Chapter 18
He smiled against the silk of her skin. His fingertips following his lips. Sweeping over the ridges of her spine. "Luis," he heard her mumble into her pillow. "Luis," she groaned. "I'm sleepy." He ignored her. Slipping an arm around her waist and pulling her back against him. Kissing her shoulder lightly before moving to her neck. "Do you really want me to stop, Sherry?" he whispered into her ear. Brushing his lips across her cheek fleetingly. "You're a bully, Luigi," she pouted. Twisting around in his arms and staring at him with drowsy blue eyes.
Luis pretended to be hurt. Turning his back to her. The pout on Sheridan's face turned to a frown, and she wrapped her arms around him from behind. Propping her chin on his shoulder. "I'm sorry," she apologized. "You're NOT a bully." Luis's smile stretched from ear to ear. "You're an ANNOYING BULLY," she whispered in his ear. Shrieking with laughter when he flipped over suddenly. Grabbing her by the wrist and holding her captive. "Luis," she laughed. Blue eyes sparkling.
"Still think I'm an annoying bully?" he asked. Threading his fingers through the hand he held and pressing it into the pillow beside her head. "Yes," she whispered as his breath caressed her face. "Smart girl," he teased as he kissed her fluttering eyelids. "Really smart girl," he smiled. Kissing the bridge of her nose. "Luis.I have to be at work in less than two hours," Sheridan murmured as he nuzzled her cheek. "So?" he said. Before pecking her lips lightly. "He gave me the whole weekend off. I can't be late," she sighed as he loosened his fingers from her hand. Sliding it down the length of her arm and covering her breast. "Promise I won't be late?" she asked breathily. "Promise," he vowed. Kissing her full on the lips.
He kept his promise. Just barely. Delivering her safe and sound to the doorsteps of the diner just seconds before her shift started. Alison scowled through the window as she watched the pair kiss goodbye. "Young love," Mr. Izzaria sighed. Then banged on the window to get their attention. "Sherry!" Luigi's brown eyes never left Sherry's face, Alison thought with disgust. They shared another sickeningly sweet kiss before parting company. And Sherry practically floated inside. Ridiculously happy.
"Good morning, Alison," Sheridan smiled. "Good morning, Mr. Izzaria. Have I told you how much I love you lately?" she asked. Taking Mr. Izzaria by surprise and squeezing his neck tight. The old man patted her cheek fondly. Then responded in a gruff voice. "Yeah, yeah. Get to work. We'll have our first customers soon." Jealously flared in Alison's belly as the old man watched Sherry leave with a smile on his face. "Mr. Izzaria, I." "No, you don't," he interrupted her. "But that's okay. There's nothing that says we have to like everyone we meet," he told her. "Ugh!" she stomped her foot after she was sure he was out of sight.
The bells at the front chimed, and she groaned when Mr. Izzaria yelled, "Your customer, Alison!" "My customer," she grumbled. "My customer. Why my customer?" She smacked furiously on the wad of chewing gum in her mouth. "Hi, I'm Alison. Your waitress. What can I get for you?" she said. Mentally checking each item off the list. Her pencil poised to scribble the gentleman's order. A real gentleman, she realized. Blue eyes widening at the expensive Italian loafers on his feet. "Sir?" she asked. Impatience creeping into her voice as he remained silent. "Who's that singing?" he asked curiously. The look in his blue eyes unnerving her.
"Her? That's Sherry. Listen, Sir. Do you want something to eat or not? I don't have all day here," she huffed. Her hand perched on her hip. The man pursed his lips. "Coffee will do. But first.I'd like to ask you a few questions." "Questions 'bout what?" she asked. "Are you the F.B.I? 'Cause I can't just yak the day away, you know? The boss'd fire me." "I'm not the F.B.I.," the man laughed. A hollow sound. "But you're somebody important, aren't you?" When he didn't say anything, she turned to leave. Her blue eyes flashing when he grasped her wrist roughly. "I'll make it worth your while," he said in a low voice. Sliding a $100 dollar bill her way. Alison's eyes darted to the counter where Mr. Izzaria watched them suspiciously. "Uncle Bobby," she smiled. All sweetness and light. "Do you mind?" she waved to Mr. Izzaria. Slipping into the booth opposite the man with the cold blue eyes when he nodded his head in assent.
Sheridan's ears perked up. She didn't know Alison had an uncle. "Sherry," Mr. Izzaria chided. "If you catch the kitchen on fire while you're daydreaming, you'll have to pay for the damages this time. I'm only generous the first time." "Sorry," she apologized. "It's just." "I know," Mr. Izzaria smiled knowingly. "I've been in love before. But keep your head out of the clouds here, Kid. I'm serious about the damages." "In love," Sheridan whispered to herself with a smile. A smile that stretched from one side of her face to the other. Brilliant and radiant. "In love," she repeated with a sigh. She LOVED Luis!
Alison's blue eyes narrowed with suspicion as the man before her grilled her about Sherry. And Luigi. Something deep inside of her told her she shouldn't trust him. But maybe.maybe he could help her get Sherry out of the picture. Then she could have Luigi all to herself! "Yeah.they stay at the motel across the street." The man's jaw set in a hard line. "In the same room." Alison rolled her eyes at him. "What do you think?" "Are they.involved?" "If having your tongue buried down someone's throat in a disgusting display of lust," she spat, knowing full well it was much more than that, "means they're involved, then yeah. Of course, they're involved. What's it matter to you? Careful. If you squeeze that coffee mug any harder it's going to shatter into a million tiny pieces."
He reached inside his suit jacket. Withdrawing a wallet-sized photograph and pushing it across the table to her. "Recognize this girl?" Alison's jaw dropped open in astonishment. "That's.that's.that's Sherry," she stammered. "Where did you get this?" "Not Sherry," he told her. "The girl in that picture.the girl you know as Sherry.is my daughter. Sheridan Crane." "Crane?" Alison gasped in recognition. "As in THE CRANES? One of the richest families in America?" "THE richest family," he corrected her. "The little bitch is your daughter. Well, well. That's why he's with her. For the money." Yeah, Alison. And if you believe that. "Luis." "Huh?" she asked dumbly. Her blue eyes still glued on the photo. "Luis Lopez-Fitzgerald. My daughter's kidnapper."
"Wait a minute," she protested. "As I'm sure you've realized already, no love is lost between your daughter and me. But Luigi.Luis a kidnapper? No way. I don't buy it. She doesn't look like she's been held against her will to me. In fact, she looks like she's loving his company. A little bit too much if you know what I mean." NOT a good idea to get the richest, most powerful man in the United States pissed at you, Alison. "He IS a kidnapper. And I intend to have him prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law." At her stricken expression, he said, "Unless." "Unless what?" she asked. Crossing her arms and studying him. The expensive suit. The boring tie. The cold, icy blue eyes. "What would you say if I told you I could make sure he was yours? All yours." Her heart soared and plummeted within seconds. "It ain't going to happen. I know you don't want to believe this, but.he loves her. She loves him. I'm positive. He's no more a kidnapper than I'm Queen Elizabeth." "Him for her," he repeated. "I know you'll make the right choice."
Sheridan sighed dreamily as Alison walked into the small kitchen area. Not noticing the disturbed expression on Alison's face. "Alison?" "Yeah," Alison said. Trying to keep the guilt from her voice. Suddenly she didn't hate Sherry so much. She felt.sorry for her. "How do you know?" "Know what?" "When you're in love? Because I think I am," she said shyly. Blue eyes sparkling with more happiness than Alison could bear. Knowing they'd be dulled with sadness at her betrayal. Sheridan didn't wait for her to answer her. "He's kind. Gentle. Generous. Sexy," she blushed. "He takes care of me. He makes me smile when I'm sad. He listens. He's my best friend. I love him, Alison. Oh. I'm sorry. You don't want to hear all this. What did you want?" "Not me," Alison cleared her throat. Looking away when Sheridan smiled at her. "I'm.I'm not feeling too well. Do you think you can take Table 4 his order?" "Sure," Sheridan smiled. "Go take care of yourself," she told her. Picking up the plate with Eggs Benedict. "That's odd. That's.nevermind," she muttered to herself. You're crazy, Sheridan. It can't be. "Sorry, Sheridan," Alison murmured as she watched her leave. Closing her eyes at the crash that sounded a moment later and single word infused with so many emotions. Not one of them good that she could decipher.
"Father."
He smiled against the silk of her skin. His fingertips following his lips. Sweeping over the ridges of her spine. "Luis," he heard her mumble into her pillow. "Luis," she groaned. "I'm sleepy." He ignored her. Slipping an arm around her waist and pulling her back against him. Kissing her shoulder lightly before moving to her neck. "Do you really want me to stop, Sherry?" he whispered into her ear. Brushing his lips across her cheek fleetingly. "You're a bully, Luigi," she pouted. Twisting around in his arms and staring at him with drowsy blue eyes.
Luis pretended to be hurt. Turning his back to her. The pout on Sheridan's face turned to a frown, and she wrapped her arms around him from behind. Propping her chin on his shoulder. "I'm sorry," she apologized. "You're NOT a bully." Luis's smile stretched from ear to ear. "You're an ANNOYING BULLY," she whispered in his ear. Shrieking with laughter when he flipped over suddenly. Grabbing her by the wrist and holding her captive. "Luis," she laughed. Blue eyes sparkling.
"Still think I'm an annoying bully?" he asked. Threading his fingers through the hand he held and pressing it into the pillow beside her head. "Yes," she whispered as his breath caressed her face. "Smart girl," he teased as he kissed her fluttering eyelids. "Really smart girl," he smiled. Kissing the bridge of her nose. "Luis.I have to be at work in less than two hours," Sheridan murmured as he nuzzled her cheek. "So?" he said. Before pecking her lips lightly. "He gave me the whole weekend off. I can't be late," she sighed as he loosened his fingers from her hand. Sliding it down the length of her arm and covering her breast. "Promise I won't be late?" she asked breathily. "Promise," he vowed. Kissing her full on the lips.
He kept his promise. Just barely. Delivering her safe and sound to the doorsteps of the diner just seconds before her shift started. Alison scowled through the window as she watched the pair kiss goodbye. "Young love," Mr. Izzaria sighed. Then banged on the window to get their attention. "Sherry!" Luigi's brown eyes never left Sherry's face, Alison thought with disgust. They shared another sickeningly sweet kiss before parting company. And Sherry practically floated inside. Ridiculously happy.
"Good morning, Alison," Sheridan smiled. "Good morning, Mr. Izzaria. Have I told you how much I love you lately?" she asked. Taking Mr. Izzaria by surprise and squeezing his neck tight. The old man patted her cheek fondly. Then responded in a gruff voice. "Yeah, yeah. Get to work. We'll have our first customers soon." Jealously flared in Alison's belly as the old man watched Sherry leave with a smile on his face. "Mr. Izzaria, I." "No, you don't," he interrupted her. "But that's okay. There's nothing that says we have to like everyone we meet," he told her. "Ugh!" she stomped her foot after she was sure he was out of sight.
The bells at the front chimed, and she groaned when Mr. Izzaria yelled, "Your customer, Alison!" "My customer," she grumbled. "My customer. Why my customer?" She smacked furiously on the wad of chewing gum in her mouth. "Hi, I'm Alison. Your waitress. What can I get for you?" she said. Mentally checking each item off the list. Her pencil poised to scribble the gentleman's order. A real gentleman, she realized. Blue eyes widening at the expensive Italian loafers on his feet. "Sir?" she asked. Impatience creeping into her voice as he remained silent. "Who's that singing?" he asked curiously. The look in his blue eyes unnerving her.
"Her? That's Sherry. Listen, Sir. Do you want something to eat or not? I don't have all day here," she huffed. Her hand perched on her hip. The man pursed his lips. "Coffee will do. But first.I'd like to ask you a few questions." "Questions 'bout what?" she asked. "Are you the F.B.I? 'Cause I can't just yak the day away, you know? The boss'd fire me." "I'm not the F.B.I.," the man laughed. A hollow sound. "But you're somebody important, aren't you?" When he didn't say anything, she turned to leave. Her blue eyes flashing when he grasped her wrist roughly. "I'll make it worth your while," he said in a low voice. Sliding a $100 dollar bill her way. Alison's eyes darted to the counter where Mr. Izzaria watched them suspiciously. "Uncle Bobby," she smiled. All sweetness and light. "Do you mind?" she waved to Mr. Izzaria. Slipping into the booth opposite the man with the cold blue eyes when he nodded his head in assent.
Sheridan's ears perked up. She didn't know Alison had an uncle. "Sherry," Mr. Izzaria chided. "If you catch the kitchen on fire while you're daydreaming, you'll have to pay for the damages this time. I'm only generous the first time." "Sorry," she apologized. "It's just." "I know," Mr. Izzaria smiled knowingly. "I've been in love before. But keep your head out of the clouds here, Kid. I'm serious about the damages." "In love," Sheridan whispered to herself with a smile. A smile that stretched from one side of her face to the other. Brilliant and radiant. "In love," she repeated with a sigh. She LOVED Luis!
Alison's blue eyes narrowed with suspicion as the man before her grilled her about Sherry. And Luigi. Something deep inside of her told her she shouldn't trust him. But maybe.maybe he could help her get Sherry out of the picture. Then she could have Luigi all to herself! "Yeah.they stay at the motel across the street." The man's jaw set in a hard line. "In the same room." Alison rolled her eyes at him. "What do you think?" "Are they.involved?" "If having your tongue buried down someone's throat in a disgusting display of lust," she spat, knowing full well it was much more than that, "means they're involved, then yeah. Of course, they're involved. What's it matter to you? Careful. If you squeeze that coffee mug any harder it's going to shatter into a million tiny pieces."
He reached inside his suit jacket. Withdrawing a wallet-sized photograph and pushing it across the table to her. "Recognize this girl?" Alison's jaw dropped open in astonishment. "That's.that's.that's Sherry," she stammered. "Where did you get this?" "Not Sherry," he told her. "The girl in that picture.the girl you know as Sherry.is my daughter. Sheridan Crane." "Crane?" Alison gasped in recognition. "As in THE CRANES? One of the richest families in America?" "THE richest family," he corrected her. "The little bitch is your daughter. Well, well. That's why he's with her. For the money." Yeah, Alison. And if you believe that. "Luis." "Huh?" she asked dumbly. Her blue eyes still glued on the photo. "Luis Lopez-Fitzgerald. My daughter's kidnapper."
"Wait a minute," she protested. "As I'm sure you've realized already, no love is lost between your daughter and me. But Luigi.Luis a kidnapper? No way. I don't buy it. She doesn't look like she's been held against her will to me. In fact, she looks like she's loving his company. A little bit too much if you know what I mean." NOT a good idea to get the richest, most powerful man in the United States pissed at you, Alison. "He IS a kidnapper. And I intend to have him prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law." At her stricken expression, he said, "Unless." "Unless what?" she asked. Crossing her arms and studying him. The expensive suit. The boring tie. The cold, icy blue eyes. "What would you say if I told you I could make sure he was yours? All yours." Her heart soared and plummeted within seconds. "It ain't going to happen. I know you don't want to believe this, but.he loves her. She loves him. I'm positive. He's no more a kidnapper than I'm Queen Elizabeth." "Him for her," he repeated. "I know you'll make the right choice."
Sheridan sighed dreamily as Alison walked into the small kitchen area. Not noticing the disturbed expression on Alison's face. "Alison?" "Yeah," Alison said. Trying to keep the guilt from her voice. Suddenly she didn't hate Sherry so much. She felt.sorry for her. "How do you know?" "Know what?" "When you're in love? Because I think I am," she said shyly. Blue eyes sparkling with more happiness than Alison could bear. Knowing they'd be dulled with sadness at her betrayal. Sheridan didn't wait for her to answer her. "He's kind. Gentle. Generous. Sexy," she blushed. "He takes care of me. He makes me smile when I'm sad. He listens. He's my best friend. I love him, Alison. Oh. I'm sorry. You don't want to hear all this. What did you want?" "Not me," Alison cleared her throat. Looking away when Sheridan smiled at her. "I'm.I'm not feeling too well. Do you think you can take Table 4 his order?" "Sure," Sheridan smiled. "Go take care of yourself," she told her. Picking up the plate with Eggs Benedict. "That's odd. That's.nevermind," she muttered to herself. You're crazy, Sheridan. It can't be. "Sorry, Sheridan," Alison murmured as she watched her leave. Closing her eyes at the crash that sounded a moment later and single word infused with so many emotions. Not one of them good that she could decipher.
"Father."