Diane (The Town of Pearl 6)

“Oh, I was going to do that before.”

Melissa smiled as she looked from Mark to her sister. “I see why you forgot. Go ahead and go to lunch. Paul should be by in a little while,” Melissa said as she helped to finish up wrapping the lingerie. Diane accepted the credit card from Mark and then returned the card to him after she ran it through the register. When their fingers touched again, he smiled and winked at her.

Melissa was a huge help as she ushered Diane out the door along with Mark.

“Wait, I need my purse and money,” Diane said, and Melissa tossed her the tiny bag.

“You don’t need money, baby, it’s my treat.” He placed his arm around her waist and guided her out the door and across the street. He kept his hand at the center of her back as they continued to walk through town. This was one of his dreams. To walk with Diane, as a couple down Main Street letting everyone know that she belonged to the Santos brothers.

“I don’t know what you’re up to, Mark, but I suggest if this is some kind of joke that you stop right now. I’m not in the mood. I have a lot on my mind and things to do to get ready for Dallas,” she told him.

“Don’t talk about Dallas right now. Just relax and enjoy lunch. I’m not asking for anything more. Right this second,” he added, and the poor thing looked so flustered. Her cheeks were nearly red, she almost lost her footing on the walkway, but that gave him the opportunity to pull her close. He loved the scent of her perfume, the shampoo she used, and how her long brown hair cascaded down her back and over her shoulders. He wanted to undo the braid so he could see the locks flow around her. She was a knockout.

As soon as they made it to Francine’s and opened up the door, he noticed the smiles and of course his two brothers in the back corner of the restaurant, away from the people and the crowds.

Their eyes gave away their emotions, as he pressed his hand against Diane’s back and could feel her hesitate and then tighten up. She was scared of them. He prayed that his brothers didn’t bite her head off.

* * * *

Lucas Santos was hardcore. Out of the service for sixteen months and he still wasn’t used to civilian life. His brother Drake had been out for two years now and he seemed none the better. He hated crowds, he disliked questions, and he always felt on edge. It was part of his PTSS. He especially suffered at night. He needed to talk with Doc again and get his sleep aid medication changed. He didn’t like how it made him feel groggy until almost lunchtime. He could feel how irritable he was even now. There was so much work to get done, and making the clocks with his brother helped to keep his mind clear from the flashbacks.

“When the hell is he going to get here?” Lucas asked as he looked around the restaurant and then outside. He didn’t like hanging out in public and having to talk to people. He did better alone, in the safety of his workshop or even the house on the ranch. This setting made him nervous and extra sensitive.

“He’s probably at the boutique trying to buy something else,” Drake said as he looked at the specials menu.

“I’m getting impatient about seeing her in those things he’s purchased, yet the thought of trying to converse with her and being fearful of saying something stupid is making me feel sick. It really pissed me off to see those guys hovering around her the other day. She’s a beautiful woman. I hope we haven’t lost the opportunity to come clean with her. Plus, she needs looking after. Look what happened the other night with her car. What if Mark wasn’t coming home from one of his jobs and it was someone else?” Lucas said and Drake just mumbled.

Drake was a quiet guy who liked to keep to himself, too, until he met Diane. Lucas on the other hand had a lot of anger and sadness inside of him, and sometimes Lucas wondered if that was why he preferred staying on the ranch and never venturing into town. But then again, since seeing Diane and hanging out with a few of their friends, Drake seemed to come out of that phase, while Lucas had been resistant to coming out for lunch. Lucas was the one who nearly backed out entirely. He wasn’t sure if he was right for Diane. He was hard. He knew that, and wasn’t certain that he could be gentle, never mind provide her with the same love and desire his brothers could.

“Oh shit,” Drake said, and Lucas looked up to where his brother was looking. Sure enough, he felt his own chest tighten and similar words fill his head. Diane and Mark. “How the hell did he get her to go anywhere with him?”

* * * *

Diane was in a complete panic. The entire walk over here to Francine’s she wondered what it would be like to be Mark’s woman. When she thought of him, she immediately thought about Drake and Lucas. But it was hard to focus on her thoughts, never mind walking without losing her balance with Mark’s warm, large hand pressed possessively against her lower back. She felt it clear through to her skin and wished she could feel his hand move lower. The thought made her imagine it against her ass. She was aroused and feeling so damn attracted to him she thought she might start hyperventilating. How the heck was she going to have lunch with him and his brothers?

She tried not to focus on his words, and what he said back at the boutique. Could he really have bought those items for her to wear, and not some other woman? It just didn’t seem possible. It didn’t make sense. She never saw them with other women. Mark was the only Santos to frequent town. He had to between helping Wyatt and Matt with security. He went away often, doing special jobs for the government. At least that was what Sage had told her. Then of course there was that conversation Mark had with Willie about not doing his job protecting her. Could Mark and his brothers simply be trying to act like guardians? Oh God, I feel like such a loser.

As they walked deeper into the restaurant, she stopped short. People waved hello and she waved back trying to focus on them, but her eyes, her body immediately located Drake and Lucas in the restaurant. It was crazy, but she felt their presence.

Drake with his serious demeanor, black crew cut hair, his deep blue eyes that matched Lucas’s, and a body that was perfection. All three men had perfect physiques. She heard they had their own gym at their house on the ranch and they continued to train like active-duty military men. The thought made her heart race faster.

Just as she looked to Lucas, she saw that mean, don’t-fuck-with-me expression he was known for and she gulped. Intimidation was too weak of a word to use to describe Lucas’s expression. Hell, complicated, mean, unapproachable, quiet, scary, all didn’t seem to totally fit either. The man made her stomach quiver.

“There they are, in the corner,” Mark whispered as he placed his hands on her shoulders and walked behind her. She jumped, turning away from Lucas and Drake a moment. Her nipples hardened instantly. She felt as if his touch sent shocks of desire and heat throughout her entire body. Never in her life had she felt anything so strong and so instant, and it frightened her. She felt too much. The thick, long strength of his fingers as they clutched her shoulders and the way the front of his jeans pressed against her ass. She was certain that wasn’t the belt buckle she felt ta

p her spine.

She glanced up toward him and swallowed hard. His expression was firm. He almost looked upset, and when she turned to look up, she locked gazes with Drake. The man looked lethal because of his short-sleeve black shirt, bulging muscles, and the long, deep scar on his arm. He’d hidden the scar his first winter and fall in Pearl but couldn’t in the hot summer months. He also had a slight scar by his eye, but she tried not to stare.

“Diane is joining us for lunch today. I just so happened to be shopping at the boutique, and convinced her to come along.”

“Hello, Diane. It’s nice to see you,” Drake said as he stood up and offered her the seat in the corner. She would be trapped if she sat there. She wanted an escape route if this got too intense or if she felt like she was making a fool of herself.

“Can I sit here? I really can’t stay long but I don’t want to rush you guys,” she added as their expressions changed. Lucas seemed angry but just as quickly as that expression appeared, it disappeared. She quickly sat down.

“Yes, Diane has a busy afternoon and evening ahead of her. She’s leaving for a trip to Keanter and Dallas tomorrow,” Mark stated as he took the seat to the right of her. Now Lucas was on her left and Drake was across from her.

“For how long?” Drake asked in a very low, raspy voice that did a number to her insides. She held his gaze and swallowed hard. The man was gorgeous, scary, sexy, wild. Oh God, help me. What the hell did he just ask?