That Loving Feeling *Too Hot Sequel* Pro

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Subject: That Loving Feeling *Too Hot Sequel* Pro - Ch 3
Posted By: OKDeanna - ezOP
Posts: 334
Posted At: (8/23/03 2:00 pm)
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That Loving Feeling - Sequel to Too Hot To Handle

By Deanna

E-mail: ASJFan@cox.net

Prologue

"All I know," Luis Lopez-Fitzgerald stated eyeing his older brother over the top of his beer bottle. "Is that I can't imagine my life without her in it. She's the one, I'm telling you. There's no one else for me."

Antonio shook his head and let out another sigh. "Luis, you two have been dating a little less than six months. It's too soon to be thinking along those lines. You two barely know each other! Marriage is a big step and you shouldn't just rush into that kind of decision."

Luis frowned. "I'm not rushing into anything, Antonio. Maybe we have only been together for six months, but it doesn't change the fact that I want to spend the rest of my life with her. I know you don't understand it. How could you? You've never been that serious about a woman."

"Maybe I haven't, but are you're only twenty-six, Luis. What is the damn rush?" Antonio shook his head again and this time it was Luis that sighed. "Just give it a few more months. If she's as perfect for you as you say she is then a few more months won't make that much of a difference right?"

Luis took a sip of his beer then sat the bottle on the table and straightened in his seat. "It won't make any difference whether I wait two years or six months. The fact of the matter is I want to marry Sheridan more than I've ever wanted anything in my life. I'm through playing the field, Antonio. I've found the woman for me and no amount of time in the world is going to change that."

Antonio picked up his bottle of beer on the table then took a healthy swig before sitting it back down and asking, "Have you two even discussed marriage yet? Do you even know how she feels about the subject? I mean what if she isn't ready to get married? What will you do then?"

Luis smiled. "I'd wait. If she tells me she thinks it's too soon or that she's not ready then I'll wait until she is ready. Either way it's not going to change my mind. I want her in my life, Antonio. Forever."

"Another words you two haven't even discussed the topic of marriage yet." Antonio shook his head again, his disapproval apparent all over his face. "I suggest you two have a marriage talk before you actually pop the question to her. I mean for goodness sake's Luis, do you even know if she wants kids? Will she be working or will she just live off that Crane trust fund of hers?"

"Dammit, Antonio." Luis said his eyes falling closed at the implication. "Sher doesn't need her family's money anymore than I do. She can do whatever she wants to do. She's already decided to go to law school. Her grades are good enough so she should be able to get in without any problems too."

"Law school?" Antonio ran a hand over his face and the action was all Luis needed to know to figure out what lecture would come next. "Now I know you're crazy! Do you know how expensive that is? And the time she'll have to spend studying… My god, Luis, you two would never see each other! Hell, with your schedule taking you out of town so much lately you already don't see much of her."

"The out of town jobs were to earn extra money to pay for the engagement ring I have on layaway at the jewelry store downtown." Luis grinned. "I actually ordered it two months ago and tomorrow I'm picking it up. Since tomorrow night is our six-month anniversary I figured it would be the perfect time to give it to her. Man, I can't wait until she sees it. I know she'll love it."

Antonio closed his eyes and shook his head for the umpteenth time since Luis had first told him about his plans. "Nothing I said even made a dent did it? You're still as determined as ever to propose?"

Luis widened his grin. "Damn straight. There's nothing that you or anyone else can say that will change my mind. I love Sher. I want her to be the first person I see in the morning and the last person I see before I go to bed."

"Isn't she that already?" Antonio asked dryly.

Luis shrugged. "I'm tired of living in sin, Antonio, and now I'm ready to do something about it. I just hope she says yes."
A familiar song came over the jukebox and Luis completely forgot about Antonio's presence as he became lost in the song and the memories associated with it.

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, wrapping her arms around his neck as he wrapped his around her waist. They held each other, gently swaying to the song 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
Its 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.
Cause we can talk it through

That was true enough, he thought. This time it was different and he knew for certain it was because of the woman in his arms.

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 thought not at all sure where that thought had come from, it's just a dance. Get a grip. 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, something that Luis was sure he'd never felt before. He lowered his head and…

"Earth to Luis." His brother said snapping his fingers in front of his face and causing him to jump in surprise. "Damn, that must have been some daydream you just had. I've been trying to get your attention for three or four minutes now."

Luis grinned. "Sorry, I was just remembering when Sher and I first danced to this song. It was at Ethan's first party of the summer or better known to you as the night you caught us making out in my truck."

"Don't remind me." Antonio said shaking his head. "That was definitely not an episode I want to remember. I still can't believe you lost your head so much that you just pulled over on the side of the road, a major highway no less!"

Luis shrugged. "Sorry, bro, but sometimes you can't help getting carried away. Besides I didn't actually pull over onto the side of the road to make out with her. That part just happened." Luis tossed his brother a wink then added, "One of these days it'll happen to you, you know. Mark my words. Some woman some day is going to knock you off that moral highroad you seem so fond of. I only hope I get to meet her when she does."

Antonio scoffed then shook his head. "Sorry little brother, but you're way off on that one. No way will I let some woman get to me so bad that I lose track of where I am. It just isn't going to happen." Antonio straightened suddenly then propped one of his elbows up on the table and offered, "Look, I don't know that marriage is the right thing for you two to do right now, but I've never seen you as happy as you are with Sheridan and if marrying her is what you want then I'll welcome her to the family with open arms. I'm pretty sure mom and dad would agree with me too."

Luis smiled then nodded. "Thanks, Antonio, I'm going to wait to tell mom and dad until after Sher says yes. No use listening to a lecture on marriage without a concrete reason for it."
Antonio smiled then arched a brow. "How can you be so sure she'll say yes?"

"I can't be." Luis replied, reaching down to pick up his beer, before finally sliding out of the booth seat to stand. "But if I know her as well as I think I do, there's no way she'll say no."

Luis patted his brother on the shoulder then tossed his beer into a nearby trashcan and made his way out the door of the pool hall, his mind focused on tomorrow night and what he had planned. He knew his brother had serious reservations about his proposing to Sher and he understood them, but even though he understood them, he didn't agree with them. He loved Sheridan with everything he had inside of him and he couldn't wait for her to become Mrs. Luis Lopez-Fitzgerald.
He didn't care if they had only known each other six months. He'd never understood how someone could place a time limit on when it was okay to fall in love or enter into marriage. When something's right, it's right, and what he had with Sheridan was as right as it got. He didn't need time to figure that out, he'd known it practically from the moment he met her.

He smiled as he reached his truck and began to unlock the driver's side door. He'd definitely met his match the day he met Sheridan Crane. He'd probably brought it on himself too. He'd always said he liked his women wild and Sher was about as wild as it got. He climbed into the cab of his truck then laughed as he remembered the plan that brought them together - her plan to ruin her good girl image.

He suspected the plan would have worked much better had they not gone and fallen in love with each other, but he certainly didn't regret the fact that they did. She might not have succeeded in destroying that good girl image the way she'd originally planned to, but she had succeeded in stealing his heart and there was no way he'd ever regret that. She was the best thing that had ever happened to him and tomorrow night he was going to give her a night that she would never forget.

Chapter One

Sheridan Crane barely heard the phone ring over the vacuum she was using to sweep Luis' living room, but the moment she did, she quickly reached down and flipped the vacuum off. A second later, she reached for the phone behind her, placing the black receiver next to her right ear. "Hello?"

"That does it." A disgusted feminine voice stated. "I am soooo moving to Maine."

Sheridan couldn't help but laugh. No matter how much she loved and missed her best friend, she really couldn't see Gwen giving up the bright lights of New York for a small town like Harmony. She didn't care how bad her dates got, Gwen would no more move to Harmony than she would move back to New York. It was just the way things were. "What happened this time?"

"You wouldn't believe me if I told you." Came Gwen's indigent reply. "How are things in Harmony?"

"Fine and don't change the subject. What happened on your date with Alex? I mean it couldn't be as bad as Jeff or Jarrod or whatever the heck his name was."

Gwen laughed, but the sound was anything but humorous. "Wanna bet? I think Alex topped Jase's record within the first two minutes of picking me up!"

Sheridan laughed again then maneuvered her way around Luis couch and lowered herself on it. "So what happened? And don't you dare say it doesn't matter, because you know I won't except that!"

Gwen sighed and Sheridan knew her well enough to know it was one of defeat. "He actually had the nerve to ask me if I was going to sleep with him! Can you believe it? I mean the moment we get into his car the first words out of his mouth were 'am I going to get lucky tonight?' I thought he was teasing until I saw the look on his face! That was when I had him stop the car and I walked back to my apartment!"

"And you didn't call me last night to talk about this?" Sheridan shook her head. "What gives? You always call me when a date ends early?"

Gwen sighed again and this time Sheridan didn't bother trying to decipher it's meaning. She merely waited to hear the explanation her friend would give. "I figured you and Luis had plans last night and I didn't want to interrupt."

"Gwen," Sheridan started, automatically straightening up on the couch. "You can call me any time you want to. Luis doesn't mind. Besides Luis was out with his brother last night. Didn't get back until late. Incidentally, how did you know I was here anyway?"

"Where else would you be?" Gwen asked, only the slightest touch of sarcasm in her voice. "Ever since you two got together you've been almost inseparable. Hell, I think you two are practically joined at the hip!"

Not lately, Sheridan thought with a frown. Luis had been working so much the last few weeks that she was barely lucky she got to see him at all! And last night he'd gone out with Antonio then today when she'd arrived to surprise him she'd found a note that said he was out running errands and would be back later. How he knew she was going to surprise him she'd never know, but he had. "Luis has been working a lot lately so I've been spending most of my time at home the last few weeks."

"Uh oh." Gwen said, all traces of teasing gone. "That doesn't sound good. Trouble in paradise?"

Was there? Sure, they hadn't been spending a lot of time together lately, but she hadn't picked up on any bad vibes from him. In fact, he was the same Luis as he always was when they were together. Then again he had been acting strange the last week or so. Preoccupied almost. She'd asked him more than once what was on his mind too and each time he said it was just something to do with work. She'd just accepted that at face value because Luis had never lied to her, but what if…

"Sheridan?" Gwen asked, her tone somewhat worried sounding. "Is everything alright? I mean if you and Luis are having problems…"

"We aren't." Sheridan replied, her voice not sounding nearly as confident as she meant it to. "He's just been working out of town a lot the last few weeks, overseeing some big project for his dad, so we haven't had a lot of time to spend together."

Gwen was silent for so long Sheridan was almost afraid they'd somehow gotten disconnected, but then her friend spoke and she suddenly wished exactly that. "Do you think he might be seeing another woman?"

"No!" Sheridan said with the utmost certainty. "There is no way Luis is cheating on me. He wouldn't do that. I know he wouldn't."

"Then why is he working so much? And why are you sitting on his couch waiting for him with absolutely no clue as to where he is?"

Sheridan frowned. Did the woman have esp. or something? "How do you know that?"

"Because number one, if he was there you wouldn't be talking about his working so much lately, and number two, you wouldn't act so clueless about your relationship. He's obviously keeping things from you, my guess that you had no clue as to his whereabouts today tells me that."

Sheridan shook her head. She knew her friend meant well, but her interpretation of Luis' actions were so far off base. She might not know the reason for his working so much or the reason he hadn't told her where he was going to day, but she knew he loved her and she trusted him enough to know that he would never cheat on her. "He is not cheating on me. He isn't like that. He would never do that to me or to any other woman for that matter."

Gwen sighed. "Then maybe he's working so much because he's feeling trapped and doesn't know how to tell you he isn't ready for a committed relationship the way he thought he was. You said so yourself that before you two got together he was used to playing the field. Maybe he's tired of being a one woman guy and just doesn't know how to tell you."

"Gwen, even if that were true, which I don't think for a minute that it is, he would come right out and tell me. He wouldn't use work to try and push me away or not deal with a problem between us." She shook her head again. "Luis is a good guy and if he really wanted out of this relationship he would tell me. He wouldn't pretend everything is fine and then secretly wish to be anywhere but with me. Besides, if he wasn't happy with me, I would know. I would."

"Who are you trying to convince?" Gwen asked after a slight pause. "Me or you?"

Sheridan sighed. "When did you get a degree in psychoanalysis? I mean I was under the impression you were a photographer not a psychologist."

"You'd be surprised what you find when you take someone's picture." Gwen replied with confidence and a little bit of sympathy too, unless Sheridan missed her guess and she didn't think she had. "People are good at hiding what they don't want others to see, but a camera is just as good at finding it. I've learned a lot about people from watching them through a camera lens or just listening to them talk when they've completely forgotten I was there, and what I hear from you right now is that while on the surface everything between you and Luis is just fine, underneath there's a crack. My advice is to find the source of the crack before it turns into the Grand Canyon and you fall in - heart first."

Sheridan stared to reply, but a sudden beep cut off what she'd been about to say. "Hold on, it's Luis' other line."

"No sweat." Gwen stated. "I'll just sit here and think of my next brilliant piece of advice."

Sheridan shook her head then laughed and clicked the talk button on the cordless to answer the other call. "Hello?"
"Hey beautiful."

"Luis," Sheridan said, her mood suddenly brightening at just hearing the sound of his deep voice. "How did you know I was here?"

He laughed. "I’m psychic. Seriously I knew you'd come by today. We didn't get to see each other last night and since I've been working out of town all week…" He paused for a second then suddenly cleared his throat and said, "Which brings me to the reason I called. I was hoping I could take you out to dinner tonight. There's something I want to talk to you about and -"

"That sounds serious." She asked her heart jumping into her throat as she realized he sounded somewhat distracted as if his mind were somewhere else. "Is everything alright?"
He cleared his throat again. A sign of nervousness? "It is serious and I don't want to get into it over the phone. It's definitely not something you talk about over the phone."

That did not sound good, she thought her hand automatically fluttering to her stomach as tension began to knot inside it. "So something is wrong."

"I guess you could say that." Luis said after a moment. "We haven't had a lot of time to spend together lately, mostly because I've been out of town working, and I think it's time I told you the reason why. I know you have to be wondering, even thought you've never asked me the reason." He paused again then let out a sigh of what sounded like frustration and asked, "How about I pick you up at your folk's house at seven?"

"Okay." She whispered her throat constricting with sudden worry and making her all but squeak out the word. "Seven will be fine."

"Great." He said his usual humor and teasing gone from his voice and replaced with an emotion she couldn't quite define. "I see you then."

As the sudden click sounded in her ear, Sheridan's jaw dropped open in surprise. He hadn't said I love you. It was the first time since they'd first uttered the words that they'd ever ended a conversation on the phone without them. Maybe Gwen was right. Maybe Luis really was tired of her.

Shaking her head, Sheridan clicked the talk button the phone and whispered, "Gwen, maybe you'd better tell me what brilliant advice you have for me because I have a feeling I might just need it."

"Why?" Gwen questioned.

"Because that was Luis and…and he wants to take me to dinner tonight. Said he wants to tell me the reason he's been working so much lately." Sheridan swallowed hard then in a voice barely above a whispered asked, "Do you really think he wants to end things between us?"

"I don't think it much matters what I think, " Gwen responded somewhat hesitantly. "I think the bigger question would be what you think about it? Do you think he wants to end things between you?"

Sheridan frowned then raised a freehand and ran it through her hair. "I don't know, Gwen, I honestly just don't know."

* * * * *

Luis handed the receiver back to the jewelry store owner then smiled his thanks for his allowing him to use his phone. He knew he could have gone to his parent's house to call or even Antonio's, but somehow calling from the jewelry store where he purchased her engagement ring just felt right. He reached down and flipped open the lid to the small blue box in his hand then smiled at the sparkling diamonds that met his gaze. "You did an excellent job on the ring. Even the engraving is perfect."

Luis picked up the ring again then reread the small text etched on the inside of the band. "My heart, forever." He smiled. "Truer words have never been spoken. Or engraved."
He laughed. "Man, I can't wait to see the look on her face when she sees this ring."

He laughed again then raised his eyes toward the man standing behind the counter. "Actually, I just can't wait to place it on her finger. She's the best thing that ever happened to me. I never knew it was possible to love someone so much, but then I met Sher and…and before I knew it I was completely and totally in love with her. Amazing, isn't it? Just when you least expect it, love has a way of finding you. Especially when it's the very last thing you were looking for." He shook his head then smiled widely and placed the ring back inside the box and closed the lid. "Thanks for everything. I can't tell you how much I appreciate you holding this on layaway for me."

"Anything for love." Mr. Adamson winked. "That's my wife's favorite saying. I think she got it out of one of those romance novel's she's always reading or something." The man shook his head then laughed. "We've been married over forty years and I love her more every day."

"I know what you mean." Luis stated with a nod. "I feel the same way about Sheridan. Just when I think I can't possibly love her anymore, she does something that completely changes my mind. It's the most amazing thing."

The man nodded in agreement then held out his right hand, which Luis automatically accepted. "If you're soon-to-be fiancée makes you even half as happy as my wife has made me then you'll be a very lucky man."

Luis released the man's hand then grinned. "As far as I'm concerned, I'm already the luckiest man in the world just by having the chance to love her and her loving me back. I can't think of anything on earth more wonderful than that. Except maybe her agreeing to spend the rest of her life with me." His grin widened. "I think that's the only thing that could possibly top what we already have together and even then it would only be icing on an already perfect cake."

"Spoken like a true man in love."

"That I am," Luis responded with a nod and a smile. "That I am definitely am."

Chapter Two

Sheridan finished applying the final stroke of mascara to her left eye then replaced the brush in the tube and lowered it back into her makeup bag. With a small sigh, she raised her eyes back to the mirror and focused her attention on the woman reflected there. Gwen had told her to make sure she looked her best tonight, so that Luis would think twice about ending things if that's what he really planned to do, and she'd tried to do just that, but she had to admit that something was missing. She had a pretty good idea what it was too - her heart just wasn't in it.

Ever since Gwen first mentioned the subject of Luis perhaps wanting to end things between them, her heart had been at her feet and her stomach had been clenched into a thousand different knots. They'd only been together six months, six months tonight if her calculations were correct. Surely, he wasn't tired of her already? After everything they'd gone through? Everything they'd meant to each other?

No, she thought shaking her head, there had to be something she was missing. But what? She'd been thinking about their relationship for weeks now, three to be exact. She'd not come to any definite conclusion about the reason for Luis' working late or his sudden distance the last few days, but she knew him well enough to know that it wasn't because he was tired of her and it most definitely wasn't because he was seeing another woman. Luis had far too much respect for her to do something like that. He knew first hand how it felt to have someone you love cheat on you, thanks to Beth and Josh, and he'd never do that to her.

But why had he been gone so much lately? And what had he been so distant? So preoccupied? Even on the phone earlier, he seemed as if he had something else on his mind. He had to. That was the only explanation for why he didn't tell her he loved her. It certainly couldn't be because he stopped loving her. That was just ridiculous. Wasn't it?

"Of course it is." She muttered under her breath as she reached up to move a stray lock of hair back into place. There was just no way Luis stopped loving her. It was too ridiculous to even consider.

So why was she, she thought after a moment, why was she suddenly questioning her relationship with Luis? Why was she suddenly so worried that Gwen could be right? Was it merely because of the seriousness with which Luis had spoken to her earlier or had Gwen's thoughts merely mirrored her own subconscious thoughts over the last few weeks? She didn't know, but either way it went she knew she didn't like it. In fact, she downright hated it.

She hated having any doubts about her relationship with Luis. He'd told her he loved her and she believed him. He may not have said it tonight on the phone, but she knew he still felt that way. The same way she knew she still felt that way. She just wished she knew why he had been gone so much and why things seemed so different between them now. They'd hardly gotten to talk at all lately, only a few late night phone calls, or a night out when he was in town for a day or so.

She knew she should have asked him before why he'd been gone so much and why she saw so little of him, but she'd just assumed it was because of his job. She'd never even considered the possibility that he'd actually chosen to take those jobs out of town that would ultimately keep him away from her for so long, but he had to have. He'd said there was a reason behind his working out of town and he implied it was his own personal reason.

Oh god, she thought closing her eyes to block on the image in the mirror, please don't let him tell me it's over. Please don't let him tell me he doesn't love me anymore.

"Sheridan?" A soft-spoken voice called out from her bedroom.
Sheridan opened her eyes and checked her appearance one last time then with a shake of her head, she reached for the doorknob and stepped out into her bedroom. When she met her mother's blue eyes, she was surprised to find an onset of tears in them. "Mom? Is everything okay?"

"Yes," Her mother said quickly wiping back her tears before stepping forward to give her a hug. "I was just surprised is all."

"Surprised?" Sheridan asked confused. "Surprised about what?"

Her mother pulled back for a second and searched her eyes then suddenly broke out into a wide, pleasing smile. "You just look so beautiful and so grown up. Somehow I was expecting to see my little girl come walking out of the bathroom."

"Mom." Sheridan said with a laugh. "I haven't been your little girl for a very long time now. I thought we already had this discussion when you and daddy first decided to move to Harmony? Remember?"

Her mother nodded. "But Sheridan it doesn't matter how old you are, you will always be my little girl. You may not still where your hair in pig tails or want to play with your dolls, but you will always be my little girl to me."

Sheridan shook her head then stepped toward the bed and grabbed the tiny black purse lying on it. "If you say so mom." She turned around a second later then arched a brow. "I really look okay?"

"You look beautiful." Her mother replied with another wide smile. "But something tells me you could be wearing a paper bag and the handsome young man downstairs would still think you were the most beautiful woman in the world."

"Luis is already here?" Sheridan asked her hand flying to her throat. "Why didn't you tell me? Oh my god. How long has he been here?"

Her mother laughed. "Relax Sheridan. He's only been here a few minutes. He's downstairs talking to your father." Her mother smiled. "They get along so well now. Jackson is really impressed with him. That's all your father and I ever wanted for you, you know? A man that loves you as much as your father loves me. I'm glad you found that. Luis is a good man and he loves you very much."

This time it was Sheridan's turn to smile. "He does, doesn't he?"

"Yes he does." Her mother said matching her smile. "And while I know he would wait for you forever, I don't think you should keep him waiting downstairs any longer. He seems to be under the impression he will be seeing you sometime tonight."

Sheridan laughed then walked toward the doorway. "That's good because I was under the same impression about seeing him." As she and her mother began to make their way down the stairs, Sheridan looked back over her shoulder to ask, "How does he look?"

"Like a man in love." Her mother replied. "A very handsome, very well dressed man in love."

"Well dressed?" Sheridan asked pausing on the stairway. "How well dressed? I mean am I dressed okay? I only chose something simple."

Her mother smiled again. "Sheridan you look beautiful and the dress is perfect. Besides," Her mother whispered softly as they finished their descent down the stairs. "Something tells me the last thing on either of your minds tonight will be what clothes you're wearing for dinner."

"What do you mean?" Sheridan asked as she tossed a look at her mother, her voice soft and low. "Do you know something about tonight that I don't?"

Her mother smiled and shook her head then before she could say anything else she walked into the living room leaving her to stand alone in the hallway. Sheridan drew in a deep breath then finally took a step into the living room only to freeze when her eyes caught sight of Luis standing in front of the fireplace with her father, wearing a dark blue suit that contrasted with the dozen red roses in his arms. "Wow."

"Took the words right out of my mouth." He said with a smile as he nodded at her father and began to walk toward her, his eyes never leaving hers. "You look absolutely beautiful."

She blushed. She couldn't help it. The words and the way he was looking at her, it all seemed surreal, and definitely gave her the impression that she had completely missed something. "Our six month anniversary." She said after a moment. "You remembered, didn't you?"

He smiled in appreciation as his eyes traveled over the dress she'd chosen to wear tonight, a simple black spaghetti strapped dress that she suddenly felt was anything but simple. "Of course I remembered. How could I possibly forget?" His smile widened as he held out the roses to her. "These are for you, although they definitely pale in comparison."

She blushed again then shook her head and accepted the roses. "Thank you." Closing her eyes, she leaned down to inhale their soft scent and when she finally opened them again and looked back up, an undefined emotion passed through Luis' eyes. "What is it?"

"You just look so beautiful." He responded, his dark eyes filled with intensity and…love. "I can't bare to take my eyes off you."

"Stop it." She whispered playfully as another blush rose high on her cheekbones and her eyes darted toward her parents who were standing just a few feet away watching them. "You're embarrassing me."

"Embarrassing?" He asked with amusement. "Sweetheart, you have absolutely nothing to be embarrassed about. Nothing at all."
"Luis is right," Her father said walking up and giving her a light kiss on the cheek while his hands grabbed her dress coat off the back of the couch and held it open. "You look absolutely beautiful."

"Thank you." She said blushing again. "Goodness, from the way you three are acting, you'd think we were going to the prom instead of to dinner!"

Luis laughed and held out his arm. "Then I guess we should probably go because I don't know about you, but I am definitely ready to dance the night away." He laughed again then arched a brow at her. "You ready to go?"

She nodded, and after handing her mother the roses so she could place them in vase with water and putting on the long black dress coat her father held out for her, she finally took Luis' arm. "I'm ready."

"That's what I'm counting on." Luis murmured, his voice so low that Sheridan wasn't at all sure she'd heard him right. But then she saw the look in his eyes and knew she'd heard him just fine. That's what I'm counting on…what on earth did that mean? What was he counting on her being ready for?

She furrowed her brow, not understanding what was going on at all, but then Luis opened the front door and she lost her train of thought. "Luis? Where's your truck?"

At his laugh, she turned to face him. "I didn't bring it. Tonight is special and because of that I thought we should ride in style."

Her brow furrowed again, but then almost as if by magic, a white limousine pulled up at the bottom of her parents porch steps and a driver got out to open up the backdoor for them. "Oh my god, you didn't?

Luis laughed as he began to lead them down the steps toward their limo. "I did." He paused as they cleared the bottom step and neared the driver then arched a brow at her. "Please don't tell me you have some aversion to limousine's?"

This time it was Sheridan that laughed. "No, it just so happens that I love riding in a limousine, but you know what I'm going to love even more?"

"What?" He asked his brow raised in question.

"Riding in a limo with you." She winked before turning and allowing the driver to help her inside. She sucked in a deep breath as she waited for Luis to join her then chastised herself for ever doubting Luis' love even for a second. She should have known better and the fact that she'd allowed herself to have doubts even for a split second made her feel more than a little guilty.

What would Luis say if he knew she'd been worried that he no longer wanted to be with her? He'd probably laugh, she thought with a smile. He'd probably laugh and tell her she was crazy even to consider such a thing, which was exactly what she was telling herself now that she'd was able to see him face-to-face.

But that still didn't explain why he'd hadn't told her his reasons for working out of town or why he didn't tell her he loved her on the phone earlier. Her stomach clenched in another bout of worry, but then Luis slid into the seat beside her and placed an arm around her shoulders, dragging her into his warm embrace, and all the doubt and worry she felt immediately fled her mind.

* * * * *

Luis smiled as Sheridan melted into him then drew in a deep breath, his smile widening as her soft-scented perfume floated to his nostrils. Man, he couldn't get over how beautiful she looked tonight or how perfect she fit in his arms. He'd known the moment she chose to stay with him instead of going back to New York that they would be together forever and he felt it even more surely now. She was everything he'd ever wanted, ever could want, and tonight he planned to show her just how much she meant to him.

He knew he was going to catch her offguard with his proposal and that was exactly what he wanted. They had discussed their thoughts about their relationship plenty of times over the last six months so he knew Sheridan felt the same way he did about it. Maybe that hadn't discussed the subject of marriage yet, but he knew her well enough to know that she wanted to get married and he was conceited enough to believe that she wanted to be married to him.

He grinned suddenly then tightened his arm around Sheridan's shoulders. "I know we saw each other yesterday before I went out with Antonio, but for some reason it feels like forever since I've gotten to hold you in my arms."

"I know what you mean." She murmured softly. "It does feel like it's been a long time. I suppose it's because we haven't spent a lot of time together lately."

Luis nodded then shifted on the seat so that he could bring her more closely against him. "I know I've been working a lot and we haven't seen each other much because of that, but I promise I had a very good reason. A reason I plan to tell you about tonight."

She raised her head at his words then searched his eyes for what seemed like an eternity. "I love you, you know that, right?"

He furrowed his brow for a second, trying to figure out why she thought he wouldn't, then finally shook his head and grinned at her. "Of course I know that. Just as I know that you know that I love you too."

She drew in a breath at his words and again he was struck with a sudden bout of confusion. It was almost as if she hadn't known that, which was odd considering he told her every chance he got. But maybe he hadn't told her enough? His brow furrowed again. "Sher -"

She blinked and it was then he noticed the tears in her eyes. He swallowed hard then removed his arms from around her shoulders and reached up to frame her face in his hands. She tried to pull back away from him, as if she didn't want him to see her tears, but he refused to let her go. Instead, he softly brushed her tears away with the pad of his thumbs while his eyes remained fixed on hers. "Want to tell me why you're crying?"

"Because I'm such an idiot." She replied with a sniffle. "I can't believe I ever..."

Her voice trailed off suddenly and Luis arched a brow. "You ever what?"

"That I ever doubted the fact that you love me." She muttered her eyes filling with fresh tears.

Luis' heart froze. "Doubted? Why on earth would you doubt that I love you?"

She shook her head and tried to pull back again, but Luis still wouldn't release her. "Sheridan? Why would you doubt that I love you?"

"Because I've hardly seen you lately and you've been so distant, well not distant exactly but preoccupied, as if you had something on your mind." She shook her head again. "I kept hoping you'd share it with me, but you never did and then Gwen called this morning and said that maybe you…"

"Maybe I what?" He asked unsure whether or not he wanted to hear whatever it was Gwen had said. It obviously upset Sheridan and if it could make her doubt his love for her, even for an instant then… "What did Gwen say?"

She swallowed hard then averted her eyes toward the window. "At first she said that maybe you weren't really working and that you were cheating on me. I told her that was ridiculous. That you weren't like that and that you had more respect for our relationship and me than that."

"Well I'm glad you knew that." He muttered under his breath before realizing there was more. "What else did she say?"

"She said that maybe you were working out of town so much because you didn't know how to tell me you wanted…"

"Wanted what?" Luis asked when her voice once again trailed off.

Her eyes swung back to his at his question and he sucked in a breath at the tears he saw in them. "That you wanted to end things, but didn't know how." She closed her eyes briefly then whispered, "I told her she was crazy, but then you beeped in and sounded so serious, as if you had something really important to tell me. You said you wanted to explain the reason you'd been working so much and…and then you didn't tell me you loved me before you hung up!"

Luis laughed. He couldn't help it. Ending things between them was the furthest thing from his mind. In fact, the thought wasn't even in his vocabulary. "Sweetheart, I guarantee you that my working out of town had nothing to do with wanting to end things between us. And the reason I didn't say I love you on the phone is because I thought that went without saying and I was so excited about tonight that it didn't even dawn on me that you might have needed to hear me say it."

His laughter died as a thought occurred to him. "You really believed my working was because I -"

"I didn't until today when you said there was a reason you were working out of town. I had thought it was because your dad wanted you to handle things for him. I never once considered the fact that it was your choice to take those out of town jobs."

Another tear traveled down her cheek and he quickly brushed it away. "Honey, I love you more today than I did yesterday and the day before that and the day before that. My working out of town was so I could earn some extra money to make tonight a night that you remember for the rest of your life. I never meant to make you question my love for you. That's the last thing I wanted to do."

She nodded. "I can't believe I ever doubted it for a second. I know you love me and I know you know that I love you. I guess I just got scared because things have been so different between us lately and I don't know the reason why."

Luis smiled then leaned in and brushed his lips across hers. "I promise you that before the night is over you'll know why I spent so much time out of town and why I've been so preoccupied lately. It's definitely not for any reason Gwen said. I love you with everything I have inside me, Sheridan, and that's not going to change or go away. I'm afraid you're stuck with me, Ms. Crane."

For forever, he thought with a smile as he once again brushed his lips across hers, because anything less wouldn't be near long enough.

* * * * *

Sheridan didn't know what she'd done to deserve a man as wonderful as Luis, but she was damn glad she had him, she thought as the limo finally pulled to a stop, causing them to break the kiss they'd been engaged in. When she opened her eyes, she found Luis' dark ones staring at her intently. He'd done that more than once since he'd picked her up tonight and she wasn't at all sure what to make of it.

He raised a hand toward her face, softly caressing her cheek with his knuckles, then broke out into a wide smile that stole every single patch of air she'd managed to drag into her lungs after their kiss. "It looks like we made it."

"Yeah." She breathed out, well aware of the electricity floating around them. "Looks like it."

He somehow managed to widen his smile even though his lips never moved then finally dropped his hand from her face to cup the back of her neck and draw her in for one more kiss. He moaned against her lips and a second later, pulled back to toss her a lopsided grin. "We'd better go in before I forget we have reservations."

She laughed at that then smiled and slowly walked her fingers up his chest and said, "You sure we have to go in? Because I've always wondered what it would be like to make love in a limousine and something tells me you're just the guy to help me find out."

"Sher," He whispered, closing his eyes and drawing in a breath. "Don't tempt me anymore than I already am."

"But isn't that what I do best?" She asked, leaning in to place a light, teasing kiss against his lips. "I mean I never heard you complain before."

"I'm not complaining now either." He replied with a smile. "I just thought you might want to know that we have an audience."

Sher pulled back immediately and blushed a thousand shades of red when her eyes connected with those of the driver who had somehow managed to lower the partition that had separated them since they'd first entered the car without her hearing him. "Oh god."

Luis had the nerve to laugh. Laugh! She shook her head then fixed him with a reproachful stare. "Why didn't you warn me?"

"Because you seemed far too intent on trying to seduce me." He winked then added, "You were doing a great job of it too. In fact, if the driver hadn't lowered the window, I'm pretty sure I would have caved."

Sheridan shook her head then bit her lip to keep from smiling before she muttering, "You are so going to pay for that later."

"That's what I'm counting on." He responded with a laugh before he turned and opened the door, automatically stepping outside. As soon as he feet hit the ground, he swiveled around and held out his hand for her. "Are you coming or do you want to pretend to be mad at me for a few more minutes?"

"I want to pretend to be mad at you for a few more minutes." She said as she reached out and took the hand he offered, letting him help her out of the limo and onto the cement curb. When she looked up to see where he'd chosen to take her for dinner, a gasp tore from her throat - the new Italian restaurant her parent's and everyone else in Harmony had been raving about. "La Pierre's?"

Luis nodded. "You in the mood for some Italian?"

"I’m in the mood for a lot of things right now." Sheridan said with a smile. "But I suppose they'll have to wait until after dinner."

Luis laughed then reached forward and tugged her into his arms. "You are so bad. I swear I don't know what I’m going to do with you."

Sher's smile widened at that. "I don't know, but I'm all for you kissing me again."

"God you really are trying to tempt me tonight, aren't you?" He shook his head then leaned his head toward hers, his lips barely hovering above her own. "Dinner first then we can go back to my place and work on your suggestions."

She closed her eyes in anticipation for his kiss then frowned when his lips connected with the bridge of her nose instead of her lips. "That wasn't exactly the kiss I was talking about." She muttered opening her eyes and glaring when he chuckled. "I'm not even sure that qualifies as a kiss."

"Then I'll just have to make it up to you later." He winked as he lowered his arms from around her waist and linked his right hand with her left. "We don't want to be late for our reservations."

She shook her head, knowing he was right, but absolutely refusing to admit it to him. "Okay, but you owe me big time buster."

"Will it make you feel better if I promise to pay all my debts and them some?" Luis said, leaning in to whisper in her right ear while he let go of her hand to open the door in front of them. "Because if so then I definitely promise."

"That will do for now." She replied her voice sounding more than just a little affected by his suggestion. "I just hope you're up for it all, because once we leave this restaurant and I get you alone, I promise to show you exactly what you missed back there in that limo."

As she walked into the restaurant, she could have sworn she heard Luis groan and mutter something that sounded an awful lot like, "complete and utter torture."

Chapter Three

Following Sheridan into the restaurant, Luis couldn't help but smile. She had absolutely no clue about what was in store for her tonight, her confession in the limo had told him that. He still couldn't believe she'd thought he was going to end things between them. He knew he'd been a little distant lately, working so much and then worried he wouldn't be able to get everything together in time to propose tonight, but he couldn't see how she could have possibly thought he'd fallen out of love with her.

Hell, he didn't think there was a man alive that could ever stop loving Sher once he started. It was just impossible as far as he was concerned. She was one of a kind. The kind of woman he'd dreamed of meeting his whole life. Sure, she was a little wild at times, but he loved her wild streak. It almost matched his own.

Luis caught sight of the matridee out of the corner of his eye and grinned. He'd met the man earlier today when he'd come in to finalize plans for tonight and the man couldn't have been nicer. He and the owner both had assured him that everything would be perfect for tonight. He believed them.

"Welcome to La Pierre's." The slightly balding man replied as he approached them. "If you'll follow me, I will show you to your table."

Luis reached over and took Sheridan's hand then followed the matridee toward their table. He already knew the way, having been shown a few weeks ago and then again earlier today, but there was something different about walking toward it tonight. Tonight Sheridan was with him. He squeezed her hand and smiled when she glanced at him. "I've been waiting to bring you here for weeks now. I really hope you like it. I was told it was the most romantic place in all of Harmony."

Sheridan smiled then reached over with her free hand to rub his arm through the material of his suit. "Well then tonight is definitely my lucky night. Not only do I get to dine in the most romantic place in Harmony, but I also get to enjoy the company of the most romantic man."

Luis grinned then leaned over and brushed a kiss across her lips. "Better be careful, Sher. You keep saying things like that and I'm liable to think you're in love with me."

Straightening back up, Luis turned his attention toward the table in the back, secluded from the other customers and surrounded by dozens of trees and plants. The dim lights hanging overhead gave to the romantic atmosphere the restaurant was known for, but it was the soft instrumental music playing from hidden speakers that really set the mood. Man, he couldn't wait to get her out onto the dance floor and into his arms. In fact, it was an idea that had been invading his thoughts every day since her dad had first recommended the place to him.

A sudden gasp from beside him let him know that they had finally reached their destination and quickly drew his attention back to his surroundings. He smiled when his eyes caught sight of their table. It had been set up exactly as he requested, right down to the two white candles gracing the center and the red rose lying diagonally across Sheridan's napkin.

One glance at the woman next to him told him his preparations for the night were right on target. She looked completely and totally awestruck, which was exactly what he was going for. It wasn't often he could surprise her, as she was always trying to surprise him first, but tonight he'd definitely succeeded and the best part of all was the fact that he'd only just begun. "I take it you like it?"

She nodded then turned to him, her eyes glowing with excitement and pleasure. "You've outdone yourself this time, Luis. I…I…" She paused then let out a laugh. "It's beautiful."

"Not half as beautiful as you are." He replied, releasing her hand and walking toward her chair to pull it out for her. As she lowered herself onto it, he leaned down to whisper in her ear, his hand automatically reaching for the rose across her napkin and holding it out to her. "This is only the beginning, sweetheart. I've got a lot more surprises in store for you tonight."

As she took the rose from him, their fingers brushing, Luis placed a soft kiss against her right cheek. "I promise you that tonight will be a night you will never forget and by the time we leave here you will have no doubts about how much I love you."

A sudden movement from beside him reminded Luis of the fact that they weren’t alone and with much regret, he straightened himself up and walked toward his own chair. The moment he was seated, the matridee reached forward and lit the two candles resting on the table. "I have given your waiter the instructions you gave us, Mr. Lopez-Fitzgerald, and he should be here shortly with the bottle of wine you selected for the evening."

Luis nodded, his eyes focused on the woman across from him. "Thank you, Mario, and please tell Mr. Pierre as well."

"Of course." The man replied, stepping back from the table. "Enjoy your evening and if you should have any problems do not hesitate to call on me."

"How did he know your name?" Sheridan asked the moment Mario was out of earshot. "We've never been here before."

Luis chuckled then reached across the table and grabbed her hand. "I came in earlier today and spoke with the owner, Mr. Pierre. I wanted to make sure everything I requested was set up for tonight. That's how Mario knew my name. He was here when I came in."

Sheridan searched his eyes for a second and he was almost certain she could see straight to his soul. "I can't believe you went to all this trouble for tonight. I mean how on earth will you top this when we get to our one year anniversary?"

Luis laughed then, as he caught a glimpse of their waiter out of the corner of his eye, he released Sher's hand and leaned back in his chair. "I suppose I'll think of something."

Sher shook her head, her lips curved into a radiant smile. "You are just too much."

"You haven't seen anything yet." He said, wiggling his brows at her. "In fact, I've barely even begun."

He winked then turned his attention toward the waiter who had finally approached their table. After the man had filled both their glasses and assured him the chef had been given his instructions for their dinner, Luis once again reached for Sheridan's hand. "Did I tell you how beautiful you look tonight?"

He rubbed his thumb across the top of her hand. "I swear you take my breath away."

Sher shivered suddenly and he wasn't sure if it was from his words or his touch, but he supposed it didn't matter which because either way the action pleased him. "I mean it. You look so incredibly beautiful that I'm going to have a very hard time remembering we're in a public place and can't do what my body is screaming for me to do."

"And what is that?" She questioned, her eyes alight with feminine knowledge.

Luis grinned. "I think you already know the answer to that, sweetheart. After all, you're the one that made the suggestion."

"You started it." She accused, shifting in her seat slightly and causing him to arch a brow in question. She merely smiled, that mischievous smile that told him she was up to something, something that was going to drive him insane more than likely.
A second later, her foot - her bare foot - met with the bottom edge of his pant leg and slowly worked it's way underneath, until it reached his calf and began to rub up and down it's length. "You know it's awfully cold in here. I think I could use some warming up."

Luis narrowed his eyes as her foot continued its assault. "Sher, if you keep that up, you're more than going to warm up. You're going to start a fire."

"I don't know what you're talking about." She whispered huskily as her foot moved out from underneath his pant leg to travel toward an altogether different target. "I'm just trying to keep my feet warm."

"Are you sure you aren't trying to heat something else up?" He asked, giving her a knowing look, as he reached under the table and captured her roaming foot with his hands. He smiled at her gasp then used the opportunity to do some roaming of his own. "You okay, Sher? You're looking a little flushed all of the sudden."

"No." She whispered through clenched teeth. "I most certainly am not okay."

"Good." He chuckled, continuing to stroke the instep of her foot with the index finger of his right hand while using his left to slowly travel up her calf. When she gave a soft moan, he grinned. "It's your own fault, sweetheart. You should have known I would retaliate."

At her second moan, Luis figured he'd better release her foot before both of them got too caught up in the action. Carefully dropping her foot back to the floor, Luis raised his hands and reached for his wine glass, his eyes never leaving hers as he brought the dark liquid to his lips.

"You don't play fair." She replied, reaching for her own wine glass and bringing it to her lips.

Luis swallowed then lowered his glass and sat it back onto the table. Leaning forward slightly, he said, "Neither do you, sweetheart. In fact, I seem to recall someone stripping for me in broad daylight, wanting nothing more than to drive me completely insane with desire, which worked very well if I remember correctly."

Sher grinned. "Just goes to show you never know how far a person will go when they want something bad enough."

"Oh and is that the reason for that striptease you gave me? Because you wanted me bad enough to go to that extreme?"

Sher shook her head then, her face a mask of total seriousness, replied, "No. I just wanted to skinny dip and I always heard it was more fun when you had company."

Luis sat silent for a full minute before he finally gave into the temptation to laugh. "I swear I have no idea what I am going to do with you."

"Well that's a shame." She said her voice as husky and seductive as it had been before he'd grabbed her foot to stop her from driving him completely insane with the desire to have her underneath him. "Because I know exactly what I'm going to do with you. Too bad you have to wait until after dinner to find out."

She wiggled her brows suggestively and Luis groaned. "Now I know you are trying to kill me. I just hope you know that there is always a payback and I'm the master at giving them."

"Oh I know," She whispered with a wink. "That's what I'm counting on."

Luis shook his head then grinned as a new instrumental song began to play, the music soft and romantic and absolutely perfect for their first dance of the evening. Scooting back his chair, Luis rose to his feet and held out a hand to Sher, more than ready to feel her in his arms. "May I have this dance?"

She smiled appreciatively and the moment she placed her hand in his, Luis knew without a doubt in his mind that tonight would definitely be a night neither one of them forgot.

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