Valerie couldn’t believe it either. She’d never forget the day she found out about his release. Isabel reminded her constantly to check at least twice a month. He’d taken a plea bargain of three years. If the case had gone to trial and he lost he would’ve been slammed with five to fifteen years for attempted murder.
He didn’t even do the whole year. She was in tears the entire day. Her dad insisted she stay at his place the first few nights. She thought Bruce would have the common sense to stay away from her and any trouble that might get him thrown back in jail, but he seemed determined now to make her life hell.
She squeezed the wheel. If only he’d had the balls to go to trial. Having him locked down for that many years would’ve been so wonderful. She still couldn’t get over how he’d been offered the plea bargain to begin with.
Maybe pepper spray wasn’t enough. She’d look into getting a gun. If she ever found the time, she already put off getting a restraining order this whole week. “I will. I just have to make the time.”
She hung up and thought of the night ahead of her. As if thinking and worrying about how this evening was going to turn out wasn’t enough, she now had to tell Alex about the call.
He’d just stepped out of the shower when she walked in. He wore nothing but a towel around his waist when she walked in the room. No matter how many times Valerie saw his chiseled body she’d never get enough. He walked over to her and planted a breathtaking kiss on her. Immediately, his towel tented and he groaned, kissing her neck.
As much as she could go for a quick one right now and it would definitely calm her nerves, she knew it was late. “Alex, honey, we’re already running late.” She pulled away gently but couldn’t resist kissing his hard chest before taking a step away.
“I know. I’m surprised I beat you home. What happened?”
Valerie rushed to the closet. She didn’t have time to change. She’d just have to dress up the skirt suit she was already wearing with a different pair of shoes and silkier top. Letting her hair down would help too.
“I put more on my plate than I should’ve this morning.”
She glanced over at Alex who was already in his silk boxers, and slipping into slacks.
“I …uh, got a call from Bruce today.”
Alex’s eyes were on her at once. “What did he want?”
“Same thing.” She didn’t want to lie but she was telling him about the call like he’d asked. She didn’t have report it to him verbatim. “Asking when he gets to see me again.”
“What were his exact words?”
Okay, apparently he was expecting it to the letter. “I don’t even remember, Alex, I hung up on him mid-sentence. Only reason I even answered is because he used a restricted number to call me. I was expecting a few calls from clients. I didn’t want to miss them.”
“When did he call?”
“On my way home.”
“And you don’t remember?” His eyebrows furrowed.
Valerie pretended to have to think about it. “He knows I’m with you now. He wanted to make sure I knew that he knew.”
Alex walked toward her. Valerie slipped a shoe on. Why did she bother trying? She knew Alex wouldn’t just drop this. She bent over to slip on the other. Already he stood over her as she stood up straight.
“Why are you being vague, babe?” He sought it out in her eyes. “What did he say exactly?”
*
Valerie would have to understand that when it came to this guy or anyone that might be out to hurt her, Alex needed to know everything. Hell, he wanted to be in on everything about her life no matter what it was. The comment she’d made on the subject of Isabel not having to tell Romero all the details of her past still didn’t sit well, with him. It was almost as if she was trying to tell him something.
He wouldn’t push on that, but this was different. He stood there waiting for a response. They weren’t going anywhere until he got one.
She took an exaggerated deep breath. “He said he knew that I had moved on from Luke to you and asked if I’d penciled him in for next week. I said not if my life depended on it, then…” She bit her lip and glanced away. “He said it just might. He started to say he was watching me and it was just a matter of time but I didn’t let him finish. I hung up.”
Alex went rigid, feeling a slow boil start up inside him. He stared at her for a moment, taking in how fragile she seemed to him all of a sudden. A matter of time? Before they got back together, hearing something like this would’ve simply enraged him. Now, rage wasn’t the only thing that bolted through him. Now there was an unfamiliar sensation coursing through him: Ice cold fear.
Protecting Valerie was his priority now, but he couldn’t be around her twenty-four seven. He knew there were a lot of sick people out there one of them was after the woman he loved. The thought of something happening to her ripped at him like scorching bullets.
“We’re going downtown tomorrow and getting that restraining order. I want this guy locked up the second he tries to contact you.”
Valerie nodded and stepped forward, putting her arms around him. Alex hugged her tightly, wishing he could have her in his arms every moment of the day. He’d know then for sure she’d be safe.
“Don’t worry, Alex. I’ll be fine.”
Alex kissed her head. “Yeah you will. I’ll make sure of it.”
*
The ride to the winery was a bit tense. Alex wanted to know more about Bruce and her relationship with him. Valerie wanted to just drop it. She said she didn’t want to think about it anymore. Alex let it go for now, but he wanted to know more about this guy. Knowledge was power, and he wanted to arm himself with as much of it as he could if he was going to go up against this guy.