Page 3 of Reno’s Rebel
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen you this dolled up before,” I tell Valencia as I come up on her right side.
She turns her head to look at me and softly smiles. “Yes, well, I don’t have many occasions to do so.”
“Maybe we should find more reasons then,” I offer her the second tequila on the rocks, and she takes it from my hand.
“Thank you. This was very thoughtful,” she tells me.
“Eh, I try sometimes. I don’t like the idea of you standing here all by yourself. Weddings are meant to be nice group events, not ones where people are by themselves.” I’ve had my eyes on her for a little while, and she’s been off to the side, not really partaking in anything. Sure, she’s communicated a little bit with people, but nothing too much. She’s a unique woman, so I don’t think I should be too surprised by her actions.
Ever since we found her in upstate New York and saved her from those cultist bastards, I’ve been curious about her. She doesn’t talk too much about her past, and she’s a very quiet woman in general. It makes me think she’s lived through a lot in her life, but until she decides if she’s going to open up, I guess I won’t know. I’m not planning on digging into her personal life to be nosy, but I do want to learn more about Valencia. She’s very unique, and I want to find out what makes her tick. I want to know why she is the way she is.
“All I’m doing is looking at this beautiful view,” Valencia smiles brightly and stares back in front of us.
I take a sip of my drink. “You tend to keep to yourself a lot unless Iris or Faith is around.” Iris and Faith have been with the club for many years now. They originally were women Rage had helped out when they were scammed out of thousands for a shitty ‘apartment’. Rage and the club ended up helping get their money back, and after the entire apartment fiasco, they started working and staying here. They mainly work as barmaids for the club, and they aren’t clubwhores at all. Valencia’s been doing some barmaid stuff, but I don’t really know what the plan is with her. She’s been here for about six months, and I think I expect us to know more about Valencia, but none of us know more than this: she was attacked and taken by the cult, they were fully prepared to kill her, and she believes she’s safer with the club versus going back to her old life. It’s why she hasn’t left, and sometimes I don’t know if she will.
It’s why I’m allowing myself to get close to her, to try and figure her out . . . because I think the woman is the most gorgeous thing I’ve ever laid my eyes on.
She has the brightest fiery red hair, almost as bright as the fire trucks here in the city, and her skin is a warm bronze color. She’s Latina through and through, which is obvious enough with her name. I’ve only ever found Latina women this attractive, but God, I’m going to see if making any moves on her will go anywhere.
Valencia shrugs and then takes a sip of the drink I brought her. “Yeah, it’s hard to trust people, but I trust them.”
It’s a bit sad to me that Valencia feels like she can’t trust the people here. “You don’t have to worry about shit like that. Not anymore. It might not look like it, but the club is full of good people.”
Valencia licks her lips nervously and takes a sip of her drink. “I thought my life was filled with good people before I was taken, but it turned out I was wrong.” This is the first real thing about her life that she’s told me. So, someone’s hurt her before, and she has apparent trust issues.
“Just because one person does something, it doesn’t mean another will do the same.” I’m sure I’m coming off looking like I’m playing devil’s advocate, but all I’m trying to do is give her a reason to give me a chance. I’m not a good man by any means, but I’d be the last person on the fucking planet who would ever hurt her.
Valencia’s strap slides down her shoulder, and she visibly shudders, so I hook my index finger under the fabric and pull it back up over her shoulder. Her eyes lock with mine, and for a moment, neither of us says a damn thing.
All I can do is take in every bit of beautiful that she is. Her hair is curled perfectly, and her make-up is flawless. Not that she needs it. She has natural beauty, and I’m sure if she didn’t dye her hair this bright red, she’d be just as beautiful with her natural color. Her dress matches the same shade of red, and it’s very Latin-inspired, reminding me of what someone would wear if they were going salsa dancing. It’s form-fitting, but there are layers and ruffles that start below the bust and go until the bottom of the dress.
I finish off the rest of my drink, and when I look back over, Valencia’s eyes are locked on mine. “Are you nervous or something?”
“Not in the slightest. I am wondering if you’d dance with me, though.” I’m lying through my teeth. I am nervous because I don’t want to be shot down right now. In the entire time she’s been here, I’ve noticed the way she’s looked at me from across the room, and I think she’s noticed the way I look at her too.
Valencia now finishes the rest of her drink, and as a waiter with a tray walks by us, I take our glasses and place them on the tray.
“Yes, Reno, I’ll dance with you,” Valencia teases, taking a couple of steps closer to me. We both walk out onto the dance floor. The music is something softer and slower now, so I wrap my arms around Valencia’s waist, and she brings her hands up around my neck.
Neither of us says anything at first, but Valencia smirks out of nowhere, which piques my curiosity. “What?”
“You were trying to work up the courage to ask me for a dance all night, weren’t you?”
“Valencia, you must think about yourself in some high regard,” I tease, and Valencia rolls her eyes.
“It’s okay if you don’t want to own up to it. I see exactly what you were doing.”
Valencia and I dance for the next four or five songs, and then we both go to the bar and get another drink. The night continues to go on, and I notice a lot of my brothers and sisters have had their eyes on us at some point. A couple of them have known I’ve had my eyes on Valencia for a while, but given what she came from, I wasn’t going to immediately go after her. Women who have lived through experiences like that need time. They need time to process the hell they’ve endured and for their life to feel normal again. The last thing I want to do is pursue her when she isn’t ready or seem too pushy.
A few more hours pass by, and everyone on the roof is drunk as fuck. All of the children are gone, and the party is beginning to get a bit more X-rated. Joker and Devi have pulled Gold to join them while her ol’ man, Chuckles, is smirking, watching from across the roof.
I slip my hand behind Valencia’s back and lead her down into the club. If we’re going to cross a line that we’ve never crossed tonight, I don’t want it to be in front of everyone else.
“Reno, let me tell you something,” Valencia’s two sheets to the wind at this point, and I’m not too far behind her.
“Okay, shoot.”
She steps in front of me and grabs me by the black dress shirt I’m wearing. “I think you’re really, really cute.”
