Chapter 10
"Sheridan…Sheridan…" Luis nudged her shoulder gently. "Sheridan…what time did you say you had to be at the diner?" "Luis," Sheridan moaned. Burying her rumpled blond head beneath the flat hotel pillow. "Leave me alone." He grinned and continued nudging her. "Luis," she grumbled. Peering out from under the pillow. Murder in her sleepy blue eyes. "Stop doing THAT! Do you have any idea what time it is? It's still dark outside!" "Exactly," Luis answered. "And if memory serves me correctly…you're expected at 'work' bright and early." Sheridan flopped over onto her side and stared at him. "Really," she said sarcastically. "Well…it's not bright," she remarked. Yanking the covers back over her head. "I knew you couldn't do it," Luis shook his head. "I had you pegged all wrong. You're just another rich girl who's afraid to get her hands dirty."
"Take it back," came her muffled voice. "And if I don't?" he challenged. "You'll be sorry," she threatened. "Oh…I'm so scared," he taunted. "If you're so tough, come out of hiding and make good on your threats. Didn't think so," he said. Rising from the lumpy mattress and walking towards the bathroom. "I said take it back!" Sheridan cried. And Luis yelped in surprise to find a very angry blond attached to his back. Long tanned legs wrapped around his waist. "Sherry," he teased. "I thought rich girls had better breeding," he egged her on. Running his hands down her calves to the soles of her feet. "Are you ticklish, Sherry?" "Luis," she growled. "I'm warning you…" "You were saying?" he grinned when she shrieked with helpless laughter and squirmed to get away.
"Ugh! You're so…so…you make me so mad," she glared at him. Picking up her forgotten pillow and bringing it down forcefully over his head. He grabbed at her, and she squealed and darted across the room. "Luis! Quit torturing me!" she laughed from the other side of the room. "Why? It's fun," he grinned. "Luis…I have to take a shower. I'm going to be late. I don't want to get fired my first day." "Now you're worried about work. What's the matter, Princess? Scared?" She straightened up and put on a brave face. "Me?" she scoffed. "Scared?" she threw the pillow down and walked around the bed. Coming to a stop just inches from him. "Do I look scared to you, Luis?" she smirked.
He looked her up and down and swallowed hard. No. She didn't look scared. HE was the one suddenly scared as hell, he realized as his brown eyes traveled up the length of her long legs. "You're wearing my shirt," he said. "So," she smiled. "I forgot my pjs. Big deal," she rolled her blue eyes at him. His shirt was all she was wearing it seemed…oh god, he gulped. Turning away. She's a kid, Luis. Let it go. "Luis?" she questioned. "Is something wrong? Look. If it's that big of a deal, you can have your shirt back. Here. I'll give it to you now if you want," she told him "Just…uh…don't turn around until I get something on." Damn. His imagination was getting the better of him, he thought. Groaning inwardly.
He heard the bathroom door click shut. Then her voice. "Luigi," she teased. "You can turn around now." The shower started running, and he looked around the cramped space they shared. This was NOT going to work. He had to find some way to keep himself busy. So busy he wouldn't be able to even think about giving in to temptation. He glanced at the watch on his wrist. Still early yet. A few extra minutes wouldn't kill him, he thought as he scribbled a note on a piece of paper and rested it against the lamp on the night stand.
Sheridan came out of the bathroom refreshed and ready to begin her new job. Well…as ready as she'd ever be. She sighed in disappointment when she read Luis's note and realized he'd already left. "I wanted to ask you if this looked alright for a waitress," she murmured. Appraising her appearance once more in the mirror in front of her. "Hmm," she muttered. Smoothing down her short black skirt. "Maybe this skirt IS a little short. But it's the closest thing to 'appropriate' I have." She buttoned the last button on her white blouse and clasped the earrings in her ears. "How hard can it be?" she told her reflection. Pushing down the butterflies that fluttered in her stomach. "Just smile, Sheri…Sherry. And take their order. It's not like you're going to have to actually cook the food yourself. Isn't that a relief?" It'd be awful to burn the diner down her first day on the job, she thought with a smile as she slipped out the front door. Terrible. But she was going to have better luck than that. And Luis would have to eat his words.
Better luck! How wrong could she have been? It seemed her first day was one of the busiest days the tiny diner had seen in weeks. And she and Alison (much nicer than Susan to her relief) were the only two people working! What was it with waitresses quitting this job? Oh yeah…she got it, she thought as she leaned over the counter to scrub the remainders of her last customers' meals off the table. The people were downright rude. Little kids never liked to actually eat their food with forks or spoons or in their plates for that matter. And disgusting losers making passes at them all day. Well…that was just in HER limited experience. Add that to 5 broken plates, a whole tray of drinks dumped in this really nice guy's lap (he could have KILLED her…but he didn't), and oh yeah…nearly burning the kitchen down when Mr. Izzaria took five (more like ten) to smoke.
"Hey kid," Alison called from the front. "Someone's here for ya. Wowza," she whistled under his breath. "That Luigi?" she smacked on her gum. Twirling a strand of her auburn hair around a pink nail. Sheridan wiped her brow with the back of her hand and trudged over to stand beside her. "That's him," she answered with a wide smile. Luis was going to kill her for saying his name was Luigi. But not even that fact could sober her. Just hearing that name threatened to crack her up. Alison licked her lips as Luis walked towards them. "Sherry," he said. Grinning at her messy appearance. Blond hair curling wildly about her face. Her white blouse stained a rainbow of colors. "Looks like you had a good first day," he laughed. Alison giggled and fawned over Luis. She sounded like a hyena, Sheridan thought with a frown. "Kids just love to throw stuff, you know?" Luis's brown eyes twinkled as he looked into hers. "I haven't had the pleasure…," he said. Taking Alison's hand and bringing it to his lips. Sheridan bristled at his actions. Sure, Luis. Pour on the charm, she thought with a frown. "The pleasure's all mine," she purred.
"So…are you ready?" he asked. Stuffing his hands in the pockets of his jeans. "Give me just a few more minutes," she sighed. "I still have a couple tables in back," she nodded her head. "That's okay," Luis shrugged his shoulders. "Hey Luigi," Alison batted her lashes. "You look like a hungry guy. Can I get you anything?" Sheridan narrowed her blue eyes at her. Okay…maybe Alison wasn't so nice after all. She was falling all over Luis. And for all she knew, Luis was her boyfriend. Taken. So what was with the obvious flirting? She was so busy staring at the pair the sound of another plate shattering on the floor almost gave her a heart attack. "Great! Just great!" Mr. Izzaria yelled. "Kid…you're not going to have any money left in your paycheck by the time you're finished paying for all the damages." "I'm sorry, Mr. Izzaria. I wasn't…" The corners of Mr. Izzaria's mouth turned down humorlessly as he caught her glance at Luis. And her eyes fill with tears. "Just don't let it happen again," he advised. Waddling towards the kitchen. "And Kid?" Sheridan blinked back the tears. "Yes, Mr. Izzaria?" "You got a lot of growing up to do if you're going to catch up to that one." Sheridan wiped at her tears with the corner of her apron. Who said she wanted to? She set the rest of the dishes on the counter and approached Luis. "I'm finished." Luis held up a hand to her. "I'll see you later," he said absently. "Alison offered to show me around town." She pushed past him out the door. "You can come with us…if you want," Alison called as an afterthought. But Sheridan was already gone.
"Sheridan…Sheridan…" Luis nudged her shoulder gently. "Sheridan…what time did you say you had to be at the diner?" "Luis," Sheridan moaned. Burying her rumpled blond head beneath the flat hotel pillow. "Leave me alone." He grinned and continued nudging her. "Luis," she grumbled. Peering out from under the pillow. Murder in her sleepy blue eyes. "Stop doing THAT! Do you have any idea what time it is? It's still dark outside!" "Exactly," Luis answered. "And if memory serves me correctly…you're expected at 'work' bright and early." Sheridan flopped over onto her side and stared at him. "Really," she said sarcastically. "Well…it's not bright," she remarked. Yanking the covers back over her head. "I knew you couldn't do it," Luis shook his head. "I had you pegged all wrong. You're just another rich girl who's afraid to get her hands dirty."
"Take it back," came her muffled voice. "And if I don't?" he challenged. "You'll be sorry," she threatened. "Oh…I'm so scared," he taunted. "If you're so tough, come out of hiding and make good on your threats. Didn't think so," he said. Rising from the lumpy mattress and walking towards the bathroom. "I said take it back!" Sheridan cried. And Luis yelped in surprise to find a very angry blond attached to his back. Long tanned legs wrapped around his waist. "Sherry," he teased. "I thought rich girls had better breeding," he egged her on. Running his hands down her calves to the soles of her feet. "Are you ticklish, Sherry?" "Luis," she growled. "I'm warning you…" "You were saying?" he grinned when she shrieked with helpless laughter and squirmed to get away.
"Ugh! You're so…so…you make me so mad," she glared at him. Picking up her forgotten pillow and bringing it down forcefully over his head. He grabbed at her, and she squealed and darted across the room. "Luis! Quit torturing me!" she laughed from the other side of the room. "Why? It's fun," he grinned. "Luis…I have to take a shower. I'm going to be late. I don't want to get fired my first day." "Now you're worried about work. What's the matter, Princess? Scared?" She straightened up and put on a brave face. "Me?" she scoffed. "Scared?" she threw the pillow down and walked around the bed. Coming to a stop just inches from him. "Do I look scared to you, Luis?" she smirked.
He looked her up and down and swallowed hard. No. She didn't look scared. HE was the one suddenly scared as hell, he realized as his brown eyes traveled up the length of her long legs. "You're wearing my shirt," he said. "So," she smiled. "I forgot my pjs. Big deal," she rolled her blue eyes at him. His shirt was all she was wearing it seemed…oh god, he gulped. Turning away. She's a kid, Luis. Let it go. "Luis?" she questioned. "Is something wrong? Look. If it's that big of a deal, you can have your shirt back. Here. I'll give it to you now if you want," she told him "Just…uh…don't turn around until I get something on." Damn. His imagination was getting the better of him, he thought. Groaning inwardly.
He heard the bathroom door click shut. Then her voice. "Luigi," she teased. "You can turn around now." The shower started running, and he looked around the cramped space they shared. This was NOT going to work. He had to find some way to keep himself busy. So busy he wouldn't be able to even think about giving in to temptation. He glanced at the watch on his wrist. Still early yet. A few extra minutes wouldn't kill him, he thought as he scribbled a note on a piece of paper and rested it against the lamp on the night stand.
Sheridan came out of the bathroom refreshed and ready to begin her new job. Well…as ready as she'd ever be. She sighed in disappointment when she read Luis's note and realized he'd already left. "I wanted to ask you if this looked alright for a waitress," she murmured. Appraising her appearance once more in the mirror in front of her. "Hmm," she muttered. Smoothing down her short black skirt. "Maybe this skirt IS a little short. But it's the closest thing to 'appropriate' I have." She buttoned the last button on her white blouse and clasped the earrings in her ears. "How hard can it be?" she told her reflection. Pushing down the butterflies that fluttered in her stomach. "Just smile, Sheri…Sherry. And take their order. It's not like you're going to have to actually cook the food yourself. Isn't that a relief?" It'd be awful to burn the diner down her first day on the job, she thought with a smile as she slipped out the front door. Terrible. But she was going to have better luck than that. And Luis would have to eat his words.
Better luck! How wrong could she have been? It seemed her first day was one of the busiest days the tiny diner had seen in weeks. And she and Alison (much nicer than Susan to her relief) were the only two people working! What was it with waitresses quitting this job? Oh yeah…she got it, she thought as she leaned over the counter to scrub the remainders of her last customers' meals off the table. The people were downright rude. Little kids never liked to actually eat their food with forks or spoons or in their plates for that matter. And disgusting losers making passes at them all day. Well…that was just in HER limited experience. Add that to 5 broken plates, a whole tray of drinks dumped in this really nice guy's lap (he could have KILLED her…but he didn't), and oh yeah…nearly burning the kitchen down when Mr. Izzaria took five (more like ten) to smoke.
"Hey kid," Alison called from the front. "Someone's here for ya. Wowza," she whistled under his breath. "That Luigi?" she smacked on her gum. Twirling a strand of her auburn hair around a pink nail. Sheridan wiped her brow with the back of her hand and trudged over to stand beside her. "That's him," she answered with a wide smile. Luis was going to kill her for saying his name was Luigi. But not even that fact could sober her. Just hearing that name threatened to crack her up. Alison licked her lips as Luis walked towards them. "Sherry," he said. Grinning at her messy appearance. Blond hair curling wildly about her face. Her white blouse stained a rainbow of colors. "Looks like you had a good first day," he laughed. Alison giggled and fawned over Luis. She sounded like a hyena, Sheridan thought with a frown. "Kids just love to throw stuff, you know?" Luis's brown eyes twinkled as he looked into hers. "I haven't had the pleasure…," he said. Taking Alison's hand and bringing it to his lips. Sheridan bristled at his actions. Sure, Luis. Pour on the charm, she thought with a frown. "The pleasure's all mine," she purred.
"So…are you ready?" he asked. Stuffing his hands in the pockets of his jeans. "Give me just a few more minutes," she sighed. "I still have a couple tables in back," she nodded her head. "That's okay," Luis shrugged his shoulders. "Hey Luigi," Alison batted her lashes. "You look like a hungry guy. Can I get you anything?" Sheridan narrowed her blue eyes at her. Okay…maybe Alison wasn't so nice after all. She was falling all over Luis. And for all she knew, Luis was her boyfriend. Taken. So what was with the obvious flirting? She was so busy staring at the pair the sound of another plate shattering on the floor almost gave her a heart attack. "Great! Just great!" Mr. Izzaria yelled. "Kid…you're not going to have any money left in your paycheck by the time you're finished paying for all the damages." "I'm sorry, Mr. Izzaria. I wasn't…" The corners of Mr. Izzaria's mouth turned down humorlessly as he caught her glance at Luis. And her eyes fill with tears. "Just don't let it happen again," he advised. Waddling towards the kitchen. "And Kid?" Sheridan blinked back the tears. "Yes, Mr. Izzaria?" "You got a lot of growing up to do if you're going to catch up to that one." Sheridan wiped at her tears with the corner of her apron. Who said she wanted to? She set the rest of the dishes on the counter and approached Luis. "I'm finished." Luis held up a hand to her. "I'll see you later," he said absently. "Alison offered to show me around town." She pushed past him out the door. "You can come with us…if you want," Alison called as an afterthought. But Sheridan was already gone.