Making You Mine (30 page)

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?”

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’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.

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.

He didn’t want to contact Melissa for anything. Not even that. He got tested the first chance he had after he got back. He wanted everything checked. The results came back fairly quickly, and thankfully he was clean, but he still needed time to prepare what he wanted to do for Grace. So here, it was two weeks later and finally it was going to happen.

The moment he saw she carried a good-sized tote when she walked around the corner of her building he jumped out of the car. He rushed over and took it from her, kissing her, the anticipation already multiplying.

They arrived at his house and he saw her trying to figure it out. He took her hand and he covered her eyes with his other. “Okay, close your eyes. Make sure you don’t peek.”

“What are you doing?” Her laugh was a nervous one and he was sure she probably expected to end up in the bedroom.

Instead, he headed to the backyard. When they were under the patio, he took a deep breath and prayed this wouldn’t backfire on him. He was sure she’d love it but there was still that tiny possibility it might depress her. The
last
thing he’d want to do today. “Ready?

She nodded, her smile widening. He removed his hand and she glanced around at his recreation of a campsite. His heart drummed when he saw the smile slowly dissolve. She stood there, taking everything in. The tent in the grassy area of his yard with a portable fire pit just outside and table set up with everything you’d need to roast marshmallows. The inflatable rowboat in the pool with the makeshift fishing gear. There were no fish in his pool but he’d bought a fishing game. The fishing poles were long plastic rods with big hooks on the end and he’d thrown in all the plastic fish in the water so they could pretend to fish.

Minutes had passed since he’d uncovered her eyes and she still hadn’t said anything but her eyes had gotten misty.
Damn it
. “I was uh… actually gonna take you camping but I wanted you to be able to go swimming and I figured it’s still too cold to swim in any river or lake this time of year so I improvised.”

She finally spoke but still didn’t look at him. She stared at the pool. “Isn’t the water in the pool cold also?”

He smiled slightly relieved that she didn’t sound upset. “It’s heated.” He walked her over to the picnic basket on the table and opened it. I got stuff for tortas. You’ll be starving after a good swim.” Their eyes met and she smiled.

“I can’t believe you did all this.”

He shrugged. “No biggie.” He wouldn’t mention the wrestling match he’d had with the tent he borrowed from his parents. It was old school and he’d forgotten what a
bitch
it was put up especially by himself. When they’d been kids it was hard enough to put up and that was between him, his brothers and his dad.

Grace leaned in and kissed him. “Yes it is a biggie. This is
wonderful
. I couldn’t ask for anything more.”

“Did you see the best part?”

Her eyes pinched and he pointed to the other side of the pool. Her head tilted not quite getting what it was. He’d gone to every damn toy store he could find until he found the biggest stuffed elephant made and placed it by the pool, its butt facing the water.

“You can look at that while you swim—an elephant butt.”

She laughed out loud when it finally sunk in, then wrapped her arms around his neck and he wrapped his around her waist. It felt perfect to hold her like this. “What did I do to deserve you, Sal?”

“You have it backwards, Gracie. I don’t deserve you.” His gut wrenched as the reality of that statement sunk in. He kissed her desperate to push any negative thoughts away. He wanted this day to be perfect. After minutes of kissing her deeply, he felt a little better he pulled away and leaned his forehead against hers. “You wanna go get into your bathing suit? The water should be warm enough now.”

She nodded her head with those twinkling excited eyes that he loved so much now.

Once in their bathing suits, Sal jumped in the deep end of the pool and encouraged Grace to do the same. “The water’s perfect.” She stood at the edge, looking very apprehensive. “C’mon, baby. I’ll catch you.”

She pinched her nose with her fingers and jumped in. Sal’s arms were all over her the moment she hit the water. Just the touch of her excited every part of his body. His lips were on hers as soon as her head popped out of the water. He had to pace himself. He wanted to be the one that showed her confidence in her swimming. “Relax, babe. You’ll be fine, just go with it. I’m right here. I’d never let anything happen to you.”

After a while, she was swimming back and forth from one end of the pool to the other. Sal cornered her and she wrapped her legs around him. This wasn’t happening in the pool. He had something better prepared so he forced himself to pull away. “You wanna fish?”

They climbed up on the raft, but not before falling a few times and Grace falling in his arms all slippery wet. Sal was in heaven.

When they finally both sat in the raft trying to fish for the fake fish, Sal loved how Grace concentrated. He didn’t even try. He just watched her and how hard she tried to get the fish. “I got it!”

They got out and Sal walked over to the picnic basket after drying off to get the
toleras
for the
tortas
.

“I can make them,” Grace offered.

“Nope. I’m making them. You just get comfortable.”

Sal had made plenty of cold
tortas
in his time. He put everything together and walked out with a platter to where Grace was lounging by the tent. She smirked. “I peeked in. It looks comfortable. That’s not what we used when I went camping.”

Sal had to laugh. “Okay, so I can’t sleep on the ground and the inflatable mattress almost rivals the mattress in my room, but still, we’ll be in a tent, outside. Lets not get too nitpicky.”

Gracie laughed. “Oh no, you didn’t just say that with a straight face.”

Sal laughed and set the tray down. They ate in silence and he watched Gracie, enjoying his food for once, instead of the other way around. “This is good,” she said, covering her mouth.

“That’s just the water talking. Everything is delicious when you’ve been swimming.”

“No! This is
really
good.” She leaned in and kissed him. “You’re making this day so perfect… I love you, babe.”

That was the first time she’d called him that, and it felt damn good. “I love you, too. And I wanted this to be perfect for you… for
us
.”

After they ate, they laid on the oversized lounge chair again, making out. “So what are your plans once you graduate?” Sal knew she was graduating in a few weeks and her mother was no doubt doing nothing for her. He had a few plans up his sleeve.

Grace ran her fingers up and down his bare chest. “I have it all mapped out. Save up for two years, I’m hoping by then I’ll have enough to lease my own restaurant. Nothing nearly as fancy as Moreno’s but my own little place that I can build on, little by little. And certainly not in La Jolla. I’d be lucky if I could afford a place in Chula Vista, maybe Calexico.”

Sal lifted his head to face her. “So you’re planning on leaving Moreno’s high and dry?”

She made a pouty face and shrugged. “Having my own restaurant has always been my dream. Joey and Taylor are already looking for a place to open up a bakery. Joey will do all the baking and Taylor, who’s majoring in business management, like you did, is handling the business end. They’re living their dream. It’s inspiring.” She smiled. “And now working for you and your family is even more inspiring, especially knowing how it all started. When you told me your dad started with a taco truck, it really gave me hope that I can do it someday. Maybe I can start with a taco stand or something. Anything is possible, right?”

Sal caressed her hair. He had bigger plans for her, but he wouldn’t lay them on her just yet. “Yep, anything is possible.” He kissed her forehead. “Ready for some more swimming?”

Grace sat up. “Yes, I’m getting good.”

“I told you. There’s nothing to it. When the weather heats up we’ll go camping for real. Maybe even take a drive to Elephant Butte.”

Her eyes lit up. “Rose would love that.”

“Yeah, we’ll take her. Maybe even make a group thing out of it. I’ll talk to my brothers. We haven’t done something like that in years. I doubt Alex will want to this summer with the babies being so young, but I’ll talk to Angel and my sister, even Romero.”