"Nothing, mom." Sal gave Alex a warning glare.

"What are you two talking about?" his father demanded.

"Nothing." Sal repeated.

"Just tell 'em. He's got a thing for Grace."

Sal let his head drop back. Damn Alex.

"The one you brought to the hospital?" His mother eyed him.

Sal stood up, wrapping his burrito in a napkin. "I gotta go."

"No. I asked you a question." His mother put her hand on her waist.

Alex laughed, sticking what was left of his burrito in his mouth also standing up. Sal pushed him. "Ass!"

Sal walked over to his mom and kissed her forehead. "Yes, mom, the one I brought to the hospital."

"You got a thing for her? What does that mean?"

Sal shook his head, glaring at Alex. "Means she's driving me crazy, but she's on a date right now so don't start planning any parties yet."

"She is?" Alex asked. "How do you know?"

Sal bitterly took a bite of his burrito and felt like flinging the rest in the trash but his mother would have a fit. After a hard swallow, he turned to Alex before heading out. "The guy picked her up at the restaurant. Roses and all." He turned back to his mom and hugged her. "I gotta go mom." Then walked over to his dad and clapped him on the shoulder. "I'll keep you updated about the investors. I still gotta meet with them a couple more times."

Just before he walked out Alex got his attention. "Hey, Sal."Sal turned back to a very serious looking Alex. "Remember what you told me when I thought it was too late for me and Valerie? Doesn't mean anything, bro." He shrugged. "Just 'cause she's o cuseyou told mn a date doesn't mean it's hopeless. But you gotta make a move, dude, before it is."

Sal nodded, knowing it was true. Making a move wouldn't be the hardest part. Her shooting him down or things not working out and having to be around her after would be the worst. So was it worth the risk? The answer to that screamed in his head... absolutely.

CHAPTER 13.

For the first time in 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. Just a few more weeks and 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's into 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 fght="red 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, girl friend 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 boy friend?"

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 kddehe 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. 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 step-dad'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 step-dad'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 lets 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 on 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 s kMelike fun.he 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 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 it 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. 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.