Part Fifteen
His brown eyes drifted shut, and a sigh of pleasure and contentment slipped past his lips as her arms reached around him, gentle hands running the sponge up and down the muscles of his chest. Her lips brushed against his temple as he relaxed against the pillow of her body, and she smiled as she released the sponge to snake her arms around his neck. "Are you enjoying your bath, Luis?" His fingers traced absent patterns against the sensitive underside of her knee as he pretended to think it over. "Luis," she squirmed, pushing at his hand. "That tickles," her voice came out in a squeak. "Luis. Stop it," she ordered. Her voice raising in frustration when he ignored her pleas.
"Shades of the old Sheridan Crane," he teased. "Have to fight me on everything, don't you?" "Do not," she argued back, and without looking he could see the stubborn expression on her face. "Well.I WAS enjoying my bath," he sighed. Trying his best not to smile. He couldn't resist the temptation to get her riled up like old times. Even if it were over something as silly as him refusing to stop tickling her. Juvenile, yes. But fun. Always fun to see that fire blazing in her eyes. Judging by the way her body tensed behind him and her legs wrapped tighter around his sides, she was falling for it.
"Luis," she said. Hugging him close as she brought her lips to his ear. "Fine. If that's the way you want to be." Before he had time to stop her, she was uncurling her body from his and standing up. Stepping over him to get out of the cooling water. "Sheridan," he said, his hand shooting out to grasp hers. "I." "Luis," she rolled her blue eyes at him as she gave his hand a firm tug. "Luis, are you pouting?" she asked in a teasing voice. "Pouting? Wait a minute.you're not.you're a cruel, cruel woman," he shook his head as a smirk formed on his lips.
"Did you think I actually bought that garbage?" she laughed as she leaned forward to capture his lips in a short but passionate kiss. "Believe me, Luis. It hasn't been THAT long since we had a REAL fight. You wouldn't think," she paused. "You'd KNOW. Besides.I know a tease when I see one." "I bet you do," he laughed knowingly as he watched her slip her arms into her red silk robe and tie the sash around her waist. An amused smile stayed on his lips as she sashayed out of the bathroom. He'd been jerking her chain, and she'd known it all along. Damn. When did she get so smart?
"Luis," she scolded. Her breath catching as his hands made short work of the flimsy robe covering her body, and it pooled around her ankles. "What was the point of putting on clothes?" He turned her around in his arms. Hands resting at her waist as he smiled into her twinkling blue eyes. "You call THAT clothes?" he teased as he backed her up until her knees brushed against the mattress. "Admit it," he grinned down at her as she sat down on the bed. "You had no intention of wearing that for long." "Never," she laughed as his hands grabbed for her, and she scooted out of his reach. "You'll never get a confession out of me," she vowed with a happy smile. "I wouldn't be so sure of that," he said. Gazing down into her eyes as he trapped her body beneath his. "I have my ways."
Laughter bubbled up deep inside of her once more. She'd never expected him to be so.playful. Passionate. Intense. Dominant even. But playful? She learned something new about him every day, and she loved him all the more for it. "Finished having a good laugh at my expense?" he quirked a dark brow at her. "Maybe," she smiled as she ran her fingers through his dark hair. "I love you," he whispered against her palm as it paused to cup his jaw then moved along his chin, thumbs brushing against his lips. "I love you, too," she breathed against his lips as she kissed them tenderly.
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The sun's rays streamed in through the windows as he watched her sleep. This could fast become a favorite past time of his. Watching her sleep. So peaceful and relaxed. Her golden hair glinted in the morning sunshine, and he marveled at the color. Combing his fingers through the silky strands. Smiling bashfully when she stirred and he found himself held captive under the spell of her blue gaze, sleepy though it was. "Good morning, Beautiful," he murmured as he slid a hand down the length of her bare back and gathered her close. "With bed head and morning breath?" she laughed. Dodging his lips. "I'm not kidding, Luis," she declared when he attempted to kiss her again. He chuckled when she covered her mouth with her hand.
"Is it going to be like this every morning? Come on, Sheri," he tugged at her hand playfully. "I'm sure it's not the kiss of death," he teased. "Come on, Sheri. Just one. Are you going to deny me a kiss good morning from the woman I love?" Her blue eyes softened as she practically melted right before his very eyes, and he used that opportunity to steal a kiss. When his tongue stroked against hers, and a low moan rose in the back of her throat, he knew he'd won. This time at least, he thought as he released her lips with a smirk. "Sure. Like that trick will work every time. Don't get too confident, Officer," she warned. Her blue eyes sparkling with mischief as her hand inched down his abdomen. "Sheridan," he groaned as he stilled her wandering hands. "Who's being the tease now?" he asked with a kiss to her brow.
Things were on the verge of getting carried away again when they heard the slam of the front door. Luis groaned in protest. "I thought you locked the front door." "I did," Sheridan insisted as she scrambled out of the bed. Searching for the abandoned robe from the night before. "Gwen has a key. Luis.Luis, hurry up," she panicked as she heard the unmistakable clatter of Catherine's excited little feet as she hurried up the stairs. "The SEX talk was embarrassing enough. I think she's a little too young to see a naked man," she said in a strained voice as she threw open the closet door and yanked the first available shirt over the top of her head. Luis's boxers hanging low on her hips. Luis shoved his legs into his jeans and barely had time to zip them up, button forgotten, as Catherine bolted through the door.
"Sheri! Sheri!" she squealed as she launched herself into Sheridan's startled arms. "Oh, Sheri," she cried between kisses to Sheridan's face and cheeks. "I missed you so!" "Sheridan! I hope you don't mind.she missed you, and I.oh my God," Gwen gasped as her golden brown eyes took in the scene before her. Luis was barely in his jeans, chest bare for all the world to drool over. And Sheridan had her shirt on backwards. "Oh.I'm so sorry. I should have called first. I.Damn," she muttered under her breath as she set the suitcase in her hand down at her feet. "My timing sucks," she sighed. Tears springing to her eyes.
"Gwen?" Sheridan crossed the room to her best friend. Transferring Catherine to Luis's waiting arms. Catherine snuggled close to Luis happily. Oblivious to the unfolding drama as Gwen raised wet brown eyes to Sheridan's worried gaze. "It's over between me and Ethan, Sher," she said in a quiet voice. "What? Why? Did you tell him about." Gwen shook her head, tears spilling down her cheeks. "But I don't understand." Sheridan trailed off. "This morning," Gwen explained. "This morning I walked in on him. And Theresa. Kissing," she closed her eyes to shut out Luis's shocked expression. "He didn't even try to apologize. There was NO guilt. Don't you see, Sher? He didn't love me enough to stop me. Oh, Sher," she cried against Sheridan's shoulder when she pulled her into her warm embrace. "What am I going to do? How am I going to do this alone?" "You won't be alone," Sheridan vowed. "You'll have us." Luis left the room without a word.
Part Sixteen
"Have you had your breakfast?" Luis quizzed Catherine as he flipped the kitchen light on, wondering if Mama had seen to it at the Mansion. "Non," Catherine shook her curly dark head, twining her little arms tighter around his neck and gazing at him with contemplative emerald eyes. "Theresa did something bad, didn't she?" Her question surprised him. "Theresa? Why do you say that, Catherine?" he asked as he set her down on the counter in front of him.
Catherine kicked her little feet back and forth restlessly. "She made Gwen cry. She's mean," she insisted with a pout, crossing her arms across her chest stubbornly. A smile flickered across Luis's lips. In that moment, though she didn't physically look like Sheridan, she was as much her daughter as if she'd given birth to her. It was all about the mannerisms, the funny little quirks she'd picked up from her beloved Sheri in the time they'd spent together.
He grabbed each sandaled foot and tugged her closer playfully, causing her to giggle. "How do you feel about being the chef's assistant?" "I want to be the chef," Catherine cried. Shrieking with laughter as Luis plucked her off the kitchen counter and dipped her. They were dancing! "How about co- chef then? We can be partners," Luis suggested with a wiggle of his dark brows. "Luis.you're silly," Catherine rolled her green eyes at him as he set her carefully on her feet. "Gracias," Luis bowed at the waist, making Catherine giggle some more. "Luis," she said a moment later. "What does 'gracias' mean?" "It's Spanish for thank you," he told her as he peered inside the fridge, grabbing the necessary ingredients.
"I want to crack the eggs," Catherine said, pushing a chair across the tile floor and climbing onto it once she had it exactly where she wanted it. Right next to Luis. Her green eyes sparkled at him. Luis fought the urge to chuckle. He didn't think Sheridan would appreciate crunchy omelets. "Maybe next time. Here," he said. Opening a cabinet and withdrawing some plates. "I think you should set the table. Being the best at it and all." Catherine's little face lit up with pleasure at the compliment. "Gracias," she grinned as Luis helped her to her feet once more. He glanced over his shoulder, checking her progress several minutes later just in time to see her dark curls bouncing as she stole to the front door.
"Luis!" she announced her return breathlessly, and he whirled around to find her standing before him, a bouquet of colorful flowers to her nose. He smiled at her, filling a vase with water before taking the flowers from her hands. "Do you think Gwen and Sheri will like them?" she asked as she leaned across the table to center the vase. "Like them? I think they'll love them. Why don't you go tell them breakfast is served?" he winked at her. "Okay," she said. Blowing him air kisses as she backed out of the kitchen. He smiled at her tiny figure scrambling up the stairs as he let himself out the French doors. Sheridan would love Catherine's flowers, but he had something else he wanted to give her, something to show her in some tiny way how much last night meant to him.
The rose was a deep red, velvet to the touch, the morning dew still clinging to its petals. He hid it behind his back when he heard the unmistakable sound signaling Catherine's return. "Sheri!" Catherine giggled, her ticklish little body squirming to escape Sheridan's questing hands. Luis raised a brow at Gwen's absence. "She went outside to the patio because." "The smell made her sick," Luis finished the thought for her, and Sheridan's blue eyes widened. "Luis." "Don't worry," he reassured her. "I'm not going to say anything. It's not my place. Why do you look so shocked? I figured it out for myself a long time ago. I didn't want to force a confession out of you when she obviously wasn't ready to tell anybody. Now.this is such a mess. Ethan may not know, but that doesn't make him any less a bastard," he said in a low voice so that Catherine would not hear.
"Consider Ethan's ass kicked," Sheridan hissed, smiling and nodding at the appropriate times to Catherine's buzz of questions as she poked her dark head into the fridge, emerging a second later with a pitcher of orange juice. "Catherine.be careful," she told the little girl as she struggled to pour juice into each of the glasses. Some of it sloshed over the sides, making a sticky mess on the table, but the orange juice was the least of Sheridan's concerns as she talked to Luis. She didn't know who she was more furious with.Ethan or Theresa! "And Theresa."
"Theresa? My sister's not the innocent in this situation, but I don't want you saying anything." "Luis!" Sheridan's blue eyes flashed angrily. "Don't even." A quick glance at Catherine, her worried emerald eyes and tiny finger twisting her black curls furiously, had them both calming down immediately. "What I meant," Luis stressed, "was I want to talk to her first. Find out all sides of the story before I make any judgments. No matter how much I'd like to.you know what? Let's forget about all this for right now. Catherine and I made this breakfast especially for you to show you how much we love you, and I thought you might like."
Sheridan's blue eyes sparkled at him, already happy, but joyful as he presented the rose to her. ".this," he finished. Leaning forward and brushing his lips against hers. She smiled a glorious smile at him as she inhaled the fragrant scent of the rose. "Last night.it meant.you know what it meant, but I wanted to give you this as a reminder of how special it was." "I didn't need a reminder, but thank you," she breathed. "Non, Sheri," Catherine cried. "Gracias." "Gracias," Sheridan told him with an amused laugh. "Luis is teaching us all sorts of new things."
"Oui," Catherine nodded excitedly. "But he wouldn't let me crack the eggs," she pouted. "Luis," Sheridan scolded. "Gracias," she whispered as she kissed his cheek sweetly. "Well.what are we waiting for? I'm starving, and I'm sure those wonderful-looking omelets are getting cold. Luis?" she questioned, watching Luis pick up a small plate. Toast. She smiled, thinking about how wonderfully considerate he was. "Sure. You two start without me. I'll be right back." Catherine wrinkled her nose. "Yuck. Why didn't Gwen want an omelet? Luis's omelets are tres fantastique," Catherine spoke around her mouthful of food. "Catherine.remember it's not polite to speak with your mouth full." "I'm sorry, Sheri," Catherine's speech was again garbled, and this time Sheridan could do nothing but laugh. "You," she shook her head as she kissed the crown of Catherine's glistening black head.
His brown eyes drifted shut, and a sigh of pleasure and contentment slipped past his lips as her arms reached around him, gentle hands running the sponge up and down the muscles of his chest. Her lips brushed against his temple as he relaxed against the pillow of her body, and she smiled as she released the sponge to snake her arms around his neck. "Are you enjoying your bath, Luis?" His fingers traced absent patterns against the sensitive underside of her knee as he pretended to think it over. "Luis," she squirmed, pushing at his hand. "That tickles," her voice came out in a squeak. "Luis. Stop it," she ordered. Her voice raising in frustration when he ignored her pleas.
"Shades of the old Sheridan Crane," he teased. "Have to fight me on everything, don't you?" "Do not," she argued back, and without looking he could see the stubborn expression on her face. "Well.I WAS enjoying my bath," he sighed. Trying his best not to smile. He couldn't resist the temptation to get her riled up like old times. Even if it were over something as silly as him refusing to stop tickling her. Juvenile, yes. But fun. Always fun to see that fire blazing in her eyes. Judging by the way her body tensed behind him and her legs wrapped tighter around his sides, she was falling for it.
"Luis," she said. Hugging him close as she brought her lips to his ear. "Fine. If that's the way you want to be." Before he had time to stop her, she was uncurling her body from his and standing up. Stepping over him to get out of the cooling water. "Sheridan," he said, his hand shooting out to grasp hers. "I." "Luis," she rolled her blue eyes at him as she gave his hand a firm tug. "Luis, are you pouting?" she asked in a teasing voice. "Pouting? Wait a minute.you're not.you're a cruel, cruel woman," he shook his head as a smirk formed on his lips.
"Did you think I actually bought that garbage?" she laughed as she leaned forward to capture his lips in a short but passionate kiss. "Believe me, Luis. It hasn't been THAT long since we had a REAL fight. You wouldn't think," she paused. "You'd KNOW. Besides.I know a tease when I see one." "I bet you do," he laughed knowingly as he watched her slip her arms into her red silk robe and tie the sash around her waist. An amused smile stayed on his lips as she sashayed out of the bathroom. He'd been jerking her chain, and she'd known it all along. Damn. When did she get so smart?
"Luis," she scolded. Her breath catching as his hands made short work of the flimsy robe covering her body, and it pooled around her ankles. "What was the point of putting on clothes?" He turned her around in his arms. Hands resting at her waist as he smiled into her twinkling blue eyes. "You call THAT clothes?" he teased as he backed her up until her knees brushed against the mattress. "Admit it," he grinned down at her as she sat down on the bed. "You had no intention of wearing that for long." "Never," she laughed as his hands grabbed for her, and she scooted out of his reach. "You'll never get a confession out of me," she vowed with a happy smile. "I wouldn't be so sure of that," he said. Gazing down into her eyes as he trapped her body beneath his. "I have my ways."
Laughter bubbled up deep inside of her once more. She'd never expected him to be so.playful. Passionate. Intense. Dominant even. But playful? She learned something new about him every day, and she loved him all the more for it. "Finished having a good laugh at my expense?" he quirked a dark brow at her. "Maybe," she smiled as she ran her fingers through his dark hair. "I love you," he whispered against her palm as it paused to cup his jaw then moved along his chin, thumbs brushing against his lips. "I love you, too," she breathed against his lips as she kissed them tenderly.
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The sun's rays streamed in through the windows as he watched her sleep. This could fast become a favorite past time of his. Watching her sleep. So peaceful and relaxed. Her golden hair glinted in the morning sunshine, and he marveled at the color. Combing his fingers through the silky strands. Smiling bashfully when she stirred and he found himself held captive under the spell of her blue gaze, sleepy though it was. "Good morning, Beautiful," he murmured as he slid a hand down the length of her bare back and gathered her close. "With bed head and morning breath?" she laughed. Dodging his lips. "I'm not kidding, Luis," she declared when he attempted to kiss her again. He chuckled when she covered her mouth with her hand.
"Is it going to be like this every morning? Come on, Sheri," he tugged at her hand playfully. "I'm sure it's not the kiss of death," he teased. "Come on, Sheri. Just one. Are you going to deny me a kiss good morning from the woman I love?" Her blue eyes softened as she practically melted right before his very eyes, and he used that opportunity to steal a kiss. When his tongue stroked against hers, and a low moan rose in the back of her throat, he knew he'd won. This time at least, he thought as he released her lips with a smirk. "Sure. Like that trick will work every time. Don't get too confident, Officer," she warned. Her blue eyes sparkling with mischief as her hand inched down his abdomen. "Sheridan," he groaned as he stilled her wandering hands. "Who's being the tease now?" he asked with a kiss to her brow.
Things were on the verge of getting carried away again when they heard the slam of the front door. Luis groaned in protest. "I thought you locked the front door." "I did," Sheridan insisted as she scrambled out of the bed. Searching for the abandoned robe from the night before. "Gwen has a key. Luis.Luis, hurry up," she panicked as she heard the unmistakable clatter of Catherine's excited little feet as she hurried up the stairs. "The SEX talk was embarrassing enough. I think she's a little too young to see a naked man," she said in a strained voice as she threw open the closet door and yanked the first available shirt over the top of her head. Luis's boxers hanging low on her hips. Luis shoved his legs into his jeans and barely had time to zip them up, button forgotten, as Catherine bolted through the door.
"Sheri! Sheri!" she squealed as she launched herself into Sheridan's startled arms. "Oh, Sheri," she cried between kisses to Sheridan's face and cheeks. "I missed you so!" "Sheridan! I hope you don't mind.she missed you, and I.oh my God," Gwen gasped as her golden brown eyes took in the scene before her. Luis was barely in his jeans, chest bare for all the world to drool over. And Sheridan had her shirt on backwards. "Oh.I'm so sorry. I should have called first. I.Damn," she muttered under her breath as she set the suitcase in her hand down at her feet. "My timing sucks," she sighed. Tears springing to her eyes.
"Gwen?" Sheridan crossed the room to her best friend. Transferring Catherine to Luis's waiting arms. Catherine snuggled close to Luis happily. Oblivious to the unfolding drama as Gwen raised wet brown eyes to Sheridan's worried gaze. "It's over between me and Ethan, Sher," she said in a quiet voice. "What? Why? Did you tell him about." Gwen shook her head, tears spilling down her cheeks. "But I don't understand." Sheridan trailed off. "This morning," Gwen explained. "This morning I walked in on him. And Theresa. Kissing," she closed her eyes to shut out Luis's shocked expression. "He didn't even try to apologize. There was NO guilt. Don't you see, Sher? He didn't love me enough to stop me. Oh, Sher," she cried against Sheridan's shoulder when she pulled her into her warm embrace. "What am I going to do? How am I going to do this alone?" "You won't be alone," Sheridan vowed. "You'll have us." Luis left the room without a word.
Part Sixteen
"Have you had your breakfast?" Luis quizzed Catherine as he flipped the kitchen light on, wondering if Mama had seen to it at the Mansion. "Non," Catherine shook her curly dark head, twining her little arms tighter around his neck and gazing at him with contemplative emerald eyes. "Theresa did something bad, didn't she?" Her question surprised him. "Theresa? Why do you say that, Catherine?" he asked as he set her down on the counter in front of him.
Catherine kicked her little feet back and forth restlessly. "She made Gwen cry. She's mean," she insisted with a pout, crossing her arms across her chest stubbornly. A smile flickered across Luis's lips. In that moment, though she didn't physically look like Sheridan, she was as much her daughter as if she'd given birth to her. It was all about the mannerisms, the funny little quirks she'd picked up from her beloved Sheri in the time they'd spent together.
He grabbed each sandaled foot and tugged her closer playfully, causing her to giggle. "How do you feel about being the chef's assistant?" "I want to be the chef," Catherine cried. Shrieking with laughter as Luis plucked her off the kitchen counter and dipped her. They were dancing! "How about co- chef then? We can be partners," Luis suggested with a wiggle of his dark brows. "Luis.you're silly," Catherine rolled her green eyes at him as he set her carefully on her feet. "Gracias," Luis bowed at the waist, making Catherine giggle some more. "Luis," she said a moment later. "What does 'gracias' mean?" "It's Spanish for thank you," he told her as he peered inside the fridge, grabbing the necessary ingredients.
"I want to crack the eggs," Catherine said, pushing a chair across the tile floor and climbing onto it once she had it exactly where she wanted it. Right next to Luis. Her green eyes sparkled at him. Luis fought the urge to chuckle. He didn't think Sheridan would appreciate crunchy omelets. "Maybe next time. Here," he said. Opening a cabinet and withdrawing some plates. "I think you should set the table. Being the best at it and all." Catherine's little face lit up with pleasure at the compliment. "Gracias," she grinned as Luis helped her to her feet once more. He glanced over his shoulder, checking her progress several minutes later just in time to see her dark curls bouncing as she stole to the front door.
"Luis!" she announced her return breathlessly, and he whirled around to find her standing before him, a bouquet of colorful flowers to her nose. He smiled at her, filling a vase with water before taking the flowers from her hands. "Do you think Gwen and Sheri will like them?" she asked as she leaned across the table to center the vase. "Like them? I think they'll love them. Why don't you go tell them breakfast is served?" he winked at her. "Okay," she said. Blowing him air kisses as she backed out of the kitchen. He smiled at her tiny figure scrambling up the stairs as he let himself out the French doors. Sheridan would love Catherine's flowers, but he had something else he wanted to give her, something to show her in some tiny way how much last night meant to him.
The rose was a deep red, velvet to the touch, the morning dew still clinging to its petals. He hid it behind his back when he heard the unmistakable sound signaling Catherine's return. "Sheri!" Catherine giggled, her ticklish little body squirming to escape Sheridan's questing hands. Luis raised a brow at Gwen's absence. "She went outside to the patio because." "The smell made her sick," Luis finished the thought for her, and Sheridan's blue eyes widened. "Luis." "Don't worry," he reassured her. "I'm not going to say anything. It's not my place. Why do you look so shocked? I figured it out for myself a long time ago. I didn't want to force a confession out of you when she obviously wasn't ready to tell anybody. Now.this is such a mess. Ethan may not know, but that doesn't make him any less a bastard," he said in a low voice so that Catherine would not hear.
"Consider Ethan's ass kicked," Sheridan hissed, smiling and nodding at the appropriate times to Catherine's buzz of questions as she poked her dark head into the fridge, emerging a second later with a pitcher of orange juice. "Catherine.be careful," she told the little girl as she struggled to pour juice into each of the glasses. Some of it sloshed over the sides, making a sticky mess on the table, but the orange juice was the least of Sheridan's concerns as she talked to Luis. She didn't know who she was more furious with.Ethan or Theresa! "And Theresa."
"Theresa? My sister's not the innocent in this situation, but I don't want you saying anything." "Luis!" Sheridan's blue eyes flashed angrily. "Don't even." A quick glance at Catherine, her worried emerald eyes and tiny finger twisting her black curls furiously, had them both calming down immediately. "What I meant," Luis stressed, "was I want to talk to her first. Find out all sides of the story before I make any judgments. No matter how much I'd like to.you know what? Let's forget about all this for right now. Catherine and I made this breakfast especially for you to show you how much we love you, and I thought you might like."
Sheridan's blue eyes sparkled at him, already happy, but joyful as he presented the rose to her. ".this," he finished. Leaning forward and brushing his lips against hers. She smiled a glorious smile at him as she inhaled the fragrant scent of the rose. "Last night.it meant.you know what it meant, but I wanted to give you this as a reminder of how special it was." "I didn't need a reminder, but thank you," she breathed. "Non, Sheri," Catherine cried. "Gracias." "Gracias," Sheridan told him with an amused laugh. "Luis is teaching us all sorts of new things."
"Oui," Catherine nodded excitedly. "But he wouldn't let me crack the eggs," she pouted. "Luis," Sheridan scolded. "Gracias," she whispered as she kissed his cheek sweetly. "Well.what are we waiting for? I'm starving, and I'm sure those wonderful-looking omelets are getting cold. Luis?" she questioned, watching Luis pick up a small plate. Toast. She smiled, thinking about how wonderfully considerate he was. "Sure. You two start without me. I'll be right back." Catherine wrinkled her nose. "Yuck. Why didn't Gwen want an omelet? Luis's omelets are tres fantastique," Catherine spoke around her mouthful of food. "Catherine.remember it's not polite to speak with your mouth full." "I'm sorry, Sheri," Catherine's speech was again garbled, and this time Sheridan could do nothing but laugh. "You," she shook her head as she kissed the crown of Catherine's glistening black head.