Touch Me (10 page)
Authors: Melissa Schroeder
“Now, the doctor said you are to rest all the time.”
That had an ominous tone to it.
“I just want to give the clinic a call to check in.”
“I did that already. Mason is apparently holding down the fort and many of your clients have been sending flowers to the clinic.”
“Oh, that’s sweet.”
He ignored that and continued on. “Classes have just started, so I am going to be busy. They offered me time off, but I didn’t want to do that, so I called in help.”
Okay, that sounded worse. Before she could ask what he meant, the doorbell rang. Hercules barked and ran toward the front door.
“And there it is.”
He headed off to the front door. She heard a woman’s voice over Hercules, and then the deeper male voice.
A woman stepped into the living room. She wasn’t that big of a woman, considering the man who stepped up behind her. They were both older, at least old enough to be her parents’ ages had they lived.
“Oh, just look at you,” the woman said, walking forward. She might have been small, but there was an underlying strength to her if one looked closely enough. It was there in her gaze. “I’m Joey Santini.”
It was as if that explained everything. Then she picked up on the name. “You’re related to Dante.”
“Yes, he’s my nephew. He dropped us off, but he had to get back to work. Jack knew you needed someone around during the day and said something to his sister. Now, you might not know this but his sister is my daughter-in-law, and she called me, knowing I would come in a heartbeat.”
She blinked. That was a lot of information in just a few seconds and she was still on pain meds.
“And I take it this is Hercules?” Joey asked.
“Yes, he is the destroyer of my garden.”
Joey apparently forgot that Jack and her husband were there. “You men go away.”
She looked over at the older gentleman. “Stewart Santini, but everyone calls me Papa. If she gets too pushy, just tell her to back off.”
He gave his wife a kiss, then stepped back. Jack came forward, gave Joey a look that actually made the woman move back. She had a feeling not many people had that privilege.
“Listen to Joey and everything will be alright.”
She nodded; still dazed by everything that happened. He kissed her, quick and sweet, then he followed Mr. Santini out the door.
“Well, that’s good. Men always get in the way in a sick room. They don’t know how to handle it so they tend to get grumpy and mean. Which I am sure Jack was heading towards.”
“Already there,” she said smiling.
Joey sat in the chair next to the sofa. “Do you need anything?”
“No. I’m actually getting a little tired.”
“Do you want to stay here, or go to your room?”
“Here. Can you just find something not that interesting on TV so I can fall asleep.”
“No problem, sweetie. You just settle down and Hercules and I will keep watch.”
* * * *
Jack was beyond irritated. Three days after she got out of the hospital and the crazy woman thought she was going back to work.
“My doctor said I could.”
“No, he did not. He said stopping by would be okay, but not working. You were shot less than two weeks ago. Going back to work is not an option.”
She frowned at him, then crossed her arms beneath her breasts. In the next instant, she raised her chin.
“I say it is. Joey even said it was,” Hannah argued. Of course, the older woman wasn’t there. “I just want to stop by and see people.”
“Then why are you dressed in scrubs?”
Her face flushed with guilt. “They’re comfortable.”
“I swear to God woman, if you think I am going to let you go into that clinic today, you are out of your mind.”
“You? You are going to let me? You don’t have any say.”
“I do so. You gave me that right.”
“When did I give you that right? Tell me?”
“The second you let me touch you, I claimed that right.”
Her eyes widened. “Because we had sex.”
“And because you told me you loved me.”
That snapped her mouth shut. “I did not.”
“Yes, you did,” he said stepping closer. “You told me the night you got shot.”
She backed away two steps and ran into the wall. “I was delirious.”
“Nope, you weren’t. You said my name.”
“I don’t care.”
He set his hands against the wall, effectively caging her in. “Do you think you can say something like that and I’ll just forget about it?”
“I did.”
“You were laying there bleeding on me, and I didn’t know if you were going to live or die,” he said, trying to keep his voice steady. It was hard because the images of that night flashed through his mind, along with the fear that even today threatened to overwhelm him.
She opened her mouth, then snapped it shut again.
“Nothing to say to that?”
She swallowed.
“How about I tell you how I feel now? How every day I relive that little argument and how you wouldn’t have been hurt if I had tried harder.”
“It wasn’t your fault,” she said, even as tears filled her eyes.”
He cupped her face with his hands. “I love you, Hannah. I don’t think I could live another day if you had been taken away from me.”
“Oh, Jack.”
He kissed her then, pouring all the feelings he had ever since that night. Hannah returned the kiss filled with as much passion as he had given her. He pulled back and set his forehead against hers. “Please, baby, take a chance. I love you.”
She sniffed and nodded.
“And, be with me.”
“What?”
“Be my wife. I’m not an overly romantic man, and I probably should have gotten in my dress uniform and had a ring, but this is me.”
Pulling back, he settled his gaze on hers. “I don’t want to live another day not knowing if you will be mine. I’ll give you romance, the whole romantic dinner bit, down on one knee, but just now, tell me yes.”
She laughed, although it was watery. “Leave it up to you to order me to tell you yes when you propose.”
“Please marry me.”
She studied him for a second or two. “Yes, I’ll marry you, Jack.”
“About damned time you answered me, woman,” he said, as he bent to pick her up.
“Jackson Johnson put me down.”
“Nope, not until we reach the bedroom.”
Jack smiled as Dante Santini came up to him with a drink in his hand and his eye on the crowd. One thing about the Santinis, they definitely knew how to party.
“So, old man, now that you’re married, what are you going to do with your house?”
“I thought you had a place.”
“I do, but I’m always on the look out for new rentals in the area and that’s a nice part of town. You know how it goes.”
People in the military always seemed to know where to find rentals, usually thanks to their coworkers or sponsors.
“We are actually going to be renting out Hannah’s place.”
“I thought she lived there longer than you had.”
“Yeah, but it’s only a two bedroom and mine has a newer kitchen.”
He sipped his champagne and watched his bride of two hours dance with his father. It was odd seeing his father so…relaxed. He had less than two months before he started terminal leave or the leave the military let servicemen and women use before their full pay and benefits were sliced down to retirement standards.
“I thought Santinis knew how to throw a party. This one is pretty damned good.”
It had taken three months and lots of work, but they had the dream wedding Hannah had wanted. The marriage at the chapel and the reception at the club on base.
“You are one lucky man, although, I am pretty happy where I’m at.”
“None of the other Santinis are going to take a fall anytime soon?”
He shook his head. “Tony was married once, but his wife died years ago in an accident. Since then, none of us wanted anything to do with marriage.”
“Well, take it from a guy who had sworn off marriage, it will bite you in your ass.”
“I would have thought you said your heart,” Dante said, the younger man looking serious for once.
With a shake of his head, Jack said, “The truth is, you realize how scary it is and that’s why you’ve been avoiding it.”
Dante rolled his eyes. “Now you sound like one of my cousins. Just let me know when you are ready to rent the house, I’ll put the word out. Now, it’s time to find me a lady for the next dance.”
He watched the younger man wander off through the crowd just as his father brought Hannah back to him.
“Your father is a better dancer than you, Jack,” Hannah said with a laugh. Damn, how did he end up so lucky? She was bright and beautiful and she was all his.
“Well, as my brothers will agree, he’s had many more years to practice.”
His father laughed. “I’ll let you two have some time together. Joey and Papa have my granddaughters over there and I think it’s about time I get to spoil them a little.”
He left them alone. They both watched him make a beeline through the crowd to where Joey and Papa sat. Jack stepped up behind her and slipped his arms around her waist.
“What do you say we make a break for it?”
“Leave? In the middle of the reception?”
“We cut the cake, what else is there?”
She turned to face him. “Just run away?”
“Come on,” he said, grabbing her hand and hurrying out of the reception.
They made it outside before anyone could stop them.
“What about the presents?”
“Mary said she would take care of all of that.”
The limo was waiting for them when they stepped out of the club. “Do you think people will get upset?”
“Maybe. Who cares?”
She stopped and jerked on his hand to make him do the same. He looked at her.
“Thank you.”
“What for?”
“For loving me.”
He smiled and pulled her into his arms. “I wouldn’t have it any other way, Mrs. Johnson.”
He gave her a kiss, then pulled away. “Let’s go.”
They ran to the car, their laughter trailing behind them.
* * * *
If you enjoyed
Touch Me
, a review on Goodreads or a bookstore outlet would be greatly appreciated!
THE SANTINIS CONTINUES!!!
Look for two more books from Melissa Schroeder
A Santini in Love-Dante Santini
Falling for a Santini-Elena Santini
About Melissa Schroeder
From an early age, Melissa loved to read. First, it was the books her mother read to her including her two favorites, Winnie the Pooh and the Beatrix Potter books. She cut her preteen teeth on Trixie Belden and read and reviewed To Kill a Mockingbird in middle school. It wasn’t until she was in college that she tried to write her first stories, which were full of angst and pain, and really not that fun to read or write. After trying several different genres, she found romance in a Linda Howard book.
Since the publication of her first book in 2004, Melissa has had fifty romances published. She writes in genres from historical suspense to modern day erotic romance to futuristics and paranormals. Included in those releases is the bestselling
Harmless series
. In 2011, Melissa branched out into self-publishing with
A Little Harmless Submission
and the popular military spinoff,
Infatuation: A Little Harmless Military Romance
. Along the way she has garnered an epic nomination, a multitude of reviewer’s recommended reads, over five Capa nods from TRS, three nominations for AAD Bookies and regularly tops the bestseller lists on
Amazon
and
Barnes & Noble
. She was named one of the top ten best selling authors on All Romance Ebooks. In September of 2013, Melissa made the USA Today Bestseller list with her book, The Santinis Collection.
Since she spent her childhood as a military brat, Melissa swore never to marry military. But, as we all know, Fate has her way with mortals. She married a man who went into the Air Force, raised her own military brats-both human and canine-and now is happily residing in Virginia with her retired hubby.
You can connect with Mel all over the web:
Or email her at:
[email protected]
Harmless
A Little Harmless Military Romance
The Harmless Shorts
Prelude to a Fantasy
The Santinis
The Santinis Collection
Semper Fi Marines
Touch Me
The Cursed Clan