Chapter 8: Protecting Love
Chapter 8:
Sheridan had gotten up early to finish packing. When she got up she
walked to the kitchen to get a glass of orange juice when she saw Luis stretched out on the couch asleep. Sheridan thought about how peaceful
and cute he looked.
"Luis, Luis.. Officer wake up." Luis just groaned. She sat down beside him on the couch, she then thought about when Luis spent the
night at her cottage after he saved her life. Sheridan couldn't help
at touch him, she ran her finger down is jawbone.
"Luis wake up." When she leaned down Luis grabbed her and yanked
her
onto his body. His eyes flew open as he heard Sheridan gasp.
"Sheridan you scared the hell out of me." Luis said angrily.
"Sorry, I was just trying to wake you up." The phone rang.
Sheridan
crawled up Luis' body to get the phone. Luis could feel every inch of
her body on him and it was agonizing for him.
"Hello...hi Gwen...yes Ivy told me about my dress fitting and I'll be there...okay bye sweetie...see you in a few weeks."
Sheridan put the
phone down and looked down at Luis, suddenly realizing their position.
"Oh my God Luis I'm so sorry, I didn't realize.." she said getting up
laughing.
"That's okay." Luis said unnerved a little.
""I'm going to take a shower." With that she left for the
bathroom. She took a quick shower and scurried to her room. She sat
down to do her makeup and hair. She finished packing leaving out one
outfit to wear back to Harmony, she had picked out an halter dress that
had delicately embroidered flowers on it, along with a pair of black
anklewarap stilettos.
She got dressed and picked up some of her bags.
When she walked back out she saw that Luis had already showered and
dressed. The bags she carried were taking her toll on her arms so she
dropped them with a loud boom. Luis spun around and was amazed at how
beautiful she always looked. Then he looked around her and saw all the
bags at her feet.
"Sheridan, why did you pack so much?"
"I did plan on being here for awhile, if that answers your
question.
Could you please help me?"
"Of course Sheridan." Luis said sweetly. He picked up a couple of
her bags and frowned. "Lord, Sheridan what do you have in here, a dead
body?"
"Very funny." She called after him as he was heading out the door
to
the car. She picked up the last bag and followed him out. He took her
bag and loaded it into the car trunk.
"You ready to go Sheridan?" Luis asked.
"Yeah, what about you?"
"I've been ready for the past hour." Luis said smugly.
"Well I'm ready now so let's go." she said heading for the car
door.
On the drive back to Harmony Luis kept changing the radio station,
which was quickly irritating Sheridan. When he reached to change the
station Sheridan smacked his hand.
"What was that for?" He asked.
"Stop changing the station, everytime I hear s song I like you
change it. Leave it alone."
"Sorry." They drove the rest of the way in silence, not wanting to
fight with each other. An hour later they arrived at the Book Cafe for
something to eat. As soon as they walked through the door Beth was
already hanging on Luis. Sheridan rolled her eyes and went to sit
down.
'Why should I care?' Sheridan thought to herself, 'I don't care.'
She then got up to get something to drink when Julian slivered in with
Ivy close behind. Julian immediately walked over to Sheridan.
"Sister dear."
"What do you want Julian?" She asked annoyed, she then saw Ivy with
him. She thought about what Ivy had said and thought that she would
tell Ivy she had no interest in Luis.
"Is that anyway to talk to your brother?" Sheridan just glared at
him.
"Am I still under FBI protection?" Sheridan asked.
"Yes."
"Then we have nothing to talk about Julian."
"I promise you Sheridan you won't have to spend time with Luis
Lopez-Fitzgerald much longer. Father and I don't want you two
together." It only took a couple of seconds for what Julian said to get
a reaction.
"What did you mean by that Julian?" She asked as she threw down the
magazine she had. Julian's eyes went wide as the realization of what
he
said hit him. Julian tried to play dumb. "I asked you a question
Julian, answer me." She said raising her voice so that she got
everyone's attention in the cafe.
Luis looked up to see Sheridan and Julian about to face off.
Julian
looked around to see the attention she had drawn.
"Quiet down little sister." Julian said angrily through a smile.
Ivy knew trouble was brewing and stepped in between the two of them.
"Sheridan you have a dress fitting to get to so go on ahead."
Sheridan calmed down and smiled at Ivy.
"Okay Ivy, I'll see you later." She scowled at Julian one last
time.
"Oh Sheridan Mrs. McClary is at your cottage, I thought it best."
Sheridan nodded picking up her purse.
She looked back and saw Beth looking at Luis with loving eyes,
almost making her sick. She began to walk out the door when she felt
Luis pull her to a stop.
"Where are you going?" Luis asked.
"I want to go home, Mrs. McClary is waiting for me."
"Why didn't you just say so?" Sheridan strolled out the door with
Luis close behind.
When they got there the two women reacquainted themselves but not
for long because Mrs. McClary was eager to see Sheridan in the dress.
She handed Sheridan the dress bag and told her to go change. When
Sheridan closed the door Mrs. McClary turned her attention to Luis.
"So how long have you and Sheridan been dating?" She asked with a
smile.
"Who? Me and Sheridan? No, no, no I can't stand the woman..." His
last word dragged on as Sheridan emerged from her room. Her maid of
honor dress was a strapless white long flowing dress. She stood in the
doorway and stretched her body upwards. Luis thought she looked like a
goddess, she was breathtaking. He also noticed how her tan skin made
her look even better in the dress. The corset style dress clung to her
small waist. Luis couldn't stop staring at her.
"So how do I look." Sheridan asked gliding into the living room.
"Sheridan you look beautiful. We might have to alter the at dress
though.' Mrs. McClary said.
"Why? I think it fits great." She said smiling running her hands
down her sides.
"You might make the bride look bad." Mrs. McClary said raising an
eyebrow.
"I would never do that to Gwen. Do you think it should be altered?"
Sheridan asked a little worried.
"Of course not Sheridan your dress is the same as the other brides
maids except for the beaded rose at the bottom of your dress, so don't
worry about it." She said calming Sheridan down.
Sheridan turned to Luis, she hadn't one heard one word from him and
she wanted to know what he thought, but when she did got her answer;
she
still wanted to hear it.
"What do you think Luis?" She said smiling at him.
"I think the bride is going to be jealous on her own wedding day.
You look breathtaking Sheridan." Luis said smiling sincerely. Sheridan
could see in his eyes that he meant every word.
"Thank you." She said blushing. "Well I'm going to change I'll be
back in a few." She turned and glided back into her bedroom. Barbara's
pager went off so she went into the kitchen to return the call. In
Sheridan's room she was having trouble with the zipper on her dress.
She finally gave up and called for help.
"Sheridan what's wrong?" Luis asked as he softly knocked on the
door.
"Luis, where is Barbara?"
"She's in the kitchen returning a phone call. Do you need
something?"
"Actually I do, come in." Luis walked in as Sheridan turned around.
"What do you need Miss Crane?" Luis asked with that million dollar
smile. She had to smile when she saw his smile.
"I need you to unzip me." She said turning around. "Something is
wring with the zipper."
"No problem." He said walking towards Sheridan. She could feel him
getting closer to her, the anticipation made her heart pound faster.
When he put his hands on her back she felt the goosebumps form as her
skin tingled. She began thinking about her dreams. She finally
snapped
herself out of of it.
'Why do you keep forgetting that he used you
Sheridan.' She thought. Luis finally got the zipper un-stuck and then
he
slowly pulled the zipper down exposing her smooth, bare tan back. His
finger grazed down her spine, she could feel the chills throughout her
body.
"There you go." Luis said flashing her a grin.
"Thanks." She said turning around, holding up her dress. Mrs.
McClary then walked in wondering what was going on. Luis excused
himself and left. Barbara told Sheridan that she had to go. The women
said goodbye and hugged. Sheridan went back to her room to change when
she heard a knock.
She quickly put on the dark jean overall shortset
along with a white spaghetti strapped shirt. When she came out she saw
Hank and Luis talking. Sheridan groaned, she had no interest in
putting
up with Hank tonight.
"Hey Sheridan." Hank said cheerily, snapping Sheridan out of her
thoughts.
"Hi Hank, came by to talk to luis, so I'll leave you two alone."
"Actually I came to talk to you. I wanted to know if..." someone
knocked at the door interrupting Hank. 'Whew..' was Sheridan's only
thought as a relieved look flowed across her face. Luis drew his gun
and walked tot he door carefully, he peeked out the window and saw who
it was.
"Great." He mumbled. He opened the door and their stood Blake
Mallory. Luis stepped aside and Blake walked in with a bag of takeout.
Sheridan walked in from the kitchen and smile lit her face.
"Blake." She said walking to him smiling. He pulled her into a hug
and kissed her cheek sweetly. She pulled back confused. "What are you
doing here?"
"I got called back to Harmony for a business meeting and we
finished
early so I figured why don't I come and visit my favorite person in the
world." blake admitted.
"Aren't you sweet." she commented. She then looked at Luis and
Hank.
"Oh yeah Blake Mallory this is Hank Bennett and you already know Luis."
the men shook hands. Sheridan looked past Blake and saw the bag. "Is
that what I think it is?" Sheridan asked hoping it was.
"Yeah, it's Chinese food, go pig out."
"I don't pig out." she said sitting down in front of the coffee
table where the chinese food was. She opened up one of the cartons as
Blake sat on the couch beside her and Luis and Hank sat in the arm
chairs. "You got my favorite. She said with a wide smile.
"Of course." he said sweetly.
"You are my favorite guy in he world to be with." she said sweetly.
"Really?" he asked with an amused tune.
"Yeah really."
"And here I thought I was taking second place to a certain..."
Sheridan threw her hand over his mouth before he could finish. She
knew
what he was going to say, she had told him about Luis and the time they
had spent together.
Luis and Hank were very interested at this, they
wanted to know who Blake was talking about.
"Can I move my hand away Blake?" she asked giving him a narrow eye.
He nodded his head and Sheridan moved her hand away slowly. "I know
what you were about to say Blake. I know you like the back of my hand."
"I could of said something else." Blake said.
"True, but you weren't going to say something else." she said
eating
her beef and broccoli. "Do you guys want any?" she asked as she looked
between the three men. They all declined politely.
"So how long have you and Sheridan been friends?" Hank asked but
also wanting to know if he had any competition.
"We've been friends since high school." Blake admitted.
"Grade 11
was it?" he asked looking at Sheridan. She nodded.
"You two ever date?" Hank asked showing great interest.
"No Miss Crane was too wild for me in high school." Blake admitted
with a grin. Sheridan's eyes bugged out of her head.
"Damn your a liar. I just wouldn't give him the time of day, he
was
a smug SOB."
"Okay, okay, when Sheridan came i just assumed she would go out
with
me because I was popular and she had just transferred. I admit I was
full of myself in high school but who wouldn't of asked her out, she
was
gorgeous even back then. Granted her hair was longer. But when she
said
no, something that had never happened to me, it knocked me off my
pedestal completely.
Eventually I stopped asking her out and we became
friends.
"It's incredible how you left out the details that would make you
look bad. I'm going to fill in the blanks. Hi father and my father
did
business together so when my father mentioned to his father that I
needed an escort to a ball and of course his father mentioned it to
him. The night of the ball I came downstairs I saw him dressed in a
tux. At first I thought great and then I then I used it to my
advantage. I had no interest in going to the ball, neither did he so
we
went to a party."
"Now your leaving out parts. We agreed to go to the party so she
went upstairs to get changed.
She came back downstairs in the shortest
skirt I had ever seen on a girl and a shirt that was almost see
through." Sheridan was blushing profusely. " When I saw her I almost
passed out."
"Oh God I need a drink." Sheridan quickly jumped up and left
returning with a glass of wine.
"Anyways when we got to the party I saw that Sheridan was anything
but little miss goodie two shoes. She went straight for the alcohol.
She had every man in the room drooling over her. She partied the night
away while I kept an eye on her. When we left she was a little drunk.
I walked her in her door and she started telling me how good looking I
was. Next thing I know Sheridan is kissing me."
At this point of the
story Luis was jealous but trying his hardest to hide it. "I had to
use
all my will power to tell her no. She was a little ticked off, she
went
to her room and slammed the door. I decided to stay the night in case
she needed anything. The next morning she thanked me for not taking
advantage of her and we became friends from there." Luis and Hank wore
Shocked looks as they turned their heads in Sheridan's direction. Her
face was a deep red and getting darker.
"Okay so I wasn't innocent but that as long time ago." She said
getting her bearings. "Did you come all this way to make me blush
different shades of red?"
"No I came to see how you were doing. So how are you doing?" Just
then his cell phone rang. "Mallory here...yes...I'll be there, bye." He
then turned to Sheridan. "I'm sorry Sheridan but I have to go." he said
standing up.
"It's okay." she said standing up with him and walking him to the
door. "So how long will it be before I see you again?"
"If you call I'll come running, you know that. I know I've been
busy within the last year but you know I'm always here for you. Don't you?"
"I know that. Oh it's so good to have you around, even under these
circumstances." She wrapped him in a big hug as he did the same. He
leaned into her ear to whisper something to her.
"What's going on with you and the Officer?" he whispered.
"Nothing." she said pulling back. Blake smirked at Sheridan.
"Yeah Sheridan. Let's not forget I know you like the back of my
hand. He seems like a good guy, stop denying your feelings. Get rid
of
the other one."
"Blake." she said surprised at what he had just said.
"Just watch him, he doesn't look trustworthy, just keep an eye on
him." She nodded her head and they hugged once more. "I love you." she
threw him a big smile and said "i love you too." With that he kissed
her
cheek and said goodbye.
Hank then announced that he needed to leave so he got up and left.
Sheridan sat back down to her chinese food.
Luis could not get the fact that Sheridan used to be a bad girl
out
of his mind. Sheridan could feel his eyes on her.
"What's wrong Luis?" she asked turning to him and finishing off her
food.
"Sheridan Crane, the bad girl i never knew that about you."
"Well there's alot you don't know about me and besides its not at
all like Blake said.' She then got up and headed for the kitchen to
throw the carton away and to get another glass of wine. When she
walked
back in Luis smirked at her.
"Your not getting drunk on me are you?"
"Very funny Officer." she then yawned. "I think I'm going to bed,
your room is down the hall.'
"Actually I planned on sleeping out here."
"Well knock yourself out but 1 warning, that couch is not very
comfortable, but if you insist I'll be right back." She came back with
some sheets, a quilt and some pillows.
"Thanks."
"Your going to wake up with a kink in your neck Luis."
"I'll be alright."
"Alright macho man I'm going to bed. Don't say I didn't warn you.
Goodnight Luis."
"Night 'bad girl'. he said grinning.
"HA!HA! Luis. your such a cornball." she said shutting her door.
She changed and slipped into bed quickly falling asleep. Luis stripped
down to his boxers and fell asleep.
To Be Continued...
