Grace drank some of her coffee, feeling much more in control of her emotions now and so happy she'd told Joey. But she was confused. "How so?"

"For some reason it bothered him right? But it's none of his business. It might have b K mitared aeen fun to lay it on extra thick every time one of us picked you up."

Grace rolled her eyes. "No, I wouldn't play those kinds of games. The point is he doesn't think very highly of me. Obviously. And here I am falling for him? How dumb am I?" She shook her head. "Tell me to get over it, Joey. Tell me what an idiot I am."

"No because you're not. Okay, lets think about this. What about him, besides his looks, has you falling?"

"Nothing! I'm telling you. He's been a total jerk to me, twice now. And the worst thing is while I'm sitting here on my day off talking about him and daydreaming about him every other moment of the day, he's out meeting girl after girl enjoying a life outside of the restaurant and all I can do is think about getting back there. It's pathetic."

"Then maybe that's it," Joey said, raising his eyebrows.

"What's it?"

"Maybe you like the cold, indifferent type."

Grace laughed. "Great, that seems like the best type of guy to get hung up on."

"I still think it's strange that it bothered him about me and Taylor. I mean, why would he care?"

Grace shrugged. "He's like that. Even Alex and his sister said he's too much. Nitpicky almost to a fault. Maybe he found it offensive somehow?"

"Offensive to who? Him?" Joey lifted his eyebrow even higher. "You know, that could only mean one thing."

Grace shook her head. "Oh, please let's not even go there. I already went over that possibility and it's too preposterous to even consider."

"Why?"

Joey couldn't be serious. "What possible interest can he have in me?" She saw that look on Joey's face, he was about to let her have it. Before he could, she continued. "He's twenty-five, Joey."

"And?"

"He's been around town and back. The man hasn't even lived at home for years. He's into women, not girls. Did you not see that woman he was talking to in the parking lot the other day?"

"The blonde in a foo-foo suit?"

"Exactly. That's what he's used to, and apparently into."

Joey shook his head. "You weren't there when he first stepped out to talk to her. If I had to make an observation, I'd say the ditz was getting on his nerves."

"Didn't look like it to me and neither did the one in the restaurant that same day. It was the same thing, she looked sophisticated and experienced in dealing with men."

"You have experience."

Grace gave him a look and sipped her coffee. Joey knew all about her experience or lack thereof. She just hadn't filled him in on all the detail of why but he knew she was still a prissy virgin.

"Okay, but what planet are you from that you think a virgin wouldn't appeal to man?"

"I didn't say that. All I'm saying is he has all these beautiful, sophisticated women throwing themselves at him. Why on earth would he be interested in the little bus riding, wannabe cook from Chula Vista?"

Joey put his hand on his waist. Grace was in for it now. "Oh no you didn't. No you didn't just put yourself down, because of this guy." He shook his head. "Grace, I won't have this."

"But-"

"No! I won't let you turn into this little wimpy hoo-haw, over some guy you just met. I've stood there all year and watched you cook the living shit out of every recipe those instructors have thrown at you. You've blown them all away time and time again. Are you actually gonna start questioning your talent, your worth because of some guy?" He pointed a finger at her. "You may be riding a bus now. But this." His finger went up and down in front of her. "This is where it all starts. You're gonna be great. More than great and why? Because you worked your ass off to get there, unlike Mr. Perfect over there. What did he do besides take over daddy's already successful restaurant? Wow, he should feel real proud of himself. What a man-"

"All right, all right." Grace was fine listening to Joey's little rant until he started putting Sal down. "I am aware that I can cook. I was just being melodramatic. And, for the record he went to school and got a master's in business management. He's incredibly smart and meticulously organized. It's amazing the way he's able to run not just one very busy restaurant but also help with the other one and be in charge of meeting with all these investors. Everybody at the restaurant seems to love him and although it's a lot of work to run the place and deal with the meeting he handles it all brilliantly. He's also planning on opening a lot more restaurants, so he didn't just take over his father's business."

Joey smirked. "But it's just his looks you're attracted to, uh?"

Grace picked up Joey's wrist, twisting it.

"Ow!"

She saw on his watch it was time to go and stood up. "We're gonna be late."

Joey shook his wrist making a face. "This-my love-is not over. We'll have to get to the bottom of his odd behavior."

Grace was done trying to figure it out. There was only one thing short of quitting her job, which was out of the question, that she needed to do-get over it. She knew it was much easier said than done, but at this point, she had no other option.

Sal had a few stops he had to make before going into the restaurant Monday morning. He'd finally had a chance to go over the proposal in its entirety. For the most part everything seemed okay. Except for a few minor details like the possibility of television commercials, in which, neither Sal nor any of the Morenos would have a say.

Another detail was Sal's original vision was to keep all the restaurants relatively close by, preferably in San Diego county. Th Kgo dete proposal stated they wanted to leave the possibility of branching out into other big cities, like Los Angeles, which wasn't too far, but there was even a mention of Vegas and New York. It was already a pain having to go back and forth from the two restaurants and they were only a half hour away from each other.

Granted it was all dependent on how well the local restaurants did first, but leaving it out there as a possibility was a bit nerve-racking. His brothers would all have to be in agreement before he signed anything. Just because the restaurants were out of town, or state even, didn't mean Sal would be okay with someone else making the decisions. As long as the Moreno name was on the line, he and his brothers would have final say on everything. That would mean a lot of traveling.

His mother had a huge breakfast waiting for him when he arrived at their house. "Ma, I told you, I was just gonna be in and out."

"Oh, you can eat just a little," she said, planting an overflowing plate of eggs, chilaquiles and the ever present beans and rice on the table. "Sit."

His dad was already eating. He also motioned for him to have a seat. Sal sat and started going over the proposal with his dad. All the while, his mother kept adding things to the table, tortillas, red salsa, green salsa, fresh Mexican cheese. Sal knew better than to argue. He'd just smile back at his mother, who seemed so happy to be serving him. In a way, he felt guilty for not letting her indulge him more often, lately. It's what the woman lived for.

Sal explained all the need-to-know stuff to his dad, about what the investors were asking. All his dad really cared about was the food and how things were run in general. Everything else wasn't worth trying to explain. His dad was anti-technology, so any explanation of the marketing and Internet use for the catering part of the business would be a waste of time. It amazed Sal he'd gone the years he did without any type of computers until he and his brothers were old enough to insist he get with the times, but he did mention New York and Vegas. "What? You plan on never having a family?"

Sal stopped mid chew, raising his eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

"Your mother and I are too old to be going back and forth to New York or even Vegas. This is gonna be all you and your brothers. You see how Alex is now about leaving Valerie and he's only fifteen minutes away." He shook a tortilla at him. "You don't think you're going to have a pregnant wife someday?"

Sal frowned and kept chewing. He'd managed to keep Grace out of his mind all morning and now his dad went and mentioned a pregnant wife. As ridiculous as the thought was, the first thing that popped in his head was Grace. "That's a big if, Pop."

"What? You don't want babies?" His mom stared at him horrified.

Sal turned to her. "No."

"Why not?" Her shrill voice went up a few notches.

"Mom, I do, I meant Vegas and New York are a big if."

"But you do want kids."

"Yes, mom, I want kids." Normally, Sal would've laughed at the turn the conversation had taken, but his parents had inadvertently shoved Grace back into the sp Kk iwouotlight of his thoughts. Something he'd worked all morning to shut out.

After about another twenty minutes of going over things with his dad, and his mother casually slapping more food on his plate a few times, he finally got out of there. Between last night's dinner and today's breakfast Sal was really going to need to get in the gym more often this week.

With his mind on his parents, the proposal and working out, he was finally clear of any thoughts of her. Then he got a text from Oscar.

Hey Chief not sure who's the boss today. Just letting you know I'll be a little late. I'll explain when I get there.

Even this brought on thoughts of Grace.

CHAPTER 10.

Alex was already at the restaurant when he got there. Romero was there too, eating a burrito. He often stopped by to grab a bite before work or even during. Since he had his own security firm, he could come and go as he pleased. He hadn't been around in a while. Sal's phone buzzed just as he reached them at the bar. He frowned when he saw who the text was from, then raised his eyebrows when he read it.

"What's that look about?" Romero said, with a mouthful.

"San Diego State made it to the next round of the playoffs." Sal lifted his phone in the air. "Extra tickets for Saturday's game."

"You're shitting me?" Romero wiped his mouth. "Who has extra tickets?"

"Yeah, that's the catch. Some chick I'm having a hard enough time getting rid of. If I take her up on this, forget about it. She'll be dropping by here and calling not stop."

"You have any idea what those tickets go for, Sal?" Alex asked. "How many does she have? Maybe you can buy them off her."

"Dude, I don't even wanna ask. This is the one I told you about that got into my apartment in Los Angeles, remember?"

Alex laughed. "Oh, that chick?"

"Yeah, I rarely respond to her texts."

"Well, don't go with her. Take the tickets and we'll go with you," Romero said.

Sal gave him a look. "You don't think she's gonna be there?"

His phone buzzed again and Sal read it. "Two tickets."

"Dibs!" Romero said.

"I can't go anyway." Alex frowned. "Valerie's ready to go any minute."

Sal started toward the back. "I'd rather not. It's not worth it."

"Ask her Nna rathow much she wants for them." Romero followed him to the back. "I'll buy them. Those tickets are sold out for sure."

Sal stopped at the door. He knew Romero's persistent ass was not going to stop. He should've never said anything. He took a deep breath and texted Melissa back.

My friend is interested. How much do you want for them?

Her response was immediate.

Don't be silly. I'm offering them 2 you 4 free.=) But I was really hoping you'd go.

Sal glared at Romero. "She says they're free-if I go."

"So tell her you will. You don't have to."

"I can't do that."

"Then we'll go together. What's the big deal?

His phone buzzed again.

I'll drop them off this week. Gotta get back to my hearing. Ttyl!

"Great." Sal tossed his phone on the desk.

"What?"

"Now she has an excuse to drop by. She's bringing the tickets this week."

"Yes!" Romero did an inward fist pump. "So you going with me?"

"I guess," Sal said, taking a seat at the desk.

"'Cause if you don't want to I'll buy them off you and take Izzy."

"I wouldn't sell them to you, ass. But I gotta be there."

Romero drummed his hands against the doorway. "Then, let me know how we're gonna do this. I can drive if you want."

Sal nodded but didn't even bother to look back at him. Romero walked out and Sal could hear him boasting loudly. "Guess who's going San Diego State's finals?"

Sal shook his head, annoyed. Over the years Romero had been the cause of many things gone wrong. It was only fitting that this too, was his fault.

Oscar walked in just after four in the afternoon. Sal eyed him as he strolled through the restaurant and into the back room. He finished the interview he was doing and hurried to the back. Alex was in there with him.

He turned to Sal when he saw him. "I was just telling Alex about my daughter. She was in the emergency room all morning because her fever was so high."

"What's wrong with her?" Sal asked.