The Santinis: Marco, Book 2 Read Online Free Page B

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    “You should really ask her out,” Leo said as he took a sip of beer. They had returned hours before. Dinner had been…nice. Alana had been a bit reluctant to join into the chatting until Leo had loosened her up.  
    “She seemed more comfortable with you.”
    He chuckled. “Yeah, because I’m not a threat.”
    “What does that mean?”
    “She’s shy around guys. The Santinis aren’t that easy to take even for the most outgoing woman. And with all of us there at once, we are kind of loud. I have a feeling that your lady is accustomed to quiet times.”
    He grunted but said nothing as he took another sip of beer. He knew she was shy, but she hadn’t been so quiet with him. Their interactions had always been pleasant until that morning when he made an ass out of himself.
    Leo apparently wasn’t ready to let it go. “Make sure not to wait too long. That’s one woman who won’t last long.”
    “She doesn’t date much.”
    “Could be that the right guy hasn’t asked her out.”
    He thought about that for a moment or two then nodded. “You’re probably right.”
    “Maryanne isn’t a woman who would be considered shy, but I did have to convince her to go out with me.”
    Marco snorted as he thought about his larger than life but petite sister-in-law. “After she punched you in the nose.”
    “No, she hit me in the eye.” He sighed. “It’s when I started falling for her.”
    He chuckled. “You’re warped.”
    “And I’m gonna be a daddy. Lord.” He shook his head. “We wanted to try right off, because you know we don’t know how long I’ll last at teaching. They might put me back out in the field and that will mean more deployments. Still it happened fast.”
    “You’re getting kind of old, so good decision.”
    “Yeah, at least I’m not old and cranky, like Vince.”
    “I heard that, jackass,” Vince yelled out the window.
    Leo ignored Vince because once he got going on a subject he would not shut up. “Still, I think you should take a chance. She’s a sweetie and since you’re so hung up on her, it might be a good idea.”
    He opened his mouth but Vince interrupted him. “I now know why I’m not married. Apparently it turns you into someone who talks about feelings and babies and shit. Can you two shut up or go somewhere. I need sleep.”
    He shared a smile with Leo who nodded. Marco counted off with his fingers then they both banged on the wall. The sofa was located against the wall. Vince fell on the floor with a thump then a string of curse words filled the air. Both of them started laughing.
    Then, they heard him stomping down the hall at them. He appeared in the doorway in his boxers and T-shirt. He’d had to put on his glasses and damn he looked pissed. It made them laugh even harder. He looked like some kind of deranged serial killer. Even with his hair as short as it was, it was already smushed upside his head.
    “I’m going to kill you both.”
    He came after them and they took off on a run.  
    “You’re getting old, Vince, so I am pretty sure you won’t be able to catch them,” Gianni yelled after them.
    He had just reached Marco and leapt at him, taking them both down so they were rolling over the grass in front of Alana’s house. Vince straddled him and had his arm lifted to smack him against the head when the lights came on. Both of them blinked against the brightness trying to focus. Then the door opened.
    Shit .
    “What is going on?” Alana asked, concern lacing her voice.  
    Marco looked over and his tongue stuck to the top of his mouth. Damn, the woman was almost naked. She was wearing a soft t-shirt that stopped at her waist and some low riding shorts. It gave him enough of a view of her belly to make his brain go blank.
    “My brothers are making fools of themselves,” Leo said with a smile.  
    Vince rolled to his feet and offered a hand for Marco. He took it and stood beside him.
    “That still doesn’t tell me what’s going on.”
    Now