Making You Mine (17 page)

Somehow, through all the sniffing and whimpering she managed to tell him about what Oscar told her and the night before. She especially felt stupid about how she’d actually thought she felt a vibe from Sal. Then she told Joey about the Barbie doll that visited Sal today and how she’d spent nearly a half hour in the restroom crying like an idiot over this man who clearly is interested in bettering his restaurant; so of course he’s going to be nice to her if he thinks she’ll make a difference in the kitchen. “And then to top it all off, Frank, that man I told you my mom wants me to hang out with so that Ruben can get a job already, picks me up right at the door with roses.”

“Did Sal see?”

“Yes! And he asked me if Frank was gay too. I was so embarrassed.”

“You see? Why would he ask something like that if he
wasn’t
interested in you?”

“I don’t know, Joey. But based on the women I’ve seen him with I’m definitely not his type. He’s going on a date with her this weekend. I can’t get caught up on a guy like this, but I’m afraid I already am. How do I stop this?”

Her expression said it all. Grace might be done but her mother wasn’t. She had more up her sleeve. Her mom closed the door and Grace apologized to Joey for the interruption.

“Okay lets think about this. You get one ride from a co-worker and that warrants a warning right off? He’s already questioned who me and Taylor were. He took you to be a part of something so intimate with his family and now he’s asking about the guy with the roses?”

Grace shook her head. “I can’t Joey. I have to stop reading so much into nothing. I’m being delusional and look what it’s doing to me. I’m a mess.”

“Why don’t you do this? Wait and see if he has anything more to say or ask about Frank tomorrow. Then casually ask him about the blonde bimbo and see if he gets the connection. If he’s so smart he should pick up on it.”

Grace threw the tissue in the small wastebasket by her bed. “The problem is he probably
will
ask about him but not for the reasons I’m thinking and I have to stop making more of it. It does me no good.”

“Then maybe hones and straight forward is the best way to go—enough of the wondering. If he asks you ask him why he wants to know and while you’re at it, ask him why he told your co-worker you’re off limits.”

Grace thought about it. Maybe Joey was right. What’s the worst thing that could happen? “You don’t think he’ll think I’m full of myself or worse think it’s laughable?”

“No and I’ll tell you this. I’m going to be dying to know what his reasoning is for saying you’re off limits. You’re a sexy mama, and you don’t give yourself enough credit, Grace. I wouldn’t be surprised at all to hear he
is
interested in something more with you.”

Grace blew her nose and wiped away the rest of her stupid tears. “Okay but if I do this and there are perfectly logical answers to my questions meaning he’s
not
interested you have to stop saying stuff like that. Promise me, because it’s already hard enough and I really,
really
have to get over this. I can’t afford to quit but if I have to, I will. ”

“You are
not
quitting, Grace. At least not until you have enough experience and you can a job somewhere better.”

Grace couldn’t even imagine working somewhere better than where she got to see Sal everyday.

She took a deep breath and gathered her thoughts. She really needed to get it together. Because there were other bigger things she had to focus on. She couldn’t—wouldn’t—let her feelings for Sal get in the way of her dream. The dream she’d originally set her sights on when she applied at Moreno’s in the first place.

~*~

Sal stopped at his parents on his way home to talk to his dad about the conference call he’d had that day but mostly because he needed the distraction. He couldn’t stop thinking about Grace and the date she was probably still on.

To his surprise, Alex was there. His mom had a whole dinner set up for him.

“Hey, how’s the family?”

Alex nodded as he took a bite of a king size burrito. Once done chewing he responded, “They were all sound asleep when I left. I needed to get some sleep myself. I just woke up, but I’m going back as soon as I’m done eating. The docs say they should be ready to come home in a couple of days.”

Sal had gone back the morning after they were born and was able to go in and see them up close. His nieces were absolutely beautiful.

“So what do
you
think?” Alex asked him.

Sal shrugged. “I dunno. I’m beginning to think maybe we should just move slower. Do one restaurant at a time.” Thoughts of opening up another restaurant and taking Grace with him as the head cook had been on his mind all week. But he didn’t dare tell Alex that.

“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 on 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.

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 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.

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.”