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Chapter Eight
Luis watched as Theresa gave Ethan his microphone and wondered what type of song they were going to sing. He figured,
knowing his sister the way he did, it would be some sappy love song. His sister had this idea of fate and destiny
that really bugged him. To hear her talk you would think that nothing happens by chance that everything that happens
in life is already planned out. He shook his head. No one was in charge of his life, but him. He'd made sure
of that a long time ago. That was one of the reasons he'd found his own place a couple of years ago. His apartment
might not be much, but it was better than living with his folks and hearing night and day what a perfect son Antonio
was. Just because Antonio had always done the right thing didn't mean he had to.
Theresa and Ethan turned to each other and anyone could see the love they shared between them went deep. He was
really happy for both of them. Of course, he thought with a rueful smile, that wasn't always the case. They had
kept it a secret from him the first few months, but then he'd walked in on them in bed together and he'd hit the
roof. It had taken him awhile to forgive Ethan for getting involved with his sister. But once he realized Theresa
wasn't just another conquest for Ethan that he had really fallen for her, he was behind it all the way.
Luis shook his head and grabbed a beer from the cooler beside him. He'd just taken a sip when he felt someone
run a hand lightly over his back. He looked up just as the music started and couldn't make himself look away.
The look in Sher's eyes combined with the soft music was... hypnotic. Then Theresa and Ethan started to sing.
I
finally found someone
That knocks me off my feet
I finally found the one
That makes me feel complete
Luis barely heard the words as he continued to stare into
Sher's bright blue eyes. She smiled suddenly and Luis knew without a doubt that he had to touch her. He set his
beer down on the table beside him then held out a hand. She came to him willingly. He wrapped his arms around
her waist as she wrapped hers around his neck. They held each other as Theresa and Ethan continued to sing and
never once broke the connection their eyes held.
It
started out over coffee
We started out as friends
It's funny how from simple things
The best things begin.
To Luis the best thing in life was holding a beautiful
woman in your arms and having her look at you like you were the only man in the room, especially if that woman
was Sher.
This time it's different
And it's all because of you
It's better than it's ever been.
That was true enough, he thought. This time it was different
and he knew without a doubt it was because of the woman in his arms.
Cause
we can talk it through
My favorite line was
'Can I call you sometime'
It's all you had to say
To take my breath away
Luis was finding it difficult to breathe himself. He tightened
his hold around Sher's waist and wasn't at all surprised when she leaned her head to rest on his chest. She felt
so good in his arms... like she was meant to be there. Whoa, Luis get a grip. It's just a dance. You've done
this with countless women countless times before. It didn't mean a damn thing. Hell, you barely know her.
This
is it, oh, I finally found someone
Someone to share my life
I finally found the one
To be with every night
Luis sprayed his hands over her bare back and couldn't
help but love the feel of her soft skin underneath his fingertips. He rested his chin on the top of her head as
they continued to sway to the music. Her perfume floated to his nostrils and Luis took a deep breath, loving the
scent that was totally her. She was intoxicating.
'Cause
whatever I do
It's just got to be with you
My life has just begun
I finally found someone
He rubbed his hands over her bare back and thought he heard
her sigh. Her fingers started to play with the back of his neck and a shiver of heat coursed through his body
as one fingernail raked his skin. God, he wanted her. He couldn't remember ever wanting anyone the way he wanted
her. She tightened her hold on his neck and he tightened his on her waist. Every delicious curve of her body
met his and he thought for sure he would die right then and there.
Did
I keep you waiting (I didn't mind)
I apologize (Baby that's fine)
I would wait forever to just know you were mine
You know, I love your hair (Are you sure it looks right?)
I love what you wear (Isn't it too tight?)
You're exceptional
I can't wait for the rest of my life
This is it, oh I finally found someone
Someone to share my life
I finally found the one
To be with every night
Luis logically knew he shouldn't be having these thoughts
about her. She was Ethan's cousin after all, but his brain... his brain was not doing his thinking right now.
His body was and it was crying out with the need to have her. If only she wasn't Ethan's cousin...
'Cause
whatever I do
It's just got to be with you
My life has just begun
I finally found someone
'Cause whatever I do
It's just got to be with you
My life has just begun
I finally found someone
The music died down, but Luis and Sher continued to hold
each other for a few more seconds. When they finally raised their heads and their eyes connected, something passed
between them that Luis was sure he'd never felt before. He dipped his head toward her, but then the deafening
sound of clapping broke the moment.
Luis jumped back as if he'd been burned. Had he really been about to kiss her again? After he swore he wouldn't?
God, what the hell was the matter with him? Her blue eyes sparkled with anticipation and he suddenly felt like
the biggest jerk alive. "I'm sorry Sher. I... we can't do this. I can't get involved with you."
Hurt lit her eyes, but she masked it quickly then pushed him out of her way and stomped toward Theresa and Ethan.
Luis watched her grab the microphone out of Ethan's hand and whisper something to his sister. Theresa's eyes
lit up and Luis wondered what the hell they were up to. Then realizing there was absolutely no telling, he shook
his head and turned around to grab his beer off the table beside him. For the first time in a long time, he felt
the need to get rip roaring drunk.
Sheridan glanced at Luis who was standing just a few feet away. He had his back to her and at this very moment
was drinking the beer he'd sat down earlier. Why hadn't he kissed her? She knew he wanted to. She saw it in
his eyes. Then everyone around them had started clapping and he had pulled back. 'I can't get involved with you.'
Hearing those words had hurt. She'd never admit it to anyone, but it had.
It wasn't like she wanted a relationship with him, she thought watching as he raised his beer to his lips again.
She watched his lips touch the bottle and wished they were touching her lips instead. She could still feel the
heat from their kiss this afternoon in the pool. Could he feel it too?
She shook her head, all she wanted was for everyone to stop seeing her as little miss innocent. But to do that
she knew she had to raise some eyebrows. She knew she had the whole summer to do it, but meeting Luis had made
her jumpstart her plan a little quicker than she intended. She wasn't exactly sure why, but she knew she had to
go through with it. Something inside her was screaming to get out... and it would get out she thought, with or
without the help of Luis Lopez-Fitzgerald!
Sher nodded to Theresa and Ethan to start the music then got into her opening pose. She lowered her head to look
at the ground. Then opening bars of the song started and Sher raised the mike then started to move to the beat.
Oh...
I feel like I've been locked up tight
For a century of lonely nights
Waiting for someone, to release me
You're licking your lips and blowing kisses my way
But that don't mean I'm gonna give it away
Baby, baby, baby (baby, baby, baby)
Oh whoa...
My body's saying let's go
Oh whoa...
My heart is saying no, no
She saw several people raise their eyebrows at her moves.
She just smiled and continued to lose herself in the song. Luis still hadn't turned around, but she knew he was
listening. She could tell by the way he tightened his grip on the beer in his hand.
If
you wanna be with me, baby, there's a price you'll pay
I'm a genie in a bottle, you gotta rub me the right way
If you wanna be with me, I can make your wish come true
YOU GOTTA MAKE A BIG IMPRESSION, I GOTTA LIKE WHAT YOU DO
I'm a genie in a bottle, baby
Gotta rub me the right way, honey
I'm a genie in a bottle, baby
Come, come, come, and let me out
She ran a hand down her side at the line 'gotta rub me
the right way, honey' and several men let out a wolf whistle, which finally caused Luis to turn around. Their
eyes connected and she couldn't mistake the heat in them. Now that he was finally looking at her, it was time
to show him just how much fun she could be.
Luis fought turning around for as long as he could, but as soon as he heard the wolf whistles, he knew he couldn't
fight it anymore. He had to see what she was doing. The curiosity was killing him. He turned and their eyes
connected. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't look away from her.
The
music's playing and the lights' down low
Just one more dance and then we're good to go
Waiting for someone, who needs me
He needed her, naked and underneath him. God, he thought
running his free hand through his black hair, he had to stop this. He couldn't get involved with her. He couldn't.
He didn't want anything serious and if she fell for him, he'd only break her heart. He finally managed to look
away from her and his eyes fell on Ethan, who right now looked as if he was about to drag her out of the sight
of the males surrounding the pool. He laughed. He couldn't help it. He looked back at Sher, but she was no
longer looking at him. In fact, at the moment, she was making her way toward his little brother.
Hormone's
racing at the speed of light
But that don't mean it's gotta be tonight
Baby, baby, baby (Baby, baby, baby,)
Oh whoa....
My body's saying let's go
Oh whoa....
My heart is saying no, no
If you wanna get with me, baby, there's a price you pay
I'm a genie in a bottle, baby, you gotta rub me the right way
She stopped right in front of Miguel and ran a hand suggestively
down her side. Luis saw red. It didn't matter that it was his little brother and he knew that Miguel wouldn't
cross that line. It didn't matter that Sher didn't know it was his brother. The only thing that matter was that
smoky look in her eyes that should be... for him.
If
you wanna be with me, I can make your dreams come true
You gotta make a big impression, I gotta like what you do
Just come and set me free, baby, and I'll be with you
She moved away from Miguel and walked to stand in front
of Hank. Hank raised his a brow in question and Sheridan winked at him. What the hell kind of game was she playing?
She couldn't go around teasing guys like Hank, not without expecting him to react. Or did she expect him to react?
She couldn't be interest in Hank. Could she?
I'm a genie in a bottle, baby
Gotta rub me the right way, honey
I'm a genie in a bottle, baby
Come, come, come, and let me out
She ran a hand suggestively down her side and Hank's hand
shot out to follow it. Luis took a step forward, but stopped when Sher moved away out of Hank's reach. She moved
slightly to the left which brought her face to face with... Josh Edwards. Sher glanced at him over her shoulder
and he did not like the gleam in her eye. He wasn't exactly sure what she was going to do, but he could tell by
that look he wasn't going to like it. Sure enough a second later, she grabbed Josh's hand and placed it at her
waist.
I'm
a genie in a bottle, baby
Gotta rub me the right way, honey
I'm a genie in a bottle, baby
Come, come, come, and let me out
Josh ran his hand up and down her side then looked at him
and grinned. The bastard. Luis took another step closer, but found himself being stopped by a hand on his chest.
He looked up to find Ethan standing in front of him, shaking his head. He narrowed his eyes and turned back to
Sher. Josh still had his hand on her, but just as Luis started to take another step, she moved away out of his
reach. He relaxed slightly, but then his eyes found Josh and saw the satisfied smirk on his face and his temper
rose once again.
Oh
whoa....
My body's saying let's go
Oh whoa....
My heart is saying no, no
Luis took another step toward Josh, but then Sher came
up beside him. Ethan moved to his side and Sher moved to stand in front of him. She placed a finger on his chest
and started to sing. She made a grab for his hand during one part of the song, but he pulled it back out of her
reach. He was not going to play these games with her. She was purposely trying to tick him off and it had worked.
If
you wanna get with me, baby, there's a price you pay
I'm a genie in a bottle, baby, you gotta rub me the right way
If you wanna be with me, I can make your dreams come true
You gotta make a big impression, I gotta like what you do
Luis stepped back away from her and when he saw the hurt
expression on her face, he shook his head and turned around altogether. That was the wrong thing to do. Sher
placed her hand on his back and started to rub it all over. Then she ran a hand over his butt and Luis turned
around in shock. She was a little vixen that's what she was. She smiled and gave him an exaggerated wink, then
turned and walked toward another guy. Luis watched as she performed her same routine on him.
If
you wanna get with me, baby, there's a price you pay
I'm a genie in a bottle, baby, you gotta rub me the right way
If you wanna be with me, I can make your dreams come true
You gotta make a big impression, I gotta like what you do
Just come and set me free, baby, and I'll be with you
I'm a genie in a bottle, baby
Come, come, come and let me out
Finally, she ended the song and everyone, especially the
guys went haywire. Luis did nothing. He just glared at the guys who were at this moment flanking her from all
sides. He ran a hand over his face then turned around and downed what was left of his beer. He set the empty
bottle on the bar then reached for another out of the cooler. He was just about to take off the lid when he felt
her hand on his back once again. He turned his head to look at her and she had the gall to give him a sweet and
innocent smile. Ha! After that performance, he knew for a fact she was no little miss innocent. She was... she
was just too much.
"Luis," she said in a breathless whisper. "It's your turn."
Whoa he thought, surely she didn't mean... He raised a brow at her, but she just smiled and handed him the mic
in her hand. Luis just stared at it in confusion while she laughed and leaned in to whisper near his ear. "You
didn't forget, did you? You said you would sing the song after me and since I just got done, I guess that means
you're up. Unless you're too afraid?"
He shook his head. "Sweetheart, I told you I'm not afraid of anything. What song?"
She smiled and Luis had the sudden and unmistakable feeling that letting her pick the song had not been such a
good idea. In fact, he had the distinct impression she hoped he made a fool of himself. "You've Lost That
Lovin' Feeling."
Luis brows shot up in surprise. That song from Top Gun? "You've got to be kidding."
"Nope," she said with a sly grin. "You said I could pick the song and that's the song I pick.
Unless, there is some reason why you can't do it? I mean you do know the song right?"
Oh he knew it all right. He glanced around at his buddies who all looked to be still in a state of shock. He'd
never sang in front of any of them. The only person that knew what was coming was Miguel. He looked over at him
and they both shared a grin of remembrance. He knew everyone else thought he was going to make a fool of himself.
Maybe he would. After all, it had been a long time. "Oh yeah, I know the song, sweetheart. In fact, I know
it very well."
She furrowed her brows in confusion, but he didn't waste any more time talking to her. He just walked over to
Theresa and had her get the song ready. He glanced back at Sher who still stood in the same place he'd left her.
Oh yeah, he thought breaking out into a huge grin, little miss innocent was about to get the shock of her life.
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