A/N This chapter isn't all that great cause I had to edit/revise chapter seven but I hope you enjoy it all the same. As always all feedback is appreciated.

Chapter 8

"Resa, are you ok?" Leslie asked her, staring at her friend worriedly. Teresa was pale even beneath her tan and she was shaking like a leaf.

"I'm fine Les," Teresa replied untruthfully. "Look, I've got to get going. Mama said Papa was taking her to the opera tonight to see Madame Butterfly and I've got to pick Mathieu up. I'll call you," she added slipping on the denim shorts she'd come with and grabbing her purse before Leslie could stop her.

"Take care," she called back as she ran to her car.

Leslie stared at Teresa's retreating figure thoughtfully. Teresa had looked…broken. Something was definitely wrong and she meant to find out what it was.

"Where's the fire?" Dylan asked his sister thoughtfully. "Fox just stormed out as if the hounds of hell were after him. Where's Resa?"

"She just left too, went to pick up Mathieu from her mother's. Now isn't that a coincidence?" Leslie replied musingly. Something was definitely not right.

"You're not suggesting that there's something going on between them are you?" Dylan asked suspiciously.

"Still waters run deep, dear brother and those two strike sparks off each other. Don't tell me you haven't noticed the way they look at each other when they think no one's watching?"

"But they can hardly stand being in the same room together and…" he trailed off when Leslie lifted a brow. He better than anyone knew that arguing with Leslie was an exercise in futility once she got an idea in her head. And if she was right about Teresa and Fox, well then he meant to keep an eye on them. Teresa had been hurt enough and he'd be damned if he let anyone hurt her ever again

"Damn, damn, damn," Teresa muttered crossly, her arms crossed over her chest as she stared at the flat tire on her car.

"Maybe I should have learned to change a flat like Papa and Luis always insisted I should," she told herself walking to the front and pulling out her cell phone so she could call someone to come rescue her. Her brow knit in frustration when no one answered and she was about to hang up and call a towing company when she heard a car screech to a halt behind her.

"Need a lift?" a familiar voice asked.

Teresa turned around and a huge smile lit her face when she saw Dylan leaning against the hood of his silver jaguar.

"Oh my god, Dylan it's so good to see you," Teresa cried with a wide grin. Dylan laughed and tugged at her hair.

"Always happy to rescue a damsel in distress," Dylan replied jokingly.

"So how quickly can you change my flat? Mama is waiting for me," she informed Dylan.

"Sorry Resa, my chivalry doesn't extend to changing tires, that's what mechanics are for. I'll call the tow truck and then drive you to the mansion. Why don't you call Pilar and let her know you are running late and ask her to bring Mathieu back to the mansion?" Dylan answered.

Knowing that was the best offer she'd get, Teresa nodded and went to do as he'd asked.

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Crane Mansion

"Damn her, damn Teresa to hell," an infuriated Fox cursed as he slammed into his room. Teresa had left him in bad shape and a part of him wanted to pick up his little black book and call someone to come and help him ease his ache. Sex with a nameless, faceless woman was exactly what he needed. But even as the thought formed in his head he knew he wasn't going to be calling anyone for it wasn't simply sex that he wanted, it was sex with her. And even as he told himself he was wrong, he could picture the way she'd looked and the delicate little moans she'd made as he'd intimately stroked her. Her dark eyes had gone even darker and her soft mouth had parted in helpless invitation. She'd been his for the taking and he'd been so hot for her he hadn't been able to think of anything but the taste and feel of her in his arms. And that was why he was so angry, because he'd never lost control like that before not even with Chelsea. But Teresa had completely dominated his thoughts and that to him that was the ultimate betrayal because while he'd been with her he'd completely forgotten about Chelsea.

"What the hell's the matter with me? Why can't I get her out of my mind?" he muttered to himself but he knew it was futile. Teresa had gotten under his skin and he was going to have a hell of a time getting her out.

"Thanks for the ride Dylan, I appreciate it," Teresa told a laughing Dylan as they walked into the mansion.

"No problem, Resa," he sitting down on one of the comfortable sofas and tugging her hand till she tumbled into his lap. "Are you going to tell me what happened between you and Fox or are you going to continue to pretend that everything's alright when I know its not?" he asked seriously.

"You see too much Dylan," a thoughtful Teresa answered with a slight frown.

"That's what friends are for babe. I know something is bothering you beautiful and I'm not going to let up till I know what's wrong so you might as well give in gracefully," he added twining a strand of her dark hair in one finger.

Teresa remained silent for a few minutes and then told him the whole story. Dylan didn't say anything, knowing that Teresa needed a shoulder to lean on more than she needed advice. Holding her securely against him, he caressed her dark hair and comforted her the only way he knew how, by letting her cry. When she had cried herself out, he wiped the tears from her face and pressed a soft kiss on her cheek.

"Feeling better?" he asked and Teresa nodded.

"Then I'd better be on my way. It's getting late and you need your beauty sleep princess. Call me if you need anything," he murmured.

"Thanks for everything Dillweed," Teresa replied giving him an affectionate hug and walking him to the door. The sudden applause had her blinking her eyes.

"Very sweet, princess," Fox mocked as he stumbled into the room.

Teresa stared at him with wide eyes, smelling the liquor on him and realizing he was half drunk. Without a word she turned to leave but Fox grabbed her arm and pulled her against him.

"Did you finish with Dylan what we started out by the pool?' he asked with a contemptuous sneer as he looked stared at her with fire in his eyes.