Always Been Mine

  ALWAYS BEEN MINE

  The Moreno Brothers #2

  By Elizabeth Reyes

  Always Been Mine By Elizabeth Reyes

  Copyright © 2011 By Elizabeth Reyes. All rights reserved including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  Cover photo by © Les3photo8

  Prologue

  CHAPTER 1

  CHAPTER 2

  CHAPTER 3

  CHAPTER 4

  CHAPTER 5

  CHAPTER 6

  CHAPTER 7

  CHAPTER 8

  CHAPTER 9

  CHAPTER 10

  CHAPTER 11

  CHAPTER 12

  CHAPTER 13

  CHAPTER 14

  CHAPTER 15

  CHAPTER 16

  CHAPTER 17

  CHAPTER 18

  CHAPTER 19

  CHAPTER 20

  CHAPTER 21

  CHAPTER 22

  CHAPTER 23

  CHAPTER 24

  CHAPTER 25

  CHAPTER 26

  CHAPTER 27

  CHAPTER 28

  CHAPTER 29

  CHAPTER 30

  CHAPTER 31

  EPILOGUE

  Prologue

  Valerie still couldn’t believe she’d actually stooped to spying. Even with everything Alex Moreno had put her through, she was furious it had come to this. She switched the channel on the car radio and glanced at her watch. 9:45 pm. Her fingers tapped the steering wheel. With a deep breath, she stared at his empty driveway. Where the hell was he?

  For as long as she’d known Alex, their relationship had been complicated. This past month and a half had been the exception. They’d been inseparable and things finally began to feel serious. She’d practically lived at his place the past two weeks. A few times, she thought he hinted that she should.

  When she finally returned home on Sunday, he stopped calling and returning her calls. Just like all the other times, he disappeared on her again. An entire month of calls just before bed, then first thing in the morning, then two weeks of, “Don’t go, stay with me.” Then nothing for four days? Was he kidding?

  All the other times he’d done this, she’d let it go. He’d always reappear eventually with some lame excuse, and like a sick little puppy she was so ready to jump back in his arms. Well, not anymore.

  She should have done this a long time ago. Valerie fidgeted in her seat, rubbing her hands over her thighs. Her head told her she’d better be ready. The truth was coming out tonight one way or another. The truth she’d known all along but she couldn’t bring herself to face. Deep inside she’d always known Alex Moreno was not a one woman man. She’d lusted over him all through high school. Even then she’d known he was way out of her league. As the gorgeous high school jock he had girls all over him. He’d gone out with her just for fun and she was okay with that. As the years passed, he stayed in her life off and on. But he never stuck around for too long

  She accepted it. All this time she told herself it was because she was too busy with her education and career to get too caught up in anything too serious. The real reason was always in the back of her mind. Just the thought of pushing too hard and losing what little relationship she did have with him scared her more than she’d ever admit. She tried many times in the past to make a clean break from him but she was never strong enough to stick with it.

  Well, she had to be strong now. She couldn’t take it anymore. Not after the month and a half they’d just had. The pain of wondering where he was and who he was with finally out weighed the fear of learning the truth and ending things for good. She owed it to herself to find out once and for all, if his heart was as invested in this as hers or if this was all just a game, a game he’d continue to play for as long as she’d allow it.

  Even with her head telling her to expect the worst, that she would finally get the closure she needed to walk away for good, her heart was still holding out hope that there was a compelling explanation. That he did feel for her what she’d always felt for him.

  Valerie glanced around the dash of her roommate’s car. They’d swapped cars all week so that he wouldn’t recognize her sitting up the street. All week she chickened out in hopes that she’d hear from him and she wouldn’t have to go through with this. It was Thursday now, and all she’d got so far was a couple of pity texts saying he was crazy busy and he’d call her soon.

  Headlights brightened the dark street. Valerie sunk in her seat. Alex’s truck drove by the car where she hunched down undetected. She sunk so low she wasn’t able to see if he was alone or not.

  Scooting up just high enough so her eyes were over the dash she saw him walking around his truck and toward his front door. Alone.

  A glimmer of hope danced in her heart. Maybe he was just busy. She sat up once he’d gone inside and stared at her phone. He was home now, done for the day. So, why wasn’t he calling her? Could these past six weeks really have been all in her head? Had she just imagined his increased affection? She couldn’t be that delusional. Could she?

  He said he cared for her. That he couldn’t stop thinking about her. How could he go four whole days without so much as calling her? Didn’t he miss her, damn it?

  The street lit up again as another car drove closer. It slowed as it passed her and then stopped in front of Alex’s house. Valerie held her breath. The door opened and out came a pair of long legs. Attached to the legs, a girl in her early twenties in short shorts and a snug tank that read UCSD climbed out. Valerie watched as the girl opened the trunk and pulled out what was too big to be a purse.

  Her breath hitched. Every time she came over lately, Alex had been insistent that she bring an overnight bag. The bastard!

  Valerie could feel her blood pressure spike, her chest constrict. This was it, proof of what she’d known all along and no two ways around it. She watched as the girl swung her long dark hair over her shoulder and made her way up Alex’s walk. Valerie’s eyes stayed glued to her. Her pulse throbbed in her ears. She blinked away the tears that blurred her vision.

  Alex was at the door before the girl even got there. He was waiting for her! Valerie felt her heart shatter. She’d known it all along and yet she was in no way prepared for the acute sting of it. She squeezed her eyes just as Alex placed his hand on the girl’s shoulder. She couldn’t bear to watch.

  Valerie opened her eyes in time to see the door close behind the girl. She let out a shuddering breath. Her mind raced, considering the best way to handle this. The hot tears streamed down her cheeks. Even though she’d thought of the possibilities, she’d never actually planned what she’d do if she caught him so red-handed.

  She picked up the phone and called him. Of course, the call went to voicemail. Hearing his voice in his greeting only enraged her further. Without giving it another thought, she shot out of the car, slamming the door behind her.

  Brushing the tears away, she sucked in deep breaths to try to calm herself. She stalked toward his front door, trying desperately to compose herself. So many choice words came to mind that she wanted to scream at him. The two most blaring were its over! It really was, for good this time. Never in all the horrible scenarios she’d played out in her head over the years did she realize how unbearable the pain would be. The thought of him with someone else didn’t even compare to actually seeing it.

  She rang the doorbell, and then immediately knocked. After only seconds, she knocked again. The door opened and even though it had only been days since she’d last seen him, she still had to t
ake a moment to take him all in. The man was unreal. He stood there all six feet three of him. His dark, heavily lashed eyes stared at her, startled.

  “Valerie, sweetheart. I wasn’t expecting you.”

  “Of course not.” Her voice broke but she kept it together. “New houseguest this week?”

  He shifted in the door way and she caught a glimpse of the bitch sitting at his dining room table. The table they’d eaten the breakfast they’d prepared together just that Sunday. The very table he’d reached across, over and over, claiming he couldn’t keep his hands off her.

  Valerie felt her insides tearing apart. Something had ignited in her. Something terrible she’d never felt in her life. Alex stepped outside closing the door behind him. “No, babe. I know what you’re thinking, but I can explain.”

  He tried to grab her hand and she jerked it away. “Go to hell, Alex! I’ve had enough of your lies.”

  She stormed away, ready to go into hysterics. The image of the girl sitting at his table, of him kissing and doing things to her…

  “Valerie, wait!”

  Her high heels clicked loudly on the pavement as she picked up speed. He caught up, stumbling as his bare feet stepped on something that apparently hurt. The fact that he’d been so comfortably barefoot with the bitch only incensed her more. He took her hand but this time held on tight enough that she couldn’t pull it away.

  “Baby, listen to me.” He spoke right into her face. “She’s a tutor.”

  Valerie let out a sardonic laugh. “Wow, Alex, the lies wearing a little thin finally?”

  “No, she really is.”

  “Is that supposed to make it better, Alex? That you’re fucking a tutor?” Valerie screamed.

  She’d lost it. She was moments from having a royal meltdown and she had to get out of there because it wouldn’t be pretty. She yanked her hand away and rushed to her car. Alex followed her.

  “I mean she’s my tutor, Val. I didn’t want you to know.”

  Of course he didn’t. He caught her again just as she got to the door of the car but her arms flung around like a crazy person. She didn’t want to feel any part of him on her ever again. “Get away from me!” Her high-pitched scream froze Alex momentarily. She must’ve looked as crazy as she felt because he stared at her without saying a word.

  “Do you care about me at all, Alex?” The taste of salty tears and bitter mascara seeped into the side of her mouth. She could only imagine what a mess her face was. He still stared at her, wide-eyed. “Do you at all?!”

  He took a step forward. His face as genuinely pained as all the other times he’d given her excuse after excuse. He began to reach for her again. “Baby, of course I do. I-”

  She flung her hand up, slapping his hand away from her. “Then stay away from me! Don’t ever call me again.”

  “Valerie don’t-”

  “Please, Alex!” She opened the door to the car, got in and locked the door. The window was open and he stood in front of it. “Promise me, Alex. I don’t want you to call me ever again.”

  His eyes darkened, his eyebrows pinched. “No.”

  “I need you out of my life!” she cried. What she needed was her sanity and at the moment she felt robbed of it. Never in her life had she felt so incapable of controlling her emotions.

  She struggled with the ignition as Alex began to try to explain his ridiculous tutor story again. Valerie pressed the button to close the window.

  “Valerie listen to me-”

  He was still talking when she began to pull away from the curb, nearly taking out his legs.

  How she’d ever get over Alex was beyond her, but nothing was worth feeling this kind of pain again. Nothing. She drove away sobbing. Alex Moreno had shred her heart for the last time.

  CHAPTER 1

  A year later:

  Alex Moreno had experienced anticipation many times, mostly after not having seen Valerie for more than one day. He’d always welcomed the excitement and it always rewarded his awkward feelings. But now, this anticipation was more than even Alex could stand. This anticipation had been building for weeks, if not months. Damn if it wasn’t beginning to get annoying.

  What he was feeling now made no sense. For the third time, he wiped his sweaty palms with a napkin and threw it in the trash. He just didn’t get it. Of course, he expected to be excited to see her again. He hadn’t seen her in more than a year. But he couldn’t understand why his nerves were tricking him in every way. What the hell did Alex Moreno have to be nervous about? It was Valerie. So, what, he told himself. He’d never been nervous about seeing her before.

  As the maid of honor and cousin of the bride, Valerie Zuniga was obligated to be at all these family events. Alex had had plenty of time to mentally prepare, and he thought he was. Sure, it had been more than a year since he last seen or spoken to her. It still shouldn’t be that big a deal. He’d see her, they’d catch up, and that would be the end of it.

  He strolled around his parents’ backyard. The knot in his stomach gripping his gut and wrenching tighter from the moment he woke. He tried to concentrate on the final touches, there before him, the backyard transformed by tables and chairs set out under the massive canopy that blocked the hot California sun from almost every spot in the yard. He knew how much this little party was costing his parents. Professionally decorated tables with expensive, elaborate flower centerpieces sprawled out through out the yard. His parents didn’t mess around when they threw a party. To them, this was huge.

  His younger brother, Angel, would be the first of the siblings to get married. The Morenos were going all out and sparing no expense. This was only the wedding shower. The wedding was still months away.

  Alex glanced around. Everything was pretty much set. Angel’s two best friends, Romero and Eric, were setting up the bar. Alex figured since they were Angel’s best men in the wedding, he’d let them handle one big thing at this party. What could be more fitting than the bar for those two?

  Angel stuck his head out the back door. “You guys ready? We have people arriving.”

  Eric gave him the thumbs up while Romero continued to obsess over the way the kegs were placed.

  Alex walked over to them. “That’s enough, Ramon. What are you doing?”

  Romero always used only his last name. Alex only called him by his first, Ramon, when he wanted to annoy him.

  “You don’t know about this.” Romero didn’t even look up as he kept shifting the keg in the barrel of ice until he got it just right.

  “I run a restaurant with a bar. You’re a bouncer.”

  Romero stood up. “I own a security firm.”

  Alex loved ribbing Romero. He was the only one of them that skipped college. Instead, he worked as a bouncer at several bars, and was doing private investigating for a few agencies, all while saving up to start up his own security firm. He’d actually done well for himself. At twenty-two, he already owned his own business. Even Alex admitted he was impressed, but he’d never tell Romero. It was too much fun clowning him.

  “You have two employees.” Alex tried not to smirk.

  “There’s four now, ass. And I’m looking to hire more in case you’re interested. I’m gettin’ real busy.”

  “Really?” Eric asked. “I didn’t know business was that good.”

  “Yeah, and I’m branching out now. I just got my PI license. You’re looking at Private I, Romero.”

  “No shit?” Eric smiled, impressed. “So, you get to spy on people and stuff?”

  Alex rolled his eyes. Leave it to Eric to ruin his fun. Romero started telling Eric about all the gadgets he’d recently bought to track people, and Alex lost interest. He turned to see people entering the backyard from the kitchen door. Alex frowned. They were supposed to come through the side gate. He glanced at the side gate. That’s when he saw her.

  He felt the air sucked out of him. His heart did a wild gallop and he swallowed hard, trying to remain composed. It amazed him how different she looked from a year ago. S
he was still the same Valerie he’d known since high school. Delicately petite and blonde, yet there was something different. As small as she is, her entrance was enormous.

  Alex thought of how busy she’d been a year ago, working on getting her real estate license. She spent most of her time studying for the state exam in tattered jeans or shorts and wearing t-shirts. His t-shirts. He remembered her honey-blonde hair, constantly in a ponytail.

  Now she stood there in a sexy little ivory skirt suit, the only color to her outfit a soft pink-laced camisole under the jacket. Her golden locks were in glamorous up do, with strands falling perfectly around her face. The wisps of hair accentuating her high cheekbones. Then she smiled with those full lips he’d never been able to get quite enough of. Beautiful.

  She wore her signature high heels. He watched in awe as she walked across the yard to greet Angel and his fiancée, Sarah. It always amazed Alex, that not only could she walk in those big heels, but that she did it with such elegance.

  Valerie’s posture was as perfect as ever. She’d always exuded confidence. That was just one the qualities that first attracted him to her so many years ago.

  He was aware that he hadn’t taken his eyes off her since she walked through the gate. Fully aware, and he didn’t care. His eyes roamed her body freely, from top to bottom and back up again. He’d expected it would be pleasant to see her again. Pleasant didn’t even begin to describe what he was feeling now.

  “Damn, is that Valerie?” Romero asked.

  Alex stiffened. Even after all this time, he didn’t like anyone else looking at her that way, especially Romero’s dumb ass.

  “She brought a friend, Romero.” Eric pointed out. “Maybe she’ll put in a good word for you. You’ll damn sure need it.”