A/N I just wanted to say thanks to everyone who has left a review. It really makes me feel good about my writing. And to those who asked yes I will be revealing Olivia and Julian's story but not till much much later. Happy Reading.

Chapter 5

Crane Industries…

"I have to congratulate you Ethan, I never thought you'd go through with it," a laughing Daniel told his best friend.

"That bus wreck was very convenient," Ethan replied, lifting his snifter of brandy and offering Daniel a mock toast.

"I had no idea that bus was going to crash when I bought those tickets. Lucky for us you changed your mind shortly after we boarded. I thought I'd never get you to see reason. You seemed so determined to fulfill your vow to Teresa," Daniel remarked.

"I love Teresa. But I love the power and prestige being married to Gwen will bring me more. All my life I've dreamed of being somebody. I couldn't let this opportunity slip through my fingers. When I've been married to Gwen for a while and established my reputation in the business world, I'll ask Gwen for a divorce, buy myself a mansion to equal the one I'm residing at now, and then make a miraculous recovery. I'll tell Teresa I lost my memory after the accident and that as a result I married an heiress but that as soon as I remembered our love I petitioned the court for a divorce and came looking for her. Teresa is a hopeless romantic and she's been in love with me our entire life. She won't question my story and I will finally have everything I've ever wanted. Money, prestige, power, and Teresa," Ethan replied with a confident smile.

"And what if Teresa falls in love with someone else in the meantime?" Daniel questioned idly.

"She won't. I know Teresa like the back of my hand. She's a one-man woman. She'll never love anyone else the way she loves me," Ethan murmured arrogantly. "Now let's get back to work. I have an eager bride waiting for me at home and I don't want to keep her waiting," he added setting down his glass and walking over to his desk.

Daniel nodded and turned his attention back to the sheath of papers he held in his hand. But recalling Teresa's exquisite beauty and her genteel nature he thought his friend was being overly optimistic. Women as attractive as Teresa never lacked company and eventually she would be ready to resume her life. He could only hope his friend was around when that happened or he'd lose her forever.

Deja Brew

Through the rim of the heavy ceramic cup he held in his hands Fox covertly watched Teresa. As soon as they'd walked into the intimate café she'd excused herself and headed straight for the bathroom, calling over her shoulder that she wanted a vanilla nut half skim-half cream mocha and Fox's eyebrows had lifted because he hadn't pegged her as a coffee snob. Seeing the surprise on his face she'd confided that she worked at the local coffee shop in her hometown and could thus be considered a coffee expert. Fox had placed their orders and grabbed a table at the back, waiting with a simmering impatience for her to return.

His patience had finally been rewarded when she'd taken the seat opposite him and given him a blinding smile. The smile transformed her face; making the features that he'd thought merely beautiful a few minutes earlier, utterly alluring. Her dark brown eyes shimmered with warmth, her cupid's bow mouth polished with a peachy lip gloss that he wanted to lick right off, and her cheekbones glowed with a soft color he knew was due as much to her nervousness as it was the blusher she'd applied. Her soft wispy bangs framed her heart shaped face and without thought he leaned over and twirled a strand of her silky dark hair with his thumb. Teresa lifted her brows at the intimate touch but she didn't break the contact. When Fox's eyes dropped to her mouth and lingered there for a moment, her breathing quickened and her pulse began to beat frantically.

Fox was very aware of her reaction but he cautioned himself to go slowly so he wouldn't scare her away. Teresa needed to be wooed. She was very vulnerable right now and he knew without conceit that if he pressed his advantage he could seduce her. The spark between them was that strong and he was quite skilled in the art of seduction. But if he gave in to his baser urges Teresa would run from him like a scared rabbit and he'd lose her forever. That was a risk he wasn't ready to take for he'd known from the very beginning that she was the woman he'd waited for his entire life. His mother had once teased him that when he fell for a woman it'd be love at first sight and she'd been right. He'd fallen head over heels in love with Teresa when he'd spotted her sobbing on that park bench. It was that simple. And that complicated.

"The coffee's very good. Vastly superior to what I serve at the Book Café," Teresa informed him as she delicately sipped the scalding brew.

"And what else do you serve at the Book Café, mademoiselle?" Fox asked with a boyish grin. Because it was obvious from her attire that she was in deep mourning and he hadn't wanted to pry he hadn't asked what had brought her to Boston. Talk of her hometown was safe and would give him a clue of where to find her should she disappear on him.

"Croissants, muffins, bagels, scones, and different types of pastries. Beth, the owner, bakes everything herself. The café was originally a bookstore but because that didn't bring in enough money she added the coffee shop to try to lure in more customers," Teresa explained. "It worked too because almost everyone who comes in to buy a magazine or a book stops to have cup of coffee or pick up a snack. And those people who come if for a snack inevitably---"

"Have to buy a magazine or a book," Fox finished for her and Teresa laughed.

"You have a beautiful laugh," he remarked casually and Teresa lowered her gaze.

"Teresa, I know we barely know each other and that this might not be the best time to tell you this but I'm very attracted to you," he added in a husky undertone.

"Fox, I---" Teresa stammered, her eyes wide with shock at the bluntness of his statement.

"Shhh, I'm not putting any pressure on you. I just wanted you to know how I felt," he replied taking one of her slim hands in his and bringing it to his mouth. Teresa watched him, intrigued despite herself.

"Do you know what I want right now, more than anything in the world?" he asked in a seductive whisper, his gaze dropping once more to her full, lush mouth.

"What?" Teresa murmured nervously.

"A bite of that rich, creamy chocolate cake you have sitting on your plate," he replied spearing a chunk sized bite of the decadent dessert from her plate and bringing it to his mouth.

Teresa laughed again and the tension was broken. When they were both full, Fox dropped a few bills on the table and courteously escorted her from the restaurant.

"Will you let me drive you back to the hotel?" he asked when they were outside once more.

Teresa nodded and with a sigh of relief Fox escorted her to his car and helped her in. He didn't know how long she was in town for but he meant to find out a whole lot more about her before she left for he had no intention of letting her walk away from his life. She was his. He'd known it from the first. Now all he had to do was convince her of the same.