CHAPTER FOUR
LUIS walked out of the house calling himself every name in the book. Ethan had warned him that Sher was off limits. But did he care? No, he'd almost had sex with her right there in the house. Hell, he'd been so caught up in the moment he'd totally forgot that they'd left the damn bedroom door open. How could he have been so stupid? He knew better than to get involved with Ethan's family. He and Ethan had been this same route when Ethan started dating Theresa all those months ago. Luis knew exactly how Ethan felt right now. That's why he didn't really blame him for the things he'd said. Yeah, it had hurt hearing Ethan think that of him, but what could he do? He'd thought the same exact thing when he'd caught Ethan and Theresa in bed together. It was definitely not a moment he wanted to relive again that's for sure.
Luis walked over to where he'd thrown his jeans earlier and picked them up. Then he made his way toward the pool house where the rest of his clothes were and started to get dressed. Had he really just met Ethan's cousin today? God, he thought pulling on his jeans and running a hand through his thick black hair, what the hell had he just done? She may have acted like she had a lot of experience, but he'd seen that blush and that look in her eyes after they'd pulled apart. She'd been shocked by what had almost happened. What would have happened had Ethan and Theresa not interrupted them. Maybe she had just been caught up in the moment too. Maybe all she wanted was a kiss and he'd... he'd, being the player that he was, took it to mean she wanted more.
He felt like a heel. Maybe Ethan was right. Maybe he had taken advantage of her. Hell, he knew how to get a woman to respond to him, he'd been around the block enough times. But... he'd really thought she wanted him. He shook his head and pulled on his white T-shirt. That was probably just his arrogance talking, he thought. If she had wanted him, really wanted him, then why would she had looked at him with fear in her eyes? That's what that look had been. Fear. He could kick himself for putting it there. One thing was for sure. He was not going to go near her again. He wouldn't risk his friendship with Ethan just so he could get laid.
Luis pulled on his socks and shoes, then started collecting his tools. He wanted to get out of here before Ethan and Theresa came out and laid into him for what they'd walked in on. He was doing a good enough job all by himself. He put all his tools in his toolbox and started to pick it up when he heard someone walk up behind him. Damn, he thought straightening up, he'd taken too long. He turned and found himself staring into Ethan's hooded eyes.
Just great. He'd better head this conversation off and quick. He didn't want to get into an argument with Ethan. "Look you don't have to say anything. I know I screwed up. I don't care what Sher said. It was my fault. I should have backed off and I didn't. For that I'm sorry."
Ethan shook his head. "From what Sher said, she wouldn't let you back off."
Luis looked at him a raised a brow. "You buy that? I mean with both know had I wanted to back off, I would have."
"Yeah, we do know that. The only thing I want to know is why you didn't? I told you Sher was innocent that she wasn't that experienced and yet you still went into her bedroom. Why?"
If he'd known what was going to happen he wouldn't have gone up there. Well, maybe he would have, but he wouldn't have given her the chance to... okay maybe he would have done that too. Ah, hell, he couldn't tell Ethan this. He'd kill him. "I only went to apologize for something I said to her earlier. I thought maybe she ran off because I offended her. I wasn't expecting her to..."
"Wasn't expecting her to what?" Ethan asked when he didn't continue. "Attack you?"
"Attack me? Did she tell you that? Hell, Ethan the only thing she did was kiss me. I took it from there."
Ethan shook his head. "I'm not so sure about that. Sher is different than she was when I last saw her. She's not what exactly who I thought she was anymore. I don't know what's going on with her exactly, but I do know that she had a major role in what happened up there. I know you buddy. And no matter what I said upstairs, I know you wouldn't have taken advantage of her."
Luis wasn't so sure he agreed with him, but he smiled just the same "Thanks buddy. I have to admit she caught me off guard up there. But I won't let it happen again. I'm not going to get involved with her. No matter what she does, I know that deep down, she's too innocent for me."
Ethan raised a brow. "I'm not exactly sure 'too innocent' is the description I would use to describe my cousin anymore. She certainly didn't look that innocent to me. But then neither did Theresa when I first started dating her."
He grinned. "Yeah, but you and I both know Theresa is one of a kind. She wasn't about to make it easy for you to say no."
Ethan laughed. "Ain't that the truth? I still can't tell her no."
"Yeah, I know the feeling." Luis said joining in his laughter. "All right Crane, why don't you help me clean this stuff up? I'm think I've had enough one day. I'll make up the work tomorrow."
Ethan nodded and helped him start putting the tools and wood inside the part of the pool house that actually had a roof right now. Luis knew he still had a lot of work to do, but he could save it for tomorrow. He wouldn't get much more done today anyway. At least, not while a beautiful blond with short curly hair and bright blue eyes was still plaguing his mind.
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"SHERIDAN, you mean to tell me that you kissed my brother and he tried to pull away? And you wouldn't let him?" Sheridan could see the disbelief on Theresa's face and wondered why. Luis was her brother. You would think she would believe in him a little more.
"Yes, that's what I'm telling you. Theresa this really wasn't Luis doing. He came in here to apologize for something he said earlier. He'd thought he'd offended me. I told him he didn't and then I kissed him."
"And that's when he tried to pull back?" Theresa asked with a raised brow.
"Yes that was the first time he tried to pull back."
"First time? You mean there was more than once?"
"Yes." Sheridan nodded. "He tried to pull back a second time and I wouldn't let go then either. We ended up falling back onto the bed and... Well, things got a little out of control after that. I think we both got too caught up in the moment."
"But Luis really tried to pull away? Wow."
"Why are you so shocked?" Sheridan asked, her confusion finally getting the better of her. "I mean he's your brother."
"Yes and I love him dearly" Theresa answered. "But I also know how he treats women. Sher, he isn't the type of guy a woman wants to get involved with. He doesn't do serious. He doesn't get involved with a woman long term. The longest he's ever been with a girl was two months and that was only because she was out of town for three weeks."
Theresa didn't know she had just made her brother sound even better. The last thing she wanted to do was get involved with a guy, especially one that wanted more than a summer fling. That would totally ruin her plan. All she wanted was to find a guy to help her ruin her good girl image. She was almost positive that guy was Luis. "Theresa, I'm not looking for anything serious. The only thing I want to do for this whole summer is to have fun. That's all. Just have fun. Luis seems like a fun guy. Why shouldn't I have fun with him?"
"Because." Theresa said standing up and starting to pace the room. "I'm not sure how to explain this, but I'll try. Luis is not your average guy, Sher. Yeah, he loves to play the field, but he's also a great guy with a good heart. I've seen women, women who wanted the same thing as you, to have fun, no strings attached, fall for him without even realizing what was happening. After a few dates, they get attached to him. The reason being, Luis isn't like what they first thought. He's a lot of fun, but he also treats them with respect. Once they realize he isn't just a pretty face, that's he really smart and has a really good heart, then they start to want more and that's when Luis ends things. Because he doesn't want more."
Sheridan thought about what Theresa said for a minute then got up and walked toward the window. She knew what Theresa was trying to tell her. She was worried that she would fall for Luis. But that wasn't going to happen. Giving him her heart wasn't part of her plan. She kept that closely guarded. No one, not even Mike the guy she had dated for two years, had managed to get past its high walls.
Sher looked out the window and saw Luis talking with Ethan. Luis had put on a pair of faded blue jeans and a white T-shirt. He had looked hot in his black swim trunks, but she had to admit he looked extremely sexy now. She really hoped Ethan had apologized to him. They didn't look as if they were arguing. They actually looked like they were laughing. Luis had a really sexy smile she thought, the kind of smile that would make a woman be tempted to sin. She shook her head and laughed. She had been tempted. More than tempted actually.
She watched as Luis and Ethan turned and started to put pieces of wood and tools inside the pool house. What was he thinking? Was he sorry about what had happened between them? She hoped not because she wasn't. If anything, she wished they hadn't been interrupted. Oh sure, she'd had a moment of panic when she realized what had almost happened, but then she realized she had wanted it to happen. She had wanted Luis.
Luis picked up a toolbox and he and Ethan started walking toward the front of the house. Just before they walked out of her view, Luis looked up and their eyes connected. She smiled, but he didn't. He just looked away and walked out of sight. Well, at least now she had a answer, she thought shaking her head, he regretted it.
Sheridan sighed then turned to find Theresa watching her with interest. "What?" she asked walking toward her suitcase and pulling out clothes so she could go and change out of her bikini.
"Nothing." Theresa said shaking her head and walking toward the door. "I'm going to go talk to Ethan. But I hope you'll think about what I said?"
"I'll think about it." Not that it was going to do any good.
Theresa nodded and walked out into the hall. Sher started to make her way toward the bathroom, but stopped when she heard Theresa ask Ethan about what happened between him and Luis.
"Well," Ethan was saying. "He pretty much said what he said up here. That it was his fault. That things just got out of hand. That it wouldn't happen again. He said that he thought Sher was still too innocent for him."
Too innocent? Luis still thought she was too innocent for him? Ooh, she thought walking into the bathroom and slamming the door, she was going to make him regret he said that. Tomorrow she would make him see that she was anything but innocent! She may have had a brief moment of panic when Ethan and Theresa interrupted them, but she would make damn sure it didn't happen tomorrow. Oh yes, she thought taking off her bikini and turning on the shower, it was time to step up her plans. After tomorrow Luis would never see her as innocent again. In fact, she thought stepping under the shower spray, after tomorrow no one would ever think of her as little miss innocent again.
To Be Continued...