For the first time since Grace had been attending school, she fumbled through her final, barely able to finish in time. The good thing was she still managed to get a decent meal out, and now this class would be out of the way. In just a few more weeks, she’d be done with all her classes and have her degree.
Joey skipped his next class to drop her off at work. “You don’t have to, Joey. I have plenty of time to take the bus.”
He waved her off. “I wasn’t going to my next class anyway. The professor is not even going to be there today. It’ll be a waste of time.”
They stopped to grab an iced coffee then headed to his car. “Taylor totally agrees with the straight-up approach. People waste way too much time trying to figure out all the signs. Just go for it and ask him already.”
Grace was so nervous about this her stomach was in knots. “I’m gonna try, but I’m not promising I won’t chicken out.”
Joey groaned. “You can’t chicken out! It’s a simple question. If he can ask you, then you can ask him.”
Grace asked to change the subject on the way to the restaurant. She was already one big ball of nerves. When they got there, she saw Barbie leaning against her Mercedes, laughing it up with Sal. Sal was in a suit again and looked amazing. Unlike the first two times, Barbie wasn’t wearing a power suit. Instead, she wore a short frilly sundress with the highest, sexiest heels. Grace probably wouldn’t be able to even stand in those shoes, let alone walk in them. Just like the last time, she kept touching him.
Grace instantly felt the lump in her throat. “Oh my God. What is the matter with me?” She turned to Joey. “I gotta get a grip.”
“Grace, the guy is hotter than shit. You have to expect women to be falling all over him. The key is to find out if he is into the relationship thing, because obviously you won’t be able to handle anything less. If he is, then these women will have to go. We’ll make sure of it. But one step at a time, sweetie. Just ’cause this skank is all over him, doesn’t mean he’sinto her.” Joey parked across from Barbie and Sal and eyed them. “Look at her body language. She is so obvious and look at his. I’m telling you he’s not into her, Grace. He looks bored.”
Grace gulped, not wanting to look in their direction, but she would have to walk right past them if she got off where Joey parked. “Yeah, well, bored or not, they’re going out this weekend. Can you pull around the back? I’d rather walk in that way.”
Joey started up the car again, getting Sal’s attention. He turned to look at them, and Grace glanced in the opposite direction as they pulled around back.
She was surprised to see Alex in the back room when she got there. “Hey, what are you doing here?”
“I had a class today, and I needed to get something I left here. How are you, Gracie?”
“Good. How are the babies and your wife?”
“They’re all good.” He smiled, looking every bit the proud daddy. “Coming home in a few days, hopefully. Is Sal here yet?”
Grace turned around to face the cabinet. “He’s outside with his girlfriend.”
“Sal doesn’t have a girlfriend.”
Grace rolled her eyes, glad she wasn’t facing him and tied the apron around her waist. “Well, girlfriend then. Whatever she is, he’s out there with her.”
When he was quiet too long, she turned to see if he was still there. He was grinning and staring at her. “What?”
“Does that bother you, Gracie?”
She felt her face warm, and she turned back to the cabinet, taking extra-long to adjust her things in there. “Does what bother me?”
“That he’s out there with a girl.”
“Of course not. Why would it?” God, she was so freaking obvious. If Alex noticed, it was only a matter of time before Sal did too.
“I dunno, sounded a little like it did. Kind of like when Sal told me about your date last night.”
Grace spun around. “My date?”
“Yeah, the guy that picked you up with the flowers. Is that your boyfriend? Or just a boyfriend?”
She ignored the last question, but feeling a little thrilled, had to ask, “Why would it bother Sal?”
Before Alex could respond, Sal walked in the door. “Hey, I was wondering what your truck was doing out there.”
“I’m just in and out. I had to grab something.” Alex glanced back at Grace as she avoided looking at Sal at all costs. “Gracie thought maybe that was your girlfriend you were talking to outside.”
Grace turned back to the cabinet, squeezing her eyes shut. Where were all the California earthquakes when you needed one?
Sal was quiet for a moment, and she was sure Alex was grinning from ear to ear. “Nope, not even close.”
“You see? Told you, Gracie.”
She didn’t bother turning around. She couldn’t. She knew her face was probably bright red, so she simply nodded, hoping Alex would just drop it. No such luck.
“So I was asking her about the guy last night. Is he your boyfriend?”
Damn it. It was supposed to be Sal asking her, not Alex. How was she supposed to turn this around now? “No, he’s not. He’s just a friend.”
Sal took a seat at the desk. “Do all your friends bring you roses?” he asked.
Finally, Grace turned to face him then glanced at Alex, who was still smiling. “Do you two always ask your employees about their personal lives, or am I just special?”
“No and yes,” Sal responded.
Alex waved. “I’m out. I’ll let you two work this out.”
Gracie fidgeted with her apron, still trying to figure out what was going on. She watched as Sal stood up and closed the door. “I don’t mean to pry, but I will since Alex brought it up. Who was that guy last night?”
This was it. Joey would kill her if she didn’t do this. Sal was obviously calling her out. “He’s a friend of my stepdad’s.” She cleared her throat. “Are you seeing that girl you were talking to outside?”
His eyebrow lifted and he smiled. “Melissa? No, she just got me tickets for the big game this weekend.” He leaned back in his chair, apparently enjoying the quid-pro-quo. “So why’s your stepdad’s friend bringing you roses?”
She shrugged. “I think my mom gave him the idea I might be interested in him.” She stared him straight in the eye, feeling her heartbeat thud against her chest and trying desperately not to read too much into what was happening here, but it was impossible. “I won’t be seeing him again, but you’re going out with Melissa, right? After the game?”
His expression went tense. “I’m not sure yet. I really don’t want to. She’s, well, let’s just say she’s a long story.” For the first time since she met him, he looked her up and down, unnerving her even further. “Where would your mom get the idea you were interested in that guy? He’s a little old for you, isn’t he?”
Grace shifted her weight. “My mom gets a lot of crazy ideas. She’s a long story too.” She bit her bottom lip, debating whether or not she should say what she wanted to and finally did, “Melissa sounded pretty convinced you’d be willing to go.” She glanced at her feet then back at him. “It sounds like fun.”
“Actually,” he paused for a moment, staring at her, “I may not even go to the game.”
Grace had to refrain from smiling. “But she got you tickets.”
“I can give them both to Romero, and he can take Isabel,” he smiled. “What are you doing this weekend?”
She feigned a pout, feeling her heart speed up. “I work all weekend.”
“After work?”
Grace struggled to remain poised. “Nothing.”
“Maybe we can spend some time after work this weekend so we can share our long stories.”
Grace wasn’t sure she even wanted to hear about Melissa, and she certainly didn’t want to tell him about her mom, but spending time with Sal sounded like heaven. “Yeah, okay. That sounds good.”
He smiled, flashing the dimples that were beginning to own her heart. “Then it’s a date.”
After agreeing and finally able to pull her eyes away from his, she was on her way out the door, still unable to believe she had a date with Sal. As excited as she felt, she also could barely catch her breath. What if she was just this week’s date for him? She’d already cried for this man, and nothing had even happened between them. What was she going to do the next time she saw him with another girl?
“Gracie.” She stopped and turned around to meet his eyes. “It’s Friday, so technically, the weekend starts tonight.”
Tonight? She planned on going over to Joey and Taylor’s tonight so they could help her mentally prepare. Now she was on her own. She gulped hard but nodded. “Okay. I didn’t have a ride tonight anyway.”
“Perfect.”
Grace walked out into the restaurant’s main dining room in a daze. Usually she left her phone in the back room, but she brought it out with her in her pocket. She had to tell Joey, but she didn’t want anyone to hear so she texted him.
We’re going on a date tonight!
She hadn’t even put her phone back in her pocket when it buzzed.
Get out!
She started to respond, but it buzzed again.
I knew it! Sexy Mama! I knew it!
This was making her more nervous. She didn’t even know how to begin to be sexy. Taylor and Joey told her she didn’t have to try; that’s what made her even sexier. She always told them she didn’t know what that meant. Joey said her accent had a lot to do with it—the accent she tried so hard to hide but apparently was still present. She didn’t know what was so sexy about it. She’d always thought people thought less of her because of it.
Gotta get to work, but I’ll call you tonight.
The day literally dragged, especially since Sal left to do some interviewing at Angel’s restaurant. Sofia came in to cover for him while he was gone.
“Hey, you.” Sofia walked up to the bar with a big smile. “I heard you handled the kitchen beautifully yesterday while we were busy.”
“Yep, and it was actually Sal’s idea.”
“I know. He also said as soon as we get a couple more bartenders, you’ll be in the kitchen full time.” Sofia held up her hand to high-five Grace. “That’s what you wanted, right?”
Grace high-fived her, letting the delight sink in. Everything was working out like she’d only dreamed, and spending time with Sal hadn’t even been part of that dream until very recently. It was icing on the cake if this didn’t all blow up somehow. Things never seemed to work out for her like this.
“What are we high-fiving about?” Melanie walked over and held her hand up for Grace.
Grace high-fived her, laughing. “I’ll be in the kitchen full time soon.”
“What’s cool is you’re so young you’ll add spice to the kitchen,” Sofia said.
“But I’m old-school when it comes to cooking. I don’t do recipes. I hope Sal realizes that.”
Sofia laughed. “None of our vets do recipes either. Trust me. Just humor Sal if he ever wants you to. It’s not like he’ll have time to be policing you.”
“Did he leave with that chick?” Melanie asked.
Grace bit her bottom lip, hoping she wasn’t so damn obvious again about this subject.
“What chick?” Sofia asked.
“That one from the other day.”
“Which one? Geez, my brother has a load of chicks.”
Grace took advantage when she saw Julie walk up to the bar, by taking her order and she started putting the drinks together, trying not to think about what Sofia had just said. The bad feeling she had in her stomach about letting herself get caught up with Sal just got bigger.
“You know the blonde girl in the suits,” Melanie said. “She’s been here a couple of times. I wonder if he’s actually getting serious with her.”
“No way,” Sofia said as she walked away. “Sal doesn’t do serious. She’s probably just another one of his many. I don’t think he left with anyone. He was on his way to Angel’s.” Sofia stopped and turned back to Melanie. “He’s coming back. Why did you need something?”
“No,” Melanie smiled. “Just being nosey.”
Oscar walked up to the bar with another order for her, reminding her about what Sal had told him. Maybe she’d bring it up tonight. This time of day usually got busy and Grace welcomed the distraction—anything to get her mind off worrying.
By the time Sal returned, things were slowing down. She saw him stop and talk to Julie, giving her that smile she wished he could reserve for just her. Julie was the only other single girl around his age that worked at the restaurant, and Grace could tell even on that very first day when she walked in for the interview that she enjoyed flirting with him. Her phone buzzed in her pocket, snapping her out of her thoughts. It was a text from Joey.
I can hardly wait! You better not forget to call me tonight. No matter how late. =)
She frowned, texting him back.
I won’t cause I’m worried now.
She didn’t bother putting the phone back in her pocket she knew he’d be texting right back. Her phone buzzed almost immediately.
What now, woman?
That made her laugh. Joey always said she was a worrywart. But she had very good reason to be this time. She’d never been this emotional about any guy, much less one who she wasn’t even in a relationship with. It scared her to death to think what it might do to her if something actually happened between them, and like Sofia said—he didn’t do serious. Joey had been right. She evidently wouldn’t be able to handle anything less.
She texted back.
EVERYTHING! We’ll talk tonight. =/
They’d gotten so busy and with Grace continuing to think about Sal she’d forgotten all about eating.
At the end of the night, everyone trickled out until it was just Sal and Grace. He walked up to the bar where she’d just finished cleaning everything. “So did you think about where you wanna go on our date?”
The smoldering stare was the same one that made her insides mush the first time he told her he’d been impressed by her cooking. There was an overload of mushing going on now. She cleared her throat. “I’m kind of hungry. I skipped my lunch.”
His eyebrows pinched. “Why?”
“I dunno. We got busy and I just forgot.”
“You can’t be doing that, Gracie. I’m gonna have to write you up,” He smiled, and she had to take a deep breath. His smile this close was breathtaking. “So what do you feel like eating?”
Nothing sounded particularly appetizing, but then she had a thought. “I know. Why don’t I make us something here? You can try out another one of my grandmother’s recipes.”
His brows shot up. “Sounds good to me. But it’s still a date, Gracie. Just so you know.”
“Got it.” She started walking toward the kitchen; her insides were completely out of control now. He had to stop saying that. She was ready to swoon again. And as obvious as her emotions were to everyone else, he was bound to notice.
It took a few minutes to get everything she needed gathered over by the stove. She knew exactly what she would make for him.
“I’m gonna grab a beer. You want something?” he asked, walking out of the kitchen.
“I’ll take a beer too.”
A few minutes later, Sal walked back into the kitchen, carrying a tin bucket of Coronas on ice and small bowl with sliced up lime wedges. “So what are you making?” He opened up a beer bottle then stuck a wedge of lime in it and handed it to Grace.
She took the beer. “It’s a surprise.” She squeezed the lime into the beer and pushed the wedge all the way in. It wasn’t until she sprinkled the salt on the rim that she noticed he was staring at her. Her heart fluttered, and she took a longer drink than she normally would, hoping it would take a little edge off her nerves. “This isn’t on your menu either, but I think after you taste it, you’ll consider adding it.”
Sal opened a beer for himself and leaned against the counter. “Consider? If it’s anywhere near as good as your casserole, I’ll be demanding it is.”
Grace regretted taking such a big drink of her beer because she needed to burp now. It wasn’t happening in front of Sal. She turned her back on him and placed her hand on her mouth, praying it wasn’t loud. Thankfully, it wasn’t, and she turned around to face him again.
“You okay?”
She assured him she was and put the beer down to begin cooking.
“Oscar said you’re seeing someone. Yet here you are on a date with me. So what gives?”
Grace looked up at him, completely taken off guard by his question. She knew they’d be talking tonight, but this was totally unexpected. Even when he mentioned this being a date several times, she didn’t actually expect him to take it this seriously. His eyebrows went up and he didn’t smile. Apparently, he was very serious.