CHAPTER 52

AN AFTERNOON FILLED WITH CONVERSATIONS

Dianna was sitting with Davis and Stella in front of the firepit, lazily talking to them about what they'd do to their hair at the party later that night, when Tatiana approached them.

"So? Which of the dresses was your favorite?" she joyfully asked Dianna, sitting on a chair beside her.

Dianna looked at Davis and Stella, confused, then back at Tatiana. "Which dresses... for what?"

Tatiana frowned. "For Emma. Didn't she show you the pictures? I took her to our house and we picked some dresses. She liked two of them and said she'd ask for your opinion".

Dianna squirmed on the chair, looking around, realizing that it had been some time since Emma was there. "She didn't say anything to me".

Tatiana pouted, looking around too, "We separated a little over half an hour ago and she told me she'd come here and show you the photos of the dresses, and then she'd try them on again to show you".

Dianna stared at Tatiana, suspicious, and she had the same face. Davis and Stella were lost, glancing at each other.

"I haven't seen the new boy either" Dianna stated, annoyed, to Tatiana, and she nodded.

"That's because Pablo is at our house. Helping with the decor, supposedly".

Dianna sighed, getting up from the chair, "Would you excuse me for a moment".

She walked fast to her dad's house, knowing very well that 'Pablito' was way too cute to not mean trouble. And if Emma was anything like her father, she would look for trouble. She arrived less than three minutes later, anxious, and she thought about where would a freshman girl from college make out with a cute guy that was supposed to be working. So she immediately walked to the pool house, because obviously there would be no one there on a cold day like that.

She wasn't even too near to the place, and she heard breaths. She was praying to God that they were only from kissing. And she felt like a true stepmom when she walked back a few steps and casually called Pablo, so that it wouldn't be too awkward for Emma.

"Pablo? Where are you? Hello?" Dianna said, loudly, from a distance, pretending that she was just arriving at the backyard, so that Emma would have time to put her clothes back on, if necessary.

A breathless Pablo came from inside the pool house, a lot quicker than Dianna thought, and she thanked the heavens for that. He wasn't putting any t-shirt back on, or pants. Unless he was extremely fast.

"Señorita Veiler", Pablo anxiously answered, with a hint of blurred lipstick on his lips, "What can I do for you?" he asked, in spanish.

"Tatiana… Señora Veiler needs you back at the inn. Like, right now" she answered, bossy, staring at him until she was sure he left.

Dianna walked back to the big door that led to the backyard, and stayed there, leaning on the door frame. Not even two minutes later, Emma joyfully appeared, and was shocked when she saw Dianna there.

"You do realize that my dad is paying his hours, right?" Dianna had to tease, but she was a little annoyed. Emma wasn't a teenager anymore, but Jason would definitely hate to know what was going on between her and the Uruguayan boy hired by Dianna's father.

Emma tried to look naive, but she gave up in a couple of seconds, because Dianna raised an eyebrow. It wouldn't work with her.

"I couldn't help it. He's too cute. And foreign" she simply said, combing her hair with her fingers and cleaning her blurred lipstick.

Dianna smirked. "Yes, he is. I hope that you didn't keep him too long, though" Dianna teased again, raising both eyebrows now.

Emma smirked. "Don't worry. Just a few minutes".

Dianna continued to stare. "He's young, Emma. All he needs are a couple of minutes".

Emma stared, then laughed, and Dianna had to laugh too.

"Nope" Emma said, smiling. "Just some kisses. Hands, too" she joked.

"Oh God" Dianna put her hand on her chest, walking inside the house. "Ok, stop. You're still a kid. Please, spare me the details". She was feeling old and was glad that Jason wasn't listening to any of this.

Emma chuckled, and happily walked inside the house, quickly changing the subject. She was in a great mood, all of a sudden.

"Can you help me pick between two of Tatiana's dresses? One is like, more romantic, and the other one has more of a-"

"If the other one is sluttier, you know my answer" Dianna interrupted with a gesture.

Emma sighed, following her. "It's not. I mean, it's a little sexier-"

"The romantic one" Dianna insisted, walking with her to Tatiana's bedroom and closet. The closet was huge.

Emma sighed. "I swear it's not slutty. Just look" she held the dress that was separated, joyfully smiling, and the other one, more romantic, too. And Dianna frowned.

"You're right, it's not slutty" Dianna concluded, looking at both the dresses, that Emma kept holding next to her. "You don't have the boobs for it, though", she said, pointing at the sexier one.

Emma was offended. "Yes, I do. It looks great, ok?" Then she took the dress to the bathroom and tried it on, coming back and posing proudly in front of Dianna.

Dianna analyzed, pouting, with her hands on her waist. Then she nodded. "Ok, you're right, it looks good. Not slutty" she concluded, and Emma smiled, victorious.

"Great. So this is the dress" Emma stated.

Dianna frowned. "You didn't even try the other one. If you already preferred this one, why did you want my opinion?"

Emma shrugged. "Well… you're always, you know, all stylish, and I wanted a second opinion".

"Oh" Dianna said, feeling honored. "Ok. Thanks", she smiled at Emma, and she smiled back.

They made their way out of the closet, with Emma bringing the chosen dress with her.

And Dianna was relieved, because obviously it was a dress made to show a lot of cleavage. She knew that because Tatiana wore it at a party that Dianna attended too. But, fortunately for her, Emma really didn't have the boobs for it, but in a good way. So, the dress looked a bit sexier, but still very elegant, and covered everything important. Or else, Dianna would have to use her skills to convince Emma that the dress was ugly as hell. But it was a beautiful dress in a blush color, that would show only Emma's shoulders and some collarbone, and the length was almost at her knee. Jason would be relieved, too. That is, if he didn't find out that Emma was just making out with the Uruguayan boy that afternoon.

"Hey. Just don't forget to use protection" Dianna teased Emma, right when they were walking out of the house, and Emma laughed of her joke.

Dianna was joking, sure, but she meant what she said. Just in case.

"Look who couldn't stay away from us" Jason joyfully said to Dianna and Emma as soon as they arrived back at the inn.

Dianna frowned, then saw Blackburn approaching her, behind Jason.

"Oh my, you came" Dianna joyfully said, giving him a hug. Blackburn was still a bit pale and had a slight yellow bruise on his eye, but other than that he looked great.

"Well, to be honest, I decided to come last minute, and took a flight last night almost at midnight. I just kept thinking about missing out on all the fun with you guys and how I'd never forgive myself for that" he said, happy, tapping Jason's back.

Dianna smiled, affectionate. "You look great. I'm glad you've recovered from the shot".

Blackburn nodded, and Brock approached him with a can of beer, because he was always a kiss ass. "I'm glad you're recovering, too. And Davis", Blackburn said, serious, opening the can.

Dianna smirked, thinking about how hard that night in captivity must have been for Blackburn. He was beat up after getting shot. "We are. Are you staying until Monday?"

"Yep" he answered, eagerly drinking the beer, after almost two weeks without drinking any alcohol because of his antibiotics. "I think I'm on the same flight back than the guys. You too?"

"I'm going back only on Tuesday" she explained.

"Me too" Jason stated, looking at Dianna.

"Oh" Dianna didn't know that, and looked at Blackburn, then at him. "That's nice. I thought you'd go back on Monday".

"No" Jason told them, sipping his beer, "I bought my plane tickets to get back on the same flight as you, remember? I told you".

Dianna was confused. "I thought you had canceled those. And bought new ones" she said, and Blackburn quickly pretended to be called by someone, leaving them alone.

Jason raised his shoulders, avoiding eye contact. "No... I had mine and Mikey's. Just bought a new one for Emma". He placed his empty can at a small table and crossed his arms.

Dianna kept quiet, avoiding eye contact too. "I got a form to transfer from Bravo" she suddenly said, without thinking.

Jason gasped, and turned to her, anxious. "What? Did you hand it to Lindell?"

"No" she shook her head, looking down. "I couldn't decide if I was going to ask for another Seal team or request transfer to work with the Rangers".

"Why would you do that?" Jason asked, exasperated, coming closer, "I never asked you to".

Dianna slightly shrugged. "You'd never ask me that. But I know you'd feel awkward and grumpy if you'd need to see me every time you were called on an op".

"I would" he bluntly said, staring at her. "At first. But I'd eventually snap out of it. Bravo's your family too, now", he pointed around them, where the guys, the girls, Emma and Mikey were all happily talking to Freddy, Gustavo and Tatiana".

Dianna gave Jason a crooked smile. "That's nice. But Bravo was your family first, so I'd never-" Dianna suddenly turned to hear Freddy saying her name to the big group. "Oh God" she quickly ran to where they were, because she knew what he was talking about.

"...And I was sitting there on the stairs of our house with her, and she was crying with a broken nose, saying it was more painful than she thought it'd be" Freddy was loudly telling the group, "and she was swearing to me that she didn't get into a catfight or something. She said she'd never lose a catfight" Freddy was chuckling and proudly pointing at Dianna, who was walking fast to where he was, with Jason following her. The group was laughing and loving his stories.

Gustavo looked at Freddy, suspicious, "I still don't buy it. I think it was a bar fight" he said, turning to look at Dianna, and the group was looking at her, suspicious, too.

"I told you" Dianna gestured to them, "I fell. It just happened to be at the party where I was. But I tripped and fell hard and broke my nose a little" she solemnly stated, then touched her nose, now with a tiny bump, broken again. "And like I said, I'd never lose a cat fight" she cockily added, and the guys and Jason nodded, smiling proud.

But still, nobody was believing her version of the story of how she broke her nose the first time, not even Jason and Tatiana. And Freddy wasn't finished.

"And to be honest, when I heard you crying at 3AM, coming from that party, I almost woke up your mother, because I thought you were just crying over boys again" he said, chuckling, and glancing at Dianna, who was still with her hand on her nose, "or better said, this guy" Freddy dramatically pointed at Gustavo with his can of beer, chuckling, and the entire group looked at Gustavo, who seemed surprised and then was blushing. Dianna was looking embarrassed and Jason's face shut down. Freddy continued, oblivious to their reaction, "That time I truly regretted not waking up your mother to listen to your description of the events that led you to a broken heart. Because you were drunk, eh".

"Oh, come on, dad, believe me, I cried over a lot of boys, you just happened to witness one of the times" Dianna quickly said, sweating, and Gustavo was staring at her, a little proud of being one of the guys that made Dianna cry.

"Maybe. But I remember just that one time" Freddy mumbled, very audibly for Gustavo and Jason, and sipped his beer. Tatiana decided that her husband had enough alcohol for that afternoon, and should save some drunk talk for the night.

"Well, would you look at the time" Tatiana loudly interrupted, taking Freddy by his shoulder and guiding him to the side, "I bet you guys would like to rest before the party, huh? We should rest too, then we'll get ready" she kept guiding Freddy away from the group, "We'll see all of you at 8 then? 8PM, of course" she nervously added, glancing at Dianna, and the group nodded, waving goodbye.

A silence could be heard around the fire pit, and Gustavo knew he wasn't between friends at that moment, but he couldn't help it, his curiosity won. "When was that?"

Dianna squirmed, gesturing as if it was nothing. "Oh, that time you hooked up with that other girl at that Halloween party at Ana's. Can't remember her name. The slutty one".

Gustavo nodded, remembering. "Oh. Yes. That. Sorry" he awkwardly said, and Jason didn't know if he stayed nearby or left. He was definitely feeling like a third wheel, and he was hating it.

"Oh, that's ok. We weren't together" Dianna quickly said, awkward, then she decided to make herself scarce. "So, guys. I think I'll go take a rest and get ready for the party, too" she told the group, and the girls were standing up, saying the same, because they knew that it would take the guys half an hour to get ready, and almost two hours for them, depending on the case.

"Yes, I'd like to put my feet up before wearing my heels" Stella wisely said, and the girls nodded, agreeing. The guys and Gustavo followed the lead, and made their way inside the inn.

"Ex-boyfriend of yours, huh?" Jason asked, not even trying to hide his jealousy, pointing with his head at Gustavo, who was already close to the glass door.

"Not really" Dianna anxiously said, turning to him, "I mean, yes we dated, kind of. We were like an 'item' in high school. Not really like serious or anything, just normal high school drama, mostly".

Jason pouted. "I dated Alana in high school. Then I married her".

Dianna didn't know that. "Oh. Really?" she said, surprised. "So were you dating her since high school?"

"Yeah" Jason said, suspicious about her surprise. "We married young".

Dianna was thinking if it would be too rude to ask if Alana was pregnant with Emma, but she quickly did the math and realized that she wasn't. "That's nice" she sincerely said, a bit envious. "I definitely never thought about marrying Gustavo. At all" she chuckled, and Jason smiled and looked down, a little more relaxed.

They kept quiet, and Dianna glanced at him. "You almost never talk about Alana with me".

Jason shrugged. "I have no problem in talking about her. Just thought you wouldn't be interested".

"I am" Dianna said, coming closer, "I mean. You can tell me things about her, if you want to. She was a big part of your life, I don't want you to feel like you can't tell me something because it involves her. It doesn't bother me, and it's nice sometimes. For instance, I'd never think of you as someone who marries their high school sweetheart", she smirked.

Jason squirmed. "Why not? I mean, maybe I'm a romantic guy" he cockily said, with his hands on his hips.

Dianna didn't know what was so romantic about finally marrying the girl he was dating for years, but she was envious of them. "Well, I do envy you. Finding love so young".

Jason nodded. "That's true".

"On the other hand, I'd never be anywhere near where I am professionally if I married young. Maybe yes, but probably not" she stated, bluntly, and turned to Jason, with her arms crossed. "You're lucky that Alana was so supportive. A lot of women would want their husband to spend more time at home with her and the kids".

"Alana was great, definitely" Jason admitted, looking at the fire pit, pensive.

"Well. You chose right" Dianna said, joyful, "and I'm glad, or else you wouldn't be Bravo One".

He turned to her, smiling. "I probably wouldn't, would I?", he said coming closer and placing his hands on her waist under her jacket.

"And I really like Bravo One" Dianna said, looking up, still with her arms crossed, and not moving an inch.

"U-hum. I'm glad" he said, looking at her face, serious, and slightly pressing his hands on her waist.

"I'll go get ready" she finally said, after a few seconds, but not moving. "Will you get ready here on do you want to bring your things to my bedroom?"

He was about to say he would definitely go to her bedroom, but he knew that Dianna wouldn't want to do anything too loud, and she'd mostly be doing her makeup, hair and things like that, that women do. "No, that's ok. I'll stay here so you can get ready in peace".

"Oh" Dianna thought he'd want to have some alone time with her, because they still had more than three hours before the party. But then she saw his sleepy face and knew he probably was dying to get some sleep, and would never admit that. And she was a bit tired too, it would be nice to get some rest before the party. She smiled.

"Ok. I'll see you later, then?" Dianna said, giving Jason a tender kiss on the cheek. She walked a few steps, then remembered, "Oh, tell the girls there will be heaters outside, so it won't be too cold, ok?"

Jason nodded, and added, with a naughty smile, "It won't be cold, no".

Dianna was still mentally fanning herself from the heat of Jason's stare and smile, when she walked inside her dad's house.

"I liked him" Freddy casually said, in spanish, while sitting on his sofa, near the fireplace. He was facing her, obviously waiting for her to come back, and Dianna made her way to him.

"I'm glad" Dianna stated, smiling, answering in spanish. "He's a good guy, dad. Seriously".

"You'd never introduce him to me if he wasn't" Freddy agreed, gesturing for Dianna to sit on the sofa across him. He was serious. "His kids are great, too".

Dianna nodded, smiling. "Yes. They're adorable".

Freddy nodded, looking down. "I know what it's like to be a widower, Dianna" he said, with a sad face, "and I just want to make sure that you won't give up what you want just because he already had a life".

Dianna squirmed, surprised. "What do you mean? Because he has kids?" she asked, and he nodded, serious. She continued, "But you know, I don't even know if I want kids yet, I mean, if it eventually happens-"

"Dianna" Freddy interrupted her, stern, "I know you'd be a great mother. And you never said that you don't want kids" he combed his hair with his hand, anxious. "You'll never be fully prepared, believe me. But you can't be with someone who is already completely over that phase in life".

"But, Jason's not that much older than me. He's, like, Daniel's age" she said, annoyed.

"True", he admitted, nodding. He glanced at her again, then stood up. "Just make sure you're on the same page, then"

Dianna swallowed. "Maybe I'm just meant to be a stepmom" she said, when her father was walking away. "I mean, most of the guys I could date now are the divorced ones with kids, anyways, right?"

"Right" he said, smirking affectionate at her. "Like I said, just make sure, Dianna".

.