A Santini Christmas Read Free

were horrible. At least this one could be said in public.
    “ So, would you like to order or should I bring whatever I feel like bringing you?”
    Papa shook himself and then…a slow smile curled his lips. Dimples appeared and Joey felt the air back up in her lungs. She did her best to suppress the sigh that threatened to escape. He was attractive to begin with but he was lethal with that smile. She was suddenly hot all over.
    “ Whiskey, neat.”
    She nodded and turned to rush back to the bar. Sam was setting up the last of her other order.
    “ Three Buds and whiskey neat for that Papa fellow.”
    For a second, Sam stilled then grabbed his glasses off the shelf. After slipping them on, he peered over her shoulder. “I’ll be damned. Papa Santini, get your lily white ass over here.”
    She heard a laugh and then the man approached from behind. Sam came from around the bar—something he rarely did—and pulled the Marine into a bear hug.
    “ Let me look at you. Lord, I can’t believe you’re already old enough to be a Marine.”
    He laughed. “Mom says the same thing.”
    “ Could we get those drinks?” her customers yelled from the other table.
    She grabbed her tray and headed off to the other table. By the time she returned, Papa and Sam were already exchanging memories of old times.
    “ So, Joey, this here is Stewart Santini. His father and I served together. I’m still trying to find out why he didn’t call me before he came down here.”
    “ I wanted to surprise you. Mom says to tell you that they’ll be down after the holidays and I’m supposed to make sure Thelma is taking it easy.”
    “ She is, thanks to Joey here. Looks after her as if she were her own mother.”
    Sam and Thelma had only one son, who had been killed in action three years earlier. Since her parents were off in some foreign country again saving the world, Joey had become attached to the older couple.
    When Papa or Stewart, or whoever he was, looked at her again, she felt that same weird reaction as earlier. Her body went hot like an electrical spark and she felt breathless. Silly, but nothing she couldn’t handle.
    “ Well, my mother thanks you. Ever since she heard about Thelma’s accident, she’s been worried.”
    “ How are your brothers?” Sam asked.
    Good lord, there were more of them. The thought that there were more of them at home like him was mind-boggling.
    “ All fine. Dave is finishing up at Annapolis next year. Tony and Adam are still in high school.”
    “ Let me get you those drinks.”
    Sam hurried around the bar. Stewart really hadn’t taken his attention away from her since he had looked at her a few moments earlier.
    “ So, Joey has to be short for something.”
    She heard the charm there, and she was honest enough with herself to know it made her want to blush. She just wasn’t stupid enough to fall for it.
    “ Yeah, it is, Stewart .”
    He chuckled. “I should have made sure Sam knew not to call me by my real name.”
    She heard the front door squeak open and a few college students came in. “I’m going to assume you can get your own drink.”
    “ Sure thing, Joey .” He had emphasized her name, rolling his thick northeastern accent over it. She would not admit to anyone but herself that it sent a rush of need coursing through her.
    Wanting distance from her disturbing reaction to the Marine, she hurried off to the college students. It really had been a long freaking day.
     

Chapter Three
     
    Papa watched Joey work the tables as he sipped on his whiskey. It was an easy thing to do. She walked with ease around the entire bar, keeping her patrons happy with a smile. He’d never seen a woman who could smile like she owned the world. Not like that. Every time he saw it, he lost his train of thought.
    He paid no attention to the conversation around him. His friends were in a lively discussion about their night on the town. Well, what little town there was here . He’d lost interest the moment