She turned to look at him. “Of course I do. You never know what the future holds. I know better than anyone that things can change in a blink of an eye. I’m always prepared for the worst, so if it happens, I’m ready. ”

His expression went hard. “You mean with your job or with us?”

“Both.”

“That’s a little pessimistic isn’t it? I have faith that both will work out.”

She shrugged, turning all the way around to face him. She wished she could be more optimistic, but it was hard. “They do go hand in hand. I just wanna be prepared.”

He leaned in, his hard body pressing against hers making her heart speed up. “I’ll tell you right now. Unless something unthinkable happens, my feelings for you are already so concrete, I don’t see how things couldn’t work out.”

Her heart swelled, but she had a hard time concentrating with his body pressed against hers. The night before things had gotten pretty heated, but as usual, he didn’t push. She wondered how many more nights they could spend on that sofa in such a romantic setting before things moved forward. Just the way he looked at her even now warmed her insides. Before she could respond, he kissed her so passionately, she held on tight feeling her legs go completely weak.

~*~

As promised, the rest of the week they went back to his place every night, including her day off Tuesday. Every night, they spent hours talking, then getting very cozy on the lounge chair that was now Grace’s favorite place to be—under the stars, with an amazing view—in Sal’s arms.

Her mother hadn’t asked her much until Friday night when she’d texted her at work to tell her Frank was in town and wanted to see her.

She tapped out an answer, furious. Absolutely not!

It was closing time and they’d be headed to Sal’s place again, just like they had all week. The text had been sent an hour earlier, and she’d just noticed it. She dropped the phone in her pocket, knowing her mom would be texting her again.

Sure enough just as she walked back toward the kitchen where she’d worked all day it buzzed in her pocket.

Graciela be reasonable the man is Ruben’s boss. All he wants is a few hours then he’s gone again possibly for weeks.

Her mother was outrageous. Did she really expect Grace to continue this charade for good? All week she’d gotten home so late her mother had been asleep. She knew she was out with someone but Grace hadn’t had a chance to tell her about Sal. Before she could text back her phone buzzed again.

He’s picking you up at work. When you didn’t respond to my last text I assumed you were okay with it so I told him to go ahead. He’s on his way there now. Just be nice one last time. Ok mija?

“Something wrong?”

Grace almost jumped. Her face must’ve been as white as it felt because Sal stared at her, concerned. “Uh… no, it’s just my mom.”

“She okay?”

“Oh yeah, she’s fine.” As inconspicuously as she could, she glanced past his shoulder to the front door and her heart sunk. Frank stood out there, leaning against his car, just like the last time, holding a bouquet of roses. Her eyes were immediately on Sal again. There was no other way out of this but to just tell him. “She set up another date with me and my step-dad’s boss.”

Taylor had hit it on the nose about Sal’s flaming eyes, because she saw them flare now. She reached for his arm. “It’s not like I’m even remotely interested in him.”

His eyes opened wide. “So you’re going?”

She turned towards the front door, feeling defeated. “What am I supposed to do? He’s already here.”

Sal’s head jerked toward the front of the restaurant as soon as she said that. “You tell him you don’t want to go. That’s what.” He started walking. “I’ll f**king tell him.”

Grace squeezed his arm. “No, Sal. Please.”

Sal glared at her. “Do you want to go with this guy, Grace?” His loud words turned the heads from of the few employees that were still there cleaning up and they glanced out the front to see who Sal was talking about.

“No. Of course not.”

“Then don’t go.”

“I won’t.” Her heart was going a mile a minute now. She never expected his reaction to be so explosive. “But let me tell him.”

Sal pulled the keys out of his pocket. “Lets go.”

He held her hand firmly all the way to the door then unlocked it for her. He started to walk out with her but she pulled her hand out of his. “Wait here, please.”

He stopped, but obviously had no intentions of going back in without her. She tried to give him a reassuring look but he was busy staring Frank down.

Frank smiled as she approached him. “Hello, Grace. You look very nice tonight.”

“Thank you. Listen Frank I’m really sorry but I can’t go with you tonight. I already had other plans my mom didn’t know about. I didn’t get her text until just now.”

There was no hiding his disappointment. “That’s too bad… and there’s no way you can change them?”

“No, she can’t.” Sal slipped his hand in hers. Grace wanted the earth to split open and suck her in. This was the most awkward situation she’d even been in and it was all her mother’s fault. “Not tonight or any other night. Got it?” Sal pointed at the roses. “And you can keep those. Take them to her mother. She’d probably like them.”