The door flung open and the nurse from earlier stepped in. “Okay, too many people. Everyone out, except the fiancé.”
His mother chuckled and kissed his cheek.
“We will return.”
His father nodded and followed her out while inviting her folks to grab something to eat. Elena gave her a look of pity.
“Make him beg,” Carlos said before disappearing out the door.
“I think I like the sound of that.”
He looked at her. “You’re going to make me beg?”
“I like the idea.”
“Not going to happen.”
“You know what should happen?”
He shook his head.
“You should freaking ask me. I know I am not a big girly girl, but Jesus, Santini, you didn’t ask. You just tell people.”
His face went blank for the second time then his lips curved. His eyes sparkled. How did she ever think she was going to walk away from him? Maybe she did have a concussion.
“Love, will you marry me?”
“You know I come with baggage?”
“Yes, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Joy burst through her as she let the happiness he gave her spread to her heart.
“Oh, yes, Dante, I will be your wife.”
He was laughing when she leaned down to kiss him.
EPILOGUE
Dante picked up the two champagne glasses and joined his wife at the window of their suite. She had insisted they get married in San Diego and for a woman who didn’t want to get married to begin with, she had a lot of other ideas too.
As he looked at her bare back, he decided it was worth it. From the moment he saw her at the end of the aisle, he had been transfixed. Ivory satin draped her body like second skin, simple, sensual, and stunning.
And she was his.
She turned to face him and he almost lost his train of thought. He knew she was beautiful, but tonight, she shined with it. Not the makeup or the fancy hairdo. No, she shimmered with happiness and it made his heart so happy.
Charlie brushed past him on his way out to the living area of the suite. Apparently, her companion understood they needed to be left alone.
“Hey, there, Mrs. Santini,” he said, offering her a flute.
She took it and drank from it. Beyond her lay the Pacific Ocean, lights glittering along the beach. None of it compared to her.
“What?” she asked.
He swallowed the lump that had risen in his throat and shook his head.
“Oh, my, Dante Santini at a loss for words. I think I might need to call the press. This is a breaking story.”
He smiled. “It’s just I can’t believe you’re finally mine.”
She leaned forward and brushed her mouth over his. “I’ve always been yours.”
“Well, I wasn’t so sure of it when Gee showed up.”
Laughter filled her eyes. “Sorry, but when the first man who saved you shows up, you have to give him a kiss.”
Dante frowned. It was a good thing Gee was so damned in love with his wife, or there might have been an issue.
“Your parents seemed to have a good time.”
She grinned. “My dad was so nervous. I don’t think I have ever seen him look so unsure of himself.”
“He did step on your train,” he said.
“That’s true. I’m glad all your brothers could make it.”
It had been a true Santini affair. They had only been missing one cousin, and that was a miracle. Even Brando had made it back in time.
She sighed. “I love you, Dante Santini.”
“I love you, too,” he said, slipping his arm around her waist and pulling her closer to him. He could feel the heat of her body and the beat of her heart.
“I love you, Madison Santini.”
He took her half empty glass and set both flutes on the table beside her. Then, he leaned down and lifted her into his arms.
She laughed again, the sound of it filling his soul with happiness.
“What do you think you’re doing?”
“I think I’m about to show you how much I love you,” he said, tossing her on the bed and following her down, determined to finish the task.
THE END
I hope you enjoyed A Santini in Love! If you did, a review or rating at your favorite online retailer would be greatly appreciated!
ABOUT Melissa Schroeder
Born to an Air Force family at an Army hospital USA Today Bestselling author Melissa Schroeder has always been a little bit screwy. She was further warped by her years of watching Monty Python and her strange family. Her love of romance novels developed after accidentally picking up a Linda Howard book. After becoming hooked, she read close to 300 novels in one year, deciding that romance was her true calling instead of the literary short stories and suspense’s she had been writing.
Since her first release in 2004, Melissa has had over 30 short stories, novellas and novels released with multiple publishers in a variety of genres and time periods. Those releases include the Harmless series, a best-selling erotic romance series set in Hawaii. A Little Harmless Sex, book 1, was one of the top 100 bestselling Nook Books of 2010.
Since she was a military brat, she vowed never to marry military. Alas, fate always has her way with mortals. Her husband just retired from the AF after 20 years, and together they have their own military brats, two girls, and two adopted dog daughters, and is happy she picks where they live now.
You can keep up with Mel all over the web:
www.melissaschroeder.net
www.melissaschroeder.net/blog
www.twitter.com/melschroeder
facebook.com/melissaschroederfanpage
facebook.com/thesantinis
www.facebook.com/groups/HarmlessLovers/
Keep up with Mel, her releases, and her appearances by subscribing to her NEWSLETTER at: http://eepurl.com/N2iob!
Coming in December, find out what happens with Elena and JT! Get it now at a limited time at a low price.
Falling for a Santini
A crush that turned into love.
Being the only girl in a family with five Santini brothers was never easy on Elena Santini. She always tried to be faster and smarter to make sure they always took her seriously. They were always trying to tell her what to do, and worse, who she could date. That’s why falling for her oldest brother’s best friend wasn’t smart especially when he treats her like a sister. That is, until she gets him alone in her apartment one night.
One night in Heaven.
NCIS agent Jethro Thomas, known to everyone as JT, has always played it smart. When his admiration turned to attraction a few years ago, he started avoiding Elena. A guy wasn’t supposed to have those kinds of thoughts about his best friend’s little sister. After returning from an undercover assignment, and about to go on another one, he can’t seem to resist the temptation. One night with her and he knows he’s lost, but he has a job to do.
A changed man.
JT returns from the assignment with a few more scars, both physical and emotional–but he survived for one reason. He’s ready to start a new life with Elena, but a dark cloud hangs over the new love. When small incidents evolve into near death accidents, JT realizes someone from his past is ready to destroy his happiness, even harm Elena to make him pay.
You met MJ’s brothers in The Santinis, now, get to know them in their own spinoff novella series: Semper Fi Marines!
Tease Me- Book 1
A man who thinks he has what he wants.
Bran Johnson always knew he wanted to be a Marine. What makes it even better is longtime gal pal TK is now stationed at the same base. Unfortunately, Bran is having a hard time dealing with his feelings when he realizes that TK is considered a hot commodity on base. Worse, he finds himself taking a backseat to her admirers.
A woman who always wished for more.
Tess Keller has loved Bran since they wer
e in high school. The former football captain always treated her like a friend so she tried to move on. Unfortunately, he's in her business constantly now. One passionate argument leads to more than either of them expected. Tess knows it isn't going to last because Bran is never going to settle down. So, to save face, she suggests they stay friends, only with the side benefit of being sometime lovers.
A Marine determined to win at all costs.
Bran agrees to the friends with benefits idea just to keep himself close to Tess. She might think he's not around for the long haul, but this is one Johnson brother who knows exactly what he wants...and just how to get it. And what he wants is Tess in his bed and in his life forever. Nothing will stop him, not even Tess herself.
Tempt Me- Book 2
The man who could be general.
Jesse Johnson is a man everyone assumes will be a general. Everyone, that is, but Jesse himself. He isn’t sure if he wants to give that much to the military. His father has spent most of his life surviving a lonely existence with only his work for comfort. Jesse doesn’t want that—he wants it all.
The woman who tempts him to misbehave.
The last year has been bad for Zoe Jones. Her boyfriend was killed by some nasty guys who then put her in the hospital. She’s come to Virginia to heal not to fall for some by the book, drop dead gorgeous Marine with a chip on his shoulder. But one little encounter leads to a kiss and that kiss leads to all kinds of interesting entanglements. She knows it won’t last because he has big plans, but she can’t help but falling a little in love with him.
A Marine on a mission.
Jesse knows Zoe thinks they’re just having a bit of fun, but he has other plans. Forever kind of plans. He’s one man who knows how to organize a full on assault to get the woman he loves—and nothing will stop him.
Touch Me – Book 3
A man trying to forget.
Jackson Johnson had always planned to spend his life in the Marines serving his country—that is until he came back from a mission with memories he’d rather not have. He feels like he’s circling the drain until he meets the new tenant next door. An altercation with her unruly dog has them at odds. That is until he finds himself kissing her.
A woman who doesn’t have time for love.
Veterinarian Hannah Richmond doesn’t have time for the surly Marine or any man for that matter. Still, resisting his kisses proves futile and soon she finds herself falling for Jack. For the first time in a really long time she discovers she might just want to try for that happily ever after—that is until her past comes back to haunt her.
A Marine determined to prove his love.
Jack knows Hannah is pushing him away because she wants to keep him safe but there is one thing she needs to understand: this Marine will never retreat until she surrenders.
Enjoy this excerpt from Tease Me!
Later that night, Bran frowned when his phone played Beethoven’s Fifth, alerting him that MJ was calling. He felt oddly deflated that Tess hadn’t called, but he knew she was busy.
“Hello, MJ.”
“Hello, yourself. How’s the house hunt?” she asked in typical MJ fashion. His father liked to say that MJ was born talking, and that wasn’t far from the truth. She was always half way through a conversation before Bran knew they were having one.
He didn’t know how to answer the question. Now that MJ and Tess started talking back and forth on the phone, he wasn’t sure how to proceed. Part of him knew he needed a place, and the house down the street would be perfect. But there was a bigger part of him that didn’t want to leave Tess’ house.
“Okay, still looking.”
A beat of silence. And that was a bad thing with MJ. “You know you can’t mooch off Tess forever. And besides, she has a personal life.”
“I know that.” Then he realized what she said. “Wait, has she talked to you about that?”
“What, that you’re a mooch? Not in detail.”
“Her personal life. Has she complained to you?”
“Nope.”
Then nothing. She just let the silence stretch. She might have been the youngest Johnson, but MJ knew just how to control all of them. And one way was with silence. Even knowing that, he took the bait.
“What do you mean by personal life?”
“Listen, I talked to Jesse, who told me she is gorgeous. Of course, I always knew she would be. She was just one of those girls who needed to grow into her looks. Now, with you there, you could be cramping her style.”
“Cramping her style?”
“Yeah. I mean, if I were her and working on a base with a ton of military men, I know I would probably be busy. Okay, if I hadn’t sworn off military men like I had.”
There was some kind of talking on the other side of the phone.
“Of course, not now, Leo. It’s all about you, the sex god of my dreams.”
Bran was amused and disgusted at the same time. MJ and Leo had a relationship most people would call just about perfect, but then those people didn’t have to hear them be disgusting.
“Could you two not talk about sex while I am on the phone?”
“Better than us having it on the phone while you listen.”
“Ugh, I don’t know how you turned out the way you did.”
“Anyway, back to your living arrangements.”
“I’ve been here a few days. I looked at houses and apartments one day. We hit the beach another day. And, Tess has been working like crazy hours since then.”
“Maybe you drove her away.”
“I didn’t drive her away. Oh my God, you are such a pain in the ass. Stomach flu hit the hospital staff, so she’s helping out.”
The door to the garage opened in the kitchen and he looked over. All of a sudden, he felt the air leave his lungs, and he felt a little off center. Tess was smiling and she looked like she hadn’t had much sleep since he’d seen her that morning, but…damn, she was beautiful.
Every ounce of good sense drained from his head…along with the blood. His body reacted even if his mind hadn’t caught up yet. Heat surged through is his veins and everything he had been fearing seemed to fade away. There was only one thing that mattered now and that was touching Tess.
“I gotta go now, MJ.”
“Wait, I’m not done with you—“
But he hung up the phone. “Hey. You look beat.”
She sighed. “I am. I think I’ll strip down, crawl into bed, and go into a coma sleep.”
His brain sputtered to a stop. Right there, right then, he wanted her. There was no denying it now. His body ached, his head spun. Never in his life had he wanted a particular woman this much. It left him slightly dizzy and confused. Over the last few days, he had denied his need for her so many times, but right then, at that moment, he couldn’t. There was something about Tess that tugged at his heart. It was probably a mistake, but he didn’t think he could stop himself from taking action. He walked over to her and slipped his arm around her waist. In that instant, it just felt right.
She frowned. “Bran?”
“I’ve been thinking about this all day.”
He had been. Since he stopped by for breakfast that morning, he’d been thinking about it. He wanted a taste. Her mouth. Her flesh. Bran wanted to savor every bit of her body.
The moment his mouth touched hers, she shivered. He was enough of a man to admit that it turned him on to know she was vulnerable to him. She moaned against him as he pressed his body to hers.
Before he knew what was happening, she pulled back shaking her head at him. It took him a second to realize she was trying to disengage from him. There was a split second where he thought about denying her that. Not allowing her to go. Then, his common sense hit him. With much reluctance, he allowed her to step back.
“What’s wrong?”
She looked at him strangely, and he didn’t blame her. Even Bran heard the arousal in his voice. It vibrated just beneath the su
rface and pounded through his veins.
She took another step back. “This isn’t smart.”
“I never said it was.” He stepped towards her, closing the distance.
Tess held out her hand as if to ward him off, but he took it in his and pulled it up to his mouth.
“Bran, you’re not interested in me. You never have been.”
“You’re wrong there.”
She rolled those expressive green eyes of hers, and he hid a smile as he nibbled on her fingers.
“I’m not wrong, Bran. I’ve never been your kind of woman.”
He heard the doubt in her voice and was stunned. This woman had always seemed so confident, so sure of herself. But in this, she seemed…at a loss. She apparently didn’t know how stunning her found her. That she was gorgeous inside and out.
He guessed it was time to reveal that little secret of his.
“Do you remember graduation?”
“Yes, it rained, we had it inside. It was hot as hell.”
“Not high school. Annapolis.”
She frowned in thought, then nodded.
“You were so excited that you came running up to me and hugged me. Do you remember that?”
She sighed. “Of course I do. It wasn’t that long ago. I don’t know what this has to do with the fact that you’re gnawing on my fingers.”
“Then you kissed me. On the mouth. You’d never done that before.”
Anyone watching would have seen a calm woman, but Bran knew better. He was holding her hand and his fingers skimmed over her pulse. It sped up a beat or two. Bran was enough of a competitor to admit he enjoyed that.
She cleared her throat apparently trying to compose herself. “And?”
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