Even after talking to Joey for over an hour, going over every detail of her date and him reassuring her this was not only a good thing it was great she still couldn’t sleep. But it was like Sal said—a good thing. She was too excited.

Every time she closed her eyes she relived those incredible kisses.

~*~

Grace wasn’t sure what to expect when she arrived at the restaurant the next day. Their eyes met as soon as she walked in and he greeted her with most breathtaking smile. Her insides had already been going wild even before she got there. As she put on her apron in the back he startled her coming up from behind. She nearly let out a yelp before laughing when she realized it was him and he planted a long smoldering one on her.

“Is the door locked?” Grace asked when she came up for air and she was able to gather her thoughts.

“I think.”

“What do you mean you think? What if someone walks in?”

He shrugged going in for another one. “Sal, I don’t want anyone to know.”

He pulled back immediately with a glare. “What? Why?”

“Aren’t you the one all about professionalism? Isn’t it gonna be weird for everyone to know me and you are… a thing now?”

The glare softened into a smile. “I like that. Okay, I’ll be discreet to an extent. But Gracie, if anyone gets wind of this or somehow finds out, I really don’t give a shit. It’s our business, not theirs. They’ll just have to deal with it.”

With that, he kissed her again and the ride began. Gracie decided not to fight it and just hold on tight.

~*~

That afternoon Sal got a text from Romero. He was at the game with Isabel.

That Melissa chick really pissed me off. Just an FYI you’ll probably be hearing from her.

Sal frowned and texted back.

What happened?

He sat back in his chair and waited for a response. Grace walked into the back room and he threw the phone on his desk, standing up. That could wait, this couldn’t. She smiled when he pushed the door closed and pulled her to him. “You on a break, or are you just here to see me?” He kissed her before she could answer and she giggled against his mouth.

The door handle jiggled and Grace pulled away. It irritated him that she cared so much about people finding out. Grace spun around and opened the cabinet when the door opened. Sofia walked in. “I thought you were interviewing today at Angel’s.”

“Nah, I moved those to Monday. I’m only gonna do them on Monday and Tuesday now.”

Grace said hello to Sofia and walked out with her phone in her hand, in too much of a rush. Sofia looked at him funny, lifting an eyebrow. Sal sat back down at the desk not acknowledging her suspicion and grabbed his phone that had buzzed twice since he threw it down. He read the first text.

She got rude with Izzy when I told her she took your ticket and well you know me. I wasn’t having it.

“Godamnit!”

“What?” Sofia asked as she put her apron on.

“Romero.”

“Ah,” Sofia laughed. “’Nuff said.”

Sal read the next one.

I told her I’d pay for the damn tickets but she said you’d be paying her for this one way or “another” I told the bitch that’s probably what she needs. Ha! She didn’t think it was funny. >=)

Sal shook his head, exhaling loudly.

“What did he do?” Sofia asked.

“Just made another mess for me.” He tossed the phone back on the desk and turned his chair around. “Grace has another great dish for us. Mexican shrimp fried rice.”

“Ooh, sounds good.”

“It is. I was hoping to get it in tomorrow’s brunch ‘cause she said it can easily be made in large quantities. I already told Alex and he said he’d come in just to try some, but I was hoping you can come in to help in the morning. I totally forgot I’m meeting my buddy in the morning for a few rounds of golf. I already told him we’d have to do it earlier than we planned so I can get here early and see how it goes.”

He also wanted to spend as much time with Grace as he could before her two days off. He would’ve gladly just canceled the whole thing but Jason had beaten him to it, calling to tell him he was looking forward to it because he really needed to talk.

“Yeah, I can come in and open. As long as I can leave early. I have somewhere to be in the afternoon.”

His phone rang and he picked it up to check the caller ID. Melissa. Shit. “You can leave as soon as I get here.”

Sofia nodded and started out the door. “Can you close the door behind you?”

She did and he answered. “Hey, Melissa.”

“I can’t believe you gave that ass**le those tickets.” It was really noisy and Sal couldn’t tell if she was yelling to be heard over the crowd or because she was that mad.

“I was supposed to go with him. But something came up last minute.”

“And what about tonight? Will I see you there?”

He sat back. “No. Can’t do it.”

“What do you mean you can’t?”

“I just can’t. I’m sorry.”

“What? I can barely hear you.”

“I said, I just can’t.”

She was quiet and he wondered if she’d heard him. “You can’t just brush me off like that. Do you know what I had to go through to get those tickets?”

“Sweetheart, I didn’t ask you to, but I do appreciate it. I’m sorry it worked out this way but I won’t be there tonight.” He was trying to be as nice as he could. He knew what she was capable of.