Chapter Twenty-Five

Chapter Twenty-Five

Anthony stared at his mother, his brain trying to comprehend what had happened. He was already irritated because he couldn’t find her. He’d called, gone by her apartment then her studio. When he couldn’t find her, he had returned home thinking to corner Alana and find out where the hell Lalani was.

Then, he’d pulled into the driveway and found her sitting here with his mother. He’d been so damned relieved to finally find her, it had irritated the hell out of him.

“What the hell was going on here?”

His mother’s narrowed gaze told him how she felt about his question. “I was talking to Lalani.”

“Holding her hand like she’s some kind of long lost friend. You’re supposed to be on my side.”

She blinked as she stood up. “Your side?”

“Yes. My side. I’m your son. Or did you forget that?”

“No, I did not, but apparently you did. You talk to me in that tone Anthony, I will wash your mouth out with soap.”

He blinked and the mother from his teenage years was back. He realized just how his question sounded. “Sorry.”

“Good. Now there are no sides, there is one. You two need to be together, so go get her. She is in love with you, even if she doesn’t know it. Don’t let her get away.”

He wanted to argue, but he knew his mother was right. He leaned forward and kissed her cheek. “Thank you.”

“Te Amo, Antonio.”

“Te Amo, Mama.”

“Now, go get your woman.”

He smiled and turned to go find Lalani. He found her sitting on the porch, waves of anger pouring off her. She was definitely irritated with him, but he was just as irritated. The fact that she hadn’t called him, but came here was a little aggravating. And, it hurt. It was stupid and he felt like an idiot admitting it, even to himself.

“Are you going to explain yourself to me?”

Her eyes flashed with anger. “Excuse me?”

He should have listened to the alarm bells that were sounding in his head, but his mother didn’t call him pigheaded for nothing. Her tone goaded his temper. Thanks to be sent home, he had no way to vent his anger.

“I asked if you had an explanation.”

Another look of disgust. “I don’t think you deserve one.”

“How am I supposed to react when I see a note like that?”

“I would expect you to ask me…rationally.”

“I did.”

“No, you did not. You yelled at me. Then, you told me that we needed to take a break, and you stomped out of my apartment.”

“Hey, you’re the one with plans to move back to New York.”

She stood up and narrowed her eyes. When she spoke, she pronounced every word very carefully—like she was talking to an imbecile. “I have no fucking plans to move anywhere.”

He blinked. He had never heard that particular word come out of her mouth before.

“The card said—”

“He always says things like that. He’s convinced that I’m dying of boredom in Honolulu.”

He opened his mouth, then shut it again.

“That was the smartest thing you could have ever done.” She shoved her hands through her hair, then settled them on her hips. He was acutely aware of the audience he knew was glued to the massive window watching everything. So, he held his temper, or his mother would smack him in the back of the head.

“I moved back here. It was a decision.”

“Because your mother was sick.”

“And now she’s gone. I could have moved back. Hell, I have offers to dance all the time.”

He snorted. “I just bet you do.”

She ignored his sarcasm and plowed ahead. “And there will be a time I might do an exhibition, but this is my home. This is where I want to live. Could you honestly have seen me with my students and think that this isn’t exactly where I want to be?”

His mind started flashing memories of seeing her on stage with her students, of hearing her speak of her reasons for teaching, and his world shifted.

“Yeah, you finally get it. Well, too bad it’s too late. I can’t deal with such a stubborn, pain in the ass man. I don’t care if I love you. It’s not worth it.”

She turned to leave as his brain caught up with what his heart had known all along. He rushed forward and grabbed her hand. She tried to twist away, but he was too strong for her. And, truth be known, it was a half-hearted attempt on her part.

He tugged her closer and made her stand in front of him. “You care to go back to the thing you said before?”

“I don’t remember.”

He shook his head, and she glanced away, then down at his feet.

“I never took you for a coward.”

When she looked up at him, it was easy to see the tears glittering in her eyes. It was a punch to the gut, and it tore at his heart. He had been responsible for this. He had jumped to conclusions as usual, and he had hurt her. He would rather take a bullet to the chest than hurt her ever again.

“I’m sorry.”

She punched him in the shoulder. “You should be.”

“I just kept thinking about everything you had there. Your life was filled with dance and, well, then there is Viktor and your other friends.”

“Viktor can be a pain in the ass, as he proved this week.” She sighed. “And I don’t want that. I had that. It was fun, but I am ready for this part of my life. I want to be here in Hawaii. It is a piece of my soul.”

He smiled, his heart finally feeling lighter than it had in the last two days. “I had planned to ask you to marry me, but I wanted a ring and to do it all right.”

For a second, she seemed to be holding her breath.

“Rings aren’t important to me, Anthony. You are.”

“I love you, Lalani.”

“I love you too.” She gave him a kiss. “You still haven’t asked me.”

He chuckled. “Lalani Hawkins, will you be my wife, my mate, my partner in everything that is important?”

The tears that had threatened just moments before spilled over onto her cheeks. “Oh. Wow, who would have known you would have such pretty words?”

“Why the hell does everyone think I’m an ass?”

“Because you ask questions like that during a proposal.”

Heat licked up the back of his neck. Damn, maybe he was an ass, but either way, he needed an answer. “Well?”

“Oh, come on, I’m hungry,” Marco called out from the lanai.

“I’m going to kill him.”

“He’s a SEAL, Anthony. Plus, I don’t want you with any injuries for the wedding.”

“I’m a Marine. I can kick his ass, and I have before.”

He suddenly realized what she had said, and his world stopped for just that moment in time. Who would have thought an ass like him would be able to pick such a perfect time to propose? Streams of late afternoon sun lightened her hair as she stood smiling at him, her eyes still shining from tears. And this woman…this goddess had agreed to be his.

“Yeah?”

She nodded and leaned up on her tiptoes to brush her mouth against his. “You are my world, Anthony Santini.”

He pulled her closer and kissed her, slipping his tongue between her lips. She welcomed him. Before it could get too much out of hand, his asinine family started clapping.

Resting his forehead against hers, he said, “I am going to kill them.”

“You do say you like an audience,” she said as she gave him a laughing kiss.

Ignoring the further catcalls from his cousin, he picked her up and kissed her. As long as he had Lalani by his side, he didn’t give a damn about anyone else.