“I told you. I don’t give a shit who knows. In fact,” he pulled her closer, “the babies are coming home this week. My mom’s already planning that shower she never got to throw. The whole damn family and half of La Jolla will probably be there. I want you there. I’ll make sure you get Saturday off. So you won’t be off tomorrow. Is that all right? You can come with me tomorrow to Angel’s restaurant and catch his cooks up on the new recipes. I’m sure he’s gonna love the rice, especially since it’s shrimp and seafood is their thing.” The whole time she listened intently, her bright eyes getting wider with everything he said. “I wanna meet your family, too.” That’s when her eyes lost their excitement and he had to ask, “What?”

“I want you to meet them, too,” she said. “It’s just that… ”

“Too soon?”

“No. It’s not that… my step-dad isn’t exactly the most dignified person out there and my mom… well. I told you she’s not my real mom so we’re real different.”

“I don’t care—”

“I mean real different, Sal. I wouldn’t want you to get the idea that I think like them.”

Sal laughed. “Sweetheart, my brothers are ticking time bombs. Not to mention my pistol-whip of a sister. Just because we’re related doesn’t mean their personalities reflect on me. I would never judge you by your family. I’m not gonna judge you period. I already know enough to be convinced that I wanna be with you. That’s all that matters. Don’t worry about anything else.”

“I’d love for you to meet Rose. I can bring her to the shower if that’s okay?”

“Absolutely. I can’t wait to meet your little shadow.”

That made her smile. “That reminds me. Since you’re closing and I’m getting off early today, Taylor and Joey are picking me up. We’re taking Rose to the mall. She got invited to the prom so we’re helping her pick out a dress.” She played with the buttons on the front of his shirt. “I can introduce you to them today when they pick me up. They’re not family but they mean the world to me.”

Sal swallowed hard, knowing he shouldn’t have an issue with these two guys meaning the world to her. Now that he knew the truth, he saw it in Joey who was a little more obvious. But Taylor had really struck a nerve, especially the way he called Grace beautiful. Still, he took a deep breath and forced a smile. “Sure. I’d love to meet them.”

After their talk and a few more lustful kisses Sal finally had to let Grace go back to work. Sofia left and Alex came in the back to have a word with him. “So I see you made a move?”

Sal nodded still facing the computer, he was switching Grace’s days off. “Not just a move. I’m having her come to the shower this weekend. I want everyone to meet her.”

“Wow. You don’t waste time do you? That’s cool though. Gracie’s pretty awesome. Just one thing.” Sal turned to look at him. “You better let all your little girlfriends know you’re off the market now, because you are, right?”

Sal frowned. “I don’t have girlfriends.”

“Well anyone else that might get any ideas about coming in here to face off with Grace. That wasn’t cool. She played it off, but I won’t have her being mistreated like that. She doesn’t deserve it.”

“You really think I’m gonna let that happen again? Melissa’s the only one that would do something like that and I already talked to her. She won’t be coming around here again.”

Alex didn’t seem convinced. “I really hope everything works out, Sal. Sofie was a little worried too when she realized what’s going on. I don’t think Grace will stick around if it doesn’t.”

Sal had every intention of making things work with Grace. It had to. “Trust me. I’m not taking this thing lightly, if that’s what you’re worried about.”

They talked a little longer. Alex was clearly concerned not so much about Grace leaving but about her feelings being hurt. He said he hadn’t even thought about how she’d handle all the women in Sal’s life.

It annoyed Sal that Alex and Sofia made him out to be such a player. Just because he’d never brought anyone home to meet the family didn’t mean all that. He just hadn’t found anyone he felt he wanted to and now that he had he was wasting no time. In that sense, he had to admit he was like his brothers. They both knew when they met the one that she was it. Even though it took his knucklehead brother Alex years to figure it out he’d been stuck on Valerie from the moment he met her.

The day went by too quickly. Before he knew it, Grace was in the back getting ready to leave. He walked in as she pulled her things out of the cabinet. He hated that he wouldn’t be spending time with her tonight like he had the last two nights.

“Joey couldn’t make it after all,” Grace said, looking up from her purse. “His mom showed up last minute from out of town so he’s spending the day with her. But Taylor is still picking me up.”

“You guys still going to the mall?” He asked, hopeful that it’d been cancelled and he could pick her up once he closed the restaurant up.

“Oh, yeah. My sister is dying to go and even though Taylor’s not the shopper of the two, he said he didn’t mind. We’ll probably catch a movie after.”

Sal let that simmer, reminding himself Taylor was g*y and in a happy relationship. She turned back to the cabinet and Sal walked up behind her, kissing her neck. “So I’ll pick you up tomorrow and you can come with me to Angel’s?”