Chapter 15
She woke up to the unwelcome sound of a hammer pounding outside. "Luis," she moaned. "And on my day off," she huffed. Burying her blond head underneath the down pillow. The hammering stopped, but she kept the pillow over her head. Sure the hammering'd be replaced with some other dreadfully loud noise. "What do you think you're doing?" a muffled voice asked. Yanking the pillow away. "Trying to SLEEP," she scowled at him. "Go away and be quiet," she ordered. Grabbing the pillow back from him and diving under it. A few minutes passed and nothing happened. She couldn't help being a bit disappointed. "Luis," she said. "Luis?" she repeated. "Where'd you go? Luis," she pouted. "I didn't really mean it," she grumbled to herself. "Good!" Luis exclaimed. Almost frightening her to death when he grabbed her from behind and starting tickling her relentlessly. "Luis!" she shrieked. Trying desperately to escape. "I'm sorry. Stop! Stop! Uncle," she giggled breathlessly. Chest heaving as he pinned her wrists above her head. "Uncle," he teased. Brown eyes sparkling at her. "I think not." Sheridan held her breath as his face loomed nearer.
"Luis?" Luis held her wrists in one hand. Caressing her cheek with the other before placing a sweet kiss on one corner of her mouth. Then the other. "Luis," she sighed. Eyes fluttering shut. He brushed his lips along her jawline to her neck. His hand left her wrists as he slid it down the length of her arm and down her rib cage to her waist. Making her gasp when he brushed the side of her breast. "Luis," she pleaded with glittering blue eyes. And he captured her lips with his. Kissing her with agonizing slowness. Deliberately teasing her-and himself. Her hands tangled in his black hair. Holding him to her. When he pulled away, she felt like crying. Why? "Luis," she said shakily. "Why did you stop?" He cupped her jaw in his palm. Rubbing his thumb over swollen lips. "Because we have work to do," he told her. Just before climbing off the bed and walking to the door. "We?" she asked in confusion. "Yes, we. Time to rise and shine, Princess. This isn't a free ride. You have to earn your keep." He wasn't kidding. He meant business! She groaned. Sailing the pillow through the air after his retreating form.
When she joined him on the porch dressed in a pair of cutoff denim shorts and baby blue bikini top, he tossed a pair of dirty-looking old gloves at her. "Luis," she rolled her eyes. "What are these for?" He shook his head with a grin. "See those rose bushes?" She nodded her head slowly. "You're going to prune them back before they take over the entire house. "Luis!" "Problem, Sherry?" he arched a dark brow at her. She huffed in annoyance. He knew damn well she had NO idea what to do. But she wasn't going to give him the satisfaction of admitting it. She pulled the gloves on and set to work. Luis smiled at her dogged determination. Almost an hour elapsed. No words passed between them. He lay the hammer down on the newly repaired steps and wiped the sweat from his brow with his arm. Standing back to watch her in action. He had to bite the inside of his cheek to keep from laughing aloud. She'd made virtually NO progress, and if ever a person looked like a fish out of water.that was Sheridan. "What?" she groaned when she felt his eyes boring into her from behind. "Luigi," she growled. Using the hated nickname. "Don't you dare say anything," she warned. "I'm doing the best I can." "Give me those," he said. "With pleasure," she beamed. Tugging the gloves off and dropping them in his upturned hands. "Here's your garden thingy, too." Luis chuckled under his breath. Watching the gentle sway of her hips appreciatively as she climbed up the steps to the front door. "Great," he teased. "Do a good job on that housework for Joe, okay?" "UUUUUGGGGGHHHHH!!!" The door banged shut behind her.
As afternoon approached, the sun's rays beat down more forcefully. The heat broken only by the salty sea breeze. He stripped his shirt from his upper body and tied it around his waist. Leaning his forehead against the arm he had braced against the white column of the porch. "Luis," he heard her call. And the door opening softly. Then silence. He raised his head to find her staring at him. Slack-jawed. Biting her lip nervously. And holding a glass of the most deliciously cool-looking water he'd ever seen. He smirked at her expression and slowly straightened up. "Take a picture, Princess. It'll last longer," he teased. Highly amused when she blushed ten different shades of red. "Are you going to bring me that glass of water or am I going to have to wrestle you for it?" Sheridan's jaw worked. Trying to formulate more than an incoherent jumble of words. Oh god, she thought. Breath stopping in her throat. She'd never found sweaty men irresistible or even attractive before. But then again.she hadn't known Luis. She hadn't known a lot of things. "Here," she said faintly. Holding the glass out to him. Luis gave her one of his knee-knocking grins as he took the glass from her hand carefully. His fingers brushing against hers and sending shockwaves through her entire body. She pulled her hand away awkwardly and stared at the ground. "I'm going for a swim. Do you want to come?" she asked. Looking up at him with hopeful blue eyes. "I don't know," he said hesitantly. "There's still a lot of work to be done." He cursed inwardly at the look of total disappointment that painted her features before she turned and walked away.
The water swirled around her ankles, and the sand sank beneath her feet as she stood at the beach's edge. A hand to her brow. Shielding her eyes from the brightness of the sun as she scanned the horizon. A slight smile on her lips as she recognized a tiny dot in the distance. A boat. Sea gulls squawked overhead. And she closed her eyes. Taking a deep, cleansing breath. The water was cold as she waded out. Refreshing and invigorating though it made her shiver. Her eyes were drawn to the ocean's floor. Watching as the surge of the waves tossed seashells forward. Only to drag them back with a magnetic pull. A tiny fish darted past, and she felt foolish for the tiny thrill of fright that filled her momentarily. She squinted against the sun's glare as her eyes searched the beach. Hoping to see him. Hoping Luis had changed his mind. Sighing when all she saw was the purple splash of color that was her beach towel against the pale, gleaming sand. Her arms cut through the waves skillfully as they took her farther and farther from shore. And she lost all sense of time. Luis's dark eyes searched and found her bobbing among the waves. The momentary panic he'd felt at not being able to locate her after a rather lengthy absence replaced with relief as he waded deeper into the water. Intent on reaching her side. Work could wait. He needed a break anyway, he reasoned. And he never liked to think he was the reason that beautiful smile was gone.
A brilliant smile lit up her face when she felt his arms snake around her waist from behind. "Oh, you're so hard at work right now, Luigi," she teased breathlessly as his lips lingered on the curve of her neck and his arms tightened around her. Molding her body to his. Her head fell back against his shoulder, and Luis hooked her arm around his neck. She hummed with pleasure as his fingers splayed across her stomach. Caressing her skin absently. Delicious tingles coursed through her, and she turned in his arms to look at him. Blue eyes dark and her voice husky as she said his name. Slipping her arms around his neck. One of Luis's hands went to the small of her back, and he pressed her close. Staring down into her eyes. They were oblivious to their surroundings. And Sheridan was sure she'd died and gone to Heaven when his mouth covered hers. Their kisses growing in intensity and hunger with each second that passed. "Sheridan," Luis pulled away. Panting for much-needed oxygen. His forehead resting against hers. "If you want me to stop, tell me now." She felt a nervous flutter in her stomach, but then he smiled reassuringly at her. Linking their hands together. "No," she murmured softly. "Don't stop," she told him. Kissing him with surprising boldness and wrapping her legs around his waist. "Don't ever stop."
She woke up to the unwelcome sound of a hammer pounding outside. "Luis," she moaned. "And on my day off," she huffed. Burying her blond head underneath the down pillow. The hammering stopped, but she kept the pillow over her head. Sure the hammering'd be replaced with some other dreadfully loud noise. "What do you think you're doing?" a muffled voice asked. Yanking the pillow away. "Trying to SLEEP," she scowled at him. "Go away and be quiet," she ordered. Grabbing the pillow back from him and diving under it. A few minutes passed and nothing happened. She couldn't help being a bit disappointed. "Luis," she said. "Luis?" she repeated. "Where'd you go? Luis," she pouted. "I didn't really mean it," she grumbled to herself. "Good!" Luis exclaimed. Almost frightening her to death when he grabbed her from behind and starting tickling her relentlessly. "Luis!" she shrieked. Trying desperately to escape. "I'm sorry. Stop! Stop! Uncle," she giggled breathlessly. Chest heaving as he pinned her wrists above her head. "Uncle," he teased. Brown eyes sparkling at her. "I think not." Sheridan held her breath as his face loomed nearer.
"Luis?" Luis held her wrists in one hand. Caressing her cheek with the other before placing a sweet kiss on one corner of her mouth. Then the other. "Luis," she sighed. Eyes fluttering shut. He brushed his lips along her jawline to her neck. His hand left her wrists as he slid it down the length of her arm and down her rib cage to her waist. Making her gasp when he brushed the side of her breast. "Luis," she pleaded with glittering blue eyes. And he captured her lips with his. Kissing her with agonizing slowness. Deliberately teasing her-and himself. Her hands tangled in his black hair. Holding him to her. When he pulled away, she felt like crying. Why? "Luis," she said shakily. "Why did you stop?" He cupped her jaw in his palm. Rubbing his thumb over swollen lips. "Because we have work to do," he told her. Just before climbing off the bed and walking to the door. "We?" she asked in confusion. "Yes, we. Time to rise and shine, Princess. This isn't a free ride. You have to earn your keep." He wasn't kidding. He meant business! She groaned. Sailing the pillow through the air after his retreating form.
When she joined him on the porch dressed in a pair of cutoff denim shorts and baby blue bikini top, he tossed a pair of dirty-looking old gloves at her. "Luis," she rolled her eyes. "What are these for?" He shook his head with a grin. "See those rose bushes?" She nodded her head slowly. "You're going to prune them back before they take over the entire house. "Luis!" "Problem, Sherry?" he arched a dark brow at her. She huffed in annoyance. He knew damn well she had NO idea what to do. But she wasn't going to give him the satisfaction of admitting it. She pulled the gloves on and set to work. Luis smiled at her dogged determination. Almost an hour elapsed. No words passed between them. He lay the hammer down on the newly repaired steps and wiped the sweat from his brow with his arm. Standing back to watch her in action. He had to bite the inside of his cheek to keep from laughing aloud. She'd made virtually NO progress, and if ever a person looked like a fish out of water.that was Sheridan. "What?" she groaned when she felt his eyes boring into her from behind. "Luigi," she growled. Using the hated nickname. "Don't you dare say anything," she warned. "I'm doing the best I can." "Give me those," he said. "With pleasure," she beamed. Tugging the gloves off and dropping them in his upturned hands. "Here's your garden thingy, too." Luis chuckled under his breath. Watching the gentle sway of her hips appreciatively as she climbed up the steps to the front door. "Great," he teased. "Do a good job on that housework for Joe, okay?" "UUUUUGGGGGHHHHH!!!" The door banged shut behind her.
As afternoon approached, the sun's rays beat down more forcefully. The heat broken only by the salty sea breeze. He stripped his shirt from his upper body and tied it around his waist. Leaning his forehead against the arm he had braced against the white column of the porch. "Luis," he heard her call. And the door opening softly. Then silence. He raised his head to find her staring at him. Slack-jawed. Biting her lip nervously. And holding a glass of the most deliciously cool-looking water he'd ever seen. He smirked at her expression and slowly straightened up. "Take a picture, Princess. It'll last longer," he teased. Highly amused when she blushed ten different shades of red. "Are you going to bring me that glass of water or am I going to have to wrestle you for it?" Sheridan's jaw worked. Trying to formulate more than an incoherent jumble of words. Oh god, she thought. Breath stopping in her throat. She'd never found sweaty men irresistible or even attractive before. But then again.she hadn't known Luis. She hadn't known a lot of things. "Here," she said faintly. Holding the glass out to him. Luis gave her one of his knee-knocking grins as he took the glass from her hand carefully. His fingers brushing against hers and sending shockwaves through her entire body. She pulled her hand away awkwardly and stared at the ground. "I'm going for a swim. Do you want to come?" she asked. Looking up at him with hopeful blue eyes. "I don't know," he said hesitantly. "There's still a lot of work to be done." He cursed inwardly at the look of total disappointment that painted her features before she turned and walked away.
The water swirled around her ankles, and the sand sank beneath her feet as she stood at the beach's edge. A hand to her brow. Shielding her eyes from the brightness of the sun as she scanned the horizon. A slight smile on her lips as she recognized a tiny dot in the distance. A boat. Sea gulls squawked overhead. And she closed her eyes. Taking a deep, cleansing breath. The water was cold as she waded out. Refreshing and invigorating though it made her shiver. Her eyes were drawn to the ocean's floor. Watching as the surge of the waves tossed seashells forward. Only to drag them back with a magnetic pull. A tiny fish darted past, and she felt foolish for the tiny thrill of fright that filled her momentarily. She squinted against the sun's glare as her eyes searched the beach. Hoping to see him. Hoping Luis had changed his mind. Sighing when all she saw was the purple splash of color that was her beach towel against the pale, gleaming sand. Her arms cut through the waves skillfully as they took her farther and farther from shore. And she lost all sense of time. Luis's dark eyes searched and found her bobbing among the waves. The momentary panic he'd felt at not being able to locate her after a rather lengthy absence replaced with relief as he waded deeper into the water. Intent on reaching her side. Work could wait. He needed a break anyway, he reasoned. And he never liked to think he was the reason that beautiful smile was gone.
A brilliant smile lit up her face when she felt his arms snake around her waist from behind. "Oh, you're so hard at work right now, Luigi," she teased breathlessly as his lips lingered on the curve of her neck and his arms tightened around her. Molding her body to his. Her head fell back against his shoulder, and Luis hooked her arm around his neck. She hummed with pleasure as his fingers splayed across her stomach. Caressing her skin absently. Delicious tingles coursed through her, and she turned in his arms to look at him. Blue eyes dark and her voice husky as she said his name. Slipping her arms around his neck. One of Luis's hands went to the small of her back, and he pressed her close. Staring down into her eyes. They were oblivious to their surroundings. And Sheridan was sure she'd died and gone to Heaven when his mouth covered hers. Their kisses growing in intensity and hunger with each second that passed. "Sheridan," Luis pulled away. Panting for much-needed oxygen. His forehead resting against hers. "If you want me to stop, tell me now." She felt a nervous flutter in her stomach, but then he smiled reassuringly at her. Linking their hands together. "No," she murmured softly. "Don't stop," she told him. Kissing him with surprising boldness and wrapping her legs around his waist. "Don't ever stop."