*~* Some people have emailed me with the comment "isn't this a therox story?" My answer: Yes, this is a THEROX story, sorry for the change in plot without Fox but its how I want it to go for now. Thanks. Viki. *~*

Chapter 36: Pretend

"Morning sweetheart . . ."

"Fox?"

"No, try Dylan."

"Oh. Sorry about that." Teresa rose from her bed and rubbed her eyes and saw that Dylan had a breakfast in bed planned for her.

"Do you think we could start that whole romance thing again? Starting now?"

Teresa laughed. The night when Dylan tried to romance her was days behind them but the memory of the night lived dominantly in their minds.

"Starting now? I guess so."

"Good. Here's your breakfast and when your done, shower up and get dressed for the park okay?"

"What about the kids?"

"Already taken care of."

"Okay."

Dylan started to walk out of the room when Teresa spoke up and said, "Dylan?"

He turned around and replied, "Yeah?"

"If you're going to romance me . . . you're going to have to feed me."

A smile came upon Dylan's face, "You got it babe."

He walked over to the bed and sat down besides her and fed her the breakfast that he had prepared especially for her.

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"You want me . . . to go down there?"

"Yeah, that's what I said."

"Dylan! That looks so gross!"

"Change of plans then?"

"Yes, please."

Dylan was trying to lead Teresa down through a swamp into a private area that he had made up for them . . . under a bridge . . . looking out onto the water. (Sound familiar? . . . the special spot of Teresa and Fox maybe?)

He held her hand and said, "This way my lady."

She giggled and followed him to a set of rocks. "Let me help you."

Dylan helped Teresa over a set of rocks to a place under a bridge and memories rushed back to Teresa about Fox. She didn't want to disappoint Dylan and make his hard work seem useless so she went along with him. Much to Teresa's gladness Dylan didn't stop under the bridge but continued even farther around the park to a private area. He led her in and said, "Go ahead and sit down."

She sat down on the blue blanket and waited for him to come back. When he came back he wasn't empty handed. He had a dozen, thorn less roses in one hand and a bag in the other. He sat down besides Teresa and said, "These are for you." He handed her the roses and she kissed him on the cheek and replied, "They're beautiful. Thank you Dylan."

"I'm not done there." He pulled out four candles from the bag and lit them. Then he pulled out roses petals and laid them in the space between him and Teresa. Then he held out his hands and she placed hers in his.

"Teresa, I know that we aren't really dating, but I feel a special bond to you."

"And you know I feel the same way right?"

"Right. You know that I would do anything thing for you and I'd risk my life for you."

"That's because I'm 'real' right?"

"Right. Teresa, I have never felt this way about a woman before and I know that you're the mother of my best friend's daughter (sounds like a soap doesn't it? Lol), but I really do care for you."

"I know."

He kissed her hands and then her forehead and said, "I saw this on TV once, so play along okay?"

She laughed, "Okay."

He pulled a ring from the bag and placed it at the tip of her ring finger and said, "This isn't an engagement ring, but a promise ring. I promise that no matter what goes down and how much you may think you hate me, and whatever else comes along in our lives, that I will be there for you. I will support you. I will care for you. I will provide for you. And I will love you until the end of my days."

Teresa just stared at him and she wanted to tell him that he was coming on a bit strong but she kept silent.

He continued, "I know that this may push you away from me a little but please don't let it. I am just promising you that you always have a confidant in me okay?"

She nodded and he placed the ring on her finger. She kissed his lips and held herself there for a second. She pictured Fox doing something like what Dylan had just done, but he would have done it under 'their' bridge. Every time Dylan looked at her she felt Fox was looking at her. Every time he kissed her, she felt she was kissing Fox. Every time Dylan held her, she felt Fox was holding her. She knew she could never give up on the idea of being Mrs. Nicholas Foxworth Crane and having Crane heirs.

Teresa didn't want to hurt Dylan. She didn't want to be Mrs. Dylan Andrew Banning. And she didn't want to have Banning heirs.

She liked toying with Dylan, but she knew that he was out of control with his feelings for her. He became obsessive and since she didn't have Fox to love her, Dylan came in a close second to having Fox.

Dylan asked, "Are you okay?"

"Yeah. Perfectly fine."

"What do you want to do now?"

"You."

"What?"

"Did I stutter?"

"Nope."

"Then let's go."

"You got it."

As he started to pack things up Teresa couldn't help but pretend that Dylan was Fox and after all, that's all she could do . . . pretend. Pretend to love, pretend to care, and pretend to want him.

Pretend . . .

*~*~*~*~*~*

NEXT CHAPTER: Dylan finally gets Teresa in his bed to make love to her but what happens if she thinks he's Fox? What could go wrong? What could go right? What could happen after one night together? What could happen if Fox (the real one) knows all about Dylan and Teresa? What could happen if the next chapter answered all these questions?

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