A Santini's Heart (The Santinis Book 10) by Melissa Schroeder Page B

hadn’t been the same since.
    “I take it shopping went well?”
    She smiled. “Yes. Fantastic.”
    “I hope you weren’t too rude to her.”
    Those gorgeous soft brown eyes widened. “What makes you think I would ever be rude to my future daughter-in-law?”
    “Now, Marcella, don’t get your heart set on her marrying Carlos. You don’t even know his intentions.”
    Granted, Tony was pretty sure his son was ready to take the dive, but Carlos and Tia did not need someone butting in, especially not a Santini mother. They always thought they were helping their children; but sometimes, they just needed to let things lie. You couldn’t tell one of them that, though, especially in the throes of planning the next wedding.
    “I know his intentions and now I know hers.”
    “And those would be?”
    She sat down on the couch next to him. “She’s halfway in love with him. I don’t think she realized that he hadn’t dated anyone for the last couple of years, or that she might be the reason for it. They are going to make beautiful babies.”
    He rolled his eyes. “Woman, I told you to leave it be.”
    She smiled. “At least I know that next weekend, with all that romance and the dress I just helped Tia pick out, Carlos is going to have a hard time resisting.”
    Before he could respond to that, her cell rang with Joey’s ringtone.
    “Hey, Joey. I just got back.”
    Marcella leaned over and kissed his cheek, then she bounced off the couch as she relayed the same information to his sister-in-law. With a long sigh, he shook his head. There was nothing you could avoid once the Santini mothers started planning—and Joey was their ringleader.
    There was part of Tony that wanted to warn his son. There was a good chance Carlos already knew his mother was plotting the death of his single status; and truth was, once a Santini met his match, there was just no way to avoid it.
    He glanced into the kitchen where Marcella paced and chatted. His heart turned over and he smiled. Fate might deal Santinis the destiny of their Curse, but it wasn’t a bad one to have.

CHAPTER EIGHT
    B y the time Tia arrived home, she was worn out. She spent her days working with horses and patients. Some days she could barely walk to her bed and collapse. There wasn’t a day that went by that she did not use muscles most people rarely overworked. One afternoon with Marcella had left her mind spinning and her body not far behind.
    Not that she was complaining. She had enjoyed herself. It had reminded her of the days when she and her mother would run off for some girl time. It had been a long time. Of course, it had made her miss her mom even more. So, she had called, chatted about the benefit, shopping, and the ranch. By the time she hung up, she was feeling better.
    After throwing a week’s worth of clothes in the wash, she decided to take a bath. With a glass of wine nearby, she sunk into the hot, scented water, and sighed. Just as her body started to relax, her phone vibrated. Tia dried her hands off, then grabbed her phone.
    Carlos.
    Of course. He had said to call him, but she was trying to avoid temptation. If she didn’t answer, there was a good chance he would end up knocking on her door. And that would end badly, because she was naked in the bathtub and had a whole lot of need built up for him inside of her.
    “Where have you been?” he demanded.
    She said nothing for a long second. She wasn’t accustomed to answering to anyone—not anymore. “Well, it’s nice to hear from you too, Carlos.”
    There was a beat of silence, then a sigh. “Sorry. I just got worried about you.”
    “Really? I’m twenty-eight and have had full control over my life for a while. I can take care of myself, Carlos.”
    He didn’t respond right away, and she knew it was because he was planning another line of attack. Her brother had been the same way. Plan A didn’t work. Make another plan. It was one of the things that had driven her crazy about Adrian, and