Be My Queen Read Online Free PDF

have time to stop by a store for her girdle, but she was sure the other girls would entertain Diego. As long as they didn't tell. Maybe she should just go now. How much would a good girdle cost?
    "No," Abuelito said. "He will pick you up here."
    "Will he?"
    "Yes."
    Lavender laughed. She'd wait an hour and try again.
    She turned and saw a tall, handsome man looking at some polished stones a few shops down. He looked like Diego. He wore a muscle shirt instead of a jacket, and his arms were solid without being huge. Diego's arms had been like that last night through his shirt. He had the same dark blond hair with the same cut. It could be him. Why wouldn't he be here?
    The woman beside him touched his arm and they both laughed. The uncomfortable hardness in Lavender's nether regions disappeared and was replaced by a sick feeling in her gut. The woman was tiny, but not so thin that the wind would whip her away. Her makeup was made to look like she wasn't wearing any at all, but no one was that pretty without help. The man pulled out his wallet. He was buying the woman something.
    Lavender turned her back on the Diego look-alike. She had enough to worry about.
    But what if that was Diego?
    *~*~*
    Diego slipped the little bag and his wallet into his pocket. Jessica thought the necklace was perfect. He hoped Lavender liked it. "Where to next?"
    "Let's go to the end of the pier." Jessica pointed. "If you take her here, she's not going to want to go down by the water, but knowing you, you'll want to see the whole thing."
    Just down the pier, Diego saw the most beautiful girl in the world. He recognized her even though she was looking the other way. How hadn't he seen her before? He took a few steps forward. "Beautiful?"
    She turned. Her eyes brightened, then dulled, as they slipped past him. Oh. "Lavender, this is Patrick's fiancée, Jessica."
    Lavender bit her lip. He closed the distance between them and touched the back to her hand. "Jessica has been showing me around." He smiled down at Lavender. "I guess I should have asked you."
    Lavender turned her palm forward and slid her fingers between his. "I'm working."
    An older gentleman stuck his head out the window. "Is this him?"
    Lavender nodded. The old man looked Diego over. In Spanish he said, " Why not a good, hardworking Latino ?"
    " I don't know ," Diego replied in Spanish, " but I think I'm the luckiest guy in the world ."
    The old man raised his eyebrows and shot questions at Diego. He hadn't spoken Spanish in a while, but surprisingly all the words were there when he needed them. He introduced himself and explained his job, where he lived, who his parents were and where his father worked, where he was taking Lavender tonight, and that he had the best of intentions toward her. He wanted to marry her. The old man laughed, patted his arm, and offered him ice cream.
    Diego sighed in relief. He'd passed the test.
    *~*~*
    Lavender stroked Diego's hand. Diego relaxed, but he didn't give up her fingers. He brushed his lips against her ear. "What flavor should I try?"
    "Let Abuelito decide."
    He did and Abuelito gave him chocolate chip instead of jalapeño, so he must have liked him.
    The woman, Jessica, browsed the nearby booths. Diego called her over and introduced her and Abuelito . He called Abuelito Lavender's grandfather, which he wasn't, but how was Diego supposed to know that with all of Abuelito 's "my granddaughter" this, "my granddaughter" that?
    Abuelito gave Jessica an ice cream cone and Diego paid for it. Jessica said she could pay for her own. Diego said he knew that she could, but this was a small favor for a friend. He would do the same for Patrick or his mother. He asked her to do him the favor of accepting his gift. She gave in. Diego pushed the money toward Abuelito , who tried to give it back. Diego wouldn't take it. That must be some kind of man thing, because Abuelito laughed and picked it up. "Look, my dear, you got a tip."
    Lavender tried not to roll her eyes.