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Chapter Nine
Sheridan sat down on the blue and white beer cooler, ready
to watch Luis' performance. He still had his back to her so she took a moment to look at him. Dressed in black
denim jeans, a black open collar shirt, and black biker looking boots, he looked sexy as hell. But that was nothing
new. He could be wearing a paper bag and he'd still be sexy as hell. He turned suddenly as if sensing her stare
and their eyes met. Then a second later he broke out into a huge grin and she wondered what exactly he was up to.
He didn't look nervous. In fact, he looked... he looked like he knew something she didn't. The music started and
Luis walked toward her. Oh god, she thought her breath catching in her throat as he stopped a few inches in front
of her, he was going to stand in front of her and sing.
You never close your eyes anymore when I kiss your lips
As soon as she heard his deep, rich voice she knew she'd
been had. He had said he didn't sing, but he never said he couldn't sing. Damn, she thought raising her eyes to
meet his, he wasn't going to make a fool of himself. A mischievous gleam lit his brown eyes and she knew exactly
what he was going to do. He smiled, leaned in and placed a soft kiss on her lips. Then he pulled back and grabbed
her hand.
And there's no tenderness like before in your fingertips.
His rubbed his fingertips against her fingertips and a
bolt of electricity shot up her arm. She looked into his eyes in surprise and he winked at her. Oh god, he was
going to drive her insane.
You're trying hard not to show it, (baby).
But baby, baby I know it...
He winked at her and she felt herself turn ten shades of
red. The man was... he was just too much.
You've lost that lovin' feeling,
Whoa, that lovin' feeling,
You've lost that lovin' feeling,
Now it's gone... gone... gone... wooooooh.
He stepped back and released her hand. Then once he was
a few inches away from her he held out his hand to her. She placed her own in it and he pulled her up off the cooler.
Then he walked around her all the while singing the song that would forever remain in her memory.
Now there's no welcome look in your eyes when I reach
for you.
And now you're starting to criticize little things I do.
It makes me just feel like crying, (baby).
'Cause baby, something in you is dying.
You lost that lovin' feeling,
Whoa, that lovin' feeling,
You've lost that lovin' feeling,
Now it's gone... gone... gone... wooooooh
He walked around to stand in front of her and to her surprise
he got down on his knees.
Baby, baby, I get down on my knees for you.
If you would only love me like you used to do, yeah.
We had a love... a love... a love you don't find everyday.
So don't... don't... don't... don't let it slip away.
He grabbed her hand and walked toward her on his knees,
with a pleading look in his eyes. Oh god, he really was trying to drive her insane.
Baby (baby), baby (baby),
I beg of you please...please,
I need your love (I need your love), I need your love (I need your love),
So bring it on back (So bring it on back), Bring it on back (so bring it on back).
He jumped up in one fluid motion and released her hand.
Then he stepped back and grinned a Cheshire grin. When he stepped back close to her, it was to run a finger along
her jaw. A shiver ran down her spine as he traced her lower lip. She narrowed her eyes realizing what he was trying
to do and decided it was time to react. Before he could remove his finger from her lips, her tongue shot out and
he jumped back about a foot. But to her surprise he kept singing. He didn't miss a beat. He raised a brow and smiled
at her obvious attempt to get him to screw up. Damn the man. Did he really have to be so damn sexy when he was
trying to best her?
Bring back that lovin' feeling,
Whoa, that lovin' feeling
Bring back that lovin' feeling,
'Cause it's gone... gone... gone, and I can't go on, noooo...
Bring back that lovin' feeling,
Whoa, that lovin' feeling
Bring back that lovin' feeling,
'Cause it's gone... gone...
Luis finished the song and thunderous applause broke out.
He looked at her and grinned, but before she could react, his friends surrounded him. Once she couldn't see him
anymore, Sheridan was finally able to breathe normally again. She had no idea he could sing like that. In fact,
she was in shock. She could see the top of his head, but there was no way she could get close to him. The crowd
surrounding him was just too thick. God, she needed a drink. She reached behind her and grabbed a beer out of the
cooler. The man had definitely shocked her today. She hadn't thought anyone could be sexier than Tom Cruise singing
that song, but she was wrong. Luis was.
Sheridan took a deep breath then twisted the top off her beer. She closed her eyes and took a good long drink.
He had really gotten to her with that song. She had never dreamed he would affect her like that. He'd literally
stolen her breath. She opened her eyes and they connected with Luis' instantly. She knew he wanted to know what
she thought and she didn't disappoint him. She raised her beer to him then placed the fingers from her other hand
to her lips and kissed them. He laughed then started to walk toward her, but before he got two inches Ethan stepped
in his way. She couldn't see Ethan's face, but from the looks of things whatever he was saying was not good. In
fact, his body was so rigid it was almost as if he was ready to kill Luis. Oh god, she thought just realizing what
that meant. Ethan found out about what happened in the pool.
Luis was finally able to get away from the crowd that had gathered around him after his song and immediately looked
around for Sher. He found her right where he'd left her, standing next to the beer cooler. She had her eyes closed
so she hadn't seen him yet. God, he thought letting his eyes travel up and down her body, she was beautiful. He
thought it was cute how she tried to fluster him during his song, but of course, he hadn't let her. He had refused
to let her get to him. Sher finally opened her eyes and met with his. He raised a brow in silent question. He really
wanted to know how she liked his performance. She raised her beer as if to salute him then raised her other hand
and kissed her fingertips. He laughed. He couldn't help it. She just looked so dang cute. He took a step toward
her, but one step was as far as she got, because Ethan suddenly blocked his path. One quick look into Ethan's angry
blue eyes and he knew exactly what was about to happen. Oh hell, he thought closing his eyes in preparation to
face Ethan's wrath. He knew what was coming and he did not want to get into right now. In fact, if it was up to
him, they wouldn't get into it at all.
Luis took a deep breath then opened his eyes ready to face Ethan's fury. "Eth -"
"Is it true?" Ethan asked grabbing him by the collar of his shirt. When Luis raised a brow in surprise,
Ethan dropped his hands and glared at him. "Were you and Sher making out in the pool? Did Josh and Hank really
catch her naked?"
Luis nodded then ducked as Ethan took a swing at him. "Dammit Ethan, calm down."
"Calm down hell! That's my cousin you were making out with!"
Luis ducked as Ethan swung again. This was not going to be pretty. Ethan was madder than he had ever seen him.
Right now, he reminded him of him, when he had caught Ethan in bed with Theresa. He seemed to recall throwing a
few punches himself, only his had actually connected with Ethan's jaw. Luis grabbed Ethan's arm as he tried to
make another swing then got right in his face. "Calm the hell down, Ethan! You want to discuss this that's
fine. But I'll be damned if I get into another fight with you. Do you remember what happened the last time we fought?"
Ethan closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Luis knew he remembered that day. He doubted it was a day either
one of them would soon forget.
Luis froze as his fist made contact with Ethan's
jaw, knocking him backward into Theresa's wall. Pictures frames fell from the wall and glass scattered across the
floor. He heard Theresa scream, but his eyes were focused on the trickle of blood now running down the side of
his best friend's face. Where had it come from? He looked above Ethan's head and noticed the empty space where
a picture had been hanging above his head. Oh god, had it fallen and hit Ethan in the head?
Luis watched in horror as Ethan started to slide to the ground. He started toward him, but Theresa pushed him out
of the way. "Damn Theresa, I didn't mean -"
"You didn't mean what?" Theresa asked sending him an icy glare and running to Ethan's side. "You
didn't mean to attack him? It sure as hell looked that way to me! You had no right to treat him this way Luis.
None. I'm a big girl and what happened between him and I is between him and I. It's none of your business."
Ethan raised a hand to his head and when he pulled it back, blood oozed over his fingers. From the looks of the
amount of blood coming from the gash on his head, he was going to need stitches. He wouldn't doubt if he had a
concussion too. Oh god, Luis thought sinking back onto the bed and placing his head in his hands, his temper had
finally gotten the best of him.
Ethan had needed stitches that day, about 50 of
them to be exact. He'd also had a mild concussion. Luis shook his head to clear it of the bad memories. He and
Ethan had made a pact that day to never fight again. They had kept it until today. "I'm sorry Ethan. I know
how you feel right now and I don't blame you. But nothing really happened between Sher & I."
"Because you were interrupted?" He asked with an edge to his voice.
Luis grimaced. He didn't want to admit that was the reason, but he didn't want to lie to Ethan either. "Yeah,
if we hadn't gotten interrupted things probably would have gone further than they did."
Ethan nodded, the anger still visible in his eyes. "So do you care about her at all? Or do you just see her
as another lay?"
Luis closed his eyes then shook his head trying to fight the anger rising inside him. He knew Ethan had a right
to be concerned, but he really couldn't believe what Ethan was asking him. They had been friends a long time and
he thought Ethan knew him better than that. Luis opened his eyes and pinned him with a cold, hard stare. "Ethan,
I can't believe you would even ask me that. I fought my attraction to your cousin because I knew you didn't like
the idea of her and I together. But evidently she didn't agree with you. She came onto me again this afternoon
and I tried to resist her, but she made it impossible."
"You didn't answer my question. Do you care about her at all?"
Luis knew he had to answer, but he really didn't have an answer. He looked over at Sher and saw her laughing at
something someone was telling her. He couldn't see who it was because his view was blocked. But then after a few
seconds, someone moved and he saw exactly who she was talking to... Josh Edwards.
Luis narrowed his eyes. He had warned him to stay away from her, but apparently, he didn't hear too well. He took
a step forward, but Ethan stopped him with his next comment. "I guess that answers my question. You do care
about her, don't you?"
Luis swung his gaze back to Ethan in surprise. "What are you talking about?"
Ethan had the gall to chuckle. "You're so jealous right now, you can't see straight. They're only talking
Luis."
Talking? Didn't he realize who she was only talking to? "Ethan, are you telling me that her talking to JOSH,
doesn't bother you? After what he's done?"
Ethan shook his head and let out a loud sigh. "You and Josh have your own issues, Luis. Yeah, I don't agree
with what he did. I'd like to punch his lights out myself for it, but it doesn't mean Sher can't talk to the guy."
Luis turned his gaze back to look at Sher and Josh. Instead Of Sher, he found Beth who was currently making her
way toward him. He groaned. He hadn't known she was here tonight. If he had, he would have made damn sure to keep
out of her sight.
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