“Yes, lots,” She put her hand over her grin and ducked back in the apartment.
“Are we done here?” Isabel put her hand on her hip.
Alex could almost picture her handling her middle school students. Romero took advantage and jumped up the couple stairs to give her a quick peck on the lips. “I’ll call you later. Answer your damn phone.”
Romero and Eric started back toward the car, followed by a very dejected looking Angel. Alex couldn’t help smiling. Amazing how just seeing Valerie even for just a moment could change his mood so dramatically. He turned back to Valerie, and placed his hand on her shoulders. Back to business.
“Hostess with the mostest, we’re waiting on you.” Isabel wasn’t letting anyone off the hook. No wonder Valerie had to sneak out to email him.
“Give us a minute, sweetheart.” Alex spoke up before Valerie could. He really needed to talk to her. He didn’t care what Dean Isabel had to say about it, but he smiled sweetly anyway. “Please?”
“Okay, but I’m counting.”
Alex resented having to rush but did his best not to lose the smile. She walked back into the apartment finally. He wanted to ask Valerie so much about Bruce, mainly what the hell she’d seen in him in the first place. She’d gone out with him for a few weeks—didn’t she once notice what a psychopath he was?
All that would have to wait. He knew he had very little time, but he had a few very important things he needed to get out.
“Valerie, I cannot stress the importance of you being careful. I still can’t believe you were out here alone.”
“I did it for you.”
“I know, baby, but you still took a huge risk.” He brought his hands up and cradled her face. “I need you to promise me you won’t do that again.”
“But—”
“Promise.”
Valerie finally conceded. “Alright.”
After making her promise a few more things and Isabel sticking her head out the door to tell them time was up, he forced himself to pull away and let her go. He waited until he was satisfied she’d locked the door. She peeked out the window and blew a kiss.
When he got to the car, he sat down next to Angel in the front seat. His mood hadn’t changed. Before getting back with Valerie, he would’ve ribbed him about being so damned whipped he couldn’t go a week without seeing Sarah. He might’ve even been a little annoyed by it, but now he understood completely. Hell, he was considering staying at his parents or even the restaurant tonight just so he wouldn’t have to go home to an empty bed.
“After tomorrow, dude,” Alex nudged his sulking younger brother, “you’ll not only be spending every day with her, you’ll have her every night too.”
Angel glanced at him then back at the road. A second later, as if the thought set in, he smiled.
Alex smiled looking out the passenger window, his thoughts immediately back on Valerie’s safety again. He was more determined now than ever to catch this guy. If the law wasn’t going to help he’d have to do it himself. He’d already told Romero tonight that he wanted more than just a background on Bruce. He wanted everything on the guy. He’d gone too far tonight. It was personal now.
*
Maybe it was liquid courage, but Valerie had originally planned on wrapping the painting and taking it to wedding. She knew she wouldn’t be there when Sarah unwrapped it, and she kind of wanted it that way. Now she was feeling a little brave. The painting still sat in her closet.
Without giving it another thought, Valerie jumped off the kitchen counter and rushed toward her room.
“Where you going?” Sarah asked.
“I have something for you.”
She was going to bring it out into the kitchen, but the girls were all in her room within seconds. The nerves hit her all of sudden.
“What is it?” Isabel looked around her room curiously.
Valerie glanced at Sarah, unbelievably beginning to feel choked up. Damn beer. “Okay, I don’t want you to think this is something I’m expecting you to hang up or anything. You don’t need to feel obligated, Sarah.”
Sarah smiled. She knew Valerie painted, but Valerie rarely shared any of her paintings with anyone besides her dad and Isabel. Even Alex had only seen a few.
“So, if you don’t-”
“Oh, just show it to me already!” Sarah giggled.
Valerie took a deep breath and slid the closet door open. She pulled out the sheet-covered painting but hesitated about removing the sheet.
Isabel crossed one arm over her chest and held her wine with the other. “Valerie hon, if you don’t take the sheet off already, I’m going to.”
“Yeah, Val. I’m dying!” Sarah added.
Valerie pulled the sheet up slowly. When it was all the way off the girls all gasped. She turned to Sarah, whose eyes had welled up.
Valerie bit her lip. “You like it?”
Sarah’s hadn’t taken her eyes off of it. “I love it.” She glanced at Valerie. “I haven’t seen that picture in years.”
“Valerie, it’s beautiful.” Sofia stepped forward to get a closer look. “You did this?”
Valerie nodded, almost losing her balance when Sarah suddenly hugged her.
Sara cried, probably a mixture of emotion and the wine. “This must’ve taken you forever to paint.”
Sniffing away her own emotion, Valerie wiped her eyes. “Not forever, but I did spend some time on it.”