Chapter 7

Chapter Seven

As a Marine in top form, it embarrassed Nando that he was ready to call it quits. It had only been two hours since they had arrived at the swap meet, but his legs wanted a break and he was hungry. He would never admit it out loud, but he was prepared to surrender to the enemy as long as they offered him a cup of coffee.

“Come on, Santini. Let’s grab some malasadas.”

“And coffee. More coffee.”

She tossed him an amused smile. Sweat trickled down his spine and he had been chugging water, so it was probably stupid to drink coffee. He needed the caffeine though. A lot of it. He hadn’t slept well the night before, and it had nothing to do with PTSD. It all had to do with the cute slip of a woman smiling up at him.

She had worn a large brimmed straw hat that had seen better days. She had explained it had been her mom’s and that made him like her even more.

“Yes, sir, Marine.”

She said it giggling, then took his hand as she weaved her way through the shoppers. She had the stalls memorized, but he guessed if he came here enough he would too.

She stopped in front of a food truck.

“Do you want just sugar or cinnamon sugar?”

He tsked. “Cinnamon sugar.”

Her hundred-watt grin told him she liked his answer. When they stepped up to the counter, she ordered two malasadas, his coffee, and water. They took their food over to a shaded area and sat on the curb.

He sipped at his coffee, then bit into his treat. God, he loved these. They were as bad for him as donuts, but as Anthony said from time to time, it was good to be a little bad. The flaky dough melted in his mouth as the sugar sent his taste buds to heaven.

“I thought you had more stamina,” she said.

“I do, but shopping...” he shuddered dramatically, pulling a laugh from her. He loved her laugh.

“Then why did you come?”

He shrugged. “I’ll have to do some Christmas shopping soon and everyone on base says this is the place to shop.”

“True, but in particular, why did you come today?”

He stared at her trying to figure out if she was trying to gain some kind of compliment.

“I think you know the answer to that.”

For a second, she stared at him, then her face pinkened. “We could have just gone to the beach.”

“True, but I don’t think I could handle you in a bathing suit all day.”

Hell, even her pretty little green dress was enough to tempt him.

“Yeah, after seeing you wet yesterday, I can understand that.”

He groaned as his cock twitched. “Come on, woman. Now you are just trying to drive me insane.”

“No, not really. I don’t have much experience flirting or being coy. In fact, it is one of my drawbacks. I suck at it.”

“Come on.”

“No. Really. I tend to blurt things out without thinking first. Makes it hard to be coy. Like just now. I mentioned you being wet. I’m amazed I didn’t say I had wanted to lick the water off your body.” She rolled her eyes. “See. God, I am embarrassing.”

He smiled. “I like it.”

“Of course, you do. Who wouldn’t want to hear that I wanted to lick water off their body?” She closed her eyes. “That sounded damn conceited.” She opened her eyes. “I really don’t mean it that way. I mean, maybe if we were dating, but not even then. I mean, I would really like to lick water off your flesh…dammit. I didn’t mean that. It was just. Never mind.”

“Wow, that was a lot of words.”

Her lips twitched.

“But, to answer your question, I came here because I wanted to spend time with you outside of the treatment room. And I wanted to learn about your reasons for not dating military dudes as you call us.”

She sighed as she munched at her malasada. He didn’t know if it was because of the question or the fact she was eating the most heavenly tasting goodie.

“My father is military.”

“Is?”

She shrugged again. “I’m not sure. I have no contact with him.”

“Oh.”

“Yeah, oh. Plus, any kind of relationship with a military guy could end up in a decision about leaving Hawaii. This is my home. I don’t know if I could leave it.”

He nodded. “I can understand that. I call Arizona home more than the other siblings because they moved around a lot when they were younger.”

“I mean, I guess I wouldn’t mind that. I love to explore new places. But Hawaii is my heart. Then add in the fact that military people are deployed so much these days. I would hate to deal with everything on my own. I think Alana is one of the strongest women I know, and I don’t know if I could do that.”

“Being a SEAL’s wife isn’t fun," he agreed.

“So, there is all of that. Plus, you are a client.”

“You could refer me to someone else.”

She gave him a look. “I’m the best.”

He chuckled.

“But, the military thing, I don’t think it’s a good idea.”

“Okay, answer me this.”

She nodded.

“Tell me if you would date me if I wasn’t your client and I wasn’t military.”

“But you are both of those things.” She was trying to avoid answering the question and he knew it.

“But if I wasn’t?” he pressed.

She hesitated, then nodded. “I probably would, especially after that kiss. I mean, it made my entire body vibrate.”

He rolled his eyes. “Are you trying to kill me here?”

“Yes.”

He laughed. “So, come on. How about another date? Or, if you don’t want to call it a date, how about an outing?”

“Can I think about it?”

He wanted an answer, but he would take this over another no. “Sure.”

She smiled, then started nibbling at her malasada again. She was so damned cute. He couldn’t stop thinking about those lips, and right now, they were covered with cinnamon sugar. He wanted to lick it from her lips, then feel the kiss down his body, nipping at his skin as she went.

“Nando,” she said.

“What?” he asked not looking up from her lips.

“Stop looking at my lips that way.”

He raised his gaze to meet hers. “Sorry.”

“No you’re not,” she said with a chuckle. There was no admonition in her tone, so he smiled. They ate in companionable silence, both of them watching the crowd.

“I love watching people,” she said. “It’s always a different crowd here thanks to the tourists.”

“But you don’t like tourists.”

“I didn’t say that. I said that some of them could be rude and that is just a statement of fact.”

He nodded. “I can see that. Some of them treat Hawaii like it’s a damned amusement park.”

“Exactly.” She finished off her treat then asked, “Is there anything you want to shop for?”

“I wanted to get the boys something.”

“Okay. There are a few places that feature toys.”

“Since we’ve walked around this place at least three times—”

She gasped. “Not true.”

“I saw them, but I can’t remember where they are. And, I also want to get my mother something.”

Her eyes softened. “Like what?”

“Maybe one of those Hawaiian print aprons. She loves all kinds of things for the kitchen.”

“Great. I have a friend who sells them.”

She stood up and took a drink before holding out her hand. He popped the last of his treat into his mouth, then took her hand. And just like that, he felt it. That magical spark grew each time he touched her, and he didn’t think it would change any time soon—if ever.

Nando walked her up to her front door. She had a little green house, like so many he had seen dotting the landscape on the North Shore. The area definitely marched to a beat of their own drum--and that was saying a lot considering that Hawaii was pretty individualistic. Of course, Sunshine fit right in.

She had a small garden on both sides of the front door. An explosion of colors included flowers, bird feeders, a bird bath, an Aloha sign, and fairy figurines. He smiled thinking of his first impressions. She did, indeed, match her surroundings.

“And here we are.”

He looked down at her empty hands. “How did I end up with three bags of stuff and you walked away with nothing?”

She smiled. “It’s your first time. You know what they say about your first time.”

He studied her for a long moment trying to discern whether she understood what she had just said. Her clear gaze told him she did not. He rested his hand against the doorjamb and leaned closer.

“No. Tell me what they say about the first time.”

If she didn’t get it before, the way her eyes widened told him she did now. Then, they danced with humor.

“That you can go overboard.”

He lifted his other hand and rubbed his thumb over her plump bottom lip.

“Yeah, I’ve heard that.”

Even to his own ears his voice had deepened. His body was already responding because he couldn’t think about sex in any context and not think of having her beneath him moaning his name. Not right now, not at this moment.

“Don’t.” Her voice was shaking, but it had deepened also. He heard the need thrumming just beneath the surface.

“What?”

“I don’t know,” she said, as he dipped his head for a taste.

Just like the night before, his head spun, his body heated. He was sure he could hear her heartbeat. He settled his hand on her collarbone and stepped closer, deepening the kiss. His only thought—he wanted her. Then. Against the door. On the floor. Just anywhere, he wanted to take her…and have her take him.

He wanted to sink into her warmth, feel all those tiny muscles clamp down on his cock as he pumped in and out of her.

She moaned against his tongue and raised both hands to cup his jaw. He slipped his hand down her body, then around to her back so he could draw her closer. His cock hardened further, and he was sure the impression of his zipper would be permanently imprinted on his dick.

He was seriously thinking of just how to get her inside and tear off all of her clothes when a passing car honked. It was the proverbial cold water. Sunshine jerked back, as did he.

She dropped her hands. She didn’t back away, but there was no way she could. Her front door was at her back.

“I think we have something here, Sunshine.”

She sighed as she looked down. “Yeah.”

“Hey,” he said, slipping his finger beneath her chin and urging her to look at him. “Don’t think we have to do anything about it. And I won’t be that pushy.”

She shook her head. “I know Anthony and Marco. I know Santinis are raised to behave better than your average man.”

“There’s nothing average about a Santini.”

She snorted, and he chuckled.

“Oh, God, Nando, I don’t know.”

“I’ll leave it up to you. Either way, I plan on coming in week after next to see you.”

She nodded.

“Call if you want to see me, Sunshine.”

He kissed her one last time. Quick, hot, and wet. “And while I won’t call, I will text. You know, just to check in.”

She narrowed her eyes. “I thought that it was up to me.”

“It is. Calling that is and if we will be more than friends. Doesn’t mean I can’t try to persuade you.”

She tried to look mad but failed. He realized he wasn’t sure she could ever really look mad to him. She would always look like a delicate fairy.

She finally gave up and shook her head. “Fine, but I expect you to check in and let me know about your sleeping habits.”

“Anything for you,” he said, realizing that every word was true. He wanted to give her the whole world, and he barely knew her. He wouldn’t think about the Santini Curse or what else it meant for the two of them. Instead, he gave her another quick kiss, then forced himself to step away.

“Call me,” he said.

“Only if you’re lucky,” she said, laughing.

He turned around and smiled at her. “I’d be the luckiest man in Hawaii if you called me.”

She didn’t say anything, but even at a distance, he could see her eyes warm. And deciding to quit while he was ahead, he turned and walked back to his motorcycle. He slipped on his helmet and gave her a wave before he set off on his way home. He just hoped he could be true to his word and give her time.