Vicente

By Melissa Schroeder

I’m the last Santini standing.

All my brothers have lost their damned minds and fallen for the Santini Curse. That’s one thing I don’t have to worry about. I already met the love of my life but she was my best friend’s girl.

Julianna is my dream girl and no woman has even come close to her in comparison.

Only now she’s free and we are finally living in the same place. But she says I’m a reminder of her past, and that is some place she doesn’t want to go. I can’t blame her. That old buddy of mine was an abusive jerk–something I never knew.

But with one kiss, I melt her resistance, and soon, I talk her into more than one kiss. She tells me she doesn’t believe in happily ever after anymore, but I’m determined to prove to Jules I can give it to her.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Bryant Street Publishing
• Release date: Nov 21, 2023
• ISBN: 9781094466378

Melissa Schroeder

From an early age, USA Today Bestselling author Melissa loved to read. First, it was the books her mother read to her including her two favorites, Winnie the Pooh and the Beatrix Potter books. She cut her preteen teeth on Trixie Belden and read and reviewed To Kill a Mockingbird in middle school. It wasn’t until she was in college that she tried to write her first stories, which were full of angst and pain, and really not that fun to read or write. After trying several different genres, she found romance in a Linda Howard book. Since her first published book, Grace Under Pressure, Mel has had over 60 short stories, novellas, and novels published. She has written in genres ranging from historical to contemporary to futuristic and has worked with 8 publishers although she handles most of her publishing herself. She is best known for her Harmless and Santini series. After years of following her military husband around the country and world, Mel happily lives with her family in horse and wine country in Northern Virginia.

Book preview

1

Vince Santini fell in love for the first and only time in his life thanks to getting hit in the face with a locker door. He didn’t even remember where he was going or what he was doing. He just remembered turning to hurry out of school and walking straight into steel. He fell back, smacking his head on the tiled floor. When he opened his eyes, his world was spinning.

Oh, I’m so sorry, a girl said. She was leaning over him, her dark brown eyes filled with worry, her red curls tumbling over her shoulder. I didn’t see you coming.

He shook his head trying to clear it and found himself face to face with a titan-haired goddess. And she kept putting her hands on him. Jesus. If she didn’t stop, he was going to embarrass himself. He could smell her. Some kind of mixture of baby powder and lust. Although, the lust might have been on his part.

Then she stopped. Vince? Vince Santini?

He nodded then winced. Damn.

She laughed and offered him a hand. You don’t remember me. It’s Julianna Andrews, from Twenty-nine Palms. You know, the seventh grade, Mrs. Gillepse’s Algebra?

Then it clicked—the gangly girl, taller than most, so skinny…always with a smile. Yeah, Jules. It had been more than three years since he’d seen her and Jules had definitely filled out. He let her help him up and shook his head trying to clear it.

You live here now?

She nodded. Dad’s an instructor. We moved in a month ago.

Julianna, I see you met my best friend, Vince, Mike Callahan said as he walked up and slipped his arm around her shoulders. I told you about Julianna, didn’t I, Vince?

He nodded. I didn’t make the connection. We were at Twenty-nine Palms together. Of course, I called her Jules.

Yeah, well, Mike doesn’t like that. She bent down to help him pick up the books he’d dropped. I thought it might be you he talked about. I mean how many Santini families are there, especially with four boys, but you never know.

Once he had all his books and papers in his arms, Mike smiled. We were going to get a burger, you up for it?

He shook his head. Naw, you go ahead. I’ve got some studying to do.

Mike chuckled. Vince is kind of an egghead, but then, he’ll probably get into Annapolis. See ya, later.

They turned to walk away and Jules smiled back over her shoulder at him. It was great to see you again.

He watched as his best friend walked out of the school with the girl of his dreams.

Almost 18 years later.

Vicente, are you there? his mother asked him. He was sitting in the back of his parents SUV daydreaming.

Great instincts, Marine.

Yeah, just sort of dozed off back here.

She sighed. I thought you two would help me. You will help me pick flowers, both of you.

His father gave his mother an indulgent smile and followed her out of the SUV. That’s the way it was for Santinis. Hard as nails military men, always done in by a woman. And he was about to come face to face with the one who always tied him in knots for the first time in fifteen years.

***

JULES WANTED TO SCREAM. Worse, she wanted to do harm to an inanimate object. The one thing about running her nursery was that she had a lot of freedom. Unfortunately, she also had to handle the computer work.

There was a knock at the door and through the glass she saw Joey Santini waving at her. Immediately, Jules’ heart lightened. Since starting her business six months earlier, Mrs. Santini had been a godsend, suggesting her to friends and even giving her advice about advertising.

She waved the older woman into her office and stood. Mrs. Santini, I didn’t know you were coming by today.

She hugged her and it felt good. With her parents back in California, Jules was pretty much on her own. Mrs. Santini had taken her under her wing and had checked on her from time to time.

Well, the whole family’s coming in. Marco is bringing Alana for us to meet, since we’ve only talked on the phone, and that skypy thing. I wanted to get some arrangements and flowers for the house. Oh, and Gee just got engaged.

Oh, my. Little Gee is getting married? Now I do feel old.

You? I’m about to be a grandmother.

She looked at the woman she had known for over twenty years. You haven’t aged a bit, Mrs. Santini.

I told you to call me Joey.

Babe, did you say you wanted tulips? They’re a little expensive, Mr. Santini said from behind her.

Yes, I think we can afford some tulips. They are Kianna’s favorite from what Gee says and I want to give them to her.

He grumbled something but went off to do her bidding. It never failed to amaze her how all the Santini men did whatever Joey wanted. There was a healthy dose of fear among all of them.

You’re a rock star, you know that?

She shook her head. What do you mean?

That man will do anything to make you happy.

Joey laughed. That’s a Santini. I’m sure you’ll see it all in action tomorrow night.

For a second, her brain didn’t comprehend. Wait. What?

I want you there. The boys would love to see you.

Only Joey Santini would call four hulking military men ‘boys’ and make them sound like they were sweet little innocents. Of course, in Joey’s eyes, they were all sweet and innocent.

That’s really sweet of you, but I have a lot of work to do.

I didn’t say what time and I doubt you have work to do on a Saturday night.

Jules narrowed her eyes. Joey, quit trying to be all innocent like you don’t know what you’re doing.

Joey made a face. I want you there. Can’t you do it for me?

She shook her head. You should be ashamed of yourself.

"There is nothing shameful about this. I would like you to see the boys