Breaking Hearts (Full Hearts #4) Read online

  “It showed I’m a dumb-ass, is what it did,” Trey said as they started walking along the sidewalk again.

  Alessandra opened her mouth to speak but Trey cut her off. “No, don’t try to deny it. Maybe ten.”

  He shook his head in disgust and they both started laughing again as they crossed the busy street. When the moment ended, they were quiet, both thinking about the courtroom and what lay ahead.

  “Alessa, thank you for all you’ve done for Tomas and me,” Trey said softly. “I’d be lost without you.”

  “It’s nothing,” she answered casually.

  Trey stopped and put his hand on her arm, causing Alessandra to turn and face him.

  “No, it’s not nothing. What you’ve done for me, for Tomas—it’s everything.” His voice was thick with emotion, his handsome face all sincerity.

  “De nada, Trey. You’re welcome.”

  The connection between them was more than that between new friends, more than that between two people tied to each other by circumstances and by the desire to care for the same little boy. It was that of two people who longed for each other’s touch.

  A slight breeze blew a lock of Alessandra’s hair across her cheek. Trey lifted his hand and tucked it behind her ear. “I want to take you out to dinner.”

  Alessandra paused for a second, considering. “I would love that. I’ll call Priscila to see if Tomas can stay for a while longer.”

  Fourteen

  The pair found themselves seated at a table in Ella, a trendy Italian restaurant. Alessandra sat on a cushioned red bench that ran the length of the wall, while Trey sat on a wooden chair across from her at the table for two. She crossed her legs under the table and shrugged off her suit jacket, revealing a fitted blue button-up shirt that brought out her eyes. “I’ve heard the food here is very good.”

  They opened their menus and Trey looked up at her with a slightly embarrassed expression. “I just realized I can’t read any of this.”

  “Oh, right. Don’t worry, I’ll help you.”

  The server, a young man with light blond hair and a friendly grin, came by to take their drink orders. When he walked away, Trey took a moment to look around the restaurant before turning his gaze back to Alessandra. “So, is it me, or is it strange to be away from Tomas while we have dinner?”

  “A little, yes. But he’s having a wonderful time. Priscila said he woke up from his nap very happy and is playing with the other kids. He won’t miss us.”

  “Good. If he’s having fun, we should have fun too.”

  The waiter brought their wine and they ordered dinner.

  Trey held up his glass to Alessandra. “Here’s to you finishing school.”

  She touched her glass to his and took a long sip of the smooth liquid. “Thank you. It doesn’t feel real yet, actually.”

  “I know what you mean. I still keep thinking I have to study every evening. I don’t know how long that takes to go away.”

  “For some, I’m sure it’s as soon as they finish their last exam, but you are not that type of guy. You are very driven.”

  “I could say the same about you. You’re very impressive, Alessa. I hope you know that.” Trey gave her a serious look.

  “Oh, not really. I’m at most very, very normal. Easy to miss in a crowd.”

  “If anyone didn’t notice you in a crowd, it would only be because you’re so short.”

  Alessandra pretended to take offence at his comment. “Short? You know, that is not considered a compliment by most women.”

  “Why not? You’re sort of like a sports car—compact and curvy, with a lot of power to you.”

  Alessa blushed at his description of her, tracing the rim of her wineglass seductively with her finger. “Well, when you explain it like that, it sounds better.”

  “I mean it in the best way. But it’s not just how you look, it’s also your mind that impresses me. You’re really intelligent.”

  “Oh, no more than the average lawyer,” she teased.

  Trey smiled at her joke, then had another sip of wine. “What made you want to get into law, anyway?”

  “Well, I believe it is important for a woman to be independent, and to do that she must have a good career. Also, I want to do something important with my life, to help people, of course. But mainly, I want to have a job that I’m passionate about. Something I love.”

  “I totally get that. I look at my dad and I can’t even imagine doing what he does, day after day.”

  “He doesn’t like his work?”

  “Not really. He’s an accountant. When I was in high school, I had to write a report on what my parents did for a living. One of the questions I had to ask them was if they enjoyed their work. I’ll never forget my dad’s answer. He told me that no one likes their job. They do what they have to so they can get by and, if they’re really lucky, have enough for a few extras to give their families. It was the first time I realized that he wasn’t necessarily happy with how his life had turned out, and I thought to myself, I’m never going to do that. I’m not going to waste most of my life doing work I hate. I figured I’d find my dream job and the money would start flowing in magically.” He shook his head at himself.

  “And now what do you think?”

  “Now that I have a child depending on me, I’d definitely take some crappy desk job for the next twenty years if it meant he had what he needed. I don’t even think I’d mind, really. Except that it would mean my old man was right all along.”

  The server brought out the salads, interrupting the moment. Alessandra picked up her fork and knife, then cut a sliver of mozzarella to taste along with the leafy greens. “So, how did you go from being a cowboy to being a business student?”

  Trey gave her a sheepish grin. “To be honest, I originally went to university to meet girls. We had this team of college volleyball players come to the ranch and after they left, I realized what I had been missing out on.”

  Alessandra covered her mouth and laughed a little. “Some of your admissions are too honest for your own good.”

  “It’s probably because I’m not smart enough to keep track of a bunch of lies,” he said with a little wink.

  “Oh please, this whole ‘I’m just a dumb cowboy’ routine won’t work on me.”

  Giving her a crooked smile, Trey put on a thick southern drawl. “Well, shucks, little lady, it appears you’re on to me.”

  Alessandra laughed for a moment. “I am on to you, and don’t you forget it.” She took a sip of her wine, her eyes smiling over the glass at him. “You know, if you only went to meet girls but instead you ignored them all and studied, it seems you failed to meet your goal.”

  “Uh-oh, are you going full lawyer on me?” Trey asked with a grin. “I shifted my focus, is all. Once I got there, I realized that studying might lead to a better future than tomcatting around.” He got a mischievous look in his eye. “Besides, it’s the rich guys who get the best women in the end.”

  Alessandra laughed. “Oh, so it’s still about getting hot chicks!”

  Trey chuckled along with her, then shook his head. “I didn’t say hot chicks. I said the best women. I’m looking for the whole package—smart, funny, kind, strong.”

  “But I’m sure she’d need to have long legs and hair perfect all the time too.”

  Trey shook his head. “Nope. I prefer a girl who lets her hair look a little wild most of the time because she’s too busy doing important things to care about what she looks like.”

  Warmth radiated through Alessandra’s body at his words. She couldn’t help but think he might be referring to her. Scared that he might say something to dash her hopes, she decided to change the subject. “So, if you got to pick your dream job when you got home, what would it be?”

  “I’d definitely like to take what I’ve learned in school and have my own business. Something where I could be outside a lot of the time. Actually, I’d love to run my own ranch someday. But, like I said, at this point I’ll take what I ca
n get.” Trey took a sip of wine. “And you said you want to move home to practise law?”

  “Yes. I will try to join a small practice in my hometown, Bebedouro. I miss it there, I miss my family. Life moves slower there than here. So, if I could have a good career surrounded by my family and friends, that would be my best dream.”

  “Did you ever think about starting a life somewhere totally new?”

  “Not really. Bebedouro is my home. I’ve been away for long enough to know what I’m missing.” She waited while Trey refilled her wineglass. “I have never fit in anywhere like I do there. Never found friends like my best friend, Cyssah. And my grandfather. There is no one who has ever believed in me like he does. I want to be near him so I can return all the care he has given me. At first I won’t make much money, but after a while I will, so I can pay for someone to manage the farm for him. I’m afraid he’s not a businessman, so a lot of money that he should be keeping slips through. We are not poor, but there is not much left for luxuries, either. And he works too hard. I want to see him slow down and enjoy the rest of his days.”

  “That’s remarkably generous of you. And I’m assuming there’s at least one guy back home waiting with bated breath for you to return.”

  “No. Of course not.”

  Trey raised an eyebrow. “I bet you’re wrong on that one.”

  Alessandra rolled her eyes. “Trust me, I’m not. I have never left any place where men are longing for me to return.”

  Their main dishes were brought out. For Trey, Alessandra had ordered milanesa, breaded steak with a crunchy coating, and for herself, pink beet tortelli sprinkled with walnuts and wilted sage. They took a moment to taste their first bites before Trey picked up the conversation where it had left off.

  “I find that hard to believe, that there aren’t heartbroken guys everywhere you’ve been.”

  “I don’t think you are mocking me, but I can’t come up with another reason for you to say that.”

  “Mocking you? I would never do that. I’m serious. Alessa, you’re a really beautiful person. Not just how pretty you are, but inside. Any guy would be very lucky to have a girl like you. How do you not know that?”

  “Careful observation of men in the world.” She popped a bite of pasta into her mouth.

  “Those were boys. I think you’re going to notice that as you start meeting men, you’ll find you’re exactly what they’re looking for.”

  Alessandra stared at him for a moment, wishing with everything in her that he meant she was exactly what he was looking for. She took a sip of wine, turning to watch a couple lazily walking past the window, hand in hand. “Can we change the subject? I don’t really like talking about myself in this way.”

  “Sure. Let’s talk about how amazing you were in court today.”

  She laughed, then tried to level him with a mock glare. “You couldn’t understand what I was saying. Maybe it was all nonsense.”

  “Oh no, I understood the entire thing.”

  “Really? How?”

  “I’ve picked up Portuguese in the last month. I’m fluent now,” he said with a teasing grin.

  “Oh, have you? Você bebeu?”

  “Sim.”

  “Yes? What did I ask you?”

  “You asked if I was good in bed, which, quite honestly, is a little bit forward of you . . .”

  Alessandra laughed loudly, covering her mouth. “I asked if you were drunk.”

  “Right.” Trey snapped his fingers as though he had just remembered something. “I keep getting those phrases mixed up. Other than that, totally fluent.”

  Tucking a curl behind her ear, she shook her head at him, feeling a little tipsy. “You’re fun. You know, you’re not what I expected. When you came, I was confused. I thought you would be much older and maybe very cold. And I needed to figure you out as soon as I could for Tomas’s sake.” She stared into his eyes for a moment. “Until you got here, I thought I was the only person left in the world who really loved Tomas. I hope it doesn’t upset you to hear me say that.”

  “It doesn’t. I’m glad Tomas has another person in the world who wants to protect him as fiercely as I do.”

  “I would do anything for that little boy. He has my heart.”

  Nodding, Trey answered, “Mine too. He’s just so vulnerable and so little.”

  “He is. But he’s strong too, and he’ll be okay now that he has you. In these past weeks, I’ve realized that there is no one I’d be happier to see him with than you. You’re wonderful with him.”

  “A lot of it I’m learning from watching you. I’m secretly glad I can’t take him back to the US too soon. I still have a lot to learn.”

  “In that case, you should never go back. I am so full of wisdom, it would take a lifetime for me to pass it all along.” Alessandra tried to make it sound like she was joking, but she knew the expression on her face was betraying her.

  Trey’s eyes locked on hers. “It’s too bad that you’ve got your future all planned out already. Otherwise . . . well . . .”

  Alessandra gave him a wistful look, begging her heart not to want more. “In another life, maybe . . .”

  Fifteen

  A few days later, Trey, Alessandra and Tomas loaded themselves onto a bus to make the long trip to Bebedouro. Alessandra, with Trey’s help, had worked tirelessly to pack and prepare for the move. Since their dinner out, nothing more had happened between them. They both realized that they needed to keep things platonic, no matter how much they longed for each other.

  They rode along for a few hours before stopping for a lunch at a small restaurant along the highway. Tomas ran around in large circles in the grass near the patio while Trey and Alessandra finished eating.

  Once they were settled back in their seats on the bus, Trey let out a sigh. “I’m so glad to be out of the city finally.”

  “Me too. I can’t wait to get home. I’ve missed everything about it.”

  “I can relate to that. It’s been a few years since I’ve been home.” Trey leaned his head back against the seat.

  “I hope you will enjoy life on the farm. I think both of you will like it there. It’s a small orange plantation but there are also four horses, a few cows, lots of chickens. It’s very peaceful and beautiful. Like heaven on earth.”

  “Heaven?” Tomas sat up and looked excitedly at Trey. “We go find Mãe today?”

  “What’s that, Tomas?” Trey asked, feeling a stab to his heart.

  “We go to my mom. Long bus ride to heaven to get Mãe?”

  “Oh, Tomas, no. I shouldn’t have said that. We’re not going to heaven, we’re going to my family’s farm. I meant . . .” Alessandra’s voice trailed off and she looked helplessly at Trey.

  Trey’s brow furrowed. “No, little man. We can’t go to her. There’s no bus to the heaven where your mom is. It’s more like, she’s gone way up into the sky and we can’t ever get her back.”

  Tomas’s bottom lip quivered and his eyes welled up with tears. “No Mãe?”

  “No Mãe, Tomas. I’m sorry.”

  Tomas’s face grew angry. “I want my mom! You take me!”

  Alessandra’s eyes filled with tears. “Tomas, we would go to your mamãe if there was a way. But your dad is telling the truth. There is no bus to heaven.” She reached out to touch Tomas’s face but he recoiled from her.

  “You take me now! I want her now!” Tomas balled up his fists and slammed them into Trey’s chest before dissolving into tears. He sat rigid on Trey’s lap, his mouth hanging open and his entire face turning red, as though he had stopped breathing. Several tiny gasps escaped his lungs before he finally let out a long wail.

  Trey pulled him in close to his chest and rubbed his back, not caring about the curious passengers turning to stare at them. His little boy was in pain and all that mattered was helping him through it. “I know, buddy. You go ahead and cry. It’s sad that your mom isn’t with you anymore.”

  Tomas sobbed until he finally dropped off for his nap,
his breath still catching every few seconds even though he was asleep.

  Alessandra turned to Trey and spoke quietly. “I’m so sorry. I never should have said that.”

  “You didn’t mean anything by it. Besides, like you told me, he needs to get it out, right?”

  “Yes, but it just breaks my heart to see him hurting.” Alessandra’s voice cracked as she ran a finger along the little boy’s cheek.

  “Mine too.”

  They sat in silence for a while, neither sure what else could be said on the topic. The steady motion of the bus, along with the sight of Tomas sleeping, had Alessandra’s eyelids growing heavier by the minute even though she willed herself to stay awake. She didn’t want to fall asleep in front of Trey, only to end up with her mouth hanging open and snoring sounds coming out. Or worse, drool. That would be horrifying. She fought sleep for as long as she could, her head bobbing down then jerking back up again several times before she finally gave in.

  She woke to find her head on Trey’s shoulder. Straightening up, she looked over at him, feeling embarrassed. “Sorry about that.”

  “Why? You needed some rest.” He gave her an easy smile.

  “But I was leaning on you when you already have Tomas sleeping on your lap. That must have been so uncomfortable.”

  “Not at all. I’m a big guy, I can handle two tiny people sleeping on me.” He angled his head to look at her and lowered his voice, seeming a bit unsure of what he was about to say. “Besides, you smell really nice.”’

  Blushing a little, Alessandra smiled. “Must be my shampoo.”

  * * *

  Soon the city limits for Bebedouro came into view. Minutes later, they stepped off the bus, weary and a little sweaty. Tomas was still fast asleep on Trey’s shoulder, his cheeks red, as Trey stepped down into the bright sunlight and fresh air.

  They stood with the other tired passengers, waiting for the driver to unload the baggage. Trey carefully transferred Tomas to Alessandraso he could help an older gentleman with the heavy bags. Alessandra smiled to herself as she watched him, realizing how different he was from what she had originally expected. She had been so sure he would be a total jerk, or at least very irresponsible. But in the past few weeks she had discovered that he was the complete opposite. Each day, he surprised her with some thoughtful gesture or unexpected kindness.