AllFreeNovel
Share Us
One thing I know for sure, there’s nothing ordinary about Slade Sheridan.
I think we might…click.
If I was better at reading men, I’d say Slade had been tempted to take me in his arms and kiss me just now. Something tells me his kiss would be hot and sizzling.
But no. He wanted to tell me I was beautiful. To boost my self-confidence. To erase my sadness.
My fantasy life is going haywire. I’m imagining things that aren’t there. In my mind, I see us on a lazy Saturday morning in bed, cuddling and kissing for as long as we can until our children invade our room, jumping on our bed, begging for Daddy’s pancakes. I see us laughing as Slade makes breakfast before we spend a day on the beach building sandcastles and flying kites.
That’s the Little Miss Merry Sunshine version.
The look I just saw in Slade’s eyes tells me the morning would go very differently. Our bedroom door would be closed and locked. We would not be interrupted by our children. A hot steamy shower would be involved. Our relationship would be intense and fiery, so hot a fireman couldn’t put out the flame. And our children would have to eat cold cereal while they wait for their happy parents to emerge from their bedroom.
I let out a sigh as I pick up towels and collect trash. Will the real Slade Sheridan please stand up? I’m dying to meet him.
“Music?” Slade asks, now that he’s done vacuuming.
“Sure.” I can’t wait to hear what he picks. I know it’ll be a classic. I’m right. It’s “Take on Me” by A-ha.
Slade tears the sheets off the bed as I make the bathroom sparkle. The beat of the music helps us work a little faster.
We make the bed, working together. It seems as though everything is done until Slade tells me our next task is cleaning the windows on the French doors.
“It’s important guests have a fabulous view of the ocean, and they can’t do that with dirty windows.” Slade grabs a sprayer. “Ancient secret. The magic potion is water, vinegar, and a little dishwashing soap.”
“Do you have to kill me now?”
“I’ll show mercy if you never tell another soul.”
There’s the Slade I know and could maybe possibly love. I make a show of crossing my heart.
“This stuff does the trick every time. The windows are so clear, you run the risk of walking right through them.” He taps a knuckle on the glass twice.
“That’s a lawsuit waiting to happen. Sure you want to clean them?” These are not the type of French doors with lots of little square windows. There’s just one long rectangular window for maximum view. Meanwhile, the decorative doors fit the style of the Victorian home.
“I’m sure.” He hands me the squeegee and the sprayer. “Want to get started while I finish up the dusting?”
“Shouldn’t we have dusted before vacuuming?” I at least know that much.
“I won’t tell if you don’t.”
“Deal.” We’re not doing the stellar job Tina does, but the room is starting to feel clean and fresh. Huge improvement.
I spray the window with the magic potion. I start moving the squeegee from the top to the bottom. It doesn’t have the desired effect. All I can see are lots of streaks. The window looks worse than before I started cleaning it.
“Your magic potion is broken,” I tell him cheekily. I hold up the squeegee. “What’s the secret to using this thing?”
A new song plays from his phone. “Total Eclipse of the Heart.” My stomach flutters as he approaches to help me. Close proximity to Slade is an experience all its own.
The song reminds me my heart had been taken over by an eclipse. I remember Lauren humming “Here Comes the Sun” with a secret smile on her face. I know my heart is no longer covered by the dark moon. The sun is starting to shine.
All because of Slade.
“Let me show you how.” Instead of demonstrating, Slade shocks me by standing behind me and placing his hand over mine.
My hand trembles under his. He’s so close, I can feel his breath on my neck. I’m surprised rays of sunshine aren’t beaming out from my chest. (The wordEclipsemade me think of that.) Now I know what Kira meant when she said parts of her were tingling she didn’t know could tingle. Elbows. Forehead. Ears. My big toe. I’m a tingling mess.
Slade sprays the window again and works the squeegee in a pattern. He runs the squeegee across the window and then slowly works his way down, using a fanning motion.
