Chapter 27
It only took a moment-a moment in which she blinked back her tears and closed her eyes only to open them again instantly-to convince herself this wasn't another one of her dreams. This was real. He was real. So very real, her heart told her as she flew into his arms. Encircling her arms around his neck and burying her face in the crook of his neck. Luis tightened his arms around her waist as he felt her warm tears on his skin. "Hey," he smiled. Smoothing a gentle hand over her.over the wig. "Don't cry. Don't cry, Princess," he soothed. Kissing her temple. "You know how much I hate to see tears in those pretty blue eyes of yours. Look at me." Sheridan pulled back slowly. Blue eyes still shimmering with tears.
But he saw it.there was happiness there as well. "I've missed you. So much," she choked as he cupped her face in both of hands and brought her face closer. And closer. 'Til there was only a breath's distance between their lips. Luis couldn't resist. The familiar urge to tease her. So he didn't. Delivering an answer he knew would make those blue eyes flash. "Ditto," he whispered. Only laughing when she playfully slugged him. "Don't make me beat you up already, Luigi," she warned. Not able to keep the smile from her lips as it stretched into a wide grin. "You know how much I hate that name," he protested. Leaning his forehead against hers and nuzzling noses with her. "But." he paused. Marveling at the sensation of her in his arms again. Like it was meant to be. "I missed you, too," he whispered. His own eyes suspiciously shiny as he kissed her softly.
Gwen sighed dreamily as she watched them. Kissing under the stars. It was a beautiful reunion. "Gwen," Ethan hissed behind her. But she ignored him. Gazing outside from the shadows. "Gwen," Ethan yanked forcibly on her arm. "Grandfather's coming. He looks.he looks." Gwen whirled on her heels and gulped as she caught eyes with Ivy as she tried desperately to divert Alistair Crane's attention. "He looks suspicious," Ethan finally finished with a wan expression. "No duh, Ethan," Gwen barely restrained from rolling her eyes. "That's not all. He looks." "He looks kind of mad, doesn't he?" Ethan tugged at her hand nervously. "Gwen.let's get out of here before he." "Coward," Gwen said through clenched teeth. "But when he sees.he's going to.might even disinherit." "Ethan," Gwen heaved a long- suffering sigh. "Grow up and be a man. God," she groaned as her mind raced. Trying to come up with a plan. Fast. "And I'm supposed to marry a wuss like you?"
Ethan's face contorted angrily. "I'm not a wuss," he argued. "Tell me you aren't scared," he demanded as his grandfather slowly made his way closer. "Ouch!" he muttered when Gwen pinched the inside of his arm. "What was that for?" he asked with an offended glare her direction. "Fight with me," she hissed as Alistair crept forward. Inch by inch. "No," he muttered. Rubbing his arm. "I won't.Gwen." His blue eyes widened when Gwen yanked him by the collar. Planting her lips on his. He tried to push her away, but when that didn't work, he tried to protest. But any words he might have said were cut off by her lips again. His hands moved on their own volition from her waist higher. Just when he was getting into the unexpected kiss.REALLY getting into it.Gwen pulled back. Brown eyes glittering strangely. And before he had time to defend himself, she reached her hand back and.Ethan grabbed his jaw. Moaning in pain. His blue eyes wearing their normal confused expression. Only ten times worse. "What was that for?" he said at her stinging slap. Groaning. It hurt to move his jaw. "I'd like to know the answer to that question myself." Ethan slumped. Deflated at the sound of his grandfather's voice.
Sheridan's breathless laughter as they darted around the corner of the darkened stables made Luis smile. He'd missed her laughter. He'd be lying to himself if he pretended he didn't miss everything about her. "Shh," he whispered with a finger against her lips. "If you don't stop laughing, we won't be able to make our great escape," he told her with sparkling brown eyes. "Poor Ethan," Sheridan shook with barely stifled giggles. "He didn't see it coming." "You know.if the whole rich deb thing doesn't work out," Luis teased as he hurried to Juliet's stall. "She's got a promising future in boxing." Sheridan burst into laughter again at the mental image his words aroused. "Sherry." he scolded. Wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her close. Receding into the shadows. "Be quiet before I." She took him by surprise. Kissing him teasingly on the lips. "Kiss me?" she arched a slender golden brow at him. Blue eyes twinkling at his temporary mute status. "Well.I had a different idea, but yours works fine," he told her. Brushing his lips across hers just one more time. He only let go of her hand long enough to lead Juliet out of the stall. "Luis.where?" she questioned as he helped her mount the mare. "Anywhere but here," he answered simply. Taking his position in front of her. "Hold on," he told her as he steered Juliet away from the Mansion. The bright lights. And the party.
"But Mother.Grandfather." Ethan defended himself at Gwen's tirade. "I didn't kiss Priscilla Co.I don't even know who she is." Gwen crossed her arms over her chest. Looking for all the world like a very angry, very jealous girlfriend. "You're lying, Ethan. I saw you. In the library. You had your hands." "Gwen, Dear." Ivy cut her off. "We don't need to hear ALL the damning details. Ethan," she sighed. Looking at her son levelly. "Yes, Mother," Ethan muttered. Flinching at the pain that simple action caused him. "How could you do such a thing?" Ethan's mouth fell open, and his blue eyes darted back and forth from his mother to the girl whose brown eyes dared him to say anymore. "Ethan," his grandfather said. Voice filled with impatience. "I hope you're not picking up your father's bad habits." Julian scowled at his father's back, and Gwen fought the urge to laugh. At Julian's face and the look of utter bewilderment marring Ethan's features. As it were.her lips twisted upward at the corners just barely. He was kind of cute sometimes. But that didn't mean he wasn't the dumbest, most spoiled male she had ever met.
Ivy discreetly pulled the heavy drapes back from the French doors. Scanning the terrace for evidence of Sheridan and Luis. And finding none, she turned back to the little group gathered in front of her wrongfully accused son. "Just apologize to her, for God's sake," she snapped. Winking at Gwen when she turned her back on Alistair and her husband and son. "Will that suffice? For now?" she queried Gwen. Gwen pretended to ponder her offer. "Do it, Son," Alistair advised. "But Grandfather." Ethan protested. "I didn't." "Ethan," Ivy shook her head at him. "Okay," he grumbled. Switching hands. One was already numb holding the ice pack in place. "I'm sorry." "Thank you," Gwen replied sweetly. But Ethan swore there was an evil gleam in her brown eyes.
Sheridan's breath caught in her throat as she drank in the stark beauty of the stream trickling in the starlight. "Beautiful, isn't it?" Luis said. "I wanted to show you." "It is," she murmured. Hugging her arms around his waist. Resting her cool cheek against the warmth of his back as Juliet's hooves splashed in the water. And they crossed over. Where are you taking me, she wondered silently as the sound of the bubbling brook faded behind them, and the forest drew them deeper. Hiding them from the outside world. Everyone that wanted to tear them apart. Juliet nickered as Luis gave a gentle tug on her reins. Slowing them to a stop. The deadened, weather-hewn leaves crumbled beneath their feet as he took her by the hand and led her down a barely discernable path. "Luis? Oh my.Luis," she gasped as they came to a small clearing and she saw."I didn't know this cabin was on the property." He laughed at her expression of wonder. Only she would see possibilities and promise in the overgrown building. "Sherry," he smiled. "You really have to get out more," he said. Pulling her forward by their joined hands. "Are you coming?"
It only took a moment-a moment in which she blinked back her tears and closed her eyes only to open them again instantly-to convince herself this wasn't another one of her dreams. This was real. He was real. So very real, her heart told her as she flew into his arms. Encircling her arms around his neck and burying her face in the crook of his neck. Luis tightened his arms around her waist as he felt her warm tears on his skin. "Hey," he smiled. Smoothing a gentle hand over her.over the wig. "Don't cry. Don't cry, Princess," he soothed. Kissing her temple. "You know how much I hate to see tears in those pretty blue eyes of yours. Look at me." Sheridan pulled back slowly. Blue eyes still shimmering with tears.
But he saw it.there was happiness there as well. "I've missed you. So much," she choked as he cupped her face in both of hands and brought her face closer. And closer. 'Til there was only a breath's distance between their lips. Luis couldn't resist. The familiar urge to tease her. So he didn't. Delivering an answer he knew would make those blue eyes flash. "Ditto," he whispered. Only laughing when she playfully slugged him. "Don't make me beat you up already, Luigi," she warned. Not able to keep the smile from her lips as it stretched into a wide grin. "You know how much I hate that name," he protested. Leaning his forehead against hers and nuzzling noses with her. "But." he paused. Marveling at the sensation of her in his arms again. Like it was meant to be. "I missed you, too," he whispered. His own eyes suspiciously shiny as he kissed her softly.
Gwen sighed dreamily as she watched them. Kissing under the stars. It was a beautiful reunion. "Gwen," Ethan hissed behind her. But she ignored him. Gazing outside from the shadows. "Gwen," Ethan yanked forcibly on her arm. "Grandfather's coming. He looks.he looks." Gwen whirled on her heels and gulped as she caught eyes with Ivy as she tried desperately to divert Alistair Crane's attention. "He looks suspicious," Ethan finally finished with a wan expression. "No duh, Ethan," Gwen barely restrained from rolling her eyes. "That's not all. He looks." "He looks kind of mad, doesn't he?" Ethan tugged at her hand nervously. "Gwen.let's get out of here before he." "Coward," Gwen said through clenched teeth. "But when he sees.he's going to.might even disinherit." "Ethan," Gwen heaved a long- suffering sigh. "Grow up and be a man. God," she groaned as her mind raced. Trying to come up with a plan. Fast. "And I'm supposed to marry a wuss like you?"
Ethan's face contorted angrily. "I'm not a wuss," he argued. "Tell me you aren't scared," he demanded as his grandfather slowly made his way closer. "Ouch!" he muttered when Gwen pinched the inside of his arm. "What was that for?" he asked with an offended glare her direction. "Fight with me," she hissed as Alistair crept forward. Inch by inch. "No," he muttered. Rubbing his arm. "I won't.Gwen." His blue eyes widened when Gwen yanked him by the collar. Planting her lips on his. He tried to push her away, but when that didn't work, he tried to protest. But any words he might have said were cut off by her lips again. His hands moved on their own volition from her waist higher. Just when he was getting into the unexpected kiss.REALLY getting into it.Gwen pulled back. Brown eyes glittering strangely. And before he had time to defend himself, she reached her hand back and.Ethan grabbed his jaw. Moaning in pain. His blue eyes wearing their normal confused expression. Only ten times worse. "What was that for?" he said at her stinging slap. Groaning. It hurt to move his jaw. "I'd like to know the answer to that question myself." Ethan slumped. Deflated at the sound of his grandfather's voice.
Sheridan's breathless laughter as they darted around the corner of the darkened stables made Luis smile. He'd missed her laughter. He'd be lying to himself if he pretended he didn't miss everything about her. "Shh," he whispered with a finger against her lips. "If you don't stop laughing, we won't be able to make our great escape," he told her with sparkling brown eyes. "Poor Ethan," Sheridan shook with barely stifled giggles. "He didn't see it coming." "You know.if the whole rich deb thing doesn't work out," Luis teased as he hurried to Juliet's stall. "She's got a promising future in boxing." Sheridan burst into laughter again at the mental image his words aroused. "Sherry." he scolded. Wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her close. Receding into the shadows. "Be quiet before I." She took him by surprise. Kissing him teasingly on the lips. "Kiss me?" she arched a slender golden brow at him. Blue eyes twinkling at his temporary mute status. "Well.I had a different idea, but yours works fine," he told her. Brushing his lips across hers just one more time. He only let go of her hand long enough to lead Juliet out of the stall. "Luis.where?" she questioned as he helped her mount the mare. "Anywhere but here," he answered simply. Taking his position in front of her. "Hold on," he told her as he steered Juliet away from the Mansion. The bright lights. And the party.
"But Mother.Grandfather." Ethan defended himself at Gwen's tirade. "I didn't kiss Priscilla Co.I don't even know who she is." Gwen crossed her arms over her chest. Looking for all the world like a very angry, very jealous girlfriend. "You're lying, Ethan. I saw you. In the library. You had your hands." "Gwen, Dear." Ivy cut her off. "We don't need to hear ALL the damning details. Ethan," she sighed. Looking at her son levelly. "Yes, Mother," Ethan muttered. Flinching at the pain that simple action caused him. "How could you do such a thing?" Ethan's mouth fell open, and his blue eyes darted back and forth from his mother to the girl whose brown eyes dared him to say anymore. "Ethan," his grandfather said. Voice filled with impatience. "I hope you're not picking up your father's bad habits." Julian scowled at his father's back, and Gwen fought the urge to laugh. At Julian's face and the look of utter bewilderment marring Ethan's features. As it were.her lips twisted upward at the corners just barely. He was kind of cute sometimes. But that didn't mean he wasn't the dumbest, most spoiled male she had ever met.
Ivy discreetly pulled the heavy drapes back from the French doors. Scanning the terrace for evidence of Sheridan and Luis. And finding none, she turned back to the little group gathered in front of her wrongfully accused son. "Just apologize to her, for God's sake," she snapped. Winking at Gwen when she turned her back on Alistair and her husband and son. "Will that suffice? For now?" she queried Gwen. Gwen pretended to ponder her offer. "Do it, Son," Alistair advised. "But Grandfather." Ethan protested. "I didn't." "Ethan," Ivy shook her head at him. "Okay," he grumbled. Switching hands. One was already numb holding the ice pack in place. "I'm sorry." "Thank you," Gwen replied sweetly. But Ethan swore there was an evil gleam in her brown eyes.
Sheridan's breath caught in her throat as she drank in the stark beauty of the stream trickling in the starlight. "Beautiful, isn't it?" Luis said. "I wanted to show you." "It is," she murmured. Hugging her arms around his waist. Resting her cool cheek against the warmth of his back as Juliet's hooves splashed in the water. And they crossed over. Where are you taking me, she wondered silently as the sound of the bubbling brook faded behind them, and the forest drew them deeper. Hiding them from the outside world. Everyone that wanted to tear them apart. Juliet nickered as Luis gave a gentle tug on her reins. Slowing them to a stop. The deadened, weather-hewn leaves crumbled beneath their feet as he took her by the hand and led her down a barely discernable path. "Luis? Oh my.Luis," she gasped as they came to a small clearing and she saw."I didn't know this cabin was on the property." He laughed at her expression of wonder. Only she would see possibilities and promise in the overgrown building. "Sherry," he smiled. "You really have to get out more," he said. Pulling her forward by their joined hands. "Are you coming?"