CHAPTER 20

They walked out into the backyard and Sal felt a little alarmed when he didn’t see her sister and Vincent anywhere. Vincent had been one headache after another for years. The problem was his dad’s younger brother hadn’t been around much in the beginning of Vincent’s life. When he finally was, Vincent was a preteen and already out of control.

His mother lived too far for Sal’s dad to be too much help. The last he heard was that his dad was having to pay fines because the ass got caught tagging up the school walls after hours with his low life friends.

Grace glanced around. “You think they’re still over by the koi pond?”

“Let’s go see.” He took her through the front instead of walking through the crowded backyard. They didn’t have to walk very far. Vincent and Rose were sitting on the porch swing, talking. Rose was a very pretty girl and looked a little older than her fifteen years. Sal thought Vincent looked a bit too comfortable and the swing was big enough he didn’t need to be sitting so close. Vincent smiled when he saw them. “Checking up on me already? I told you I’d be cool.”

“The food’s here. Why don’t you guys come get something to eat?”

Vincent asked Rose something Sal couldn’t hear and turned back to Sal. “Neither of us is hungry yet. We’ll get some later.”

Sal frowned, lifting his hands with Grace’s hand still in one of them and parted them. “Can you get a little space in between you two? Come on, Vin. There’s enough room on that swing.”

Vincent laughed. “You’re kidding me, right?” But he complied and scooted over a little.

Grace squeezed his hand. “Sal!”

They turned back to the backyard. “I’m telling you,” he said in a lowered voice. “That kid can’t be trusted.” He turned back to Vincent. “Don’t go disappearing anywhere, Vin.”

“We’ll be right here.” The wicked grin only spiked Sal’s nerves.

They ate an excellently executed version of Grace’s casserole and after the cake was served, Valerie began working her way through the enormous pile of gifts. Those babies were set with every baby gadget and product out there. Even Sal hadn’t been able to help himself and bought the deluxe twin stroller that doubled as car seats.

Then came the clothes. Valerie made a comment pouting that she’d have no excuse to shop for them for at least a year. She wasn’t kidding. She got to Grace’s bags and Sal abstained from frowning, especially since Grace grinned silly when she saw Valerie pick up her gift bags. Sal knew Grace was on a tight budget. She’d even told him how she paid for a good portion of the household bills.

Valerie pulled out a pair of tiny San Diego Charger cheerleading outfits. Complete with pom-poms and matching booties. There were a lot of and awes and some clapping. “Yes!” Alex fist pumped. “But they’re a little short.”

Valerie rolled her eyes while others laughed.

After the shower, they drove Rose home, but not before a disturbingly long goodbye to Vincent. Much to Sal’s discontent, he’d watched as they exchanged phone numbers by calling each other on their cells.

“I can’t stress enough, Gracie,” he said to her as soon as Rose was out of the car and out of earshot. “The boy is bad news. I hope you warn her.”

“He’s so young and he has a tattoo.”

“Yeah, that’s how stupid he is.” Sal shook his head.

They drove back to his place and sat in the back again. Sal was beginning to hate taking her home each night. He knew it’d only been a week since they’d gotten together but what he’d been feeling for her had grown over a longer period of time and he couldn’t get enough of her now. Hearing her say she was serious too had made his day.

He also remembered her mention that she’d never. If that meant what he was sure it did, asking her to spend the night was out of the question. He’d have to be very patient. This wouldn’t be his first time with a virgin but definitely the first time he’d ever been with anyone he had these kinds of feelings for, so in a way this was a first for him as well. This was huge. Taking his time around someone that drove him this insane wouldn’t be easy. But he had no intention of doing anything that might make her uncomfortable.

Now, more than ever, Sal couldn’t imagine leaving for two days but he knew there was no way out of this. “Yeah, I’ll fly out at five and be there by six on Saturday.”

“In the morning, right?”

“Nah, man I couldn’t get anything earlier.” That was one fat lie if he ever told one. He only hoped Jason wouldn’t check. There was a flight available as early as nine in the morning. But it was bad enough that he’d be missing his evening with Grace that night, he wasn’t going to miss the whole day too.

He hung up before Jason got a chance to ask him what time his flight was the next morning. Curiously, there were plenty of early flights home Sunday. Knowing he’d probably be up late Saturday night, he made sure he didn’t book one too early, but he knew even his eleven a.m flight would be too early for Jason.

Grace was off, but he’d be picking her up later that evening. He actually could pick her up earlier and he really wanted to. Sofia had come in and said she could close if he wanted her to, but Grace was spending the afternoon with Joey and Taylor. Even though they were gay, it still annoyed him that they were taking time that he could be spending with her.

Sal hadn’t told her yet about the bachelor party. He was telling her tonight and he wasn’t looking forward to it. The things Grace did with her friends when he wasn’t around were things he didn’t have to worry about. Like today they’d all gone to a farmers’ market where some of their school friends were participating in a chili cook-off and then they were having an early dinner. He wasn’t sure how he’d feel about her going out to a club without him. Or even to have a few drinks on a Saturday night at places where it was known people went to hook up. So he didn’t want her to get the idea he was okay with even these kinds of things. He’d certainly have a problem with her taking off for the weekend, especially if her and her friends were planning ahead of time on getting bombed. After this damn weekend, she’d have a free pass.

The only hope he had of getting out of going this weekend would be if Grace told him she wasn’t comfortable with it. He’d cancel his flight in a heartbeat. Jason would just have to understand and if that were the case, he wouldn’t feel the least bit guilty. Grace’s feeling were more important now. Unfortunately, since Grace hadn’t shown any insecurity with Melissa, he highly doubted she’d be concerned about this.

She said she’d be ready by seven. Sal had driven around her block since he’d been there a little too early to text her. By the time she got in the car, he was so damn anxious to see her, their first kiss was ravenous. She licked her lips when he was done and she laughed. “I missed you, too.”

Thank God for Sofia. He might’ve closed early, if she hadn’t showed up. He was going to have to control himself. It was getting harder and harder to not push things further physically but she still hadn’t shown any signs that she was ready to move forward and he refused to push her—refused to even mention it—not until she did first.

They got back to his place and Sal felt like a teenage boy barely able to keep his hands and lips to himself. Fortunately, Grace didn’t seem to mind. Once back at their place, the oversized patio sofa Grace liked so much, he found a moment to bring up that weekend.

“My friend is getting married in a few weeks and he’s having a bachelor party this weekend.” He tried to read her expression but it was vacant. She didn’t appear mad, but she certainly wasn’t smiling.

“I might go to one someday when Joey and Taylor get married.” Even as she said that she still didn’t smile. “Will there be strippers?”

“No, we’re just all going to Vegas for the weekend. I’m only going to be there overnight on Saturday.”

Now she laughed. “No strippers in Vegas, uh?” She sat up a bit but Sal held her to him.

“It’s supposed to be just a bunch of guys drinking and gambling. No ones mentioned strip clubs, but if it comes up I’ll duck out.”

“When will you be back?”

“Sunday morning. I’m not even leaving ‘til late Saturday. You won’t even notice I’m gone. I’ll make sure you have a ride. Sofia’s closing that night so she can drive you.”

Finally, she smiled. “Oh, I’ll notice you’re gone. Trust me.” She leaned in and kissed him so long and deep, he could hardly stand it. “You’ll just have to make it up to me Sunday night.”

He stared in her eyes, getting that same feeling he’d had when he looked up and saw her walking down the stairs of her apartment building the day of the shower, looking so incredibly beautiful she took his breath away. For an instant, he’d forgotten all about the idiot her mother had set her up with. He’d had that same feeling over and over ever since and he was sure of one thing now. “I love you, Gracie.”

Her eyes opened wide and she pulled away from him. Not the reaction he was hoping for. Then her hand went to her mouth and she grimaced, her eyes filling with tears. “Don’t say that,” she whispered.

He sat up, straightening them both up. “Why?”

“Because I might believe you.”

He kissed her hand with a chuckle. “I want you to. I wouldn’t be saying it, if it weren’t true.” He cupped her face in his hands. “There is no doubt in my mind—none whatsoever. I’m crazy in love with you.” He wiped the tear that slid down her cheek.

She leaned her head against his hand that caressed her cheek now and closed her eyes. “I’m afraid to love you, Sal, but I do. So much.”

He swallowed hard, clearing away the knot in his throat that her words produced instantly. “Don’t be afraid, Gracie. I’m not.” He lay back down, bringing her with him, feeling how her heart beat almost as loudly as his did. They kissed, but not in the frantic way they’d been kissing lately. This had nothing to do with the physical desires that had been building between them. Kissing her suddenly felt different. Now that he knew she loved him too, he wanted to feel just how much she loved him in every stroke of her tongue—every beat of her heart. These were, by far the best kisses he’d ever experienced.

~*~

Friday night, Sal opened up a bottle of wine and they got in the Jacuzzi. Grace had been nervous about him seeing her in a bikini, but the look on his face when she walked out of the house wearing it, didn’t disappoint.

Everything felt different now. Ever since Sal had told Grace that he was in love with her even water tasted better. He hadn’t stopped telling her since and she’d never get tired of hearing it. Of course, she cried when she told Joey and Taylor. Joey cried with her and Taylor laughed at them calling them hopeless romantics.

She wasn’t even worried about Vegas anymore. Admittedly, she had been when he first told her. The thought of him in Vegas, drinking with a bunch of strippers that would probably be willing to strip for him free, scared the hell out of her. Who knew what else they’d be willing to do? But after his heartfelt admission the only thing she was worried about, was how much she was going to miss him that night.

They sat in the hot Jacuzzi, sipping wine as music played softly from the speakers that looked like rocks in the landscape. She’d had a few glasses now and was really feeling relaxed. Sal pulled her closer to him and they began kissing softly. Having her near-naked body next to his hard bare chest did something to her insides. The wine made Grace feel a little less inhibited and she kissed him with more hunger than usual. She put her glass down and moved her body over his, straddling him.

He moaned when she pressed herself against him and her heart rate spiked when she felt just how aroused he really was. She pressed against him, making him moan even more.

Sal pulled his mouth away, breathlessly. “Gracie, maybe we shouldn’t have any more wine.”

She breathed heavily, staring at his lips. Finally, she understood why she’d avoided being intimate or even coming close to it with anyone. For the longest time she’d associated her first time with the death of her grandmother. She didn’t think she could ever get past the disgust she’d felt that night when her boyfriend had suggested they still go back to the room, especially because anytime anyone asked why they’d broken up the thoughts inundated her.

Now all she could think of, sitting here straddling Sal, was how much she would love for him to be the one. She always said she’d wait for the perfect guy, knowing full well that no such guy existed. But here he was, staring at her and he was definitely far more experienced than any of the boys she’d ever gone out with. “Make love to me.”

“This whole week you were sober and you never felt ready to go there, but now you’ve had some wine and you are?” He traced her lips with his finger. “I want you…no I need you to be absolutely sure.”

“No one’s ever made me feel like you do, Sal. Not even close. I know you’re the one. I love you.”

Her eyes met his again. “Yes.” She’d answered the hardest question she could think of already and now he knew without a doubt she was a virgin—a virgin who was offering herself to him. He could ask her whatever he wanted.

“How far have you ever gone?” He brought her hand to his chest and she felt his heart pound. “I won’t lie. I’m feeling a little pressure, not to mention the incredible honor of being your first. When the time comes I just wanna know exactly how gentle I need to be.”

Okay, so maybe there were still a few tough questions left. “Not far. I hadn’t even kissed anyone in almost year. And before that I had a couple relationships in high school. But I was always too scared to do much.”

He felt his hand slide up her leg and in between her legs and her breath caught but she didn’t want him to think she was scared, even though she felt her heart jump to her throat. His fingers caressed her as he stared deep in her eyes. “Anyone ever done this to you?”

Feeling the sudden arousal of his touch, she took a deep breath and closed her eyes, shaking her head.

“Really? No one has ever touched you there?” His fingers continued to move in small circles and she felt tingly from the pit of her stomach all the way down to her toes. She couldn’t even answer him. She shook her head again, breathing harder with every one of his slow strokes.

He kissed her neck then began to suck softly. A moan escaped her when she felt his fingers move the strip of her bikini bottom aside. Now there was nothing in between his fingers and her burning flesh. He continued to massage finding the spot that made her shudder. “Relax,” he whispered against her ear. “You’re gonna like this.” Then kissed her check softly.

She wrapped her arms around his neck, spreading her legs a little wider for him and felt his hard erection against her pelvis. “I already do,” she whispered in his ear.

His fingers spread her and teased her, making her heart pound even harder. Would he go there? Then they suddenly stopped. He pulled his face back so that their eyes could meet and he smiled. “I’m saving that for me.” She felt his fingers move back higher to the place that had made her spasm moments ago and she buried her face in his neck, squirming as the sensation began to build. His fingers moved rhythmically but gently. He’d speed up then slow down, driving her crazy. She pulled her face away from his neck and kissed him.

As her tongue sped up so did his fingers. Until she had to pull away from his mouth to pant, her entire body trembling. “That’s it, Gracie. Enjoy it.”

It felt so incredible she cried out and squeezed her eyes shut, pulling herself away from him because she couldn’t take his fingers anymore. He pulled his hand away but brought her back to him, hugging her tightly. “Goddamn, Grace. You drive me crazy.”

She wrapped her arms around his neck breathing hard. She kissed his temple still enjoying the waves of pleasure that rolled through her entire body.

Even though she’d heard him say it all week it still felt too good to be true. She still couldn’t wrap her mind around the idea that Sal Moreno loved her. She wasn’t sure if she’d ever fully believe it. “I love you too, Sal, with all my heart.” That she was absolutely sure of.