Alex stopped and poured in some soda. “Hell, I’ll sleep in the back if I have to. That bed’s still back there.”
“Is that why you’re here on your day off? To get drunk and pass out in the back?”
Alex stared at his drink. “No, I’m here because if I were home, all I’d be doing is thinking about her.”
“And you’re not now?” Sal straightened up and took a sip of his drink. “Listen. If it were me, I’d talk to her.”
Alex shook his head. “Ever since the tutor thing she’s made it impossible for me to get a hold of her. She won’t take my calls or return any messages.”
“So, go see her at her place.”
Alex stared not even attempting to hide his annoyance. “What do you think will happen, Sal, if I get there and that guy is there?”
Sal seemed to reflect on that for a moment before saying, “Alright, not a good idea. Hmm…” He brought his fist to his mouth. “Let’s think. When’s the next wedding shindig? She’s gotta be there right?”
“Yeah, but that’s not for another few weeks at the rehearsal dinner.”
They threw a few ideas back and forth that would get Alex and Valerie in the same place, but came up with nothing. The biggest issue with whatever they came up with was—what if she brought her new man?
Sal pulled his ringing cell phone out from his holster and answered. “Yeah, he’s here.” He mouthed Angel at Alex. “He wants to know why you’re not answering your damn phone, ass,” he chuckled.
Alex patted his own holster and realized he’d left it in his truck.
“He doesn’t have it on him. Why? You wanna talk to him?” Sal paused then looked up at Alex again. “Yeah, we’re gonna be here. Sure we’ll wait.”
Sal hung up with a smug grin. “Looks like you’rr gonna get your chance to talk to Valerie.”
“When?” Alex squeezed the glass in his hand.
“Right now. Dad wants us to look over the offer for the property next door. She wrote it up already but before she sends it, Dad wants to make sure we’re okay with it. She was going to fax it, but Angel thought it’d be best if she went over it with us instead. He’s been trying to get a hold of you.”
Right now? With a frown, Alex patted his holster again out of habit. If he hadn’t left it in his truck he might’ve had more time to prepare. He had no idea what he was going to say to her, but he damn sure wasn’t going to let her leave without telling her how he felt.
*
As if last night hadn’t been hard enough, Valerie had been a wreck all morning. She’d written up the offer for the property next door to Alex’s family’s restaurant. All she had to do was fax it. They had a fax machine at the restaurant—simple enough. But no nothing was ever that simple. Sarah had called her to tell her Mr. Moreno was requesting she go over it with him.
She’d planned a peaceful Sunday. Rest all day; maybe get some painting done to get her mind off seeing Alex again. Last night had been even harder than seeing him at the shower. She did her best to appear impassive about their chance meeting. She thought Alex bought it, but she had a feeling Luke hadn’t. Alex’s rank departure had been anything but tactful. Her trivial explanation of him as an old friend was squashed when the guys kept going on and on about Bruce’s eye.
Luke hadn’t asked a lot of questions. She knew he wouldn’t—not in front of them, that is. On the way home was a different story. Still, she kept the explanation of her relationship of Alex to a mere sentence: Alex is someone I went out with a long time ago. As for Bruce, she told Luke he was a guy she’d dated more recently who got rude tonight.
Alex of course handled it as he always handled things.
She hadn’t stopped fixating about why Alex had such a strong hold on her still when Sarah called. Sarah assured her Alex wouldn’t be at the Moreno family residence. Even so, her heart raced the whole way there. What if he showed up?
For a moment, she actually thought she was home free. She’d gone over all the specifics, explained the offer in detail, and Alex hadn’t shown up. Then her worst nightmare happened. Mr. Moreno said he’d feel better if she could go over it with his son. She turned to Angel who’d been in and out of the kitchen the entire time and prayed he meant him. In the next moment Angel was on the phone, calling Alex.
Sarah walked over and squeezed her shoulder, which only unnerved her more. She was relieved when Angel hadn’t been able to get a hold of him, although she did wonder what, but mostly who could be keeping him so busy he couldn’t answer his phone. He always kept it handy.
So, when Angel set the phone down after speaking with Sal, to ask if she was okay driving to the restaurant her voice nearly squeaked, “Today?” She quickly cleared her voice and tried again. “Um, well, I wasn’t planning on-”
“They’re both there, Sal and Alex. But they both can’t leave.”
When she didn’t respond just bit her lip, Angel picked up the phone again. “Or I can call him back and tell him to just send Alex over, if that’s more convenient.”
“No!” God no. Angel stared at her, confused. She glanced back at Mr. Moreno and forced a smile. “I mean, it’s easier if we go there. It’s on my way home.”
She’d never survive being in such a private setting with Alex. It would be hard enough seeing him again, but at least in public it was safer. She still didn’t trust herself around him.