Always Been Mine (25 page)

His comments about her not being able to handle a gun had only sharpened her already ragged emotions.

Alex hugged her tight. “Silly girl. Nothing’s going to happen to me. And don’t worry about the tire. I planned on getting new ones anyway.”

Valerie looked up again. Alex started to open the door. “But you said it yourself,” she sniffed. “He’s dangerous. Now he’s included
you
in this madness.”

“But that’s good, Val.” They walked into the house. Alex took her by the hand to the sofa. “He’s stupid. The more he does the deeper he digs himself. Once we get the restraining order, he’ll be hanging himself the second he decides to do anything else.”

He sat down pulled Valerie onto his lap. Valerie couldn’t help feeling safe in his arms. But she didn’t want him feeling obligated to look after her every minute of the day, especially if it meant putting himself in harms way. She had no doubt he wouldn’t think twice about doing that, and that scared her the most.

Alex could more than hold his own in a fair fight. She wasn’t worried about that. But Bruce didn’t fight fair. She wouldn’t allow it. Couldn’t. “Alex, I was serious when I said you’re not going to be babysitting me. I don’t want you tying up all your time trying to watch me. I’ll be fine.”

She watched his expression grow hard again. It took some effort, but she could see he took a moment before responding. “We’ll talk more about that tomorrow. Right now what I want to know is, what’s this nonsense about going back to your…
Isabel’s
apartment.”

Valerie lifted a shoulder then leaned her forehead against his. “I knew I was getting upset, and I didn’t want you to see me break.”

Alex smiled, deepening his dimples further. She still couldn’t completely wrap her brain around the idea that this amazing man was actually in love with her.

He pulled a strand of her hair behind her ear, his expression suddenly going serious again. “Don’t think just because you’re upset, no matter what the reason is, that the answer is to bail. That’s not how I want things to be with us.”

He leaned over and kissed her softly before speaking again. “We can work anything out. You’re here with me now. To stay.” He kissed her again. “I don’t know about you, but I have no plans on spending another night of life away from you. Not if it can be helped.”

Valerie smiled. From the moment she first met Alex, he’d always had a way of making her melt. She understood now more than ever she never got over him. Nothing felt as perfect as being right there in his arms. “Alright. Never again. I’m sorry.”

Alex scooted her off his lap and onto the sofa laying over her gently. “I don’t want you to be sorry. I want you to be happy…” He ran his hand up the side of her leg making her tremble as only he could. “…and safe…” His hand made its way up the inside of her skirt. Valerie felt how hard he was already as he pressed against her thigh. “…and mine. Always mine, Val.”

***

Things didn’t go exactly as planned the next day. Alex was under the assumption that they could just walk in and ask for the restraining order, but there was a lot more to it. They’d be filing paperwork, lots of it. After that, there would be a hearing the next available day. That wasn’t until the following Wednesday.

With Alex’s patience as short as his fuse, he was not too happy about it. Valerie wanted to just take the paperwork home and bring it back next week, but Alex wasn’t having it. It was bad enough they already had to wait. The sooner they filed the paperwork, the sooner they’d get the hearing. Even then, it wasn’t a sure thing. The judge could rule that it wasn’t necessary. Although Alex couldn’t see that happening, not given the man’s history.

They were out by noon, and Valerie insisted he go back to the restaurant while she prepared herself for the properties she would show later. Alex just didn’t feel comfortable about leaving her side knowing the maniac was out there somewhere watching her. But Valerie was so damn stubborn. She forced him to give in.

“I’ll drop you off at the office, Val. Then pick you up in a few hours.” Alex gripped the steering wheel, still not believing how mulish Valerie was about this. She knew it was dangerous. “But I’m going with you to show the property. I’ll stay out of your way, just keep an eye out.”

Valerie stared out the passenger window, frowning. “Only because I don’t want you wasting any more time driving all the way back to your place to pick up my car. But you’re not going to do this every day. It’s ridiculous. You have a restaurant to run.” She reached over and put her hand in his hand. “Can you please give me a little credit? I am capable of looking out for myself, you know.”

He glanced at her and saw her smirk. “We’re taking things slow, don’t
you
remember?”

“You have your reservations. Not me. I don’t do slow.” He squeezed her hand, and she squeezed back.

They reached her office and Alex watched her until she was safely inside. He glanced around the parking lot. There was no way he’d be comfortable having her drive around alone. The psycho was following her. He’d told her that, damn it.

For a moment, he considered staying put. Being a lookout until she was ready to go. Then he had a thought. He picked up his phone and dialed.

***

Showing properties that afternoon had gone smoothly. As usual, Alex was thoroughly impressed with Valerie’s wit and elegance when interacting with her clients. He kept his distance as promised, but even from afar, she was amazing. There was no way Luke wasn’t still feeling for her. He saw it in his eyes the night before. The reason why he planned to talk to her a bit more about him, then the whole tire thing happened.

Tonight was different. There were new things he needed to get straight with Valerie. Alex wasn’t wasting any time either. He’d get right to the point. But there was one thing he needed to do first. He was waiting on a phone call and he didn’t want to be in the middle of the conversation with Valerie and get interrupted.

She was busy finishing some work on her laptop in the kitchen. Alex stepped outside with the excuse of checking some things on the truck. He really
had
planned to get new tires for his truck. He was having it lifted as well, so, he was outside rounding the truck pretending to examine his tires when his phone rang.

It was the call he was waiting on.

“What happened?”

“Well, it’s gonna take a few days to run a background check on this guy. As extensive as you want it anyway.” Romero said. “But I did get someone that can keep an eye on Valerie. It’s not gonna be cheap, I mean, I’ll cut my share out, but I’m paying this guy by the hour, so, if you want him on her at all times it’s gonna get pricey.”

“I don’t care. I just need your word he’s good. The guy following Valerie has a history of violence. I can’t take any chances.” He glanced back to make sure Valerie was still inside. “Whatever you do, do NOT mention a word about this to Isabel. Valerie will flip.”

Romero assured him the guy was reliable and that his lips were sealed. They discussed it for a few more minutes until he heard his back door open and cut the call.

Valerie was still in her work suit and high heels. She looked good enough to eat. She leaned against the doorway. “You hungry?”

“Funny you should ask.”

She seemed puzzled. Alex chuckled. He’d explain later. “Yeah, actually I’m starving. You wanna order a pizza?”

Her excited expression made him laugh. He couldn’t help kissing her as soon as he reached her. “Go ahead. Just make sure you order enough. You eat as much as I do.”

***

They ate in his front room on the floor in front of the television. Valerie had changed into shorts and one of his T-shirts. Alex loved seeing her in his shirts. He especially loved the smell of her in his shirts later.

After a few slices and going over their plans for the next day, Alex was ready to get down to the business of Luke. The box of pizza sat on the coffee table and Valerie reached for another slice and then sat back down facing Alex, legs crossed in front of her.

“Tell me about this seminar you’re going to.”

Valerie glanced at him and took a swig of her beer. “The weekend after the wedding at that fancy resort on the marina.”

Alex always noticed Valerie would avoid eye contact whenever the conversation made her nervous. She was doing it now. Though she did her best to try to hide her unease, he could see it and it bothered him.

“And you’re going together? You and Luke?” Alex braced himself. He didn’t want to turn this into an argument, but this was her ex-boyfriend they were talking about. One she worked with on a daily basis. Based solely on the way he’d looked at Valerie at the wine tasting, the guy was far from over her.

“No.” Again with the glancing at anything but his eyes. “Well, originally that was the plan. But once I broke things off with him, I offered to give him the ticket back. He said he wanted me to have it.” She looked at him for a second then took another swig of her beer. “He did buy two tickets, and they weren’t cheap. So, we’re both still going, just not together.”

Valerie stood up and grabbed their empty beer bottles from the coffee table. Alex sensed she was getting irritated. That made two of them.

“Nope. He is. I’m not.”

“He told you he was staying the night?” Alex kept his eyes on her as she walked into the kitchen. He wouldn’t put it past Luke to casually mention something like that.

Valerie dropped the bottles in the trash. They crashed loudly as they hit the bottom. She opened the refrigerator. “He reserved a room when he bought the tickets.”

Valerie stared into the refrigerator without saying a word. Alex stalked toward her, his temper pushing with every step. “Why would he get a room if you two weren’t sleeping together?”

Rationally, he knew it shouldn’t matter. This was in her past. But he wanted it straight. What was the point in lying about it, unless she had reason to.

“Then why the room?” He wanted to believe her more than ever. It was hard enough to accept how much time she spent around Luke now. If she’d slept with him, it changed everything.

She finally closed the refrigerator doors and turned to him. “I don’t know, Alex. I guess he assumed we might be sleeping together by then. But I knew things were over between us the same night he gave those tickets to me. I broke things off the very next time I saw him.”

She didn’t avoid his eyes this time, instead looked straight at him. Every muscle in his body tensed up now.

“Sweetheart,” she said, reaching for his hand. “I’d tell you the truth if I had. But things were never that serious between us. I never felt anything for him.” She took his other hand and kissed his knuckles then stared in his eyes again. “I wanted to feel something for him. I really did.”

Alex didn’t want to hear that.

“But I couldn’t. Isabel kept assuring me I would eventually. It just never happened.” She slipped her arms around his waist and leaned her cheek against his chest. Alex couldn’t hold back hugging her as much as he was still feeling on edge. “All I could think about was you, Alex. The entire time I was with him, every embrace, every kiss.”

Alex pulled back. She’d killed it. “Stop, Z. I can barely handle the thought of you going out with that asshole, much less the visual of him touching you.”

Valerie smiled at him, lopsided. “How ‘bout we never talk about this again?”

Alex wasn’t sure about that, but for now he’d had about as much talk of Luke as he could stand. He hugged Valerie, thinking of everything she’d just told him. He still wasn’t too sure she was telling him everything. One thing he was sure of, he definitely had to come up with a way to get her out of that office.