Chapter 2

Chapter Two

Nando had a bitch of a day dealing with an angry major who didn’t like dealing with subordinates. By the time he got home, he felt like he was running behind. He was running behind. Alana had texted him to tell him they were cooking out for dinner. She didn’t presume he would eat dinner with them every night, so he knew it was important. The trades had disappeared today, so the ride to Kaneohe had been hot and sticky, so he took a quick shower, then dressed in a pair of board shorts and a t-shirt.

As he donned his flip-flops—slippahs if he wanted to go local about it—he realized it wasn’t the job so much he hated. He was finally getting to use his finance degree and he liked it. Working budget wasn’t most people’s idea of fun, but Nando had always liked numbers. His sister Elena had once referred to him as a human calculator. The fact that after six years in the Marines, he was finally getting to use that degree was satisfying. He liked infantry, but he loved numbers even more. He smiled, then hurried out the door. He didn’t want to keep Alana waiting.

He walked in without knocking. It still felt weird, but Marco and Alana had insisted. Alana said if she didn’t want him in her house unannounced, she’d lock the door. All of the Santinis were like that though. If they lived in the same city, it would be worse. They would be in each other’s business and in and out of each other’s houses regularly. Hell, getting all the cousins together required a ballroom or park.

“Hello,” he called out. Insane kid music was playing softly in the living room.

“Hey, Nando,” Alana called out. “I’m here in the kitchen.”

He walked in and shook his head. “I told you not to cook for me all the time.”

“I don’t mind. Last trimester will be a different story. And this isn’t all for you.”

“Oh?”

She nodded as she picked up the salad bowl and put it in the refrigerator. “My friend Sunshine is coming by to talk to you.”

“So, she’s coming here for dinner?” Nando asked. He couldn’t hide his suspicion.

Alana frowned at him. It was hard to get a frown out of his cousin’s sweet wife, so he knew he had hit a nerve. She pulled out some hamburgers and a couple large portabellas prepared for grilling. He knew Alana liked a good hamburger—and she made some damned fine ones—so the mushrooms had to be for Sunshine.

“Don’t use that tone. I thought it would be best for you two to meet in a more relaxed setting.” She set the plates down on the counter and grabbed the big spatula she used for grilling.

He said nothing, and she looked back over her shoulder at him.

“What?” she asked.

“This isn’t a setup?”

Her eyes widened. “Good God, no. That would be bad. Sunshine doesn’t date military… ever . It’s kind of a rule. I told you all of this.”

She said it in a tone that told him that she thought he might have lost his mind. Still, Aunt Joey had great influence over all of the women in the family. She wanted more marriages—why…he didn’t understand. All her kids were married, so she should be settled. But she wanted all of them paired off. He’d been there three months without Alana trying to set him up, but there was always a first time.

“Do you want a beer?”

He nodded and took the Kahana Blonde Ale from Kona Brewing Company she offered. She knew that it was his favorite at the moment. He twisted off the cap and took a long drink. He hadn’t been sure he’d like the local beers when he moved to Oahu, but he’d started trying a few more of them from time to time. This though, with the light taste and hint of mango was his favorite. It was perfect on such a hot day, especially since work was shitastic.

He eyed Alana. “I take it back. I am ready to settle down. Forget Marco and run away with me.”

She chuckled. “You Santinis are always trying to get me to leave my husband.”

He set his beer on the counter and grabbed her, then dipped her. “You had my beer cold for me. That’s all I need out of a relationship.”

She giggled and swatted at him to let her up. “That seems like a shallow relationship.”

He grabbed his beer again. “Hey, it’s more complex than my last hook—” he glanced at the boys who were watching them. He cleared his throat. “I meant relationship.”

When he looked at Alana, her eyes were dancing with laughter. “Please tell me more.”

He shook his head. Alana was a sweetie, but she could also be devious.

“So, this Sunshine doesn’t like military men, but she helps them?”

She sighed. “She doesn’t like dating them. It’s a rule.”

“Why?”

“Why what?”

He rolled his eyes. Her pregnancy hormones were making her just a little forgetful.

“Why doesn’t she date military?”

She settled her hands on her hips. “You were just worried it was a setup and now you’re mad it isn’t?”

He shrugged. “I’m a Santini. We’re kind of masochists.”

She laughed. “Yes, I know. That’s why your Aunt Joey says you need to be tamed by special women.”

Before he could say anything, there was a knock at the door.

“That must be Sunshine. Could you get it?” she asked as she rummaged through the refrigerator. “Sure.”

He walked to the door and opened it—and instantly had his brain cells fizzle and his body go on high alert.

She was a tiny woman, probably no more than five foot two. Dark red hair pulled up in a sassy pony tail. She was wearing a yellow Hawaiian dress that wasn’t form fitting, but the light breeze caused the fabric to cling to her breasts and hips.

Damn.

“Nando?” she asked.

He wanted to see her eyes. He was betting they were green. “Yes. You must be Sunshine.”

She smiled, and he felt his world tilt a bit, then she pulled off her big sunglasses. He was right. Green eyes and red hair weren’t his usual turn on, but for some reason, he felt the slow crawl of lust slide through him.

“I am.”

Then they stood there. For a long moment. “Are you going to let me in?”

“Sorry,” he said with a chuckle.

“No worries,” she said. He stepped back, and she walked by him. She even smelled like sunshine. Bright and warm and he wanted to touch her. Great, the woman was making him sound like a freaking creeper. She stopped to shuck off her shoes before she walked into the kitchen.

He shut the door and followed her.

“Hey, woman,” she said with a laugh as she hugged Alana. “You look so wonderful.”

Alana blushed as she always did. “Thank you but I feel huge.”

“You are not.” She leaned down so that her face was close to Alana’s belly. “You are going to be as beautiful as your mother.”

Alana laughed. “All babies are beautiful.”

Sunshine straightened. “All babies are beautiful because the world hasn’t had time to ruin them yet.”

He blinked. That one statement said more about the woman than anything else she could have said at that moment.

She set her massive purse down on the counter. “Please tell me there will be some veggies on that grill.”

“Always for you,” Alana said waving at the plates. “Come on. We’ll throw these on the grill.”

“Where are my boyfriends?”

“I’m here,” Jon yelled out running to her.

She leaned down and grabbed him up into a bear hug. “There’s a boy.” After giving him a smacking kiss, she set him down just as Eddie came toddling into the living area.

“Oh, there you are, precious.”

Another smacking kiss. Marco and Alana’s house was always inviting, but with Sunshine there, the entire house seemed warmer, happier…sunnier.

As he followed the women out onto the lanai, he couldn’t help but smile. The laughter from both of them was intoxicating, but the entire house felt less stressful. Alana had been on edge and Sunshine seemed to lift her worries.

“I should have brought my bathing suit.”

“Not having one never stopped you before,” Alana said with a laugh.

“Stop saying things like that. Nando here will think I’m some kind of nut job.”

“Well, you don’t eat meat, so I think you are weird,” Alana said. “Skinny dipping is just another odd thing to be added to your list. Take a seat.”

Nando shook his head and took the spatula from her. “No, you take a seat. I’ll take care of this.”

“I’ll get the side dishes.”

“Nope. I’ll do it,” Sunshine said.

“I am not an invalid.”

“No, but you did all the prep work. Plus, I’m sure I can get Jon to help me.”

Nando doubted that. Jon had been particularly bad these last few weeks. He knew part of it was acting out because Marco was deployed. He was just happy that he and Anthony were around to give Alana a break sometimes. The long days without her husband were starting to wear on her, although he knew she would never admit it.

“Jon, my love, will you help me in the kitchen?”

“You didn’t bring cookies.”

Sunshine winked at Nando, her mouth curving. Damn, but the woman had a great smile. She looked a bit like a mischievous fairy.

She sighed. “I know. I had work and I didn’t have time. But, I have a feeling I can talk your mom into letting me come here and bake next weekend. You could help me. How does that sound?”

“Yes,” he said with a little miniature fist pump. She held out her hand and just like that, Jon went with her. Eddie waddled behind them.

“It’s disgusting,” Alana said.

“What?”

“The way kids just do anything she wants.”

He glanced at Alana. “That’s because she is new to them.”

“Nope. They are always like that. Animals are the same way. It’s like she is part of the Menehune. She entrances them to do what she wants.”

He smiled. Hawaiian Mythology said Menehune were magical dwarfs who lived in the hills and valleys. They were said to pierce the hearts of angry people to turn their emotions to love.

“I was just thinking she looked like a fairy. Is she always that happy?” he asked as he put the burgers on the grill. One thing he really liked about Hawaii was the year-round grilling. His parents had that in Arizona most of the time, and he really liked to grill.

“As long as I have known her. Considering her life growing up, it’s amazing.”

He opened his mouth to ask about her childhood, but she came marching out holding a tray of food, followed by her two chaperones.

“All good, and this all looks fab. I didn’t get to take lunch.”

“I’ve told you not to skip meals,” Alana said as Nando ran over to help her with her chair. “Thank you, Nando.”

“I was booked solid today, then you remember the polo player I work with?”

“There are a few of them,” Alana said with a laugh.

“No. I dated a couple of them over the years, but this one is just one of the players. He’s had some back issues and hurt it today. So I fit him in during lunch.”

“I bet Mary wasn’t happy about that.”

She chuckled. “No. But that’s why I keep protein bars at work.”

“I had no idea that polo was so big in Hawaii until I came here,” Nando said.

She arranged the sides on the long table. “It’s not that big, but the one percent really like it.”

“How did you get hooked up with the player? Do you work for the team?”

She shook her head. “The trainer is a friend.”

“Did you date him?” Alana asked.

“No, and it’s a her. You know I don’t swing that way, and I don’t date as much as you seem to think I do.”

Alana laughed. “I know. I just like teasing you about it.”

She settled her hands on her hips. “If you aren’t nice, I’ll refuse you the pregnancy massage I planned on giving you before I left this evening.”

Alana made a motion like she was zipping her mouth.

“I brought my chair and lotions, so we are all set.”

“That sounds fantastic.”

“You need to book regular massages. I’m sure Santini here will cover the kids if you need one every few weeks. You don’t want to get overly stressed out with Marco deployed.”

He heard the worry in Sunshine’s voice and decided right then and there, she was definitely good people. Lots of people would be around for the parades and celebrations, but it was times like this—being separated and pregnant—that people often forgot about. Sunshine did not. Which made her even more intriguing. A woman who would not date a military guy but cared for the families. It was easy to see.

He shook himself and concentrated on the burgers. There was no reason to think about Sunshine and her motives. Doing that would only lead to trouble, and for now, he wanted to avoid that as much as possible.

Sunshine leaned back in her chair and sipped at her water. She watched as Nando scooped up both the boys and took them in to get ready for bed. She had already given Alana her massage while Nando had cleaned up the kitchen, which made him a winner in her book. Beyond that, he was gorgeous. The man looked just as good going as he did coming. Short light brown hair, chocolate brown eyes, and one of those strong jaws the romance authors talk about. He was a pretty man. She really couldn’t wait to see him without a shirt.

Dammit.

Bad Sunshine .

She really shouldn’t be thinking of him that way. It was hard not to though. All the Santini men were beautiful. They also knew how to be supportive. It didn’t matter that he had the most amazing set of legs she’d ever seen on a man. And when she was fantasizing about a man’s legs, maybe it was time to start dating again. Of course, Nando did have really, really big hands.

She turned to Alana who had a smirk on her face, but she thankfully said nothing.

“You have a great family,” Sunshine said.

“Thank you. Of course,” Alana rubbed her tummy, “this one is irritating me just a little bit, but I think I can deal with it.”

She smiled. “Yes, your boys are fantastic, but I am talking about the entire package, all of them. Every time I talk to you, I hear about another Santini.”

“Yes, marrying into the Santinis is almost like marrying into the Mob, but in a good way.”

“Oh, you better not let Joey hear you say that.”

She had met the matriarch of the Santini family. She was awesome—as was her husband who went by the nickname Papa.

“Please. Knowing Joey, she’d just say she handled Santini business better than any Mafia boss.”

They both laughed, then Alana’s smile faded. Sunshine saw the loneliness there, the yearning for her man. Being married to a SEAL had to suck a lot of the time. But she had seen Marco and understood it was no sacrifice.

“I don’t know how you do it.”

Alana didn’t ask what she meant by that. “Is that why you don’t date military men?”

“No. You know that all is wrapped up in my daddy issues.”

She nodded and they both looked out toward the beach beyond Alana’s stone fence. She liked times like this. Her job was about giving other people serenity, but this right here gave her that solace she needed.

“Do you think you can help Nando?”

“I haven’t talked to him privately yet, and you know I don’t give out information on my clients.”

“That’s good to know, especially since Alana can be a busybody,” Nando said from behind her.

“The boys already down?”

He nodded. “But they wanted you to tell them a story.”

Alana smiled. Sunshine had never had another friend who was made to be a mother like Alana. Nando helped her out of the chair, but Alana motioned him to stay.

“You two need to talk anyway.”

Nando watched until she was in the house.

“You Santinis really do know how to protect.”

He smiled at her. Good God, he had dimples. And an amazing smile.

“My Aunt Joey made sure to tell me she would kill me and hide my body if anything happened to Alana, the boys, or her newest grand baby.”

She threw back her head and laughed. “That sounds like her.”

“So, you’ve met her?”

She nodded as he sat down across the table from her. “Yep. She’s great. I’ve also met your mother.”

“Uh…”

“Don’t worry. No fix up, and I am definitely not going to help with the Santini Curse.”

He rolled his eyes. “Then you’ve heard of it. That damn thing is the bane of my existence.”

“Yeah. Your aunt and mom were so funny about it.”

“You wouldn’t think it was funny if you had a target on your back.”

“I guess not,” she said. “Alana says you’re having trouble sleeping.”

He nodded. “Not all the time, and I’ve found that yoga helps.”

She cocked her head. “So, you are doing some alternative things.”

“Yeah. My sister-in-law has PTSD so severe she had to leave the military. She found yoga helped her. I’ve also used acupuncture as an aid.”

That surprised her, but it shouldn’t. Santinis were definitely not average. “Well, you know more than my normal PTSD military guy.”

“I’m evolved.”

He said it in such a self-depreciating way, she giggled.

“Sorry. Just struck me as funny. Anyway, you understand breathing, right?”

He nodded.

“Well, half my work is done. Have you had massage therapy?”

“Not really, other than when I was in high school. I got injured playing football and my doc suggested it.”

She filed that away for later. Most massage therapy given a decade ago in schools wasn’t more than a good rub down. Unless he went to a massage therapist, there was a good chance it wasn’t more than that.

“I’ll have you fill out an intake form if you decide to work with me. It’ll have a lot of questions on there about your medications and past injuries.”

He nodded.

“What I would suggest is just a massage therapy session with a little Reiki added in.”

“Reiki. I’ve heard of it.”

“It’s working with your energy and deals a lot with your chakras.”

He nodded but looked a little less convinced now.

“Don’t look scared, Marine.”

“I’m not scared, just like to know what is going to happen.”

That she could understand. “You’ll come in and fill out the sheet. Afterwards, you get as naked as you’re comfortable with, then I’ll do your massage therapy, mainly just a light session until we see what works. At the end, I’ll add some Reiki. You might get sleepy. After that, we are done.”

“That’s it?”

She nodded. “I think it will only take about an hour and a half.”

“And what do you charge for this?”

“Nothing the first time.”

He opened his mouth, but she stopped him.

“No. Seriously. PTSD patients always get their first session for free. I never know if it will actually work for them, so I like to cut them a deal.”

“Alana said you work with a lot of PTSD sufferers.”

She nodded. “I work with a lot of military members, of course, but I also work with abuse survivors, people who have been in car accidents, things like that. I recently started working with an oncologist because some cancer survivors have PTSD after they are finished with treatment.”

“Hmm.”

“What?”

“Alana says you don’t date military guys.”

“I have issues.”

“But you take care of them.”

“Yeah, I just have issues with the dating part. My dad was military. I know I’m not made to be a military wife or girlfriend. Whatever. But, I believe my role in this lifetime is to heal people.” She shrugged. “I’m a healer and I can’t turn away people I can help. It goes against who I am.”

“I sense there is something else.”

This one was definitely better at reading her than some of her friends. “Military personnel leave. They move. I don’t think I could ever move from the islands. If I was the kind of woman who did casual, I guess it wouldn’t bother me, but I just can’t. I have to give it my all. Then orders would come down and he would leave.”

“You plan on living here the rest of your life?”

“This life, at least.”

“This life?” His eyebrows shot up. “Oh, you believe in reincarnation.”

“I believe in a lot of things.”

“That’s a cop out,” he said.

“No, really. My mother raised me to be open to experiences. Discounting something because I can’t validate it doesn’t really prove anything. And who am I to judge people and their beliefs? As long as they’re not hurting anyone, what’s wrong with them?”

“I guess that would be one way of looking at it.”

She chuckled. “Okay, do you have any questions?”

“Would this be a weekly thing?”

“Maybe to start with. The massage is just so I can learn your body.” The moment the words were out of her mouth, she felt her face heat. “But you might just need Reiki for the most part. That can be weekly, every other week, whatever. We’ll see after we’re done with the first session. Truth is, you might just need a good cleansing, and then one every now and then.”

“Okay,” he said. “Do you have anything open this week?”

“Yep. I work Monday through Saturday.”

“How about tomorrow?”

“Let me check.” She pulled out her phone and looked at her schedule. She was so happy that Mary had learned how to get her entire schedule on her phone. She sure as hell didn’t know how to do it. “I’m booked solid, but I can stay after hours for you.”

“You don’t have to do that.”

“I do.” He looked like he was going to argue with her, but she stopped him again. “Listen, if you knew how much Alana helped me through the years, you would understand. I wouldn’t have the business I do if she hadn’t been there for me. I don’t have any living family, but I count Alana as my sister. You get family treatment.”

She knew if she gave him too much time to think about it, he might second guess his decision. She was sure she could help him.

“Okay. If it works, I’ll have to work out some kind of schedule.”

“No problem. Like I said, you’re family.”

And if she remembered that, she might keep her mind out of the gutter. Because all Nando could be was a client and that was it.