me MJ.”
Not really a question, just a statement of fact.
“Yeah. You aren’t MJ to me. You’re Maryanne.”
She studied him for a second then her gaze softened. A lump rose in his throat that turned out difficult to swallow. She leaned forward to brush her mouth over his, not closing her eyes the entire time.
“What was that for?” he asked when she finally pulled back.
“For seeing me differently than anyone else does.”
There was so much he wanted to say. She was more than the woman at work or the daughter and sister of Marines. It had only been a month since they met but he knew as sure as he knew he was a Santini that this was the woman for him. He couldn’t imagine going a day without talking to her. It was a first for him.
Leo knew if he told her, she would freak. Instead, he set those thoughts aside. He gave her a smile and said, “Let’s go.”
* * * *
By the time they reached the Africa Live section, Maryanne was thoroughly charmed. Again. As she watched him get some feed for the birds, she couldn’t help but smile. He was like a big kid truthfully. Granted, he was still a sexy man and the looks he got from some of the women today had proven it if she had any doubts. Still, he had thrown himself into the day with such vigor you would think he had never been to a zoo before.
He came back to her and flashing that smile, which turned her insides to mush.
“What?” he asked when she kept staring at him.
“Nothing. You seem to be enjoying yourself.”
He poured a little of the feed into her hands. “What’s not to love? Pretty day, beautiful woman, and animals.”
Maryanne shook her head. “That sounds wrong.”
He laughed and tossed some of the food. “Yeah it does, but it doesn’t matter. I’m feeling too good.”
“What made you think of bringing me here?”
He shrugged and she thought she noticed his cheeks turning ruddy. “I thought it would be fun.”
“It was a good idea. I don’t do enough in San Antonio to enjoy it.”
“It was one thing Mom insisted on. Dad didn’t always get stationed in the best places, but Mom always made sure we got out and enjoyed it.”
“I’ve lived here for three years and never made it back to the zoo. I came with my grandmother when I was in middle school.”
“What was it like being raised by your grandmother?”
She hesitated. She was never comfortable talking about her childhood.
“It was different, that’s for sure. Dad was there…but not really. You know how that is.”
He nodded. “I can just imagine for someone who is on the fast track like your father. I think it’s one reason Vince has never settled down.”
“Your brother’s on the fast track, is he?”
Leo shrugged. “Probably. He made O-5 early. And, well, Vince sort of has some unrequited love thing going on.”
She smiled. “Really. Somehow he doesn’t look like he’s suffering that much.”
“Looks can be deceiving.”
The tone in his voice caught her attention. She turned to look at him, but he was smiling as if nothing was wrong. For most of her life, Maryanne had shied away from serious personal discussions. In her family, they were frowned upon. As a child, she understood that discussions like that led to lies or arguments. Her father might be a kick ass Marine but he didn’t handle messy personal issues very well.
“I understand that.”
“Yeah, I bet you can.”
Of course, he could see her side of it. Sure, life as a military brat had benefits but there just as many sacrifices.
“Dad always wanted to pretend everything was okay, like we were a normal family.” Not wanting to ruin their day, she shook herself free of those thoughts. “But my grandmother was great. She was my salvation in a household of men. Taught me how to cook. She also taught me to stand up for myself, which I am sure you can understand is important in a Marine household.”
He smiled. “Well, I like you the way you are, so I’m glad she
Not really a question, just a statement of fact.
“Yeah. You aren’t MJ to me. You’re Maryanne.”
She studied him for a second then her gaze softened. A lump rose in his throat that turned out difficult to swallow. She leaned forward to brush her mouth over his, not closing her eyes the entire time.
“What was that for?” he asked when she finally pulled back.
“For seeing me differently than anyone else does.”
There was so much he wanted to say. She was more than the woman at work or the daughter and sister of Marines. It had only been a month since they met but he knew as sure as he knew he was a Santini that this was the woman for him. He couldn’t imagine going a day without talking to her. It was a first for him.
Leo knew if he told her, she would freak. Instead, he set those thoughts aside. He gave her a smile and said, “Let’s go.”
* * * *
By the time they reached the Africa Live section, Maryanne was thoroughly charmed. Again. As she watched him get some feed for the birds, she couldn’t help but smile. He was like a big kid truthfully. Granted, he was still a sexy man and the looks he got from some of the women today had proven it if she had any doubts. Still, he had thrown himself into the day with such vigor you would think he had never been to a zoo before.
He came back to her and flashing that smile, which turned her insides to mush.
“What?” he asked when she kept staring at him.
“Nothing. You seem to be enjoying yourself.”
He poured a little of the feed into her hands. “What’s not to love? Pretty day, beautiful woman, and animals.”
Maryanne shook her head. “That sounds wrong.”
He laughed and tossed some of the food. “Yeah it does, but it doesn’t matter. I’m feeling too good.”
“What made you think of bringing me here?”
He shrugged and she thought she noticed his cheeks turning ruddy. “I thought it would be fun.”
“It was a good idea. I don’t do enough in San Antonio to enjoy it.”
“It was one thing Mom insisted on. Dad didn’t always get stationed in the best places, but Mom always made sure we got out and enjoyed it.”
“I’ve lived here for three years and never made it back to the zoo. I came with my grandmother when I was in middle school.”
“What was it like being raised by your grandmother?”
She hesitated. She was never comfortable talking about her childhood.
“It was different, that’s for sure. Dad was there…but not really. You know how that is.”
He nodded. “I can just imagine for someone who is on the fast track like your father. I think it’s one reason Vince has never settled down.”
“Your brother’s on the fast track, is he?”
Leo shrugged. “Probably. He made O-5 early. And, well, Vince sort of has some unrequited love thing going on.”
She smiled. “Really. Somehow he doesn’t look like he’s suffering that much.”
“Looks can be deceiving.”
The tone in his voice caught her attention. She turned to look at him, but he was smiling as if nothing was wrong. For most of her life, Maryanne had shied away from serious personal discussions. In her family, they were frowned upon. As a child, she understood that discussions like that led to lies or arguments. Her father might be a kick ass Marine but he didn’t handle messy personal issues very well.
“I understand that.”
“Yeah, I bet you can.”
Of course, he could see her side of it. Sure, life as a military brat had benefits but there just as many sacrifices.
“Dad always wanted to pretend everything was okay, like we were a normal family.” Not wanting to ruin their day, she shook herself free of those thoughts. “But my grandmother was great. She was my salvation in a household of men. Taught me how to cook. She also taught me to stand up for myself, which I am sure you can understand is important in a Marine household.”
He smiled. “Well, I like you the way you are, so I’m glad she
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