AUTHOR'S P.O.V
"You mean no extravagant wedding?" Skye asked in utter disbelief when Abuelita broke the news. Damn the hunk! She wanted to be a fucking bridesmaid!
She turned to Valerie whose poker face reminded her too much of her fiancé's. "You don't look sad?" She questioned with uncertainty.
Valerie shook her head. It was what she'd wanted after the thinking she'd been doing after the wedding date had been fixed. She just hadn't found a way to tell them, unsure of how they'd take it. She thanked Reed for making it easy for her. If a grand wedding took place not only was she going to make a complete fool of herself but she would cause both the Kingsleys and Lanchesters public ridicule and humiliation. She was mute. Being unable to say her vows with people present would make her a laughingstock. She'd suffered enough ridicule in her life and had already put the reputation of the Lanchesters at risk by agreeing to this alliance. A court wedding was for the best anyway. Reed had thought ahead. He probably didn't want further humiliation or was thinking of her.
Abuelita and Skye who watched Valerie exchanged curious glances when she blushed. "Val, why is your face so red?" Skye teased. Valerie blushed harder, shaking her head. Abuelita chuckled.
"You wanted a court wedding all along didn't you?"
Embarrassed at being found out, she nodded. Skye gave her a strange look. "Why?" She couldn't understand. Like every girl, she wanted the perfect wedding. Why anyone would want anything different was beyond her.
Valerie nodded in reply as she shrugged. Skye turned to Abuelita who sighed. "Use your brain my child. Could you imagine the people present if they had that kind of wedding? Raquel would've invited her close friends and you know Regina. Do you know the humiliation mi amor would have to go through because she's won't talk?" They would laugh at her! I don't think Reed would want that for his bride."
Skye nodded in understanding while berating herself as Valerie glanced away. Why hadn't she thought about that? Ugh!
"I know Reed. He's never been selfish and I'm not saying this because I have a soft spot for him. Valerie is just as important. Why, do you think I'd let my Valerie marry Reed if I doubted his intentions?"
Skye now shamefaced, mumbled an apology. "I was wrong. I'm sorry Val. I'm just not used to him." Valerie smiled and signed. I'm not used to him either.
"I know. Perhaps... I could do something about this?" Skye grinned mischievously. Valerie watched her warily, realising she was up to no good. What is it?, she signed.
"Oh nothing. I'm just you know, thinking." She said, whistling. Abuelita pinched her on the arm. "Ouch! What was that for?" She said sullenly with a pout.
"Ladies do not whistle." Abuelita informed. Skye rolled her eyes. "Acio does it all the time so why can't I?" She reasoned.
"What do I do all the time?" Acio had just entered the kitchen. He washed his hands in the sink and turned to them.
"You whistle, do you not?" Skye asked.
"Yeah so?" He opened the fridge and took out bottled water. "Abuelita pinched me when I did it!" She complained.
"Ah just pinched you?" He said with a smirk as Skye frowned, displeased. "I would've spanked you on that little bottom of yours." He finished with a laugh watching her stunned expression. Abuelita chuckled along with Valerie.
Satisfied that he'd left her speechless, he took a swig of the water. Skye recovering from her shock, marched up to him and snatched the bottled water. She swung it in his direction, emptying the content as Acio got soaked, water dripping from his hair and face.
Acio frowned and he took a threatening step towards her. Skye took a step backwards. She slipped on a pool of water on the floor and gasped, shutting her eyes as she readied herself for the impact. It never came. Instead, she felt a tug on her wrist as a strong arm encircled her waist and came into contact with a hard body. Skye's eyes fluttered open, staring directly into chocolate brown eyes. They stood in the kitchen with her clung to him as they continued to stare at each other as if lost in time, oblivious to their elated audience.
Valerie smiled, exchanging knowing glances with her nanny. Abuelita winked at her then cleared her throat to get their attention. It worked. They both blinked, stared at their awkward position and sprang away from each other. They turned to see Abuelita who smiled as she awarded them a knowing look and a very amused Valerie. Skye blushed and Acio's ears were tinged red as they avoided eye contact.
"We weren't doing anything." Skye stated defensively.
"We never said you were, child." Abuelita teased.
"But you're giving us that knowing look as if we were doing something bad."
"Were you?"
"NO!" They both screamed. They glanced at the other and quickly looked away as if they couldn't bear to look at each other. Abuelita chuckled.
"I'm going to check if my results are in." Skye informed and rushed out of the kitchen, leaving Acio standing there awkwardly. Why did he feel betrayed? "Shit! I forgot to water those flowers." He too rushed out.
Abuelita turned to Valerie. "Wasn't he the one watering the flowers awhile ago?" Valerie shrugged, unable to keep the smile from her face. Abuelita laughed, shaking her head. Young people, she thought.
∆ ∆ ∆ ∆ ∆
'How dare he touch her?', Skye thought angrily. He couldn't have held anywhere but her waist? He was such a pervert! Ugh! Also, Abuelita and Val had made it seem like they were lovers caught in the act!
Why hadn't she pushed him away immediately? How could she when the floor was slippery and she could've fallen had she made any rash movement against him. Not for any reason though, she thought, fuming.
She thought of his arm around her as she clung to him and gritted her teeth in irritation, admitting albeit grudgingly, that it had been partly her fault. If she'd left him alone they wouldn't be in this situation. But the guy was insufferable! He provoked her relentlessly!
What if he'd kissed her? The image formed in her mind and she froze, as she wondered how it'd feel like to have Acio kiss her. "Nice." She mumbled dreamily and caught herself. NICE! How could she think Acio kissing her would be nice? What the hell was wrong with her? She fucking hated him!
"Don't get carried away, Skye." She scolded herself. But even as she chided herself, the image of Acio kissing her was imprinted on her mind.
"No!" She said in horror and began to slap herself, hoping she would regain her senses. It didn't as the image kept haunting her. She buried her face into the pillow and let out a muffled scream.
"This isn't supposed to be happening!" She cried helplessly. She was supposed to resent the guy not fantasize about kissing him! The guy never missed an opportunity to taunt her, to mock her. He simply brought out the worst in her - the chauvinistic pig! But here she was, thinking about how it'd feel nice to have his fucking lips on hers!
If he was to ever find out she was having perverted thoughts about him, she'd die of shame. She had to stay away from him. Only then could she banish these disturbing thoughts from her mind.
