CHAPTER 9 Proposal

"This one."

"This is an excellent choice Mr. Crane. I'm sure the young lady will like it."

"I hope so." "Will you be paying the ring in full?"

"Yes."

He pulled out one of his credit cards and handed it to the woman standing before him. A few minutes later the sales lady handed him a small bag and his credit card.

"It was a pleasure doing business with you Mr. Crane."

"You're welcome and I would like to keep this little transaction a secret. I don't want anyone from my family to hear about this."

"Your secret is safe with me Mr. Crane."

"Thank you."

He left the jeweler and headed to the estate.

*********************************

He was in his room getting changed when he heard a knock.

"Come in."

The door opened and Ethan walked in.

"Oh, you. And I was actually having a good day and preparing for a nice evening."

"Cut the sarcasm, Fox."

"What do you want?"

"There's a meeting for Crane Industries. You need to be there."

"Like hell I am. Since when do you want me at those meetings. Julian and Alistair and yourself always wanted me to be as far as possible from Crane Industries. What's the sudden change of heart?"

"We figured that since you were graduating after this summer, you should probably start working on some contracts for the family."

"You mean like the one you guys had with Sarah's father?"

"Yeah, the deal you blew."

"That's just too bad, isn't it. I guess Father and Grandfather wish for two of you so they can marry you off to the first merger." "I came here only to say that you are expected at the office in an hour."

"Don't hold your breath, I'm not showing up. Besides, I have plans for this evening."

He finished getting dressed and left the room, leaving Ethan behind.

"Fox, your behavior is unconscionable."

"Tell someone who cares, Ethan."

He slid down the ramp and left the mansion.

*****************************

He knocked at Teresa's bedroom window. She came and opened it.

"Are you almost ready?"

"Yes, I am. I'm just trying to find my shoes."

"You didn't tell your mother that you were going out tonight, did you?"

"No, I didn't. I like getting out of the house from my window."

"I assumed that much."

He was leaning on the ledge and could see her looking for her shoes underneath the bed. She got up triumphantly and looked at him with a wide grin.

"Found them!"

"Ok, then let's get out of here."

He helped her out of her window and they ran until they were out of the Crane grounds. He looked at her, she was wearing a strapless skin toned top. It was hugging her chest, but floating on her stomach. She was wearing a denim jeans skirt with black flip flops.

"Where are you taking me?"

"Where do want to go?"

"You're the one who planned this evening and you don't know where you're taking me?"

"I thought I'd leave it up to you."

"What about the pond?"

"Excellent choice"

They walked to the pond holding hands. They sat down for a while when they arrived not saying anything.

"Do you remember the day you pushed me in the water?"

"Yes, you mean the day you gave me the scare of my life?"

"I thought I would give you a lesson, Teresa."

"You know what, Nicholas. That was cruel. I was really worried when you didn't come back up."

"It was funny."

"Not it wasn't, I thought you had drowned."

"You know what that means, never push a guy in the water because he'll do this to you."

"Point taken."

"I brought you here so that we can talk."

"Talk about what?"

He took her hand in his and she looked at him apprehensively.

"Summer vacation is almost over. And I have to go back to school."

"When are you leaving?"

"In a few days."

"Then we should make the most of it."

"I think it's time I give you this then."

He pulled out a small box from his leather jacket.

"I know we're young Teresa, but I didn't feel it would be right of me to leave for Europe without giving you this."

She took a box and opened it. There was a beautiful ring inside with diamonds all around it. She pulled it out.

"Are these real?"

"Of course they are."

She was holding the ring between the fingers.

"It's a promise ring. I thought to give to you hoping that one day it will be much more than that."

He showed he the inscription inside. She read it.

"Resa and Nicholas, now and forever."

He took it from her and slid it on her wedding finger.

"I don't know what to say. You really love me?"

"Don't ever doubt that."

She removed from one of her fingers her graduation ring. She took off the gold chain he was wearing around his neck and put the ring on it, then she put it back on him. She ran her hand behind his head then on his face.

"I never thought I would ever be this happy but I am."

"So am I."

He started taking his clothes off.

"I'm going for a swim, want to join me?"

"I didn't bring my bathing suit."

"Who said you needed one. It's not like I never saw a naked woman before."

She hit him on his chest.

"What was that for. You and I are practically engaged and you hit me."

He looked at her with puppy eyes.

"I'm not going skinny dipping with you."

"That's alright, but I did bring you a bathing suit."

He handed her her bikini.

"Where did you get that from?"

"I asked Whitney to get it for me."

"She was in on this? She knew about the ring and everything?"

"Yes, she did. Remind me never to tell her a secret because she had a hard time keeping her mouth shot."

She started laughing.

"You asked me where I want to go, how did you know I would want to come here?"

"I didn't necessarily know that, but I'm a Crane and I have more than one trick up my sleeve."

"Turn around so I can get changed."

"Why are you doing this to me?"

"I'm a woman, Nicholas, I can do whatever I want. On second thought, maybe you should jump in the water. You need some serious cooling down."

He was giving her his back but could see her reflection in the water. He smiled at himself.

"Ready to go?"

She was already in the water.

"Be right there!"

He jumped and was next to her a few seconds later. He took her in his arms and she wrapped hers around his neck and her legs around his waist.

"I guess this will be our little secret for now."

She nodded.

"I don't think your family will be happy to know that you and I are an item."

"Well Julian and Alistair are just wasting their time. They know I don't take anything they say seriously."

She smiled at him and kissed him. With one of her hands she undid the strap of her bikini top that was going around her neck.

"See, I told you you wouldn't need it."