Even though she smiled, he saw the apprehension and he couldn’t blame her. He’d been a total ass.

“So you had a good time?”

His gut cramped up. “It was good.” He wanted to add that he missed her more than he had imagined he would, but it just didn’t feel right at the moment. Not after just saying Vegas was good. Instead, he kissed her but he noticed she didn’t kiss him back with her usual enthusiasm. The texts last night were obviously still on her mind. “C’mon lets go talk.”

He took her by the hand to the back room. Alex was in there. He gave Sal a warning look and smiled at Gracie. “Good to have him back?”

She smiled but didn’t respond otherwise.

Alex sensed Sal’s need to be alone with her and stepped out, closing the door behind him. Sal wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her close. “I feel so stupid about those texts. I can’t apologize enough, but I can promise you this. It won’t happen again.” He’d already decided he’d never drink that way again—no matter what. Part of the reason why he’d handled it so badly, was because he never had drunk that way. Not even in college.

Her eyes were uncertain. “I was so worried. I didn’t know what to think. I was up half the night, wondering why you would say that and what you could be doing.”

Feeling his gut wrench with guilt, he hugged her. Honesty was usually the best way to go no matter how hard it was, but there was no way he would risk not only losing her but hurting her in any way. “I don’t know, Grace. Maybe one of the idiots I was with sent them.” That was another possibility he’d considered. “It got pretty bad and we all had way too much to drink. I’ve never drunk to the point of completely forgetting what happened.” And he prayed she’d never find out the other thing he’d done and couldn’t remember.

She leaned against his chest and he felt her take a deep breath. “I’m just glad you’re home and it was nothing. I did consider that maybe someone else had gotten a hold of your phone. I just couldn’t believe you would say that. It was such an ugly feeling to read it.”

Sal could only imagine. The very thought of her with someone else sickened him. “I’ll make it up to you. I promise.”

Grace smiled. “Just having you back is enough. But I don’t think I’d ever be comfortable with you going to another bachelor party.” she smirked. “I don’t think you can handle them.”

“You got it.” He’d agree to anything at this point, as long as she forgave him. “I didn’t even want to go to this one but I’d already promised. Never again. From here on, I don’t do bachelor parties.” He kissed her this time feeling the Gracie kisses he’d come to need. When she stopped to catch her breath he stared at her, feeling bittersweet about being forgiven so easily, but unable to hold back he whispered, “I love you, Gracie.”

She smiled, as usual her eyes were getting misty. “I love you, too.”

~*~

Two weeks after the horrific night Grace had spent, wondering who the hell was keeping Sal so busy in Vegas and why the world he would text her that, she’d finally shaken off the insecurity that he was keeping something from her.

They still hadn’t made love but he’d told her he wanted her first time to be special. She nearly melted in his arms when he explained how it felt like this was a first for him too. Since he’d never been in love before, this would be extra special for him also.

This was it. She’d gulped when he told her he scheduled them both off for the entire weekend. He said he was taking her away and she was his for the whole weekend.

After staring at him speechless, she finally asked him where to? But he said it was a surprise. Now the butterflies in her belly were going wild as she packed an overnight bag. He’d be there to pick her up before noon.

Rose sat on the bed next to her bag, watching her pack. Grace had asked Sal about Vincent coming out for the summer but he said he hadn’t heard anything about it. It relieved her a little but it hadn’t been a definite no. Now Rose was the one that seemed worried. “What’s wrong?”

“This thing with you and Sal is getting serious.”

“And?”

“Well, what if he asked you to marry him? I’ll be stuck here by myself.”

The thought had actually crossed her mind, especially because it was getting harder and harder to leave Sal’s house every night. Once she slept with him, she knew it’d be just a matter of time before she started staying with him, more and more. “I’d never leave you.”

“But you can’t take me with you. That wouldn’t be very romantic.”

Grace laughed. “Its way too early to start worrying about me leaving, Rose. But I promise if it ever comes down to that, I’ll figure something out.”

“I’ll get a job and go live with Taylor and Joey, if I have to.”

“You’re not getting a job, silly. And I’m not going anywhere, so don’t worry.”

Her phone buzzed, making the butterflies she’d felt all morning go wild again.

I’m here. R U ready? >=)

She smiled and texted him back that she’d be down in a minute, hugged and kissed Rosie with a reassuring smile and took a deep breath as she walked out her bedroom door.

CHAPTER 23

The nightmare in Vegas had left Sal no choice than to stall for time. There was no way he was putting Grace in danger of getting any disease he might’ve picked up from Melissa. He’d always been careful, something he’d even harped about to his brothers for years before they both settled down. But the fact was, he hadn’t been able to find a condom anywhere in the room. He’d nearly flipped the bed over trying to find one and nothing.