Alex clapped him on the back. "You gotta learn to pace yourself, man. So how was it?"

Sal had given some thought about telling Alex. He wasn't going to because he knew Alex would be mad but he needed his take on how best to handle this. Honesty seemed completely out of the question, but he dreaded Grace finding out some other way, too.

He flung his duffle bag in the back of Alex's truck. "I messed up."

Alex stared at him across the bed of the truck. He didn't say anything then his brows pinched. "Whatcha do?"

The more he thought about it the more the reality of just how badly he'd messed up sunk in. He rested one arm against the truck and ran his other hand through his hair. "God, Alex. I fucked up bad."

Alex crossed his arms in front of him. "Well, you're not in jail so how bad can it be?"

Giving it one last thought before finally saying it out loud he let it out. "I slept with Melissa."

Alex was stunned into silence for a moment then he finally spoke up. "Ga Damn it, Sal. Why the hell did you do that?"

"I don't even remember it happening! I was so wasted. But she was there in my room this morning." Sal shook his head disgusted with himself. He'd keep the part about not having found any used condoms anywhere to himself. Alex was already worked up enough. "Should I tell Grace?"

"Are you crazy?"

"What if-"

"Sal you'll crush her."

Leave it to Alex to make him feel even worse. "Don't you think it'll be worse if she finds out later somehow?"

"How?"

"I don't know. But Melissa isn't exactly predictable. She was pissed this morning when I blew her off, telling her it was a mistake and asked her to keep it to herself." Alex's scowl was still as fierce as when Sal first laid the news on him. "What if she calls or shows up at the restaurant again and mentions it?"

They both got in the truck. "I still say you're better off taking your chances that Melissa won't do anything stupid. Did she agree to keep it to herself?"

"She did say she wouldn't tell my little girlfriend."

"There you go. Gracie doesn't need to know. Trust me."

The ride to the restaurant was a somber one with Alex shaking his head every now and again. When they got to the restaurant Grace was busy in the kitchen.

"Don't do it, Sal." Alex warned, as he passed him. "I'm telling you."

Sal followed him to the back, all the while thinking about the dreadful possibility of losing Grace if she ever found out. She turned and her eyes met his. There was that smile he loved so much. Damn. He'd only been away from her for a day and it felt like an eternity. He had to make sure she never found out. There was no way he'd survive her walking out of his life now.

Even though she smiled, he saw the apprehension and he couldn't blame her. He'd been a total ass.

"So you had a good time?"

His gut cramped up. "It was good." He wanted to add that he missed her more than he had imagined he d ial ass.

He took her by the hand to the back room. Alex was in there. He gave Sal a warning look and smiled at Gracie. "Good to have him back?"

She smiled but didn't respond otherwise.

Alex sensed Sal's need to be alone with her and stepped out, closing the door behind him. Sal wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her close. "I feel so stupid about those texts. I can't apologize enough, but I can promise you this. It won't happen again." He'd already decided he'd never drink that way again-no matter what. Part of the reason why he'd handled it so badly, was because he never had drunk that way. Not even in college.

Her eyes were uncertain. "I was so worried. I didn't know what to think. I was up half the night, wondering why you would say that and what you could be doing."

Feeling his gut wrench with guilt, he hugged her. Honesty was usually the best way to go no matter how hard it was, but there was no way he would risk not only losing her but hurting her in any way. "I don't know, Grace. Maybe one of the idiots I was with sent them." That was another possibility he'd considered. "It got pretty bad and we all had way too much to drink. I've never drunk to the point of completely forgetting what happened." And he prayed she'd never find out the other thing he'd done and couldn't remember.

She leaned against his chest and he felt her take a deep breath. "I'm just glad you're home and it was nothing. I did consider that maybe someone else had gotten a hold of your phone. I just couldn't believe you would say that. It was such an ugly feeling to read it."

Sal could only imagine. The very thought of her with someone else sickened him. "I'll make it up to you. I promise."

Grace smiled. "Just having you back is enough. But I don't think I'd ever be comfortable with you going to another bachelor party." she smirked. "I don't think you can handle them."

"You got it." He'd agree to anything at this point, as long as she forgave him. "I didn't even want to go to this one but I'd already promised. Never again. From here on, I don't do bachelor parties." He kissed her this time feeling the Gracie kisses he'd come to need. When she stopped to catch her breath he stared at her, feeling bittersweet about being forgiven so easily, but unable to hold back he whispered, "I love you, Gracie."

She smiled, as usual her eyes were getting misty. "I love you, too."

Two weeks after the horrific night Grace had spent, wondering who the hell was keeping Sal so busy in Vegas and why the world he would text her that, she'd finally shaken off the insecurity that he was keeping something from her.

They still hadn't made love but he'd told her he wanted her first time to be special. She nearly melted in his arms when he explained how it felt like this was a first for him too. Sincehimn't made he'd never been in love before, this would be extra special for him also.

This was it. She'd gulped when he told her he scheduled them both off for the entire weekend. He said he was taking her away and she was his for the whole weekend.

After staring at him speechless, she finally asked him where to? But he said it was a surprise. Now the butterflies in her belly were going wild as she packed an overnight bag. He'd be there to pick her up before noon.

Rose sat on the bed next to her bag, watching her pack. Grace had asked Sal about Vincent coming out for the summer but he said he hadn't heard anything about it. It relieved her a little but it hadn't been a definite no. Now Rose was the one that seemed worried. "What's wrong?"

"This thing with you and Sal is getting serious."

"And?"

"Well, what if he asked you to marry him? I'll be stuck here by myself."

The thought had actually crossed her mind, especially because it was getting harder and harder to leave Sal's house every night. Once she slept with him, she knew it'd be just a matter of time before she started staying with him, more and more. "I'd never leave you."

"But you can't take me with you. That wouldn't be very romantic."

Grace laughed. "Its way too early to start worrying about me leaving, Rose. But I promise if it ever comes down to that, I'll figure something out."

"I'll get a job and go live with Taylor and Joey, if I have to."

"You're not getting a job, silly. And I'm not going anywhere, so don't worry."

Her phone buzzed, making the butterflies she'd felt all morning go wild again.

I'm here. R U ready? >=) She smiled and texted him back that she'd be down in a minute, hugged and kissed Rosie with a reassuring smile and took a deep breath as she walked out her bedroom door.

CHAPTER 23.

The nightmare in Vegas had left Sal no choice than to stall for time. There was no way he was putting Grace in danger of getting any disease he might've picked up from Melissa. He'd always been careful, something he'd even harped about to his brothers for years before they both settled down. But the fact was, he hadn't been able to find a condom anywhere in the room. He'd nunk tckquote>early flipped the bed over trying to find one and nothing.

He didn't want to contact Melissa for anything. Not even that. He got tested the first chance he had after he got back. He wanted everything checked. The results came back fairly quickly, and thankfully he was clean, but he still needed time to prepare what he wanted to do for Grace. So here, it was two weeks later and finally it was going to happen.

The moment he saw she carried a good-sized tote when she walked around the corner of her building he jumped out of the car. He rushed over and took it from her, kissing her, the anticipation already multiplying.

"So can you tell me where we're going now?"

"Nope. You'll see when we get there."

He smiled at her confused expression when she saw they were headed back to his place. "We're stopping at your house first?"

"Something like that."

She peered at him. "What are you up to?"

"You'll see."

They arrived at his house and he saw her trying to figure it out. He took her hand and he covered her eyes with his other. "Okay, close your eyes. Make sure you don't peek."

"What are you doing?" Her laugh was a nervous one and he was sure she probably expected to end up in the bedroom.

Instead, he headed to the backyard. When they were under the patio, he took a deep breath and prayed this wouldn't backfire on him. He was sure she'd love it but there was still that tiny possibility it might depress her. The last thing he'd want to do today. "Ready?

She nodded, her smile widening. He removed his hand and she glanced around at his recreation of a campsite. His heart drummed when he saw the smile slowly dissolve. She stood there, taking everything in. The tent in the grassy area of his yard with a portable fire pit just outside and table set up with everything you'd need to roast marshmallows. The inflatable rowboat in the pool with the makeshift fishing gear. There were no fish in his pool but he'd bought a fishing game. The fishing poles were long plastic rods with big hooks on the end and he'd thrown in all the plastic fish in the water so they could pretend to fish.

Minutes had passed since he'd uncovered her eyes and she still hadn't said anything but her eyes had gotten misty. Damn it. "I was uh... actually gonna take you camping but I wanted you to be able to go swimming and I figured it's still too cold to swim in any river or lake this time of year so I improvised."

She finally spoke but still didn't look at him. She stared at the pool. "Isn't the water in the pool cold also?"

He smiled slightly relieved that she didn't sound upset. "It's heated." He walked her over to the picnic basket on the table and opened it. I got stuff for tortas. You'll be starving after a good swim." Their eyes met and she smiled.

"I can't believe you did all this."

He shrugged. "No biggie." He wouldn't mention the wrestling match hewres male d had with the tent he borrowed from his parents. It was old school and he'd forgotten what a bitch it was put up especially by himself. When they'd been kids it was hard enough to put up and that was between him, his brothers and his dad.

Grace leaned in and kissed him. "Yes it is a biggie. This is wonderful. I couldn't ask for anything more."

"Did you see the best part?"

Her eyes pinched and he pointed to the other side of the pool. Her head tilted not quite getting what it was. He'd gone to every damn toy store he could find until he found the biggest stuffed elephant made and placed it by the pool, its butt facing the water.

"You can look at that while you swim-an elephant butt."

She laughed out loud when it finally sunk in, then wrapped her arms around his neck and he wrapped his around her waist. It felt perfect to hold her like this. "What did I do to deserve you, Sal?"

"You have it backwards, Gracie. I don't deserve you." His gut wrenched as the reality of that statement sunk in. He kissed her desperate to push any negative thoughts away. He wanted this day to be perfect. After minutes of kissing her deeply, he felt a little better he pulled away and leaned his forehead against hers. "You wanna go get into your bathing suit? The water should be warm enough now."

She nodded her head with those twinkling excited eyes that he loved so much now.

Once in their bathing suits, Sal jumped in the deep end of the pool and encouraged Grace to do the same. "The water's perfect." She stood at the edge, looking very apprehensive. "C'mon, baby. I'll catch you."

She pinched her nose with her fingers and jumped in. Sal's arms were all over her the moment she hit the water. Just the touch of her excited every part of his body. His lips were on hers as soon as her head popped out of the water. He had to pace himself. He wanted to be the one that showed her confidence in her swimming. "Relax, babe. You'll be fine, just go with it. I'm right here. I'd never let anything happen to you."

After a while, she was swimming back and forth from one end of the pool to the other. Sal cornered her and she wrapped her legs around him. This wasn't happening in the pool. He had something better prepared so he forced himself to pull away. "You wanna fish?"

Grace smiled, but her eyes smoldered. "Is that what you call it?"

Sal had to laugh. "What!"

Grace laughed too, but undid the hold her legs had around his waist. "Yeah, lets fish."

They climbed up on the raft, but not before falling a few times and Grace falling in his arms all slippery wet. Sal was in heaven.

When they finally both sat in the raft trying to fish for the fake fish, Sal loved how Grace concentrated. He didn't even try. He just watched her and how hard she tried to get the fish. "I got it!"

His eyes were on her the entire time she pulled up the plastic fish, then kissed him in the excitement.

"You hungry, Gracie?" he asked, "ish, then barely able to take his lips away.

"Yes!"

They got out and Sal walked over to the picnic basket after drying off to get the toleras for the tortas.

"I can make them," Grace offered.

"Nope. I'm making them. You just get comfortable."

Sal had made plenty of cold tortas in his time. He put everything together and walked out with a platter to where Grace was lounging by the tent. She smirked. "I peeked in. It looks comfortable. That's not what we used when I went camping."

Sal had to laugh. "Okay, so I can't sleep on the ground and the inflatable mattress almost rivals the mattress in my room, but still, we'll be in a tent, outside. Lets not get too nitpicky."

Gracie laughed. "Oh no, you didn't just say that with a straight face."

Sal laughed and set the tray down. They ate in silence and he watched Gracie, enjoying his food for once, instead of the other way around. "This is good," she said, covering her mouth.

"That's just the water talking. Everything is delicious when you've been swimming."

"No! This is really good." She leaned in and kissed him. "You're making this day so perfect... I love you, babe."