Always Been Mine

by Elizabeth Reyes

  To his relief, the only person Valerie walked with was her roommate Isabel. After all this time, he’d actually lost sleep the last couple of nights over the possibility of her showing up with another guy. He wasn’t even sure why. It had been so long it only made sense that she would be seeing someone now. It really shouldn’t bother him. He was long over her.

  Alex had only met Isabel a few times. She was much taller than Valerie and attractive in an exotic, yet inhibited way, but a bit too uptight for his taste.

  Romero took one look at her. “Not my type.”

  Eric laughed. “Since when do you have standards?”

  “I’m a businessman now, Eric. I have a reputation to uphold.” Romero glanced back in Isabel’s direction. “Plus she looks soft. I need a woman who can handle all this.”

  Romero pointed to himself with both hands from the top of his head to his feet and smugly smiled.

  “You wouldn’t be able to handle her. Trust me.” Alex said, still staring at Valerie.

  He couldn’t take his eyes off of her, not that he was putting any effort into it. He watched as she and Sarah laughed about something. Angel left the girls and walked toward Alex.

  “Shots all around,” Romero pulled out a bottle of tequila and four shot glasses.

  Angel laughed. “Are you crazy? It’s not even three.”

  Alex finally unglued his eyes from Valerie. “None for me.”

  “Nah,” Romero shook his head and continued to pour the shots. “This is horseshit. I had an entire weekend of Vegas planned. At least give me this.”

  Alex rolled his eyes. The moment Angel told those two knuckleheads that he wanted them to be his best men, they started planning the bachelor party. A week later Angel announced he didn’t want a bachelor party and flat out refused to talk about why. Just said it wasn’t happening, period. Romero was still bent about it.

  “Dude, Angel has to be presentable at least for a few hours.” Eric said.

  Eric had always been the level headed one of Angel’s two childhood best friends. A good thing, too, because he was now attached to Alex’s little sister, Sofia. Not that anyone would ever be good enough for his younger sister. Still, he was glad that between the two friends Eric was the one Sofia had fallen for. It would’ve driven Alex crazy had it been crude and outspoken Romero.

  Alex’s dad stopped by making his rounds. Alex clapped him on the shoulder. His dad saw the shot glasses. “One more,” He ordered.

  Romero smiled. “Help me out here, Mr. Moreno, these two don’t want any.”

  Alex’s dad glanced at both Alex and Angel who were now both gazing in the girls’ direction again. “Grow a pair!”

  Romero and Eric both laughed. Alex and Angel exchanged discomfited glances. They were going to have to take at least one shot. Whatever their old man wanted, he got.

  They all held their shot glasses up and toasted to Sarah and Angel. Alex grimaced, sucking on a lime slice, and turned just in time to see the girls walking toward them. Valerie looked so unbelievably good to him, it almost felt like he was watching her move in slow motion. She never once even glanced in his direction. Sofia was the first to address them. “Are you guys having fun?” She hugged her dad and he kissed her on the forehead.

  “Keep your brothers in line, Sofie.” Her dad walked away and immediately started a conversation with the group at the table nearest to the bar.

  “What? My brothers are not behaving?” Sofia teased.

  Alex could hardly concentrate. His eyes again roamed every inch of Valerie.

  “Your brothers are being wusses.” Romero stated, already setting up more shots.

  “I’ll take one,” Valerie said.

  Even her voice sounded more womanly than he remembered, sultrier.

  “Valerie, no,” Isabel warned.

  Romero frowned. “Who brought the nark?”

  “Pardon me?” Isabel glared at Romero.

  Romero stopped pouring, backed up and did an elaborate bow bringing his arm

  over his head and down to his feet. “Pardon me?”

  Normally Alex would have laughed along with everyone else but he was too distracted trying to figure out why Valerie was still avoiding his eyes.

  Romero brought out another shot glass. “You in, Nark?”

  Alex took his eyes off Valerie just long enough to glance at Isabel who seemed to be as annoyed as only Romero could annoy women. “Easy, Ramon.”

  Valerie smiled. “Yes, please pour her one.”

  Alex squeezed the edge of the bar. He had to get a hold of himself. This was the same Valerie he’d known all along. The Valerie with whom he’d carried on and laughed with such ease for years. The one he’d had earth shattering sex with many, many times. He gulped hard. His Valerie.

  Romero looked pleased and pulled out another shot glass. “Coming right up.”

  Alex was determined to not take his eyes off her until she looked at him and then the mariachis walked in. Everyone turned to watch the ensemble stroll in, playing loud and proud.

  For a moment, his eyes met Valerie’s and he thought he saw something in them. Maybe he was searching too hard, but for a split second, he thought he saw alarm in her big dark eyes. Just when he’d not only finally made eye contact but was getting some kind of emotion out of her, she turned away to face the musicians.

  *

  Valerie concentrated hard on not wavering and stared at the mariachi band. She could feel Alex’s eyes on her and her body heated. Her heart hadn’t stopped hammering from the moment she walked in and spotted him. She’d expected some excitement when she saw him but this was a bit much. She’d been happy he was busy with the guys at the bar because she couldn’t bear to even make eye contact. She thought the shot of tequila might help settle her nerves. It hadn’t.

  How was it that every time she saw him he seemed even bigger than the last? He was without a doubt the most devastating man she’d ever met. What he did to her without so much as saying a word, even after all this, time was absurd. She wasn’t even facing him now, and she could still feel his incredible presence weighing heavily on her back.

  People began clinking their glasses. Valerie clutched her small purse and forced a smile when Sarah and Angel kissed.

  She almost jumped when she felt his face at her ear and his hot body against her back. “You gonna say hello, Z?”

  The suggestive murmur in such an otherwise ordinary question infuriated her as much as it spiked her senses. He’d only ever referred to her as Z when he was agitated with her for whatever reason. It was a football thing. They all called each other by their last names on the team and he’d imposed it on her but only when he was mad. He didn’t sound mad now. He sounded… amused?

  That was just like him. He was probably enjoying seeing her squirm. She wouldn’t let him have the upper hand. Closing her eyes for a moment, she took a deep breath and then turned to face him with a smile. “Hello, Alex.”

  “So, did I pour that for nothing?” Romero pointed at the shot he’d put out for Isabel.

  Valerie took advantage to glance away from Alex’s penetrating eyes. “Romero, this is my roommate Isabel. Isabel this is Romero.”

  Isabel softened her glare. “I thought it was Ramon?”

  Valerie felt Alex’s big hand slip into hers and his thumb caressed her knuckles. It took everything in her power not to tremble.

  “It’s Romero.” He said flatly and pushed the shot glass toward Isabel.

  Isabel gave Valerie an exasperated look but reached for the shot glass anyway. She would deal with getting scolded later. She had more blaring things to deal with now.

  She licked her teeth to make sure no lipstick was on them before she spoke again, and felt Alex squeeze her hand. His eyes watched her every move.

  Her full attention was back on Alex. He was incredible, as usual. His loose dress shirt did nothing to conceal his hard chest and bulging muscles. It was impossible not to take it all in, so she admitted, “You look good.”


  “Thank you. You look amazing.” His dark eyes stroked over her. “I’ve missed you.”

  She gulped. Really? Was that all it took? Just hours ago she was convinced she was over him and she now felt ready to swoon over three little words. Could she be more pathetic?

  His fingers were still playing with her hand and it completely unnerved her. She thought about what she and Isabel had gone over in the car all the way there. Play it cool. Indifference is the key. You’re no longer interested, haven’t been in over a year. She’d laughed at Isabel’s unnecessary worrying. Now she was irritated at herself for not having taken the preparation more seriously. Before she could recover from his remarks, he threw yet another nerve dagger at her.

  “Have you missed me?” The intensity in his eyes was exactly as she remembered. It hadn’t lessened at all. If anything, it was even more acute than ever.

  He stood so close to her now she could smell the hint of tequila and lime on his breath, feel the tension in his body. Her phone rang. She couldn’t have been more grateful for the timing. Alex was still waiting for a response. She reached for her purse and fished her phone out. It was Luke.

  “I gotta take this. Luke?”

  Alex’s eyebrow shot up.

  She began to walk away, when Alex’s grip on her hand tightened.

  “Valerie,” Luke sounded a bit anxious. “I’m sorry to be calling. I know you said you’d be at a party today. I won’t keep you long. I just need to know if you have a key to the Lemon Ridge property, the warehouse specifically. Trinity took my only spare and I can’t find mine.”

  Valerie had a hell of a time focusing on what Luke was saying. He’d spoken much too fast and Alex’s eyes had been on her, eyebrows slightly furrowed the entire time. She’d gotten the gist of what Luke had said and cleared her throat. “Yes, I do. You need them now?”

  “No, tomorrow.” She heard the relief in Luke’s voice. “I can pick them up in the morning if you want. You don’t have to come into the office.”

  “No, that’s okay I was planning on going in for a few hours anyway.”

  Luke thanked her and as promised, didn’t keep her on the phone. The moment she hung up Alex spoke up.

  “Luke?”

  She smirked and lifted a shoulder, offering no explanation. Alex was never one to hide his possessiveness. Something that she wasn’t ashamed to admit she’d found exciting at times. But she wasn’t getting pulled back in. Not this time. She made her decision long ago when she decided to finally give up on Alex and move on with her life.

  Alex didn’t push, didn’t say anything for a moment. His eyes were so piercing. Her stronger, more self-assured act was beginning to wane.

  “I hear you’re working on your broker’s license now. Didn’t you just get your real estate license?”

  Valerie smiled, glad for the safe subject. “It’s been almost a year, Alex. But I have to be an agent for at least two years. I have another year to go. You know me. I’m starting to get my ducks in a row so as soon as that two year mark hits, I’m on it.”

  “Yeah, I know you. And I’ve no doubt you’ll get it and run with it.”

  He flashed that beautiful smile of his. The dimples alone should be illegal. The way his smile enhanced his already incredible features was just so unfair. Valerie stood firmly, not wanting him to see how just one smile from him nearly crushed her resolve. She cleared her throat again.

  “So, how have you been? I hear the restaurant is doing great.”

  His eyes had been on her lips the entire time she spoke. She kept her chin up, pretending not to notice. Except her eyes betrayed her and she couldn’t look away when he licked his bottom lip. She gulped hard and glanced back at his eyes. He’d caught her looking and his lips slowly curved up on one side. The dimples appeared again, taunting her.

  “Yeah, it keeps me busy. Not much time for anything else these days.”

  Valerie almost rolled her eyes and tried hard not to frown. She didn’t want him to get the idea that she still cared. No matter how busy he got she knew he found time for all the female attention.

  “So, what else have you been up to, besides real estate?” His thumb caressed the outside of her hand gently. Valerie nearly lost her train of thought. Somehow, she managed to stay poised. Alex had never even tried to disguise the hunger in his eyes when he gazed at her. She’d always loved that about him, but at the moment she wished he’d stop. She was trying so hard to remain collected.

  She shrugged casually. “I work a lot, too. The market’s been really hot lately. Writing up offers and showing properties takes up most of my time. It’s a good thing I got into it when I did, because I had no choice but to learn fast. It’s a piece of cake now, just time consuming.”

  Alex seemed to hang on her every word.

  “I’m not surprised, Val. You’ve always been so determined.” He glanced around “Can we talk somewhere more private?”

  Her heart sped up. She’d thought about the possibility of Alex being his usual forward self. He certainly wasn’t wasting time but even with all the preparing she’d done for this moment she didn’t feel ready.

  Apparently, it was a rhetorical question. Ready or not, Alex didn’t wait for an answer. They were already moving through the crowd and he held her hand tightly in his. The moment they were around the corner and out of the canopy area, where they were keeping all the boxes of soda and water bottles, he pulled her to him and kissed her. At first gently, holding her face in his big hands, as his tongue traced her lips slowly.

  Valerie’s legs almost gave but she didn’t resist. She couldn’t. God, how she’d missed his kisses. She welcomed his tongue and kissed him back, to hell with the strong woman act.

  When he felt her eagerness, he moaned and sucked her tongue with a hunger that matched what she’d seen in his eyes earlier. They kissed without restraint for a few lingering moments until Valerie managed to pull away long enough to catch her breath, her thoughts.

  He gazed in her eyes, breathing hard. “I’m sorry, sweetheart. It’s been too long. I just couldn’t wait another moment.”

  For a fleeting moment, he’d managed to daze her, but Valerie regained her composure, her wits. This was what he always did. She couldn’t start this all over again. She owed it to her mangled heart to stay away from Alex for good.

  She pulled away from him and stepped back. “I can’t do this, Alex.”

  “Do what?”

  “Me and you.”

  His eyes furrowed again and he took a step forward. “Is there someone else?”

  She stared at him wondering what he’d think about the fact that she couldn’t even bring herself to sleep with someone else since she’d last been with him, let alone start up a relationship. The kiss made her realize just how much he still affected her. One more sweetheart out of him and she’d be tangling in his sheets tonight for sure. She had to stop this now.

  “Actually, yes.”

  Alex stopped cold. “There is?”

  She nodded, holding her chin up, doing her best to appear convincing. Her only attempt to be with someone else had turned out to be such a disaster. But Alex didn’t have to know that.

  “How long?” His expression was a mixture of anger and disappointment. He worked his chiseled jaw as he waited for her response.

  She knew whatever attraction he had for her, even if only physical, she probably just killed. She’d always known her involvement with another man would be the end for them. He’d never tolerate it. But it was for the best and she stood her ground. “Not very long, a couple weeks maybe.”

  Angel walked around the canopy area and stopped when he saw them facing off.

  “Sorry, I just need to grab one of these.” He pointed at the boxes of bottled water. “I’ll get it and leave you two-”

  “Nah, were done here.” Alex’s grave eyes never looked away from Valerie. “I’m happy for you, Val.” She took in his wonderfully masculine scent one last time as he walked by her toward Angel. �
��Need anything else?”

  Angel picked up the box of waters and glanced around. “Yeah, grab one of those crates of champagne, will ya?”

  Valerie stood there even after both Alex and Angel had walked back into the party. The hot tears burned in her eyes but she brushed them away, knowing she’d done the right thing. Letting Alex Moreno and the heartache that inevitably followed back in her life was the last thing she needed right now.

  She dreaded walking back in the party and having to see him all night. Turned out her apprehension was for nothing. He’d apparently left and never came back. Valerie tried to enjoy the rest of the shower.

  She couldn’t believe it was finally over. Valerie had been in love with this man since she was in high school. She’d only admitted it to herself a couple years ago, though. It suddenly made sense why no matter how long he disappeared, or how lame his excuses were, she was always so willing to work things out. He always had a way of melting her heart, and she craved him like she’d never craved another man in her life. But seeing him with another woman had done something to her. It broke her in a way she never wanted to be broken again.

  Coming here today, she never imagined she’d leave feeling a hollowness in her heart that topped all the heartaches in her past. She was proud of herself for not falling for him all over again, but something had died inside her today. Seeing him again had been the final test and she’d done it. Finally, she killed that frail but stubborn, bit of hope that lingered for years. She just never figured doing so would hurt so damn much.

  CHAPTER 2

  The next morning, Valerie woke up with a raging fever. She’d been that way as long as she could remember. It went as far back as when she was a little girl. The most memorable time being when a dog had killed her cat and she cried all night. Her dad rushed her to urgent care the next morning because her fever was so high. The doctors attributed it to dehydration. Valerie knew that this time, the tequila added to it. She had more than a few more shots after Alex left the party last night.