Diane [The Town of Pearl 6] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) (2 page)

She was feeling angry when suddenly she saw headlights heading her way.

It was a car, maybe a sports car, but she couldn’t tell as the rain continued to come down hard.

The person got out and it was a man. A very tall man and she felt her chests tighten.

Shit, shit, shit.

“Diane?”

She swung her head up to look and nearly fell over at the sight of Mark Santos. “What the hell are you doing out this late at night?” He asked, approaching swiftly as the rain began to pick up.

“Hey, well, I kind of had a flat tire.”

“I can see that. Damn, you’re drenched. Get back into the Jeep and I’ll take care of this,” he told her as he pulled off his jacket, a raincoat-like designer thing and placed it over her shoulders.

“No, it’s okay. I got it. I’m almost done,” she said as she stood up.

His eyes seemed to zero in on her chest, and she turned away and looked down.
Son of a bitch, the dress is now see-through and my nipples are hard as could be. Of course they are. Of all the freaking people to pull up when I’m drenched with a see-through dress it has to be one of the men I lust for. Fuck.

She felt the jacket go over her shoulders.

“Get into the Jeep now,” he said in a tone that meant business.

She turned toward him, looking straight up into his dark eyes as the rain dripped from his crew cut hair, over his firm, distinguished-looking nose, sexy lips, and muscular jaw. His brown eyes looked amazing.

“Now, Diane,” he said, teeth clenched.

Why the hell is he angry? I’m the one with the flat tire.

She swallowed hard and began to turn toward the driver side wondering how she was supposed to get in with the jack still up when she heard the tire bounce. Like some muscle man he had the tire off the back of the Jeep and then took the flat tire and placed it into the back of the Jeep. She watched his muscles flex, his large hands still appearing big even against the thick all-weather tire. Her pussy clenched, her nipples hardened, and she shivered but wouldn’t get into the Jeep. He lowered the jack after he added the lug nuts back to the tire. He placed the things back into the Jeep and she opened the Jeep door.

He approached, drenched and looking sexier than any fantasy she ever had. His white button-down shirt was see-through, too. She had no idea he had a tattoo on his shoulder and chest.

She pulled off his jacket and handed it to him.

“Sorry it’s all wet. Thank you so much for helping me.”

He leaned into the Jeep, his hands braced on the upper part of the doorframe.

He looked into her eyes and then down at her legs and again toward her chest. She covered herself with her arm.

“What are you doing out this late?” he asked her.

“I was in Keanter with friends.”

“Until after one o’clock in the morning, and all alone?”

“I was with them.”

“Where are they now?”

“Back at the dance hall.”

“Doing what?”

“Hooking up.”

His eyes widened and then a dark, angry expression filled his eyes. She swallowed hard.

“You didn’t want to stay and ‘hook up,’ too?” he asked with an attitude.

She shook her head. Why did she feel like he was reprimanding her and that he would tell her brothers-in-law and they would do the same when she saw them?

Why did his question deflate her whole attraction to the man and make her feel like some wild teenager who was busted by her father? Hell, he was not her father. She didn’t think of him in that way at all. She felt her temper flare.

“Well, thank you again. I could have handled it.”

“You shouldn’t be out late at night like this all by yourself.”

“That wasn’t the plan. I was the designated driver.”

“You left your friends there?”

“They were hooking up and told me to leave. They met some guys and were getting rides.”

“And you didn’t meet any guys who wanted to hook up with?” he asked, again sounding pissed off. Why was he asking her these questions?

“It’s none of your business, Mark. I’m a big girl and can handle myself. I wasn’t interested in anyone there.”

He looked like he was biting the inside of his cheek. “I’m glad to hear that. Be careful driving home. I’ll follow you to your place to make sure you get there okay.”

“That’s not necessary,” she said, and he raised one eyebrow at her.

God, he’s so damn sexy. Holy shit, even my panties are wet and it has nothing to do with the rain.

She licked her lower lip and then swallowed.

“Can I close the door now?” she asked.

He looked her over again, and this time she felt as if he touched her with his eyes. It was incredible. Once he walked away and she watched him through the side mirror as he got into his sports car, she released a long sigh.

She had a mix of emotions as she started the jeep and proceeded to drive home. Mark seemed angry with her and spoke to her as if she were some naïve child. Like she planned on having a flat fucking tire on the way home. Really?

Then he was all sexy and suave, seemed sort of caring in a hard, cold way, but it was there. The man’s personality was indescribable. She continued to shake as she drove the remainder of the way home. Mark followed her as he said he would and he waited until she was inside her house until he drove off.

She leaned against the door inside her home and closed her eyes.

I could have been more brazen and invited him in. I could have been so mature and acted so experienced as I told him I could put his wet clothes in the dryer. Maybe even asked him to join me in a hot shower? Yeah, right. I am an inexperienced virgin with trust issues and an inability to project any form of assertiveness or expression of desire publically. I’m a scaredy-cat, and unless I’m forced to do something, I opt out.

She pushed off the door and headed upstairs. As she pulled off her clothes and glanced at the mirror in her bedroom, she took a deep breath and released it.

“Someday I’ll feel beautiful and find the right man or men to love me. I’ll have what Melissa has. Love, compassion, and a family.”

She took in the sight of her curves and how she kept her pussy so nicely shaven just in case she had the guts to lose her virginity once and for all. But even as she had gone out tonight and danced with the cowboys who were mighty fine looking, she didn’t feel that connection, or powerful desire she wanted to feel.

Yet, as Mark helped her with the tire, appeared out of nowhere and spoke to her so firmly and with authority, her body spasmed, her pussy throbbed and the thought of asking him into her home flashed through her mind, arousing her more than the touches from those cowboys at the dance hall.
I’m obsessed, but because I’m so stupid, I’ll never have a chance with Mark or his brothers. Never.

* * * *

Mark and Drake Santos stood by the concession stand. The park was crowded with so many residents of Pearl. He spotted Melissa Mercury pushing her son in a stroller. Melissa’s three husbands, Hank, Paul, and Willie, were walking along with her.

“Do you see Diane?” Drake asked as his brother continued to look at the scene before him.

Mark swallowed hard. He hadn’t caught sight of Diane at all and they had been there for over an hour. He told his brothers about finding her on the side of the road the other night, drenched with her see-through dress on. He also told them about her night at the dance hall and about hooking up. It pissed him off. He would have loved to have pulled her into his arms and kissed her breathless on the side of the road. But God knows he wouldn’t have been able to stop himself from having all of her. Hell, he imagined taking her in the rain up against the side of her Jeep. He thought about getting out of his car outside her home and seeing if she would welcome him in.

“Do you see her? What’s wrong with you?”

“No, I don’t see her,” Mark said and continued to watch Diane’s sister with her men. It was a sight that tugged at his heart. Two years ago he never would have thought that watching three other men care for their loving woman while pushing their child in a stroller was the greatest thing. But now things were different. He had his brothers back safe from the service, he was working for the government less and less, and they were finally coming to terms with their attraction to Diane, and the need to start making their feelings known.

That was easier said than done. He traveled often for work. The government job wasn’t supposed to be full time anymore. Mark was sick of the gruesome crimes, dealing with the evil criminal minds, and mostly, being away from his family. He wanted to set roots. That was why he talked his brothers into moving out here to Pearl. They needed to slow down and enjoy life after years of living on the edge and in the midst of danger. After coming to Pearl to help with a case and meeting Diane, he knew the time had come.

He thought about Lucas. He was his biggest concern now. Despite the man’s need to remain so closed up and lost in thought even as he hand carved the wooden clocks he made, their bond as brothers was still there. Meeting Diane had changed all of them, and now that they were on the same page and making the necessary changes in their lives, it was time to take action.

How the hell could they just stand by and watch her go out to dance halls, perhaps hook up with other men, when she was meant for them. There was still that concern that her shy act was just that, an act. But now that they wasted nearly a full year watching her, they pretty much knew she really was shy. More importantly, she didn’t date at all.

“Oh shit. I see her, and I don’t like what I’m seeing,” Drake whispered. Mark’s heart immediately started to race, and when he spotted Diane, their woman, she was walking with a group of young men from town. All single, all interested in Diane.

Her long brown hair was pulled to one side, and she was wearing an off-the-shoulder white blouse with a slim-fitting skirt that flared right above her knees. The tan mid-calf cowgirl boots were embellished with sparkles along the trim that matched the trim on her skirt and her blouse. From here Mark could see she was wearing one of those sexy halter tops beneath the blouse, yet the buttons were too high to expose the abundant amount of cleavage their woman had.

She was shy, reserved, and classy, but most importantly, she didn’t date or at least that they knew of. He was glad that his brother Lucas wasn’t here. The man would tell them to forget about Diane and just let him live his life alone.

Things were going to change, and that would be sooner than later.

“If that asshole Colin puts his hand on her waist that close to her ass again, I’m going over there,” Drake whispered. Mark felt the same way, but they were at least five years older than those men, a good nine almost ten years older than Diane’s twenty-six years of age. Fighting potential competition off in front of her was not exactly going to win over a woman like Diane. She was built with curves in all the right places. She was gorgeous, a real looker, but seemed oblivious to it. Every single guy in town and out who met her hit on her and flirted. Mark and his brothers knew they needed to do things differently, or they could lose their chance to make her their woman.

“She’s headed this way,” Drake stated.

“Good, let’s get her away from those assholes. See if she’d like to join us for some lemonade or something.”

“Good afternoon, Diane. You look amazing.” They both turned to hear Sage say to Diane. Dale and Virgo gave them a tap to their shoulders and they turned to greet their friends.

“What’s going on?” Virgo asked Mark and then nodded his head toward Sage and Diane who were smiling and talking.

“Not much,” Drake said, and then they turned toward Diane and Sage.

“Hey guys, what’s going on? Is Lucas here, too?” Sage asked and then kissed them on the cheek hello.

“No, he’s working on some things at the house,” Drake responded and then looked at Diane.

“How are you doing today, Diane?” Mark asked and moved closer to her. The guys she had been walking with remained a few feet away as if they were just waiting to resume where they left off with Diane. Well, that wasn’t happening.

“I’m good, and how are you two?” She smiled and then shyly looked away toward Sage.

“We’re walking over to grab some drinks. Do you want to come along?” Sage asked them.

“Definitely.”

“How about you guys?” Virgo asked Mark and Drake.

“Sounds good,” Drake replied, and then they all headed over to the lemonade stand.

Mark and Drake immediately took position on either side of Diane. Every chance they had to bump her, rub against her, inhale her perfume, or ask her a question, they took advantage of. Mark couldn’t believe how nervous, excited, and just so damn attracted he was to her.

“Did you get the other tires checked out on the Jeep?” Mark asked, trying to make conversation.

Diane looked up toward him to answer his question. “After you called Willie, he had the entire jeep checked over,” she replied with a little bit of attitude. Was she angry with him for calling Willie? Well, she shouldn’t be. He was looking out for her safety.