"Then don't go."

"I won't." Her heart was going a mile a minute now. She never expected his reaction to be so explosive. "But let me tell him."

Sal pulled the keys out of his pocket. "Lets go."

He held her hand firmly all the way to the door then unlocked it for her. He started to walk out with her but she pulled her hand out of his. "Wait here, please."

He stopped, but obviously had no intentions of going back in without her. She tried to give him a reassuring look but he was busy staring Frank down.

Frank smiled as she approached him. "Hello, Grace. You look very nice tonight."

"Thank you. Listen Frank I'm really sorry but I can't go with you tonight. I already had other plans my mom didn't know about. I didn't get her text until just now."

There was no hiding his disappointment. "That's too bad... and there's no way you can change them?"

"No, she can't." Sal slipped his hand in hers. Grace wanted the earth to split open and suck her in. This was the most awkward situation she'd even been in and it was all her mother's fault. "Not tonight or any other night. Got it?" Sal pointed at the roses. "And you can keep those. Take them to her mother. She'd probably like them."

Frank looked flabbergasted. He cleared his throat. "I see." He nodded at Grace. "I'll give your mom a call." He didn't even glance at Sal, before spinning around and walking to the driver's side of the car.

Sal didn't wait for him to leave before heading back inside, holding Grace's hand in his. Some of the busboys stood just inside the door. "It's cool guys, get back to work." They all walked back toward the kitchen. As soon as he locked the door, he turned to her, his eyes still on fire. "Why didn't you just tell him the truth?"

Grace gulped. The intensity practically radiated off him and though it unnerved her, she stood her ground. "I just wanted to get rid of him as fast as I could, and let my mom do the rest. It's her fault-let her deal with it." Remembering how she felt when Melissa showed up wanting to see Sal, and how Sal had told her already that he was seeing someone, softened her. He had every right to be angry that she'd even consider going out with Frank, even one last time. She brought her hand to his face, caressing his cheek, and he leaned into it. "Don't be mad. Please? I promise to set my mom straight as soon as I get a chance to talk to her."

Her pulled her too his chest, hugging her tight, and she felt how hard his heart pounded. "Well, I set him straight already so if his ass ever shows up here again, he'll be answering to me. I thought you said your step-dad got the job already. Why is your mom still asking you to entertain this guy?"

"I don't know. He owns a hotel casino in Laughlin, and I guess she wants to stay in his good graces. Guess she thinks he might come in handy someday."

Grace was so furious with her mom, especially because she knew her mom didn't give up that easily. She'd seen Sal's attempts to hide his contempt for her mother whenever Grace spoke of her. He didn't e Hesheven try hiding the disgust now. She could only hope Frank had enough sense to listen to Sal and not her mother.

That night, after spending another incredible evening with Sal in his backyard, he dropped her off late again. Only this time, her mom was waiting up. She'd texted Grace earlier, but after Sal had calmed down about Frank. She dared not even read another one of her mother's texts for fear that he might ask her about it. She could only imagine what her mother would be texting her after talking with Frank.

Her mother sat slumped at the table in what was beginning to feel like an increasingly small kitchen. Spending so much time in Sal's huge house made her realize how small this place really was.

"Who did you get to scare Frank off?"

"My boyfriend." It felt so odd saying it out loud.

"Your boyfriend?" Her mother sat up straight. "Since when do you have a boyfriend?"

"Since last week. I hadn't had a chance to talk to you all week."

"Who is he?"

"His name is Sal Moreno."

She literally saw the cha-ching go off in her mother's brightened eyes. "Is he the owner of Moreno's?"

"One of them. His family owns it. His parents are retired and he and his brothers have taken over."

"I've heard a lot about Moreno's. My girlfriends go there often for Sunday brunch. I didn't realize you were involved with one of the brothers. I heard they're all very good looking. How many are there?" It seemed her mother had suddenly forgotten all about Frank.

"Three. He wasn't happy about Frank showing up there, mom. You can't do that anymore."

Her mother frowned. "I know. He told me. I didn't know what to say. I thought maybe you just put up one of your co-workers to make him go away because you were being stubborn. I felt so bad that I invited him over tomorrow for lunch."

Grace let out an exasperated sigh, then remembered and smiled. "I won't be here." She started to her room done talking to her mom.

"I thought you said Saturday was your day off this week?"

"It is. But I have a baby shower to go to. I'll be gone all day." She needed to get to bed. She was looking at a long day tomorrow. She'd made plans to have breakfast with Taylor and Joey, since they were both whining about being abandoned ever since she started seeing Sal. She'd kill two birds with one stone because while they were out she could pick up a gift for the shower.

Since Alex refused to take the babies out yet, even though they'd been cleared by the doctors to leave the hospital and were home now, the shower was being held at Alex's home. As usual, his parents had gone overboard. When it came to throwing parties, their mother was insatiable. Nothing was ever too much.

Sal spent the entire morning helping get things together. He felt bad that they'd all gone over to help start setting things up last night and he'd chosen to spend another evening alone with Grace instead, so he'd headed to Alex's early that morning.

The place was a madhouse already, as was usually the case the morning of any Moreno family party. Alex's covered deck was big enough, but his mom still insisted on adding a huge canopy over the pool area to allow for extra tables and chairs around it, which only meant one thing-she'd invited everyone. He was surprised only a handful of family members from Mexico were there, but the day was still young.

He walked over to where Alex was setting up a popcorn machine. Next to it was a cotton candy machine. Alex frowned when he saw him. "Can you believe this shit?"

Sal laughed. "I can't believe you're surprised."

"I told her I don't want all these people around my girls. Do you have any idea how many germs are going to be floating around here today? She's nuts if she thinks she's going to pass the babies around for everyone to hold." Alex slammed the back of the popcorn machine closed and moved on to the cotton candy machine "You better talk to her. Because you know me, I'd never say anything to hurt mom's feelings, but when it comes to my girls, I'm putting my foot down."

"Easy." Sal clapped Alex on the back. He expected nothing less than a lion's roar when it came to Alex and all three of his girls. "I'll talk to her. Don't worry."

He walked back toward the house. Great. He was bringing Grace around for her first formal meeting with the family and already there was the possibility of a family meltdown.

His mom assured him no one would be passing the babies around. She had plenty of pictures of them to pass around instead. She'd also set up a screen outside that would play the babies' homecoming video-two hours of goo-gooing and gah-gahing and two beautiful baby girls who slept through the whole thing.

After helping for a few hours, he went back to the restaurant to check on the food that would be delivered to Alex's house a little later. Alex requested Gracie's casserole and she'd been incredibly flattered. The huge trays looked as good as the ones Grace had made.

He went home to shower and change then headed to pick up Grace. He worked his jaw when he remembered the man Grace's mom sent to pick her up last night. At this point, he wasn't sure he wanted to meet her mom at all. The guy was at least ten years older than Grace. But that wasn't even the point. At this point, he wasn't sure he wanted to meet her mom at all. Just the notion that she'd use her own daughter like that infuriated him. Now that Grace was with him, there was no way he would put up with that kind of shit.

As he drove up her street, he pulled his phone out to text her that he was there. He noticed from the very first time he picked her up that she hadn't wanted him to come up to her apartment. He knew she had it hard. He wouldn't push anything that would make her uncomfortable.

Pullith=e up to heng up slowly next to a Cadillac that looked just like the guy's Cadillac from last night, he parked right out front of her apartment building. He couldn't be certain, but it was the same make and color and looked completely out of place in this neighborhood. He parked behind it and called Grace instead of texting her, taking in the Nevada plates as her phone rang.

As soon as she answered he asked, "Is that guy from last night here?"

"Yes."

Sal pulled the keys out of the ignition and bolted out of the car. "Why?"

"We're on our way down. I'll explain when I get out there. Just give me a second please." She hung up before he could ask anything else. He wasn't sure who he was more enraged with, her mom or the fucker for having the nerve to show up after he'd made it clear Grace was with him now. He certainly wasn't mad at Grace. He slammed the door to his own car and stalked toward her building. Maybe he hadn't been clear enough.

CHAPTER 19.

Grace and Rose rushed down the stairs each holding a gift bag. "Just follow my lead, Rosie. I was hoping Frank wouldn't get here until after I'd left. Sal's not gonna be happy." Her only hope was that when Sal saw Rose he'd calm down a little. Although his intensity had almost excited her last night, she didn't like upsetting him. She heard it in his voice just now. He was already upset.

Sal stood at the bottom of the stairs looking up as if trying to figure out which of the endless identical doors was the one to her apartment. His hardened expression softened a bit when he saw them. She smiled big, hoping he would too, but his expression was hardly forbearing.

He nodded at Rosie then turned to Grace. "Why is he here?"

"My mother invited him over for lunch. I didn't know anything about it until last night." She slipped in her hand in his. Even though she felt a little weird about doing it in front of Rose, she leaned in and kissed his tense lips. "I talked to her last night. This whole thing with me entertaining Frank is over. She knows now. She and my step-dad can entertain him all they want. I'm out."

He still didn't smile, but he turned to Rose. "I'm sorry Rose, I didn't say hi." Then he glanced at the bags they carried and his expression hardened again. "Grace, you didn't have to get anything. That's not why I invited you today."

"Nonsense, I was going to anyway. It's nothing extravagant. But I thought they were adorable. You'll see."

He frowned, glancing up at the building before turning around and they walked back to his car, her hand in his the whole way.

By the time they reached Alex's house, he was in a much better mood. He'd quizzed Rosie about soccer. Grace had told him about Rosie playing soccer since she was a little girl and how she was on her high school team now. She'd stopped playing on her club team a few years ago when her mother announced it just wasn't something she could afford anymore-as though she was bringing in the money that paid for it. Luckily, it didn't cost anything to be on her school team, so though she didn't get to play all year round like she did in club she at least got to play during soccer season at school. She was also on the volleyball team but soccer was her first love.

Grace, Joey and Taylor were regulars at her games, while her mother was a regular no-show. Rose didn't ask her anymore why she didn't show up. Half the time Rose didn't even tell her mom she had a game. She told Grace not to either, that it didn't matter. But Grace got the distinct feeling she did it so there would be a less painful reason why her mother hadn't shown up-the fact that she didn't know about it.

Sal had warned Grace about his family's over-the-top parties. He hadn't exaggerated. The only thing missing was a petting zoo and the clowns. Rosie's eyes were as wide as hers felt when they walked into the back and there were as many people there as when they were fully loaded at the restaurant. "Wow," she said, as they walked through the crowd, holding Sal's hand. "You weren't kidding."

After stopping at about half a dozen different tables full of family members as Sal introduced her and Rosie to them as his girlfriend and her baby sister, Grace's head spun. There was no way she'd remember all their names.

She saw the resemblance in many of them. The Moreno genes were strong throughout his family. The big smiles from some of the elders, were telling of the points she earned when she spoke to them in her perfect Spanish.

Most seemed surprised when they heard the word girlfriend. Some were outright blunt about it. "No lo puedo creer!" One of his aunt's exclaimed, making Grace cringe. Even his aunt couldn't believe Sal was capable of committing.

They finally settled at their own table. No sooner had they sat than more family members arrived and sat at the same table with them. Sal introduced them as his aunt and uncle and their sixteen-year-old son Vincent, whom he referred to as Vinnie, from La Puente. They'd driven more than two hours to make the shower.

Sal walked away to fetch them all drinks. Rose leaned into her. "They hired waiters for a baby shower?"

"They hire waiters for everything," Vincent said, with a smirk. "My aunt's known for outdoing everyone in the family with her parties."

His mom gave him a look and he rolled his eyes.

He had both Grace and Rose's attentioe0" n. He resembled Sal and his brothers in many ways, except there was an edge about him. Grace noticed the tattoo of a skull and bones and words she couldn't quite make out, on his forearm and this boy was only sixteen? "We've never attended any of the Moreno's parties."

He chuckled. "Well, if you're with Sal now, get used to it. It's like this every time."

"Where is La Puente?" Rose asked.

"About a half hour before Los Angeles. Ever been to the L.A county fair?"

Rose shook her head.

"Oh, well it's near there."

Sal arrived with a tray of lemonades for Grace, Rose and his aunt, then handed a beer to his uncle and a soda to Vincent. "Where's my beer?"

"You're funny Vin," Sal said, sitting down next to Grace.

Vincent continued talking to Rose while Sal pointed out more of his family to Grace, laughing at some of the anecdotes he told her about each one. "We'll go in and see the babies in a little. Valerie and Sofie were changing them just now."

"I can hardly wait." Grace squeezed his hand.

Both Sal and Grace turned when she noticed Rose and Vincent stand up. "Vincent is gonna show me the koi pond on the other side of the house."

Sal eyed his cousin. "Best behavior Vin. I mean it."

"You know me."

"Yeah, that's why I'm worried." Sal frowned as they walked away. He turned to his aunt and uncle who were engaged in conversation with the people in the next table and spoke softly. "Every family has a bad seed. He's ours. That boy's nothing but trouble. Always has been. Keep an eye on your sister."

Grace watched as Vincent and Rose walked away, talking. Unlike Grace, Rose had always made friends easily. It didn't surprise her that she'd already made a friend here. She turned in their direction again. "He's not that bad is he?"

"I wouldn't have let them walk away if I thought he'd be stupid enough to do anything wrong here. No need to worry." He leaned and kissed her. "She'll be fine here. It's just that I hate to say it because he's family, but he's definitely not someone you want your sister associating with too much."

Feeling a little relieved that her sister wasn't in any immediate danger she smiled. "I'm glad he'll keep her busy at least for a little bit. I was afraid she might get bored."

Sal stood up. "Just keep your eye out. C'mon lets go see my nieces." He looked her over as they walked toward the house. "By the way, you look beautiful."

Grace chewed her lip. "Thank you." She wondered how long it would be before she stopped getting that tingly feeling around him.

Alex's house was just as big as Sal's, only not quite as perfectly kept. But she figured having two newborns in the house must make it hard to keep up with everything else. Alex walked out of one of the hallways and smiled when he saw Grace. "Hey, Grace. You look nice."

Grace felt her face warm. She'd obsessed about what to wear all morning. Since she and Rose wore roughly the same size, she borrowed one of Rose's pale pink baby doll tanks and a white denim skirt. The skirt was also Rose's and a bit shorter than what she normally liked but Rose assured her she looked fine. She also straightened her hair. Since it's so damn thick it usually took her forever but Rose helped her with it this morning and they got through it in half the time. "Thank you. I can't wait to see your babies."

"Come on. Not too many people are going to get past this hallway today but you're one of the few I'll make an exception for."

As they walked through the hallway, Grace took in some of the pictures on the wall. Alex must've met his wife way back in high school because there were a few of them together where they looked so young. Even back then, he was huge.

She and Sal followed him into the last room at the end of the hall with the double door entryway. His wife Valerie, a very attractive petite blonde woman with big brown eyes, smiled as she looked up. She sat on the huge bed, holding one of the babies while Sofia sat across from her on a rocking chair, holding the other one.

Grace brought her hand to her mouth as she approached. "Valerie this is my star employee, Grace. Grace this is my wife, Valerie."

Valerie smiled. "Finally I get to meet what all the fuss is about. Alex has been going on and on about you ever since he hired you. I was beginning to get a little jealous." She glanced down at the hand that Sal held firmly in his and smiled. "I guess I don't have anything to worry about."

"No, you don't," Sal said before Grace could answer.

Alex took the baby Sofia held. "Like any of my girls have anything to worry about. Ever." He leaned in and kissed the baby on the nose. Then walked over to Grace with her. "This is my beautiful Sienna."