Making You Mine (7 page)

“C’mon I’ll show you.” He settled for a big smile instead of laughing. She was already blushing. “You haven’t had a chance to acquaint yourself with the restaurant. There’s a lot you haven’t seen.”

She followed him through the busy kitchen. Her caught-with-a-hand-in-the-cookie-jar expression, was now replaced with a look of pure awe. Her eyes opened wider with everything he showed her. Seeing how excited she got over something as simple as a kitchen was more than amusing. Sal couldn’t wipe the smile off his own face.

The new stockroom had been added the previous year when they bought the place next door and expanded the restaurant. When they got to it, he stopped and his eyes met hers. “You ready for this?”

She nodded, reminding him of his younger brothers when they were kids and he showed them a new card trick or new stunt on his bike. They were always so easily impressed. He slid the door open and motioned for her to go in first.

Sal had a lot to do with the design. The old stock room was all over the place. To Sal, organization was key, but it also had to look good. Like the rest of the restaurant, it was designed to feel old like the Mexican homes in the old country. The wood used for the shelves was new but painted so that it gave them a weathered look, as were the containers of spices. They had every spice in there needed for Mexican cuisine. Even the floors had been painted with a texture that made if feel as if they were standing on dirt.

He also made sure there were sitting areas and an old collapsible wooden cot like the ones he and his brothers would sleep in when they visited their grandfather’s ranch in Mexico as kids. It was really meant to give the room an even more authentic look but Pablo, one of the older cooks that still came in a few times a week, was known to nap on it.

Grace walked around taking it all in—those eyes of hers practically twinkled. Her fingers caressed the antique looking barrels that contained rice, and beans as if she were touching a work of art. She turned back to him. “This is amazing.”

It was the strangest thing. Every time he looked at her, he noticed something new he hadn’t noticed about her before, like her perfectly manicured nails when she caressed the barrels. Instinctively, his eyes were on her ring finger. No engagement ring, but that didn’t mean anything. She could just take it off for fear of it falling off while she worked.

He frowned annoyed at himself that his thoughts would even go there. She caught him frowning which only irritated him further. “This is relatively new. We added this whole side of the restaurant last year.

“The whole restaurant is nice but this…” she glanced around, “this is special because it’s like a treat for the employees.”

“Everyone was real excited about it when it was unveiled. I wasn’t really expecting that. I just wanted something more organized then the one we had before and I don’t like employees feeling like this is just a place of work. My parents always made it a point to make the employees feel at home, like they were family. So I wanted even the stockroom to feel homey.” He looked around. “Something they’d enjoy every time they came to work.”

“I will.” She smiled at him, making him squeeze the doorway. “I heard you’re planning on opening more restaurants. How many?”

Sal hadn’t really thought of an exact number. He just always thought more. “I dunno. Maybe four, five more?”

“Really? Why so many?” She didn’t wait for him to respond; she was still taking in the old wooden canisters for the different spices. “Personally, I would want just one. I’d live to perfect it. It would be my baby.” She turned to look at him. “But then there are three of you and you have a sister right?”

“Yeah, but she’s a writer. She writes for a magazine and she’s working on a novel. She’ s content with just coming in and working a few days out of the week. She’s not looking to run her own restaurant.”

Grace tilted her head. “So then three restaurants for three brothers would seem like the perfect number to me.” She shrugged. “But that’s me. I don’t usually think on such a grand scale like a lot of people do. My desires out of life are far more simple than most.”

Sal thought about explaining that it wasn’t just about the number of restaurants. It was his way of paying homage to his parents and grandfather. He wanted the Moreno name to be respected and honored for the hard work his father had put in for so many years—pay him back and show him that his extended education had been worth it. But he didn’t think it was a good idea to get into all of that now.

“Is that what your plans are? To open your own restaurant?”

Her face tinged slightly with color and she nodded. “Someday. It doesn’t have to be all this. I just want my own little restaurant where I can do what I love best—cook like my grandmother taught me.”

Grace’s dream was to have her own restaurant. She said she’d live to perfect it. The very thing he’d been trying to do with his family’s business for years and now he’d be dedicating his life to this. A smile almost escaped him, thinking about the hours he could spend talking to her about just this. But he sensed a change in her mood and thought better of asking any more.

After a full tour of the stock room, he took her upstairs to show her the banquet rooms. Only one was in use today so they skipped it. Her eyes didn’t disappoint when he opened the door to the remaining part of the huge room.

Sal shrugged. “The majority of it were friends and business acquaintances of my parents they’ve met over the years through the restaurant. We also had a lot of family come over from Mexico.”

“All the weddings I’ve ever been to, have either been in someone’s backyard or didn’t even have a reception.” Sal stood at the door as she walked across the room to admire the mural on the wall. “Who did these paintings? They’re beautiful.”

Again, there was a shift in her disposition. The excitement she’d exuded throughout the tour of the restaurant was gone. She walked back toward him. “Thanks for the tour. I should get back to work now.”

“Something wrong?”

Her eyes met his for just a moment. “No, not at all. You have a beautiful restaurant. I just hope I get the opportunity to show you what I can do in the kitchen soon.” She walked past him and out the door.

Once back in the office Sal tried to concentrate on the inventory but his thoughts kept going back to Grace. Then he overheard her laughing with Melanie and damn it if it wasn’t the cutest laugh he’d ever heard.

When he was finally done, he went out into the dining room. Brunch was still in full swing. Alex was talking to a couple of women in a booth and he flagged him over. Both women turned to see who Alex had flagged down and smiled when they saw Sal.

“Sal, you remember Tracy from high school don’t you?”

Sal hadn’t the faintest. Before he could say anything Tracy stood up and threw her arms around his neck. “Oh my god! You guys haven’t changed at all. You’re just like I remember.” She pulled back and smiled. He still didn’t have a clue who she was but she was attractive that was for sure. She’d slipped her hand in his after the hug and she didn’t let go. “This is my cousin, Suzie.”

Suzie held out her hand and smiled. Sal shook it wondering if he could bluff his way out of this. “Yeah, it’s been a while.” He glanced at Alex who smiled like he knew Sal didn’t have a clue. He probably didn’t either, the ass.

“I’m only in town for a few days. I don’t live out here anymore.” Tracy turned to Alex. “I know you’re married now.” Then turned back to Sal. “Maybe you and I can get together and hang out.”

Those last two words coupled with the twinkle in her eyes had a certain connotation he’d heard all too many times. Alex excused himself when he got a call. The idea wasn’t a bad one, but he doubted he could bluff the entire night. Not that he thought admitting the truth now would revoke the invitation.

He pretended to consider it and continued to make small talk when he got the distinct feeling he was being watched. He remembered Melissa would be stopping by and he wondered if she was already there somewhere. Casually, he scanned the restaurant when he noticed Grace staring in his direction from behind the bar. She specifically stared at Tracy who was still holding his hand. The moment her eyes met his, she averted her stare and walked away from where she’d been standing.

~*~

“Good job today, Gracie,” Alex smiled, putting his hand over the receiver on his phone.

“Thank you.” She smiled back.

She’d walked in the back office at the end of her shift to get her things, and overheard him talking to his wife. He was so sweet and forever worrying about her well-being, Grace couldn’t stand it. Why couldn’t she ever meet a guy like that?

He winked at her and continued with his conversation. “I know, baby, but the doctor says you have to… ”

Grace sighed. She was so glad he’d been there the day she showed up to actually talk to Sal. Knowing what she knew now, she’d still be out of a job if Alex hadn’t been there. She thought Sal had finally started warming up to her Friday night, when he apologized for his behavior, but today he was back and forth from sweet to his ornery self. Even when he showed her around she couldn’t shake that feeling that he just wasn’t comfortable with her. He obviously still had his reservations about her.

She walked out to the parking lot where Joey said he’d be waiting. She felt bad that Joey was chauffeuring her around, but he insisted it wasn’t out of his way. The gym where he’d started working out wasn’t too far from the restaurant. Plus, he said there was no way he nor Taylor would let her take the bus home in the evening. She smiled, thinking about it. She
did
have guys who worried about her. Now if only she could find one who wasn’t gay!

As she turned the corner to the parking lot, she saw Sal engaged in what appeared to be another amorous conversation with a different girl. Grace focused on Joey who sat in his car waiting for her. No way was she getting caught staring at Sal and his girl again like she had earlier. She felt so stupid. She’d just been curious. Not only was Sal completely out of her league, older, wealthy, beautiful and from what Melanie had told her, he’d just earned his master’s in business—he also didn’t like her. Grace had wanted to see what it took to impress a man like Sal. He seemed smitten at the time, but obviously not enough because here he was already, with another lovely candidate vying for his attention.

Grace opened the door and got in Joey’s car.

“I can’t believe you get to look at that
papacito
all day long. You lucky girl you.”

Grace shrugged. “What good is looking?”

“Hmm, do I detect something in that tone?”

“No you don’t.” She put her seatbelt on as they drove by Sal and his girl. Sal’s eyes were on Joey then he glanced her way. She waved and he waved back. “He’s my boss, Joey. And remember I told you I don’t think he likes me.”

“Still?”

“Yes, still. I’ve only worked with him two days. He wasn’t here yesterday.”

The disappointment she’d felt when she realized he wouldn’t be there at all yesterday, had come as a surprise. While she felt so much more at ease, knowing she wouldn’t have his scrutinizing eyes there, his apology Friday night had left her hopeful that she’d be a little closer to showing him what she was made of in the kitchen. Unfortunately, the vibe she’d picked up several times from him today was still a negative one.

“He’ll come around, sweetie. You’ll see. There is no way anybody can be around you for too long without falling in love.”

Grace didn’t know about all that. But she knew better than to argue with Joey.

“So you have to come over tonight, Grace. George is coming over with some old-ass movie he says we
have
to watch. I’m gonna be dying.”

George was Taylor’s much older ex-boyfriend. Grace had only met him once but Joey had told her all about him. She still didn’t get how Joey could be okay with his boyfriend’s ex hanging around. But according to Joey he was fine with it. George was thirty-five and into men his own age now. Taylor and George had been friends before they got together and vowed to stay friends even though their relationship hadn’t worked out.

“What movie is it?”

“Jacob’s Ladder.” Joey made a face. “He said he’s seen it many times and still doesn’t get it. We made fun of him so now he’s challenging us to watch and see if we get it. From what he described, it sounds pretty freaky.”

That sounded interesting to Grace. “Can we pick up Rosie? I’m not sure if my mom is home and I’d hate for her to be alone with that pig.”

“Of course.”

Grace texted Rose to be ready and they picked her up. After watching the movie, which Grace thought she got, until the very end, they ate some of Joey’s carrot bread. It was one of his specialties and absolutely delicious. He and Taylor planned on opening up a bakery when he was done with school. He’d made her the most fabulous cake for her twenty-first birthday. As far as Grace was concerned, baking and creating masterpieces was Joey’s calling.