Chapter 14
Keeping his promise was sheer torture. As if just looking at her beautiful face wasn't enough to make him want to kiss her senseless, sleeping in the same BED with her every night-hell, sleeping in the same ROOM with her every night-and trying to keep his hands to himself was the hardest thing he had ever done. She'd laughed the first time he'd stacked every object imaginable in the middle of the bed. Trying to create a division between them. But then the amusement wore off, and those blue eyes that he couldn't resist had welled up with tears. When she asked him why he didn't want to be close to her, he'd swept the pillows and clothes away and kissed each tear away. Until they were both breathless. The 'division' didn't even last three days. And each night was harder than the one before it. It was two weeks of pure hell. Two weeks he NEVER wanted to forget because it was a time of discovery. For them both. He whistled a happy tune under his breath as he pushed the diner door open. Jingling the set of keys in his pocket. He had a surprise for her. A surprise he was sure she'd love.
Alison snarled at the blissful smile on Luigi's face when he first caught sight of Sherry. The only thing worse was the look on HER face. The girl was.to put it quite simply.IN LOVE. Head over heels, deeply, madly, passionately, knots in the stomach IN LOVE. She studied Luigi out of the corner of her eye while she filled her arms with dirty plates and cups and forks and spoons. He was in love with her, too, she realized with a pang. The funny thing was.she didn't think either realized it. Either that or they were too busy lying to themselves. She'd be happy for them. IF she weren't so damn mad. He wasn't supposed to love the little bitch. EVERYONE loved her. He was supposed to love HER. Alison. It wasn't fair, she thought. Slamming the plates down on the counter so hard Mr. Izzaria glared at her. She ignored him. Stalking off toward the bathroom in the back. Mr. Izzaria turned his eyes back on the young couple in front of him. He smiled and patted Sherry's face fondly. "Get out of here, Kid. You have the whole weekend off. You deserve it." Sheridan was so overcome she threw her arms around the little old man's neck and kissed his cheek. Luis laughed the whole way out the door at the image of Mr. Izzaria's blazing red cheeks.
"Luis," Sheridan pleaded. Looking up at him with dancing blue eyes as they walked along the beach later. To a secret destination. "Tell me where we're going. Please. I can't stand the suspense." Luis shook his head with a grin. Pulling the sheet of paper out of the pocket of his shorts and reading it quickly. Sheridan tried to swipe the paper from his hands. Pouting when he yanked it just out of reach. "I see patience isn't your strong suit," he teased. "Luis," she whined. "Where are we going? I want to know," she said. Slipping her arms around his waist and staring up at him with wide, innocent blue eyes. He leaned down to kiss the tip of her nose lightly and pulled back. Brown eyes twinkling. "I'm not telling." Sheridan dropped her arms from his waist. "Fine. Be that way," she grumbled. Trudging ahead of him. He struggled to keep a straight face every time she sneaked a glance back. With that ridiculous but oh-so adorable pout on her lips. A full-fledged grin spread over his lips when she turned around just in time to exclaim in awe. "Oh my.Luis," she breathed. "It's so beautiful. There's no one here," she said incredulously. "If I lived here.Luis, I'd NEVER leave." His eyes roamed the exterior of the old but majestic beachhouse. The paint was chipped. The small yard beyond the sand overgrown. Wild roses twined around the porch rails. Wild roses. Odd. "Joe was right. It DOES need a lot of work." "LUIS!" Sheridan bounced on her heels excitedly. "This is the place? Oh!" she threw her arms around his neck. "Sheridan," he laughed as she bounded up the creaky weather-beaten steps, and the front door banged against the wall behind her.
He followed her. Walking through the spacious, open living room. Ceiling fans whirred above him, and he looked up just in time to see her disappear upstairs. "Sheridan," he laughed. "I'm exploring," she shot back. Poking her golden head back around the corner of the wall. "Luis.this place is amazing." "Amazing, huh?" he shook his head. Wiping the thick layer of dust off the coffee table resting before an extremely oversized sofa. His dark eyes were drawn to the large bay windows and the view outside. The waves capping and breaking as they surged toward the shore. It had its own charm. He wandered around. Doing his own exploration. Pleased when he found the kitchen. Another large, airy room that was surprisingly modern. A magnet held a note in place on the refrigerator door, and he plucked it down. Scanning Joe's familiar scrawl. He grinned to himself as he read the instructions laid out for him. A little painting. He could handle that. Replace the broken steps on the porch. Basically just a little spit and polish. Nothing he hadn't done before. And the best part.he and Sheridan were free to use anything in the house they needed. Plus, the kitchen was fully stocked with food. Food! He remembered then.he'd missed lunch when Joe took him aside to describe the job he'd had in mind. "Luis," Sheridan's voice startled him. "Is there anything in there?" she asked. Peering around him at the refrigerator. "I'm starving!" He laughed out loud when her stomach chose that precise moment to growl very, very loudly. "I told you," she laughed with him. Hopping on the counter and letting her now bare feet dangle in the air. All of five minutes, and she had already ditched the shoes. She shrieked with laughter when he tickled the soles of her feet. Finally shoving him away. "Stop it," she said. Frowning. "I mean it, Luis. I'm SO hungry. It isn't even funny."
"Uh huh," he teased. "You don't help, you don't eat." "Luis!" she gasped. "I don't know how to cook," she grumbled. Crossing her arms around her chest. "You know that." "Well, Princess," he gave her foot a tug. "I think it's time you learned. What are you waiting for?" He snapped his fingers for effect. "Move it. Move it." "UGH!" she groaned. Slipping from the counter and yanking the freezer open. Plates clattered and cabinets banged open and shut as he searched for the appropriate cookware. Sheridan surveyed the freezer's contents with wide blue eyes. How was she supposed to know what all this stuff was? "Why don't you check the bottom first?" Luis suggested. Sheridan did as he instructed, and he grinned. Reaching past her to withdraw the steaks. Breathing in the pleasant aroma and making a mental note to himself to kiss the ground Joe walked on when he saw him again. The guy was just TOO generous. He'd even marinated them. "Just what I'm in the mood for. A big, juicy steak." Sheridan narrowed her blue eyes at him. "You better not just throw it on for all of two seconds. I prefer my food dead, thank you very much. Not dripping and bloody." "But Sherry," he teased. "That's the best way to eat it." She shuddered involuntarily. "Luis," she gagged. "I'm always afraid I'm going to stick my fork in it, and it's going to MOO back at me." Luis howled with laughter. "You are just too much."
Cooking with Sheridan.it was quite an experience. One he wouldn't forget. His Princess was NO Martha Stewart. Hell.she wasn't even close to Betty Crocker. They ate their dinner in the kitchen with lots of good-natured teasing and everyday conversation. Then they retired to the swing on the front porch. Cuddling close. Her head tucked beneath his chin as the sea breeze blew gently. Ruffling her blond curls and tickling his nose. The sun set over the horizon. Its purples and pinks and oranges a brilliant display of beauty. He ran his hands up and down her arms. Listening to the gentle sound of her relaxed breathing. He realized with a smile that she was asleep. Dead to the world as he scooped her up in his arms and carried her inside. Up the stairs and into the first room he came to. A room painted a most tranquil color of blue. He pulled back the blankets and lay her down. A peaceful smile on her lips as he kissed her brow. He pulled his tee-shirt over his head and crawled into bed beside her. Drawing her into his arms with a contented sigh and closing his eyes in slumber. They had a busy day ahead of them tomorrow.
Keeping his promise was sheer torture. As if just looking at her beautiful face wasn't enough to make him want to kiss her senseless, sleeping in the same BED with her every night-hell, sleeping in the same ROOM with her every night-and trying to keep his hands to himself was the hardest thing he had ever done. She'd laughed the first time he'd stacked every object imaginable in the middle of the bed. Trying to create a division between them. But then the amusement wore off, and those blue eyes that he couldn't resist had welled up with tears. When she asked him why he didn't want to be close to her, he'd swept the pillows and clothes away and kissed each tear away. Until they were both breathless. The 'division' didn't even last three days. And each night was harder than the one before it. It was two weeks of pure hell. Two weeks he NEVER wanted to forget because it was a time of discovery. For them both. He whistled a happy tune under his breath as he pushed the diner door open. Jingling the set of keys in his pocket. He had a surprise for her. A surprise he was sure she'd love.
Alison snarled at the blissful smile on Luigi's face when he first caught sight of Sherry. The only thing worse was the look on HER face. The girl was.to put it quite simply.IN LOVE. Head over heels, deeply, madly, passionately, knots in the stomach IN LOVE. She studied Luigi out of the corner of her eye while she filled her arms with dirty plates and cups and forks and spoons. He was in love with her, too, she realized with a pang. The funny thing was.she didn't think either realized it. Either that or they were too busy lying to themselves. She'd be happy for them. IF she weren't so damn mad. He wasn't supposed to love the little bitch. EVERYONE loved her. He was supposed to love HER. Alison. It wasn't fair, she thought. Slamming the plates down on the counter so hard Mr. Izzaria glared at her. She ignored him. Stalking off toward the bathroom in the back. Mr. Izzaria turned his eyes back on the young couple in front of him. He smiled and patted Sherry's face fondly. "Get out of here, Kid. You have the whole weekend off. You deserve it." Sheridan was so overcome she threw her arms around the little old man's neck and kissed his cheek. Luis laughed the whole way out the door at the image of Mr. Izzaria's blazing red cheeks.
"Luis," Sheridan pleaded. Looking up at him with dancing blue eyes as they walked along the beach later. To a secret destination. "Tell me where we're going. Please. I can't stand the suspense." Luis shook his head with a grin. Pulling the sheet of paper out of the pocket of his shorts and reading it quickly. Sheridan tried to swipe the paper from his hands. Pouting when he yanked it just out of reach. "I see patience isn't your strong suit," he teased. "Luis," she whined. "Where are we going? I want to know," she said. Slipping her arms around his waist and staring up at him with wide, innocent blue eyes. He leaned down to kiss the tip of her nose lightly and pulled back. Brown eyes twinkling. "I'm not telling." Sheridan dropped her arms from his waist. "Fine. Be that way," she grumbled. Trudging ahead of him. He struggled to keep a straight face every time she sneaked a glance back. With that ridiculous but oh-so adorable pout on her lips. A full-fledged grin spread over his lips when she turned around just in time to exclaim in awe. "Oh my.Luis," she breathed. "It's so beautiful. There's no one here," she said incredulously. "If I lived here.Luis, I'd NEVER leave." His eyes roamed the exterior of the old but majestic beachhouse. The paint was chipped. The small yard beyond the sand overgrown. Wild roses twined around the porch rails. Wild roses. Odd. "Joe was right. It DOES need a lot of work." "LUIS!" Sheridan bounced on her heels excitedly. "This is the place? Oh!" she threw her arms around his neck. "Sheridan," he laughed as she bounded up the creaky weather-beaten steps, and the front door banged against the wall behind her.
He followed her. Walking through the spacious, open living room. Ceiling fans whirred above him, and he looked up just in time to see her disappear upstairs. "Sheridan," he laughed. "I'm exploring," she shot back. Poking her golden head back around the corner of the wall. "Luis.this place is amazing." "Amazing, huh?" he shook his head. Wiping the thick layer of dust off the coffee table resting before an extremely oversized sofa. His dark eyes were drawn to the large bay windows and the view outside. The waves capping and breaking as they surged toward the shore. It had its own charm. He wandered around. Doing his own exploration. Pleased when he found the kitchen. Another large, airy room that was surprisingly modern. A magnet held a note in place on the refrigerator door, and he plucked it down. Scanning Joe's familiar scrawl. He grinned to himself as he read the instructions laid out for him. A little painting. He could handle that. Replace the broken steps on the porch. Basically just a little spit and polish. Nothing he hadn't done before. And the best part.he and Sheridan were free to use anything in the house they needed. Plus, the kitchen was fully stocked with food. Food! He remembered then.he'd missed lunch when Joe took him aside to describe the job he'd had in mind. "Luis," Sheridan's voice startled him. "Is there anything in there?" she asked. Peering around him at the refrigerator. "I'm starving!" He laughed out loud when her stomach chose that precise moment to growl very, very loudly. "I told you," she laughed with him. Hopping on the counter and letting her now bare feet dangle in the air. All of five minutes, and she had already ditched the shoes. She shrieked with laughter when he tickled the soles of her feet. Finally shoving him away. "Stop it," she said. Frowning. "I mean it, Luis. I'm SO hungry. It isn't even funny."
"Uh huh," he teased. "You don't help, you don't eat." "Luis!" she gasped. "I don't know how to cook," she grumbled. Crossing her arms around her chest. "You know that." "Well, Princess," he gave her foot a tug. "I think it's time you learned. What are you waiting for?" He snapped his fingers for effect. "Move it. Move it." "UGH!" she groaned. Slipping from the counter and yanking the freezer open. Plates clattered and cabinets banged open and shut as he searched for the appropriate cookware. Sheridan surveyed the freezer's contents with wide blue eyes. How was she supposed to know what all this stuff was? "Why don't you check the bottom first?" Luis suggested. Sheridan did as he instructed, and he grinned. Reaching past her to withdraw the steaks. Breathing in the pleasant aroma and making a mental note to himself to kiss the ground Joe walked on when he saw him again. The guy was just TOO generous. He'd even marinated them. "Just what I'm in the mood for. A big, juicy steak." Sheridan narrowed her blue eyes at him. "You better not just throw it on for all of two seconds. I prefer my food dead, thank you very much. Not dripping and bloody." "But Sherry," he teased. "That's the best way to eat it." She shuddered involuntarily. "Luis," she gagged. "I'm always afraid I'm going to stick my fork in it, and it's going to MOO back at me." Luis howled with laughter. "You are just too much."
Cooking with Sheridan.it was quite an experience. One he wouldn't forget. His Princess was NO Martha Stewart. Hell.she wasn't even close to Betty Crocker. They ate their dinner in the kitchen with lots of good-natured teasing and everyday conversation. Then they retired to the swing on the front porch. Cuddling close. Her head tucked beneath his chin as the sea breeze blew gently. Ruffling her blond curls and tickling his nose. The sun set over the horizon. Its purples and pinks and oranges a brilliant display of beauty. He ran his hands up and down her arms. Listening to the gentle sound of her relaxed breathing. He realized with a smile that she was asleep. Dead to the world as he scooped her up in his arms and carried her inside. Up the stairs and into the first room he came to. A room painted a most tranquil color of blue. He pulled back the blankets and lay her down. A peaceful smile on her lips as he kissed her brow. He pulled his tee-shirt over his head and crawled into bed beside her. Drawing her into his arms with a contented sigh and closing his eyes in slumber. They had a busy day ahead of them tomorrow.