”

His father chuckled.

“Anthony Michael Santini.”

“Oh, in trouble now, son.”

“Okay, I have a friend who is having a recital on Friday night.”

“A friend. She’s having a recital?”

“I guess you could say it was for her students, but it is the first big one.”

“Oh.”

He glanced over at his mother. “What does that mean?”

“Nothing.” She was smiling like she had won some kind of victory, and she seemed pleased now. “So, how is Alana doing? I didn’t want to stay at the house because we would be a burden this far along in her pregnancy. I’m hoping she will let us steal Jon away for a day while we’re here.”

“That would be good.”

“We need practice with two grandchildren on the way. No thanks to you.”

“How do you know that?”

She didn’t say anything at first, then she snorted. “You were always a bad boy.”

“Do me a favor?”

“Yes?”

“Don’t start that baby talk around Lalani when you meet her.”

“Why is that?”

“She’s heard rumors about Joey.”

“Ah. And so, we are going to meet her?”

He smiled. “Yeah, I think you should.”

He pulled into Alana and Marco’s driveway and was surprised to see Lalani’s sporty little car parked there. He pulled up beside it then slipped out of the car.

The door opened and Jon came running out. “Auntee Ella, Auntee Ella!”

Only two people called his mother Ella. His father and Jon. His mother jumped out of the car and caught the little boy.

“Jon!”

“I thought you would never get here.”

“I know. It took us forever and ever.”

She kissed the little boy several times on the cheek. She handed him over to his great uncle as she walked to Alana and hugged her.

“Marco told us he would be at work today.”

“Yes, he had a meeting that he couldn’t get out of.”

His mother kissed her cheek and waved her comment away. “No problem. You know we all understand military life.”

Then his mother’s attention was caught by something behind Alana. Lalani was standing in the doorway looking like she wanted to be anywhere else but there.

“Hello,” his mother said, a confused smile on her face.

No one said anything for a long moment, so Alana stepped in to do the introductions. “Oh, Marcella, this is Lalani Hawkins, one of my friends. Lalani, this is Marcella Santini and Tony back there hanging Jon upside down.”

“Hello.”

“Lalani Hawkins. That name is familiar.”

“You and Mr. Santini know my father. Doug Hawkins.”

“I’ll be damned,” his father said with a wide smile on his face. “I knew the Hawk moved back here, but I had no idea you knew Marco.”

“And me, she knows me.”

“Of course, dear, I’ve met Lalani before, but I’m sure you don’t remember. You were toddling around and Tony and I stopped in to see your folks.”

She laughed. “No, I don’t remember.”

“Even then you danced. You could barely walk, but you loved music.”

“Why don’t we go in? I have some tea made, and I’m sure you would like to get comfortable,” Alana said.

His father carried Jon with him like a football under his arm. Lalani waited for his mother, Alana, and his father to go inside. He grabbed her when she turned to go in.

“Hey, there.”

“Hey.”

“I didn’t know they were coming out here.”

“Alana warned me. It’s okay.”

He nodded. “I thought maybe we could get my parents and your dad together while they are here.”

She smiled. “He’d like that.”

Then, because he couldn’t resist her any longer, he gave her a quick, smacking kiss.

“Anthony, really, give the poor girl a break,” his mother yelled out.

Lalani laughed. “Your mother has your number.”

She patted his cheek and walked into the house. If she only understood her own power, he thought. She’d figure it out soon enough. Every Santini woman understood the power she held over her mate at some point, but for right now, while he was still trying to figure it out, he’d let her stay in the dark.

“We were really sorry to hear about your mother. She was a force of nature. I don’t think you ever met her, Anthony, but she had this way about her. You have it too,” Marcella said, directing the last bit of the conversation in her direction.

“Thank you.”

“Is that why you moved back here? I heard you were in New York with the ballet.”

“Partially. It was supposed to be just a leave of absence, but when I returned, I realized this is where I want to be.”

“Understandable,” Tony said. “With a nephew and now our son here, we plan on making as many trips as possible.”

She smiled. She hated to admit it, but she liked them. Of course, she should have known she would. Her father didn’t suffer fools, and he had said that Tony and Marcella were good people.

“So, you opened a studio?” Marcella asked as she sipped her iced tea.

“Yes. We are having our first recital this week.”

“I’m going to get the burgers,” Anthony said.

Panic surged as she watched him walk away. Alana offered her a reassuring smile.

“What ages?” Marcella asked.

“Excuse me?”

“What ages do you teach?”

“Oh, mainly elementary school right now. I am building up a clientele. I also want to start offering ballroom dancing, but I need to find a teacher.”

“Tony could help you.”

She glanced at the man in question, and she had to fight a giggle. Anthony’s father was actually blushing. She couldn’t laugh because she didn’t want to hurt his feelings.

“You know how to ballroom dance, Dad?”

“Your mother made me take lessons a long time ago.”

“I did not make you take lessons.”

“You wouldn’t answer my phone calls, so I joined your class.

She shared a glance with Alana, who looked equally fascinated by that little bit of information.

“That’s another story for another time,” Marcella said. Lalani couldn’t help but feel deflated by that, especially since she was sure Marcella was going to start interrogating her again.

“Is the recital open to the public?”

She nodded. “Anthony said you would want to come, but you don’t have to. I’m sure you have other things to do on a Friday night in Honolulu.”

“We would love to go. And I am sure Jon is going to be there.”

The little boy smiled. “There’s going to be cake.”

Alana laughed. “It was the only way I could get him to go.”

“Well, that being said, I need to get going.”

“Oh, I’m sorry. Can’t you stay and have dinner?”

She shook her head. “I have a meeting with a couple of the lighting people, and this is about the only time we could get together. They are volunteering their time, so I have to fit into their schedule.”

Lalani stood. “It was very nice to meet you both.”

“Thank you, Lalani,” Marcella said.

Anthony smiled at her, then grabbed her hand when she tried to walk past him. He held her there and said, “I’ll be right back.”

He walked her out.

“You didn’t have to treat me like a date.”

“You’re not a date. You’re my woman.”

Dammit, why did that send a secret little thrill through her? It shouldn’t, but it did.

She said nothing as she stepped out onto the front step to the house. He yanked her back and against him.

“Say it.”

She smiled and blinked up at him, trying to look as innocent as possible. “Say what?”

He growled as he leaned down to kiss her. She knew he had meant it to be simple but as usual, their desire for each other took over. She didn’t know what would have happened if Marco hadn’t beeped his car horn.

Anthony didn’t jerk away, but moved back slowly. “I might just have to kill him.”

“Hey, stop with the PDA, Anthony. I have a kid inside who might see that.”

“Suck ass, Marco.”

Marco wasn’t offended, of course. He just laughed. “Your parents made it okay?”

He nodded. “Burgers tonight.”

“You’re not staying for dinner?” he asked looking at her.

“Sorry, got a meeting with the lighting people.” Unable to resist, she gave Anthony another quick kiss. “I’ll call you later.”

Then, she hurried over to her car. She was already behind by ten minutes and with traffic, she just hoped to make it there on time. She’d opened her door when Anthony caught her attention by shouting.

He was standing alone by the front door.

“What?”

He said nothing for a long moment. “Be safe. Text me when you get there.”

She had a feeling that wasn’t what he had planned on saying, but she smiled. “Yes, sir.”

Slipping into her car, she backed up in order to drive back to the main road. When she looked in the rearview mirror, she saw him standing there watching her.

The damn man was going to be the death of her.