Alex glanced down at Valerie, who slept soundly next to him. As usual, he couldn’t gaze at her without instantly admiring everything about her. Her soft blond hair spilled delicately over his pillow. He smirked, knowing Romero would certainly call him a pu**y for even thinking it, but that pillowcase her beautiful head rested on—he’d likely not wash it now until the scent of Valerie had faded.
Then there was that stubborn little brow that even as she slept arched just so. How many times had those delicate brows said so much in just a movement—that she was furious at him, excited, aroused, or just very, very content. As she was now.
He reached for the small envelope on his nightstand. It was full of photos Sofie had dropped off earlier. He’d conveniently used them as excuse to go out and find Valerie tonight.
As expected, they’d both had a few laughs going through them. Alex didn’t know Sofie had so many old photos of the two of them. He pulled one out and stifled a chuckle so he wouldn’t wake Valerie.
The next photo took his breath away. It was of Valerie, so young and sweet, before all their drama. She sat in a booth at his family’s restaurant, smiling beautifully for the camera. He stared at it for a moment, stared at her striking big brown eyes, eyes he’d stared deeply into countless times and he’d never get enough of. Finally, he flipped to the next one, again refraining from laughing. This one was taken that same day, but in it, he sat next to her, smiling just as big. It’d only been a few years, and he couldn’t get over how young and innocent—naïve—they both looked. Both of them were oblivious—had no clue what was about to begin that day.
Alex had heard of Valerie from her cousin Sarah, who back then had recently started dating his brother Angel. Sarah had told him about Valerie being a “fan” of his for years since he and his brothers had been on the football team and on the popular side all through high school. At the time, he’d been a freshmen in college, and Valerie was still a senior in high school like Sarah and Angel. Alex had expected to meet a young, timid, and sweet girl he’d make squirm with his flirting as he’d done so easily when Angel introduced him to Sarah. He’d expected someone he could tease a little for his own amusement and then be on his way.
Instead, she’d been so impressively undaunted by him and his flirtatious attempts to unnerve her, even shot back with her own playfulness, he hadn’t been able to get enough of her. So he asked her out on the spot. And ever since, he still couldn’t get enough of her.
Alex leaned back against the headboard, staring at the photo of them that felt like a lifetime ago now. Just like when Sofie first showed it to him, he was unable to wipe the smile off his face and closed his eyes remembering the day he met Valerie . . .
He spotted her instantly the moment he walked into the dining room at the restaurant. Angel had mentioned Sarah and her cousin would be coming in for brunch today when he rushed out of the house that morning. Alex had to admit he’d been curious, so he’d been looking out for her from the moment he arrived. And then he saw her.
His first thought . . . she was tiny.
It was how he’d known it was her. Sarah had mentioned Valerie being a petite girl, and Angel had mentioned the light hair, but Alex hadn’t expected a blonde. He watched her as she filled her plate at the buffet. As petite of a girl as she was, her legs were impressive—eye catching. Maybe it was the high-heeled wedge sandals she wore or the short denim skirt that accentuated the pair of well-toned legs.
Her eyes opened wider as she took in the fresh enchilada tray one of the waiters put out replacing an empty tray. She didn’t have green eyes like her cousin, but somehow her blond hair made her big brown eyes stand out even more.
“Very nice,” he said under his breath still ogling her as he approached the booth where Sarah sat eating alone. “Is that Valerie?”
Sarah flinched, nearly spilling her drink, and looked up at him wide-eyed and already blushing. He apologized for startling her. Feeling guilty about obviously embarrassing her, he had mercy on her and brought his attention back to Valerie instead. She was still at the buffet.
“Well”—he smiled—“I’m partial to brunettes, but a cute little blonde every now and then could do a body good.”
“That’s really romantic,” Sarah said.
Alex turned back to Sarah, picking up on the sarcasm in her tone, and slid in next to her with a playful smirk. “You think so?”
As usual, Sarah timidly attempted to pretend he hadn’t unnerved her by sitting up straight and playing with her food. “I didn’t think you were here today.”
“I just got here,” he murmured, feeling a little evil about how easily intimidated by him Sarah was, but no way was he going to tone it down now. This was too much fun. “You missed me?”
Her cheeks tinged with color instantly, and he had to smile.
“No,” she said again, doing her best to stay composed. “Valerie asked about you, actually.”
That made him turn in Valerie’s direction again. She was already ambling toward them with a full plate. She wore a big smile and looked him straight in the eyes, self-assured, so unlike her cousin.
“Did she now?” he asked, raising a curious eyebrow as he took Valerie in again from top to bottom.
Valerie put her plate down on the table and sat across from him. Sarah immediately introduced Alex to Valerie then turned to her cousin with a humorous smile. “I think you know who Alex is, right, Valerie?”