Moreno's: Moreno Brother's prequel (Moreno Brothers)

by Elizabeth Reyes

  Isabella hadn’t seen it yet, but her mother told her the placita outside the town’s church where the party would be taking place had been transformed into a fiesta wonderland fit for a princesa. She hadn’t been nervous until moments before she was finally ready to step outside to see the mariachis in front of their home serenading her. At that moment, she knew the entire pueblo had put everything on hold for her big day.

  The crowd of people outside clapped and cheered as she made her first appearance looking and feeling like an absolute princess. But Isabella’s eyes were glued to Alejandro, who looked equally as staggered about seeing her as she was of seeing him in his white suit that hugged his body so perfectly. She’d always thought him handsome. Beyond handsome as the years kept enhancing his looks. But seeing him now like this was utterly breathtaking. She felt like the luckiest girl in the world that, of all the girls he could’ve chosen to stake his claim on so early on, she was the one.

  She walked slowly, cautiously, down the steps of her house as the photographer continued to snap away. He’d been doing so throughout her transformation inside the house, and now he’d be following her around all day.

  When she reached Alejandro, she could see his eyes glistened as he continued to stare at her in complete awe. “You look incredible,” she managed to state the obvious without stuttering.

  He shook his head, still taking her in completely. “Isabella, you’re gonna hear this all day I’m sure because you’re so beautiful. But I swear to you I couldn’t even catch my breath when you first walked out. You’re just . . .”

  His eyes went up and down slowly again. If she weren’t wearing a giant quinceañera ballroom gown, it might’ve seemed rude of him eyeballing her the way he did. Already her insides had been a crazy mess, but seeing the way this gorgeous guy genuinely appeared awestruck by her, Isabella thought she might swoon.

  Their eyes met again as the photographer asked them to turn to him. Only Alejandro didn’t and Isabella felt struck now by the way his eyes bore into hers so profoundly. “Absolutamente exquisita.”

  Isabella inhaled deeply as her eyes did the roaming now. She felt bad now because, when they’d discussed his getting a suit and he asked what color and if she had a preference, all she’d said was she preferred white and that she’d always loved how manly men looked in a traje de charro.

  Not only had he complied, this close she could see it was a very fine quality, right down to the detailed embroidering both on the suit and the matching sombrero. Even if he’d just rented it, it must’ve cost him a lot, and she knew he wasn’t the type that would hit up his dad for money. So, he’d paid for this out of his own hard-earned money.

  “I love the suit, Alejandro. Te vez tan guapo. But it must’ve cost you so much.”

  “Gracias, hermosa.” He smiled then leaned in so close her breath hitched. “But I keep telling you, nothing will ever be too much for you.”

  After the second time the photographer asked them to turn to him, they did, and the photographer snapped a few of them in front of Atrevido before Alej helped her onto him side saddle. Her mother and some of the other women fussed over getting her dress spread over and sprawled all around the horse just so, before they all started toward the church in the middle of town.

  Despite the church not being very big, Isabella was still surprised there were many standing outside because apparently it was at capacity already. Thank goodness Sacerdote Cervantes suggested they reserve the front two rows for her and Alejandro’s family members.

  The Mass went on a little longer than the usual Sunday Mass with the added traditional rituals of a quinceañera. Through it all, it was almost overwhelming to be the center of the entire town’s attention.

  After the Mass they walked out in the placita. It was a papel picado wonderland—endless strings of the colorful perforated banners they’d worked so hard on for weeks. All the table and chair decorations her mom and her aunts and their grandmother had gotten up earlier to put up were absolute perfection as was the beautiful cake.

  Like the discounted material for her dress, Alejandro’s father had offered to make the dinner for the party at cost and no charge for his labor. At first, they’d tried to insist he take something for his time and work but to no avail. He said he was used to making birria in large quantities and it’s what Isabella had requested when asked. So, dinner would be a feast of the well-known in town and picking up popularity in the city, Moreno’s birria.

  No surprise the Negrete brothers arrived without their father. Isabella held her breath, glad for the ongoing distraction of guests coming up to her to wish her a happy birthday and compliment what a beautiful young woman she’d become. Still, the whispers and inevitable excited smiles from all the other girls at the party as the brothers made their entrance wasn’t missed. Thankfully, Luis didn’t do anything to make things awkward, and as far as she could tell, Alejandro’s good mood wasn’t tainted by their arrival.

  Isabella had wondered if they’d bother to show now that her mother ended what had begun to feel like a courtship between her and Señor Negrete. Seems she wasn’t the only woman in town, or even in the city, he was having intimate dinners with. There were even rumors that he’d been seen leaving the house of another woman in town at the wee hours of the morning. Her mother said she refused to get caught up in that soap opera. In a town like this, that was exactly what it would become.

  Thankfully, her mother seemed too distracted with her sisters and family to pay any mind to the Negrete brothers showing up. The formalities began, and Isabella did her rounds greeting guests and posing for photos.

  The moment Isabella knew Alejandro had been waiting for was upon them and her heart sped up. After dancing with her padrino and her other uncle, it was time for her to dance with her chambelan. Taking her hand delicately, Alejandro kissed it then walked her out to the center of the placita where they positioned themselves to dance the only dance they’d rehearsed for this very special event.

  After all the work, time, and money her mom and grandmother had spent putting this together, Isabella had wanted to do something special and very traditional for them. She and Alejandro stood there facing each other, Isabella holding the sides of her dress’s skirt, ready to begin fanning them. She breathlessly watched as Alejandro winked at her and began tapping his foot on the floor slowly. The mariachi members followed suit as the tapping became stomps and increased in speed and they reached one final stomp with the chant, “Viva Mexico!”

  The crowd cheered and clapped, clearly pleased when it became obvious what song Isabella had chosen to be her first with her chambelan. The mariachi began the slow but dramatic start to El Son De La Negra. Isabella began her skirt fanning as Alejandro tapped and danced his way around her, hands behind his back. The chants from the mariachis and guests followed as the photographer kept on taking photos of the dancing pair.

  One glance at her abuela and it choked Isabella up. Her grandmother had her hands over her mouth, visibly emotional and wiping away tears. Isabella had purposely made it a point to say she wanted to do a more modern dance if she and Alejandro rehearsed anything ahead of time. She’d known her grandmother had been disappointed about that. She’d made comments prior about not liking these “modern age” quinceañeras.

  Dropping one side of her skirt for a second, Isabella blew a kiss over her palm at her grandmother. Smiling brightly, her grandmother blew one right back, bringing her hand over her heart, and shook her head.

  They continued their dance, Isabella’s heart racing as they neared what Alejandro said was the absolute favorite part of the dance was for him. Traditionally, throughout the dance there are many flirtatious instances where they lean into each other and almost kiss, and the dance always ends with the song coming to a dramatic end. He spins her against him, she looks up at him, and his looking down at her makes his sombrero shield their faces. On the very last note of the song, it can only be assumed that he finally plants a kiss on her. Except because of th
e sombrero shielding their faces, the audience can’t actually see it happening.

  Each time they rehearsed it, Isabella’s heart had thudded wildly when they came to that part. In each instance, Alejandro’s lips had come so close to hers she’d been left breathless. It was the moment of truth, and Isabella had considered the possibility that he might actually kiss her. What better way to drive home the fact that she’d chosen him—her only choice—to everyone in the entire pueblo.

  With his arm out to her, she took his hand with a smile as their eyes met. He spun her into his arms, pressing her tightly against his big hard body. Glancing up at him in breathless anticipation, her eyes locked with his for a moment, before his dropped to her lips. He tipped his head, so his sombrero shielded their faces from most of the crowd.

  Then it happened.

  What she’d daydreamed about for so many years. His soft lips were on hers as he kissed her gently, running his tongue over her lips making her entire body shiver. The crowd was on their feet clapping and cheering before she could even wrap her head around what just happened.

  Alej pulled away to take off his sombrero, took a bow, and then lifted Isabella’s hand up as the cheering, clapping, and whistles continued. She licked her lips as she was accosted by her grandmother, mom, aunts, and other guests. She lost count of how many people hugged and kissed her as her head spun in the aftermath of congratulatory enthusiasm.

  Capítulo 6

  No Risqué

  No Risk

  Alejandro

  Age: 18

  The river was the only way to get through the miserable hot summer months. For years now, they’d been hanging out there almost every day in the scorching days of the summer, at least the part of the day he and Cido weren’t hustling with their food carts. Though often times their dads would give them the day off since the heat kept sales of hot food down anyway.

  There were certain spots down by the river that were more popular than others. Some were simply because they were the closest to town and most kids, especially the younger ones who weren’t allowed to go much farther, would gather there. But when Alej and Cido had their horses, they took advantage of the less-crowded farther-out swimming holes in the river. Today was one such day. They’d gone out to a waterfall past the agave plantations.

  Technically, it was a little farther than any of their parents liked them going. And ever since two boys drowned the previous summer near the falls, Isa wasn’t allowed to go swimming there. Except, as she usually did, she got Alej to cave with those big beautiful eyes of her. “Please? You know I’m a good swimmer. I won’t go anywhere near the falls. Just the swimming area below.”

  It wasn’t even until they got there that Alej relaxed a little. As expected, the place was abandoned. Not only was it a much farther place to get to on foot on a regular day, today was especially hot for anyone to brave the hike. But it was a sight to see. As soon as they reached the edge of the swimming hole, Alej got off his horse and helped Isa down.

  It wasn’t the first time it happened, but being in such a secluded place, her sliding down the horse’s side and against Alej’s body felt as wrong as it excited him. She wasn’t quite sixteen yet, but she’d blossomed so much lately it was hard not to notice. Though, as usual, he was determined to be a gentleman, not just because he had the utmost respect for her and her mother—but his dad would have his ass if he heard otherwise.

  Ever since that very public kiss he’d planted on her at her quinceañera over a year ago, he’d been thoroughly warned by his father not to get any ideas of doing anything more. And even stealing an innocent kiss here and there should be done sparingly and with much care so as not to taint her reputation. His father had let him in on something else Alej had never been aware of but gave him something to ponder, whenever he did happen to steal a kiss and it got a little deeper than any before.

  “Eduviges is not a thirty-something solterona just because she never found the one, you know.”

  Alej had been confused; he didn’t even know who his dad had been talking about. His dad had lifted his hands and done air quotes with his fingers. “Señorita Munoz.” He’d rolled his eyes. “The schoolteacher. Let me tell you. That spinster is no señorita just because she’s never been married. It’s been years and out of respect for her family and because she at least made something of herself and became a teacher that people still address her as such. But anyone who’s been around long enough knows the story behind her never marrying.”

  Apparently when Señorita Munoz had been around Isa’s age maybe a little older according to his dad, she too had a pretendiente who like Alej laid claim on her early on. As they got closer to marrying age and other possible suitors started sniffing around her, he also made it blatantly obvious he already owned her in every way.

  His father had shrugged. “As the chisme began spreading around the pueblo, he did right by her and asked for her hand in marriage. The whole town knew the wedding would be but a mere formality. But then he was killed when the bus he was in went off the side of a cliff.” With a shake of his head as Alej’s jaw had dropped open, his dad went on to deliver the clincher. “Not only did she tragically lose her fiancé just months before the wedding, she was instantly damaged goods. No man would have her now. Only chance that girl ever had of any man taking her as his bride would be a young widower in need of someone to help him raise his kids or an old one in need of someone to take care of him. Too old for that now. So, think about that before you even consider not keeping it in your pants. Life is too unpredictable. If you really care about Isabella, you don’t want to ruin her future if anything unforeseen should happen.”

  As torturously tempting as some of their innocent kisses had been recently, it’s the one thing he tried to keep in mind, even now as he turned to Isa wearing clothes he knew would be slicked against her curves soon. When they were younger, she didn’t have a bra to remove from under her top. As they got older, she’d remove it before jumping in, but Alej had always been respectful and tried his damnedest to keep his eyes off any tantalizing curves, especially if Cido was around. He was too busy making sure that guy kept his fucking eyes to himself.

  Isa turned to the waterfall in awe. “Isn’t it amazing that something so beautiful could be out here in the middle of nowhere? It’s almost a shame that many will never get to witness it.”

  They walked closer to the water so Atrevido, could get a much-deserved drink. Isa was already taking her shoes off. Alejandro sat on one of the boulders, glad now that Cido was in the city today. As much as he liked hanging with his best bud, more often than not now he preferred having Isa all to himself. Even if he had to continue to remind himself there wasn’t a whole lot he should even think of doing with opportunities like today.

  Swallowing hard, he watched as Isa pulled her bra out from her blouse’s arm hole the way she always did. She set it on a rock along with her chanklas. With a splash, she was in. “Be careful,” he said as soon as she came up for air.

  “The water’s perfect,” she said with a big smile. “Come in here!”

  Alej took his shoes off and secured Atrevido to a tree in the shade but close enough to the water so he could drink all he wanted. He gave him a handful of the alfalfa he’d stuck in the side pouch. Pulling off his shirt, he walked over to the boulder on the side of the watering hole and jumped in. Isa was right. The water was perfect. Normally, it took a while to get used to the chilly river water, but today was just too damn hot. The cool water was a welcome treat.

  Swimming up to Isa, who held onto a branch, he realized why she was doing so once he tried to stand. “It’s deeper here than I remember,” he said, holding onto the branch also as his feet continued to try and hit the bottom.

  Isa went under and Alej’s heart sped up when he saw her hand let go of the branch, but she was up just seconds later. “I had to go several feet down before my feet hit the bottom.”

  Alej glanced around and then up at the waterfall. It did appear to be c
oming down harder than he remembered.

  Isa was staring up at it too. “How cool would it be to climb up and jump in?”

  “Too dangerous,” Alej said, shaking his head.

  “But we’re both good swimmers.”

  “Good or not, if that undercurrent pulls you in, you’ll be in trouble. It’s what happened to those boys last year. I’m sure of it. They were my age, and I’m sure they were good enough swimmers too.” Alej glanced around, looking at the several places where the river sped up and pulled rapidly around rocks. “I can see now how that must’ve happened. One probably went in and the other must’ve tried to help.”

  Isa frowned but lay back, swimming backwards. “Watch yourself,” Alej warned, eyeing her closely.

  “I’m just gonna float. Come float with me.”

  Watching as she positioned herself in an area that wasn’t flowing too fast and pushed her feet up against a rock, he relaxed. He let go of the branch and floated over to where she was. He found a good spot where he could also push his feet up against a rock so he’d stay in place.

  “Isn’t this peaceful?” she asked, staring up at the sky. “This is what I love the most about summer. I can never get enough of the sound of the flowing river.”

  “It is.”

  He smiled, glancing up at the leaves in the trees as they blew in the wind for a few minutes, enjoying the chirping birds and sound of water. When he glanced back at Isa, her eyes were closed as she begun floating away from the area where she could reach for the branch.

  “Isa, don’t float away too far.”

  She opened her eyes and flinched when she realized she had floated away. Reaching for the branch, she went under when her body adjusted from her floating position. A second later she came back up, but the current had begun to push her away even as she continued to try to reach the side of the river.