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Sheridan had never been more offended in her entire life.
How dare he act like he was some award-winning cook or something! Sure, the only thing she could make was what
he called a cooking accident, but it was something. In fact, it was more than Ethan could make and far more than
Julian and Ivy ever even attempted.
That wasn’t what was really bothering her, however. Things like cooking would probably never be her forte, reminding
her that she wasn’t exactly a prize for a wife when it came to what a working man like Luis would need or want.
It also reminded her that she had never had a childhood where cookies were made for holidays and decorated with
sprinkles and icing during a snowy afternoon. She had never had anyone teach her to enjoy the holiday traditions
while young enough to still hold onto dreams of families around Christmas trees or large overstuffed dinner tables.
Her mother had left her far too young and during most of the holidays, Pilar was extra busy with Crane errands
or her own family to teach Sheridan…and then she had been sent to that cold and dreary boarding school where the
other children traveled home leaving her alone in the old stone walls of the drafty building.
Wiping away a tear she hadn’t realized was falling, she stood and walked to the only bookshelves in her room. She
searched through the titles passing some of her favorite romance novels, a classic or two (such as Jane Eyre),
or photo album, though there were few of those. Finally, she came to the shelf with her most prized books. Most
were leather and each had a small monogram in the corner: the gold foiled script letters K and C. They had all
been books belonging to her mother, most of which were photo albums with baby pictures of Sheridan and Julian in
them. Tucked away between some albums was a book that Sheridan would treasure for her entire life. It was leather
as well, but the pages were turning yellow and the book itself had at one time been falling apart, but she had
found a small European bookshop to fix the cracked binding. It was a book of fairytales that her mother had read
to her each night before she died. The book was once belonged to Sheridan’s maternal great-great-grandmother. Inside
were letters from each woman to the next dated and welcoming the next woman to what would be a family heirloom
for the women to hold on to. Sheridan’s mother had written her a letter and whenever she was sad, she would remove
it and read it again. Returning to the bed, she removed the enveloped marked "My
Darling Daughter Sheridan."
Dearest Sheridan,
I know that you will read this note many times over the years and each time you will remember how much I loved
you. I’m sorry that I’ve decided to write this while I am sick and therefore it may not be too legible, but I do
hope that you can read my expression of love to you. I trust you will become a beautiful woman, Sheridan, and that
you will one day find the man that holds the other half of your soul in his heart. The two of you will spend endless
days together and shall share your love like it was meant to be…
I envy you, my darling. You will find your love and have him, a luxury I was never given as a well to do woman.
However, I can see in those determined blue eyes that I love so very much that you will settle for nothing more
than the true love these pages hold and the dreams that will come to fruition in your future. Just remember how
much I love you, my dear girl, when you find your prince charming.
This book belonged to my great-grandmother Florence when our family lived in England. She passed this book to my
grandmother, who then gave it to my mother. Each woman wrote a letter to their daughter and placed it in the pocket
on the back cover of the book. I trust that when you and your prince have a daughter that you too shall continue
the tradition and pass these dreams along. Do not forget to tell her how you are a fairytale princess who has finally
found the man she belongs with and never forget to tell her how much you love her.
I shall watch over you, my darling, and when we meet again you shall have to tell me all that I have missed in
your life. Read these stories and remember me, dear girl, and never forget I love you and always will.
With all my love,
Mother
Katherine Crane
Sheridan wiped some tears from her cheeks and pulled her
knees to her chest, resting the hard book on them. Inside these pages were two stories her mother read to her often.
The first was Sleeping Beauty, which her mother always told her was her very special tail. She opened
to the other story, the one her mother had read to her almost every night. "Cinderella," she sighed.
Luis heard her whispered the word Cinderella and then sigh, remembering a country song he had once heard his sister
playing. He ran to the phone and dialed the number for AKISFM and requested the tune. Then, turning up the radio,
he waited for it to come on. Finally he could identify the strings of the song beginning. He grabbed a rose from
the bunch in the vase and went to her door, opening it without a sound.
They read you Cinderella
You hoped it would come true
That one day your prince charming
Would come rescue you
You like romantic movies
You never will forget
The way you felt when Romeo
Kissed Juliet
All this time that you’ve been waiting
You don’t have to wait no more
"Sheridan?" he looked over at her on the bed
and she looked up, having been listening to the music while tracing the title of the fable with her finger. Her
eyes caught his and she started to get up. Luis was definitely her prince charming.
I can love you like that
I can make you my world
Move Heaven and Earth
If you were my girl
I will give you my heart
Be all that you need
Show you you’re everything
That’s precious to me
If you give me a chance
I can love you like that
"I do love you like that," he whispered offering
her the red rose as he moved a step closer to where she stood by the bed. God he loved her and he hoped this song
and his presence now would make her forgive him always.
I never make a promise
I don’t intend to keep
And when I say forever
Forever’s what I mean
I’m no Casanova
But I swear this much is true
I’ll be holding nothing back
When it comes to you
You dream of love that’s everlasting
Well, baby, open up your eyes
"I’ll love you for eternity, Sheridan Crane, nothing
can change that," his eyes begged her to believe him. He did love her, more than words could ever express
and he would until the world ended and the sky fell. He would do anything for her.
I can love you like that
I can make you my world
Move Heaven and Earth
If you were my girl
I will give you my heart
Be all that you need
Show you you’re everything
That’s precious to me
If you give me a chance
I can love you like that
"I love you too," she replied, stepping closer,
her eyes shinning with incredible love for him. He was always doing things like this when she needed them most.
How she could ever doubt his feelings was beyond her.
You want tenderness (tenderness)
I got tenderness (tenderness)
And I can see through
To the heart of you
If you want a man (want a man)
Who understands (understands)
You don’t have to look very far
I can love you…I…
I can love you like that
I can make you my world
Move Heaven and Earth
If you were my girl
I will give you my heart
Be all that you need
Show you you’re everything
That’s precious to me
If you give me a chance
I can love you like that
~*~John Michael Montgomery "I Can Love You Like That"~*~
Luis and Sheridan met each other half way and fell into
a tight embrace. He kissed her lightly, glad that she had forgiven him again. As the song faded away, the DJ’s
voice filled in the silent air as he introduce the dedication that went with the song. Finally, Luis’ voice played
from the radio: "I want to dedicate I Can Love
You Like That to my very beautiful girlfriend,
Sheridan. I want her to know that this song is my way of promising to be her prince charming in her own real fairytale
and that I will always love her with all that I am."
Sheridan looked up into his eyes, a tear rolling down her cheek. "I am so sorry I yelled at you, Luis. It’s
just that things like this remind me of all the things stacked against me. I can’t cook a decent meal for you,
I can’t play many sports and I have never taken care of children on my own. I’m afraid that with what I missed
in life will make me less desirable to you." Her hands rested on his chest playing with his collar and her
eyes were downcast.
Luis tilted her head so that she would look at him. "Sheridan, nothing could make me want you any less. I
love you with all my heart. I promise to fill in the holes in your life just as you will fill the ones from my
life in. Nothing will ever change how much I love you. I don’t care about what you can’t do, Sheridan, because
I love you for all the things you can and your willingness to try."
"I love you too," she kissed him again lightly. "Can you possibly be any more wonderful?"
"I can try," he chuckled.
"You are amazing, Luis, absolutely amazing."
"Thank you," he smiled. "What were you looking at?"
She took his hand and walked him to the bed, showing him the old book. "It belonged to my maternal great-great-grandmother
and has been passed to the eldest daughter every time. Each woman left a note in a special pocket that was connected
to the back cover. I was just reading over the one my mother left to me. I was about to read my favorite fairytale,
one she had read me almost every night before bed."
"Cinderella," he replied, remembering what had prompted him to call and request the song.
"Yes," she smiled.
Luis returned the smile and removed her shoes and jeans before tucking her under the covers. "I’m going to
read to you before your nap," he winked.
She giggled and made herself comfortable as he opened to the first page of the story. She watched as he turned
to the first page and settled on the edge of the bed facing her.
"Once upon a time," he read the opening. Sheridan closed her eyes as his deep voice read her favorite
tale. He read the entire story to her, making silly voices for each character. When Cinderella’s prince kissed
her in the end, he smiled at her, a twinkle in his eye. "He kissed her," he leaned in, placing a small
kiss against her lips. "And they lived happily ever after, the end."
Sheridan sat in complete awe of her boyfriend, the man she loved more than anyone in the world. He was always so
wonderful to her, such a marvelous lover and not bad too look at. Beyond all of that, was his undying love for
her and his compassionate nature that led her to know he was the man she was destined to be with. The way he looked
at her, the way he held her and comforted her…it all made her fall head over heels in love with him. Then again,
it had been love at first sight despite the fact that she hated his arrogant nature when arresting her…but the
way he danced that tango!
"Where are you, Princess Sheridan?" he asked in a loving yet teasing tone.
"Right where I want to be," she replied, returning her gaze to his handsome face.
"What were you thinking about, sweetheart?" he gazed at her, his eyes showing every emotion that ran
through his body: want, need, love, compassion and concern. She could see his very soul in his deep brown eyes.
"I was thinking about how absolutely wonderful you are, Luis. How you treat me with such love and respect
and how you are the man I am destined to be with. It scares me how much I love you and how much I seem to need
you sometimes…"
"And?" he asked, knowing she was not through talking.
"And how I fell in love with you that very night I hit your car," she laughed. "I was hurt and bitter
and terribly annoyed, but while I sat in that cell, I thought of you." She closed her eyes. "Can I tell
you a secret?"
His brow creased, wondering what she could be getting at, but he shrugged it off and took her hand into his. "Anything,
Sheridan, you can tell me anything."
"I used to dream about our being together…in the men’s locker room at the youth center, here at the cottage…"
her eyes were closed as if she were reliving those dreams. Images of Luis kissing her and touching her body. She
opened her eyes and looked at him. "I’ve loved you for so long…this all seems so surreal sometimes."
"Well, Sheridan Crane, this isn’t a dream and you won’t ever wake up and discover me gone, because I promise
to be with you for the rest of your life and every day I plan on showing you just how much you mean to me."
Sheridan smiled at him, her eyes becoming filled with tears of joy. "Oh, Luis," she replied breathlessly.
"I love you so very much," she popped up out of the bed and into his arms, hugging him to her tightly.
His arms came around her and held her to his muscular frame.
"I love you too, Sherry angel, more than I can ever say in words," he rubbed her back soothingly and
felt her relax in his arms. "So what would you like to do now, Sheridan?"
She took a deep breath, she knew what she wanted to do at this moment, but it meant leaving the cottage again.
"I’d like to go out again, Luis. I’m tired of staying in the cottage."
"A walk around the grounds?" he asked, hoping that would satisfy her.
"Can’t we go into town? I promise to be good and stay right at your side," the words rushed out of her
mouth. She pulled back to look into his eyes. "I’ll even deal with Beth at the Book Café if it means
getting out of here for a while."
"But, Sheridan, when we’re in public we have to pretend we’re still on bad terms. I hate doing that and you
know it."
Sheridan looked right into his eyes. "Luis, I think it’s time we admit to everyone that we’re in love. I know
we didn’t want to let it get out because of my family and I’m sure they’ll plot something treacherous to break
us apart, but I refuse to hide my feeling for you anymore. My family is going to find out sooner or later…"
"I’d prefer later," he grumbled under his breath.
She sighed. If he was going to be so stubborn, she would just have to pull out one of her secret weapons. "Please,
Luis," her lower lip protruded in a pout and her big blue eyes became sad.
He groaned; that lost animal face was his undoing every time. She knew what cards to play and she always played
them like a pro. Sighing, he nodded. "All right, we can go out *and* we can let everyone know that we’re a
couple."
She hugged him tightly. "I can be ready in ten minutes," she hopped up and dug around for her jeans.
He shook his head and chuckled. "Sheridan, you’re gonna be the death of me, baby."
Popping her head up from the other side of the bed, her jeans in her hand, she glared at him. "Don’t you dare
joke like that, Luis Lopez-Fitzgerald. You’re going to live a very long life and we’re going to share it together."
Smiling, Luis replied, "Damn right we are. There is no way I’m letting go of you, Sheridan."
Sheridan slid into her jeans and put her sneakers on. Turning to Luis, she offered her hand to him. "Come
on, I want to go out on the town," she winked, "but I’ll settle for some coffee and a nice long conversation
at the Book Café."
Standing, he slid his hands around her waist. "Can’t I persuade you to stay home instead?" His hands
began to caress her back and his eyes became dark with desire.
"You can try, but it won’t work. I want to go out and have some fun. Besides, I know deep down inside you’d
like to peak in on the youth center and the kids."
"How did you know that?" he asked wide eyed.
"I heard you call the center yesterday morning to see how everything was going since you were gone. I know
you gave up a large part of your life when they assigned you to my case, Luis, I just hope you don’t regret it."
"Never, Sheridan, it brought us closer together," he kissed her lips lightly. "I won’t ever regret
being assigned as your body guard."
She smiled. "Well you can practice guarding my body later, honey, right now I want to go into town and enjoy
ourselves for a little while."
"All right," he pulled away, his hand taking hers. "We’ll go into town and have some fun."
The drive down Raven Hill and into Harmony was silent. Sheridan watched people rushing around in the cold, crisp
November air. Some were unloading a car full of groceries for the upcoming holiday and others were tossing around
a football or playing games with their children. It was beautiful to see all the happy families outside today.
She imagined herself and Luis playing behind a white picket fence. She could see her little blond haired daughter
and strong brunette son playing with their father. She sighed and faded into her daydreams.
Finally, they arrived at the Book Café and parked right out front. Sheridan was about to open her door when
Luis caught her arm. "Let me," he kissed her cheek.
"Luis, you don’t have to…"
"I want to, Sheridan. Doesn’t a gentleman always open a lady’s door?"
Sheridan giggled. "So where’s the gentleman?"
Luis placed his hands over his heart, pretending to have been wounded. "Ouch, that one hurt, Sherry angel."
She tried not to laugh, feigning concern and leaning over to him. "Should I kiss it and make it all better,
sweetheart?"
"I’ll settle for a kiss and then a cup of hot coffee," he grinned.
Sheridan leaned in and kissed his lips lightly. "Come on, super cop, let’s go get you that coffee and if you’re
really good I’ll get you a blue berry muffin," she winked.
"Mmm, I don’t know, I might need another kiss. That was an awfully big wound."
"No way, one kiss and one cup of coffee, that was the deal. Now move it, buddy or else you won’t ever get
that coffee."
Sighing, Luis climbed out of the car and walked around to the other side, opening her door for her. "Madame,"
he bowed slightly.
Sheridan laughed. "You’re terrible, Luis, absolutely terrible."
"I try," he chuckled. When she stepped out, he closed the door and slid his arm around her waist. "I
could get used to this."
"Mmm, me too," she replied, sliding her arm around his waist. With their arms around each other, they
went inside; not watching the black town car drive down the street, its windows tinted extra dark and the people
inside chatting evilly about destroying the pair.
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