She flipped the visor down and looked at Sarah who was staring at her still in disbelief. “So, I broke up with Reggie before we went and sure enough I hooked up with this hot guy from LA. I had such a blast; I knew the committed relationship thing just wasn’t for me. Maybe someday, but not now, I’m just having too much fun.”

Sarah still couldn’t believe it. Valerie had told her the whole Reggie story before, leaving out the part about T.J. But Reggie was no Alex. Still, if that’s the way Valerie felt, who was she to tell her otherwise?

“You’re something else.” Sarah said as she opened the car door.

“But I’m honest.” Valerie said.

“Yeah,” Sarah couldn’t argue there. “That you are.”

As they crossed the street Sarah’s thoughts shifted back to Angel and Dana. She took a deep breath and frowned. She wasn’t looking forward to having that conversation with him, but she knew she had to address it before things got worse.

When they walked in Sarah felt faint when she realized Angel’s parents were there. She hadn’t prepared on meeting them so soon.

As soon as Angel saw them he’d walked over and planted Sarah with a kiss that made her legs weak. He introduced both her and Valerie to his parents.

His mother, Isabel, was an average height, slender woman in her mid forties. Sarah could see Angel and his siblings had got some of their most attractive features from her. She had big eyes and the thick lashes. Her lips were big and pouty, and when she smiled she had the same dimples Angel and Alex had. Sofia had them also, just not as pronounced.

She was very nice and spoke with a slight accent. Angel thought she went a little overboard trying to make Sarah and Valerie comfortable, offering them more of everything a few too many times. But Sarah and Valerie thought she was very nice.

His dad, Salvador, was also in his mid forties and very tall with broad shoulders. He was built very well for a man his age. He didn’t talk nearly as much as Angel’s mother did, saying only that he was glad to meet them, and then quickly excusing himself to get back to work But Sarah had been able to see just by the way he spoke to Angel and Sofia, that he was a no nonsense kind of man.

At the same time she heard tenderness in his voice when he spoke to Isabel and Sofia, referring to both as My Love or Sweetheart. She’d felt the same familiar hint of envy she’d felt all too many times when she’d been around Sydney and his parents.

The restaurant was busy and Angel had hung with Sarah and Valerie off and on while they ate. At the moment, he’d been called back into the office by his dad.

Valerie was on her second round at the buffet, and Sarah sat at the table lost in thought. All through breakfast she kept thinking of what Valerie had told her that morning about Dana and could feel herself getting tense. She sat there playing with her food when she was startled. “Is that Valerie?”

Sarah jumped, almost spilling her drink, and looked up.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to sneak up on you.” Alex put his hand on her shoulder.

Sarah smiled feeling silly. “That’s okay.”

She moved her drink a little further away from her plate. When she glanced back at Alex he was busy sizing up Valerie. Sarah followed his eyes over to Valerie who was still piling food on her plate.

“Well.” He smiled. “I’m partial to brunettes but a cute little blonde every now and then could do a body well.”

Sarah rolled her eyes. Every now and then? Valerie wasn’t kidding when she’d said he was her ideal guy. There’d be no talks of commitments between these two. Well, at least there’d be no hard feelings if anything happened.

“That’s really romantic,” Sarah said.

Alex smiled at Sarah. She was sitting all the way in the booth so Angel could sit next to her whenever he stopped by their table. Alex slid in next to her. “You think so?

Sarah sat up a little straighter and kept her eyes on her food. “I didn’t think you were here today.”

“I just got here,” he said “You missed me?”

Sarah felt her cheeks warm. Damn him. Why did he like to make her squirm? “No, Valerie asked about you, actually.”

Valerie walked toward them with a big giddy smile.

“Did she now?” Alex raised an eyebrow.

Valerie put her plate down on the table and sat down facing Alex. Sarah immediately did the introductions.

“Alex this is my cousin, Valerie.” Then smiling silly she said, “and I think you know who Alex is right, Valerie?”

She’d meant to embarrass Valerie playfully but Valerie took it in stride.

“Of course, I do.” She reached her hand out to shake his. “I’d have to of been buried for the last few years if I didn’t”

Alex smiled. “Really? I remember you now.”

Valerie rolled her eyes slightly.

“I saw that.” he said.

“I wasn’t trying to hide it.” Valerie laughed.

“You don’t think I remember you?”

“Nope.” She dug in to her food.

“You wanna bet?”

Valerie shook her head. “You’ll lose.”

“Does that mean you’re scared?”

“Of betting that you don’t remember ever seeing me before? Of course not. But what are we betting for?”

Alex thought about it for a second then smiled big. “You have plans for tonight?”

Sarah choked back a laugh. As if he’d have to win a bet to get a date with Valerie. “I might,” Valerie said.