TBT: Leonardo

I guess we could call this book the one that started it all, lol. But really, all four boys came to me at the same time, so I guess I have to say the Santinis are an overwhelming force. I thought with a Santini release coming up, I would feature a few of the previous releases during my Throwback Thursday!

LEONARDO

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Leo Santini is a man who always has a plan. It is the way to live a well-ordered life. He never planned on dealing with the hardheaded physical therapist who is taking care of his friend. He definitely never planned on being so totally infatuated with her.

Maryanne Johnson doesn’t have time for a romance—especially with a military man. Sure, Leo is drop dead sexy, but more than one man in a uniform had hurt her before. Unfortunately, she can’t seem to resist him or his kisses. It doesn’t help that the man is as sweet as he is sexy. Falling for him is easy, but she does her best to keep herself from admitting it to him.

Leo knows she wants to keep things simple but when a Santini is in love nothing will stop him from achieving his goal—even the hardheaded woman he loves.

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“Now, here, take this,” she said as she offered Vince the plastic container of food.

He took it with that drop-dead gorgeous smile—dimples and all. “No problem. That hardly leaves you any, though.”

“Believe me, I don’t need that hanging around my house. Once Tuesday hits, I’ll be gone so much with work, I will end up throwing it away. Or worse, I will eat it all tomorrow on my day off.”

He nodded and headed to the door. Leo said nothing as he followed his brother to the door. Once Vince stepped through the doorway though, Leo shut the door and grabbed her by the wrist pulling her to him, then crowded her up against the door. Before she could tell him to get his hands off her—and she was so totally going to do that, really—he slammed his mouth down on hers.

Her brain fizzled. Just right there, stopped working. She couldn’t seem to do anything but to kiss him back. Every other thought dissolved and the primal instinct to connect took over. Heat bloomed within her, pulsing through her veins. In that one instant she went from sort of frustrated to wanting to tear off his clothes. When he pulled back, they were both breathing heavily.

“Now, just so you know which Santini is really interested.” He swooped in for another quick kiss. “God, you taste good.”

From the need she heard in his voice, she was sure he would kiss her again, but with a sigh, he stepped back.

“Thank you for dinner.” He kept looking at her and she didn’t know what to say. That steady gaze had her heart smacking against her chest. What did you say to a man who fizzled your brain like that?

“Maryanne?”

“What?”

He offered her a gentle smile that almost undid her. “I can’t open the door with you standing in front of it.”

“Oh.” Her face heated as she stepped aside. He opened the door and paused.

“I would love to take you out tomorrow.” She was formulating her excuses, when he continued. “But, my brother is only here for another day. How about next Friday?”

“You’re asking me out?”

She didn’t mean to shout the question but this was bad. Worse, she wanted to say yes, Yes, YES.

Oh, god.

“I thought we should explore this…thing.”

“Thing?” Great. She sounded like an idiot.

“How about we call it breaking even? You made me dinner. I’ll take you out for dinner.”

She should say no. A man like Santini had heartbreak written all over him, but she could only say, “Okay.”

He smiled as if she had given him some kind of gift.

“Good night, Maryanne.”

Then he slipped out the door.

“You need to lock the door, Maryanne,” he said through the door.

“You’re not my keeper.”

But she did lock it.

“Goodnight.”

She said nothing and leaned back against the door. The man was dangerous. Big time dangerous. Like get her into all kinds of trouble dangerous. And dammit, that excited her even more.