There was a sudden roar in the background and she didn’t speak until it died down a little. “I can’t hear you. I’ll call you later.”

The line clicked and he threw the phone down again more frustrated than ever. He’d pay her for the f**king tickets if he had to, but he wasn’t responding to her calls anymore. He shook his head. Never again.

~*~

The evening was spent pretty much the same as the one before only a little less formal and the food Grace prepared was a bit more simple—tacos al pastor. They ate them in the kitchen with beer. She sat on the counter.

Just like the night before while she cooked she felt completely under control. It was only when she’d sat on the counter and Sal walked up to her, pushing her legs apart to get closer to her that her heart began to hammer away. She thought of how experienced and put together Melissa seemed. She’d probably done things to him that Grace had only read about. How could she possibly live up to that? She still held her bottle of beer in her hand as she draped her arms around his neck keeping up with his deep kisses. He groaned and whispered against her lips. “You’re getting so much better at this.”

She pulled back a little. “Why? I wasn’t good before?”

He let out a laugh. “Jesus, your lips have been perfect from the moment I first laid eyes on them and they taste even better, but you were a little tense in the beginning. I wasn’t sure you were enjoying it as much as I was.” He slid her closer to him and she felt his strong hard body against her, making her breathe a little harder.

“This is all a little new to me. But of course I’m enjoying it.”

She saw the confusion in his eyes. “You said you’d been in a relationship. I was gonna ask but I’m not sure I wanna hear about it.”

“I meant the only times I’ve ever been involved with someone it wasn’t just dating. Both times it was understood we were in a relationship, but neither lasted very long and I’ve never…” She felt her face flush when his eyes widened. “I was real young, too. It was right before my grandmother passed.”

Ah hell. She fell the lump in her throat forming. Not wanting to ruin the moment with her damn tears again, she kissed him, this time putting more into it than before. She put the bottle down and ran her fingers through his hair, kissing him frantically. The arousal she felt was electrifying. Any thoughts of crying vanished, instead all she could think of was the possibility that Sal would make love to her one day—maybe soon. She moaned in his mouth and he moaned in response. His hands caressed her back and she wished she had the nerve to tell him to do more. Even though his body was pressed against her and he kissed her just as madly as she kissed him, he was incredibly gentle in every other way.

Grace moved up even closer to him so her legs straddled him completely. Feeling brave, she wrapped them around him and felt just how aroused he truly was when he pushed up against her. He pulled away from her mouth and made his way down to her neck. Feeling his tongue as he kissed and sucked it made her squirm. She’d made out a few times but it’d never felt like this. “This is crazy,” she said breathlessly.

He stopped and looked at her. “What is?”

She stared at him and infuriatingly she felt the lump in her throat again. “The way you make me feel.” She hugged him burying her face in his neck. No one had ever made her feel this way. Ever. She didn’t know what to make of it, but it was getting embarrassing.

His caressed her slower now and he kissed the side of her head. “Gracie, you have no idea how glad I am that you’re feeling it, too.”

She took a deep breath before she pulled away from him and looked in his eyes. “Really? What is it, because I don’t understand it. I’ve never felt anything like this.”

“I’m not sure. But I’m older than you and like I said yesterday. I’ve never felt it either.” He kissed her softly. “Just go with it, Gracie. Whatever it is, it feels damn good.”

He tilted her chin up and gazed in her eyes for a moment before devouring her mouth again.

~*~

Sunday morning Sal ignored three calls from Melissa and didn’t respond to any of her texts. He’d talk to Jason on the golf course about possibly getting Kat to talk to her about backing off. The last thing he needed was her causing any problems with him with Grace.

Since it was a last minute change in time, they weren’t able to start as soon as they got there and he wouldn’t be done as early as he hoped. Jason had walked off to get them both coffee and Sal read Melissa’s latest text.

You know better than to ignore me. I’d say after what you did yesterday the least you could do is offer to make up for it.

He texted her back.

I’ll pay you for the tickets.

He could kick himself for having listened to Romero. His phone buzzed again.

U know that’s not what I mean. You owe me a night out, Salvador!

Exhaling, he knew what he had to do. He may as well get it over with.

Can’t do it. I’m seeing someone now. Sorry.

Jason got back with the two coffee’s and Sal put his phone away. He could go back and forth with Melissa all day if he left it up to her.

“So the bachelor party is in two weeks. You’re gonna be there right?”

Sal had forgotten about the damn party. Just being here right now when he could be back at the restaurant with Grace had him feeling antsy. He didn’t even want to think about giving up a whole weekend with her just to go to some stupid bachelor party, but there was no way out of this one. He’d already agreed and Jason and him went too far back. Plus there was no way he was explaining that he didn’t want to be away from a girl he’d only just started seeing. “Yeah, I’ll be there.”