Happy Monday!!! It’s the day before that LAST Santini book releases. Sure, we will see more of the whole Santini Clan because we still have two Semper Fi books coming up next year. But still, this is the last official Santini Release.
So, today starts the week long contest and every day there are the same prizes, but there is a NEW contest each day. So, you need to come back each day and enter the contest so you can get as many chances to win.
Remember, A Santini Christmas releases tomorrow, but you can get it on preorder at ARE and Kindle. I am loading it to Barnes and Noble today in hopes that it will be available by tomorrow morning.
They said nothing to each other as they walked out of the bar and into the night. It might be close to Christmas, but Jacksonville wasn’t exactly a wintery place. They’d had a bit of a December heat wave of sorts, leaving the air heavier with humidity. The balmy night air refreshed her, at least enough to walk the few steps it took to get to her apartment.
“The answer is no.”
He said nothing as they kept walking a few more steps; the only sound was their feet against the gravel.
Finally, he said, “I didn’t ask anything. Yet.”
She sighed. “I know Thelma means well and I’ve heard her mention the Santinis a time or two. Still, I don’t date. I don’t have time for it.”
Joey sensed more than saw his nod, and then he said, “Doesn’t mean I can’t at least try.”
Lord, a stubborn one. She really didn’t need that right now. She was so close to getting enough money to make the commute back and forth to Greenville. Being distracted by Papa wasn’t a good thing. It was better that she let him know exactly where they stood. When they reached the steps that led to her apartment, she stopped. Turning to face him, she looked him directly in the eye.
“I don’t date. I don’t have time.”
He rocked back on his heels as he studied her. She wondered how much he could see of her feelings in the dim streetlight. As a woman with good reason to be wary of men, she realized she didn’t feel any of her usual anxiety with him. She was relaxed. Well, as relaxed as she could feel with ten thousand butterflies fluttering in her stomach.
That was enough to worry her.
“What makes you think I want to date you?”
His face was completely void of all expression. She snorted, then started laughing. He joined in and the ball of worry that had been building in her stomach loosened.
“Then why did you walk me to my apartment? It’s not like I haven’t done it every night.”
He cocked his head to one side. She didn’t like the way he studied her. It was as if she were some kind of puzzle he wanted to assemble. Joey knew from experience a man like him would not be happy with the end product.
“This isn’t the safest part of Jacksonville to walk around at night by yourself.”
She sighed. “Don’t worry, Santini. I can take care of myself.”
“I bet you can.”
Joey rolled her eyes. “And don’t use that patronizing tone men use with women.”
“I was not using a patronizing tone.”
“Believe me, I know how the handle things if it gets tough.”
Again, he was quiet, then he leaned forward and brushed his thumb over her bottom lip. She couldn’t fight the shiver that stole through her, or the heat it left behind.
“Some day maybe you’ll believe me that you don’t always need to deal with the tough times alone.” Then he dropped his hand. “Go on up the stairs so I can tell Thelma you made it upstairs okay.”
She couldn’t really come up with a response to that, so she turned and did as he suggested. Unlocking the door, she looked down at Santini.
“You can go now.”
It was dark but she could see him smile, and knew those damned dimples were flashing at her. “As soon as you lock the door, I’ll be on my way.”
She didn’t even respond to that. She slipped through the door then shut it behind her.
“Goodnight, Joey,” he said, just loud enough to allow his voice to drift up to her. She didn’t respond. She couldn’t. She thought for sure he had planned on making a play for her, even if he just tried to kiss her. But he didn’t.
And now she wanted to know why—and that bothered her more than anything else.
She pushed away from the door and was about to go jump in the shower when she heard the whistling. And of course, it was The Halls of Montezuma. She rolled her eyes and chuckled to herself.
“Damn Marine.”
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I love the Santini’s and am sad to see their story end.
My favorite holiday memory will forever be the first Christmas after Mini was born. We always had a house full on Christmas Eve with reams of presents for all the ‘adults’ and I think we had something like a dozen people there that night. I ended up upstairs, curled up with the baby on the bed and fell asleep watching Battlestar Galactica. It was just one of those perfect moments and I didn’t give two figs about all the presents, I already had the best one.
So sad to see the series end, but I am looking forward to seeing them pop up in the Semper Fi series! Love the series! Santinis have been awesome!!!
My favorite Holiday memory would be when my Mom gave me something very special so that she and I both had a ring identical. This was so my 2 girls at some point would each have a identical ring that once belonged to my mom and me. My Mom has since passed away unexpectedly and I have given my oldest daughter her ring, my youngest will one day get mine. They will both have identical rings that will hold so many memories of both my Mom and myself.
My favorite holiday memory was spending time with the family growing up, just seeing everyone together before so many of the family passed away and grew apart!!! The love that everyone showed at those times was great and deeply missed!
My favorite holiday memory is the of the first holiday season we shared after getting married trying to blend holiday traditions and all those winter birthdays!
Hmmm, my fav Holiday memory… all that I had with my grandmother! Waking up and seeing her there… helping with breakfast… making cookies and smelling her pumpkin pie bake… oh so much more!
My favorite holiday memory started on our wedding day, December 5th. We had a Christmas-themed wedding because I liked the colors and the church and reception hall (historic theater) would already be decorated, saving us a ton on flowers.
Hubby’s Godmother and favorite uncle gave us their family Christmas tree and we asked each guest to bring an ornament that represented them for our new family tree. So, each year since then, when we bring out the tree and ornaments we are reminded of each family member or friend who is no longer with us. But, they will always be with us during Christmas.
Truly love everything you write. Thank you for the many hours spent enjoying a good book! One of my favorite gifts is book and the time to sit by the fireplace and read it. Happy Holidays to you and yours, Melissa!
I can’t wait to read more of the Santinis.
My favorite holiday memory is sharing a big meal on Christmas Eve and watching the kids open their presents.
Hmmmmm favorite holiday memory…..would probably be the year it was just my daughter & me and she was laying on the ground under the tree she was cutting down and all you could see was her legs & the dog was running around the tree jumping over her legs like she was an obstacle course…we were laughing so much
A favorite holiday memory was when we were kids me and my sister would wake up at the crack of dawn and wake our other siblings and parents up to go open our gifts. my Dad would make this whole production of it. But he loved it just as much as us. Now as adults its just being with the whole family.
My favorite holiday memory was in 2004 when it snowed in Texas and me my son & husband played in the snow!
I have so many favorite holiday memories, but the one that comes to mind would be many years ago before both my grandparents passed away. We always had a HUGE family Christmas at their house with the entire family. Aunts, Uncles, cousins……….it was crazy how many people fit into their home, but we always enjoyed ourselves and made the most of the holiday. I miss them and my Mom has carried on the tradition of the family get together at her house, but as time goes by so many of us have split times with our own families and it has not been the same.
My favorite holiday memories are the one that are now. Being a parent of small children I think make them better. My son is aultistic and does nrot understand what is going on to a point. The only kid I know that does not like to unwrap gifts. But like clock work every year he trims the tree. He loves putting all the stuff on and it and the next day he will take it off and do it all over again. Puts a smile on my face every time.
I think my best Christmas is the best because it’s both my happiest and my saddest. I spent my son’s first Christmas with him in the NICU for a few hours and then had to go home without him. I was so happy to have him and be near him, but he was so sick that I was also sad and stressed. But just the few moments of getting to put him in Christmas PJs and cuddle him were perfect.
I love Joey!
My favorite Christmas memory was the first Christmas that I had with my son.
My favorite holiday memories are the ones I spent making homemade perogies and cabbage rolls with my Grandma for Thanksgiving and Christmas. She has been gone for a few years now, actually died on my mom’s birthday (Nov. 28), so these two holidays are very sad for me anymore. The traditions are now lost since my Grandma never wrote down her recipes, and I cannot pass on the tradition and important part of my childhood with my children, unless I figure out how she made them. One day, I will find a recipe and make it as close as possible, but it will never be the same.
Favorite holiday memory-when my son first believed and realized that Santa visited on christmas eve, that morning he ran out of his room and just stared at the packages under teh tree with such amazement and awe. it was perfect.
Great snippet. These two sound fun.
This is going to be a very intriguing story.
Baking cookies with my children on Christmas eve are some of my favorite memories.
My favorite Christmas memory is going to my friend’s house and celebrating with them since we don’t at my house. We would exchange gifts and play game of quarters 🙂
My favorite holiday memory had to be 20 years ago when my son was born on the 15th so that was my first Christmas as a mother.
One year my mom got me a talking Whinnie The Pooh for Xmas. It was all wrapped up under the tree and I didn’t know what it was yet. One of our cats bumped the box and I heard “mmmm honey”. Needless to say I knew what it was but mom still made me wait until Xmas to open it. lol 🙂
KittyKelly
My fave memory is from my son’s 1st Christmas. We usually put the tree up on Christmas Eve, and after it was done, I took my son in my arms, turned the lights off, so only the Christmas lights were on and sat with him in front of the tree. The look of wonder on his face will always be in my memory. Priceless. He sat and stared at the tree for quite a few minutes.
That’s a tough question. At the moment I’d say my favorite holiday memory is that of my first Holiday as a married woman. There was just something special about sharing it with that special someone. As for the rest, since the passing of my dad quite suddenly two years ago and my beloved dog on Valentine’s Day of this year, every memory has become special. You really do cherish fleeting moments once certain people are no longer with you. So yeah, memories with my dad.
My favorite holiday memories are when my Grandfather was still alive, loved having holidays with him.
Great excerpt, now I really want to know what happens next!
My favorite holiday memories is the one where we visited my grandparents. Most of the time we were by ourselves but that year we traveled to Tennessee to visit them. My grandpa teased us the whole time and filled my stocking with rocks. We laughed for years over me huffing out the door and throwing the rocks in the driveway.
Admiring the Christmas tree after Mum had finished decorating it. She whpped Lux flakes into ‘snow’ and smeared it on each branch, After it dried it looked just like the real thing. Then on went the tinsel and baubles. Magical! The smell of Lux soap still takes me right back to my childhood Christmases.
Enjoying holidays with my in-laws. The kids love visiting their grandparents.
I think my favorite holiday memory would have to be the year that my whole family made homemade fudge. It was my mom, dad, my 3 older brothers and me. We had this huge setup and each of us was working different parts. It was a lot of fun and very messy.
My favorite holiday memory is the year I had a neon bar sign made for my husband and sent him on a scavenger hunt all around his mothers house to find his gift. Our nieces and nephews were all in on it and had a ball sending him in the wrong direction. That was 15 years ago and they still talk about it.
I can’t wait to read this series! 🙂
My favorite holiday memories include spending time with my family and my in-laws.