It was still something she couldn’t explain, but she’d felt his sincerity from day one. Just like the intense way his beautiful eyes pleaded with her now, the intensity of how he felt about her—not just physically but emotionally—was a palpable thing. Always had been. There was no way anyone could fake all that. The only thing she couldn’t understand was why he always had to blow it.

“Okay,” she whispered, hoping she wasn’t making a huge mistake.

Before she could even give it a second thought, he lifted her in his arms, and laughter escaped her. Something else almost escaped her as she wrapped her arms around his big neck and he cradled her so effortlessly in his arms. She almost told him she loved him, but that was something she’d hold off on. As much as she wanted to be excited about Alex Moreno’s first ever promise to her, she dared not go there just yet.

~~~

Over the years, Valerie had picked up on a few things from Alex. She hated to admit how closely she watched when he didn’t think she was looking, but she did, especially when he was checking his phone. She’d caught him doing the same to her plenty of times, so it went both ways.

The expressions he made when he was responding to texts or emails were so telling. If he looked concerned or even a little irritated, she knew whatever he was responding to had something to do with the restaurant. Someone had called in and they were short staffed or they hadn’t got the delivery they were expecting—something. He was never secretive, nor were there any signs of unease about those texts.

If there was any sign of humor along with the irritation, it was usually Romero or maybe one of his brothers yanking his chain about something.

Then there was that look. Sal was right. She and Alex were so much alike when it came to lots of things. Like their poker faces. Neither had one. So she knew the moment when he was reading something he didn’t want to talk to Valerie about. Oh, he tried to put on a poker face, act irritated after the initial reaction to the text, or even laugh, but she knew the look too well. It was one she’d seen too many times over the years. She’d been waiting for it the morning after the near disaster at her apartment. They’d been up for a while after having slept in from their long night of making up.

Unlike Alex, she’d left her phone in the bedroom. But he’d already had several calls and texts from the restaurant, so he brought it with him into the kitchen while they had breakfast.

Valerie had never been much of a cook, but if there was one thing she could whip up, it was a good, hearty breakfast. So she’d put together a small feast for her and Alex.

They were in the middle of digging in when he got the text. He did his usual glance at the preview of the text on his screen then ignored it. He never ignored a call from the restaurant or any texts from his brothers when he had the day off. When he was off, it usually meant one or both of them were working. He’d just gotten off the phone with Romero a few minutes earlier. Valerie and Alex would be spending their first full day as a changed couple at Romero’s. His uncles were barbequing for the Padres game and then having people over to watch the big fight tonight.

This text was the test.

Normally, Valerie wouldn’t ask when he suddenly didn’t mention who was texting him as he did all the other times. She didn’t want to this time either, but if it were true things had changed, she should. So she did.

“Is that Romero again?”

He peered at her over his glass of milk as he took a long drink. She eyed him chewing slowly as he set his glass down.

“No, it wasn’t,” he said, picking up the phone again and keying in his password quickly. “It was Chelsea,” he said, “the intern on the team’s medical staff.”

Try as she might, Valerie wasn’t able to keep her brow from lifting in reaction, and he glanced up from his phone just in time to see it.

“She was just asking about my ankle.” That didn’t make it any better, and Valerie continued to stare at him as he texted Chelsea back. “She’s hoping to make it into the NFL medical staff someday. Probably will, she’s smart as a whip,” he stupidly added as if Valerie weren’t already feeling like an idiot for sitting there watching him text another girl.

His phone pinged again, and he read it then glanced up at her. “She’s glad to hear my ankle’s better.” He grinned.

Valerie remained silent, unable to so much as smile at that. So she bit into her toast instead as he texted his smart-as-a-whip little friend back. She was well aware that she was likely glaring now, but she didn’t give a shit.

He looked up at her as he sent his response to Chelsea’s second text and actually laughed. “All right, all right,” he said. “I’ve never slept with her if that’s what you’re thinking. I’ve never even gone out with her, but she has hinted before, and she flat-out asked just now if I wanted to hang out later tonight.”

Valerie pushed her chair out, but he reached for her hand. “And this is how I responded,” he said, showing her his phone.

Valerie looked down at it, reading the exchange between him and the intern.

Chelsea: Hey you. It’s been a while. How’s your ankle?

Alex: Hey, Chels. Much better. Should have the okay from the doc to play again in a few days. Thanks for asking.

Chelsea: That’s great news. I remember how bummed you were about it. I thought of you today because of the Sanchez fight. I know you’re a fan. You watching it anywhere special? We’re all going over a friend’s house tonight. I was thinking maybe you could stop by. We can catch up.