Read Online The Santinis: Leonardo, Book 1 by Melissa Schroeder - Free Book Online
Authors: Melissa Schroeder
Ads: Link
was around. Especially since she taught you how to cook that red sauce.”
Again, she knew there was something behind the words, but she didn’t want to worry about that today. She just wanted to enjoy their time together. “So, are you only going to feed the animals, or does your date get some popcorn?”
Leo tossed the rest of the feed out and grabbed her hand. “Never let it be said that Leo Santini doesn’t know how to spoil a date.”
She followed along, pushing the weird mood aside, intent on enjoying the day and the man.
* * * *
“Dammit,” Jeff said as Maryanne and an orderly helped him back into his bed. A month after she started pushing him harder, and she was feeling a lot better about his progress. He was not.
“I feel like an infant after you get done with me.”
“That’s exactly what I want to invoke in a man. It’s probably the reason I’m not married.”
He chuckled as she pulled his covers up and over him.
“I just feel like I should be further in my development. I wanted to be further along.”
She shook her head as she poured him some water. “No. You are actually further than I thought you would be. You’re doing remarkably well.”
He smiled. “Does that mean when I get out of here you’ll allow me to take you to dinner?”
She handed him the glass. “I don’t date my patients.”
“I won’t be your patient by then.”
He was attractive, always had been. But for some reason...she hadn’t been attracted enough to even think about the offer. She did have a hard rule about patients. Even after they weren’t under her care anymore, she didn’t date them. It was not something that she thought would be good for either of them.
“Let me guess. Santini?”
She shook her head. “He has nothing to do with this.”
“Damn, I can’t believe he stole my woman. I thought we would marry and have ten kids.”
She chuckled. “You have got to be kidding me.”
“I think we would make a cute couple.”
“No, I was talking about the ten kids. What makes you think I want that many kids or any kids at all?”
She had never been sure of marriage or kids. It had been something she didn’t want to think about right now, especially since she was pretty sure she was falling for Santini.
“Aw, Johnson.” He took her hand and looked around the room to make sure no one was within earshot. “You would make the best mother.”
The simple statement and the sincerity of it had a lump rising to her throat. It was possibly the sweetest thing one of her patients had ever said to her.
“Thank you, but I am not ready for that yet, and I can assure you that you aren’t either.”
He chuckled and released her hand. “If Santini screws it up with you, let me know. I would definitely like to make up his mistakes for you.”
“You act like he isn’t your friend.”
His eyes widened. “He is. It’s just...I want to make sure he appreciates you.”
Thinking of the lunch he had brought to her she knew he did. “He does.”
He smiled. “Thought he might. Of course, you know what they say about Santinis?”
“Uh, no since I don’t know the rest of them. I met Vince, but not the rest of the family.”
“Ah, well, they are well known for being very loyal, very...hearth and home kind of guys. Once they find a woman they want, nothing will get in their way.”
“And just how do you know that? He said all his brothers were single.”
“Oh, well, his father and his uncles. My dad and his served together, both Marines. When all the young guys were going out carousing, Santini was either writing letters or coming up with ways to do things for his wife. Dad said he was one of the few of his buddies still married and all his uncles are still married or widowed. They fall hard, or so the legend goes.”
She shook her head. “Like your father pays attention to what his friend is doing. He’s making that up.”
“Nope. Promise. He was Special Forces and they all live in
Again, she knew there was something behind the words, but she didn’t want to worry about that today. She just wanted to enjoy their time together. “So, are you only going to feed the animals, or does your date get some popcorn?”
Leo tossed the rest of the feed out and grabbed her hand. “Never let it be said that Leo Santini doesn’t know how to spoil a date.”
She followed along, pushing the weird mood aside, intent on enjoying the day and the man.
* * * *
“Dammit,” Jeff said as Maryanne and an orderly helped him back into his bed. A month after she started pushing him harder, and she was feeling a lot better about his progress. He was not.
“I feel like an infant after you get done with me.”
“That’s exactly what I want to invoke in a man. It’s probably the reason I’m not married.”
He chuckled as she pulled his covers up and over him.
“I just feel like I should be further in my development. I wanted to be further along.”
She shook her head as she poured him some water. “No. You are actually further than I thought you would be. You’re doing remarkably well.”
He smiled. “Does that mean when I get out of here you’ll allow me to take you to dinner?”
She handed him the glass. “I don’t date my patients.”
“I won’t be your patient by then.”
He was attractive, always had been. But for some reason...she hadn’t been attracted enough to even think about the offer. She did have a hard rule about patients. Even after they weren’t under her care anymore, she didn’t date them. It was not something that she thought would be good for either of them.
“Let me guess. Santini?”
She shook her head. “He has nothing to do with this.”
“Damn, I can’t believe he stole my woman. I thought we would marry and have ten kids.”
She chuckled. “You have got to be kidding me.”
“I think we would make a cute couple.”
“No, I was talking about the ten kids. What makes you think I want that many kids or any kids at all?”
She had never been sure of marriage or kids. It had been something she didn’t want to think about right now, especially since she was pretty sure she was falling for Santini.
“Aw, Johnson.” He took her hand and looked around the room to make sure no one was within earshot. “You would make the best mother.”
The simple statement and the sincerity of it had a lump rising to her throat. It was possibly the sweetest thing one of her patients had ever said to her.
“Thank you, but I am not ready for that yet, and I can assure you that you aren’t either.”
He chuckled and released her hand. “If Santini screws it up with you, let me know. I would definitely like to make up his mistakes for you.”
“You act like he isn’t your friend.”
His eyes widened. “He is. It’s just...I want to make sure he appreciates you.”
Thinking of the lunch he had brought to her she knew he did. “He does.”
He smiled. “Thought he might. Of course, you know what they say about Santinis?”
“Uh, no since I don’t know the rest of them. I met Vince, but not the rest of the family.”
“Ah, well, they are well known for being very loyal, very...hearth and home kind of guys. Once they find a woman they want, nothing will get in their way.”
“And just how do you know that? He said all his brothers were single.”
“Oh, well, his father and his uncles. My dad and his served together, both Marines. When all the young guys were going out carousing, Santini was either writing letters or coming up with ways to do things for his wife. Dad said he was one of the few of his buddies still married and all his uncles are still married or widowed. They fall hard, or so the legend goes.”
She shook her head. “Like your father pays attention to what his friend is doing. He’s making that up.”
“Nope. Promise. He was Special Forces and they all live in
Similar Books
