CHAPTER 13

"Angela, it's Booth. You still coming?"

"Yes, Booth, I am still coming. I am just packing up. Now I am really curious."

"Thanks, Angela. See you soon."
He waited at Starbucks for Angela to arrive. When he saw her outside, he ordered two hot chocolates, her favourite.

"OK, what are you up too?" Angela asked as she sat on a chair across from him.

"And a hello to you too, Angela," he retorted.

"A little testy today."

"I'm sorry Angela." His hands were sweaty and shaking.

"Seeley, what's wrong?"

"There isn't anything wrong. Well one thing. I am a big scardie cat."

"Scardie cat? What the hell are you talking about?" Angela could not help but snicker at the words that came out of his mouth.

He sucked it up, trying not to stammer as he spoke the words: "I need your help picking out an engagement ring for Tempe so I can ask her to marry me."

She was sipping her hot chocolate at the time those words hit her eardrums.
"WOW! That is so ... About time!"

He wasn't surprised at her response, so he continued.

"I need your help. I'm lost. I do not know what kind of ring to buy her. She does not wear any rings. I cannot ask her. I want it to be a surprise and, well, romantic. Can you help me or am I a lost cause?"

"Booth. You are anything but a lost cause. Take some deep breaths, wipe your hands and come with me. I know just the place to get Brennan's ring at."

Seeley drove as Angela gave him directions. They pulled up in front of Alsten's Jewelers, found a place to park and made their way to the front door.
He stopped before opening it.

"I never thought it would be so, hard. I love, her, want to marry her, have children with her, grow old with her …" his voice trailed off.

Angela gave him an encouraging smile, took his arm and led him inside.
Angela spotted the owner behind the counter with his head buried in some paper work.

"Ling how are you?"

"Miss Angela. So nice to see you. You come to buy some more earrings?"

"No, not today, Ling. This is my friend Seeley Booth. He is looking to buy an engagement ring for his
girlfriend."Ling reached out his hand to shake Seeley's hand. He obliged the older man who came up to his shoulders.

"What kind of ring you look for?"

Seeley was truly lost. He shrugged his big broad shoulders at Ling.

"Ling, he needs some help, he's kind of nervous," Angela, offered.

Seeley gave her a harsh look.

Angela returned one that said without words 'But it's true.'

Ling studied Seeley for a few moments then led him to the section that housed the rubies and sapphires. He intently eyed his ring display, looked at Seeley again, then put his hand on a black box with white lining and pulled it out.

"This for you to give to your woman." Ling moved his hand away slowly and both Seeley and Angela gasped with amazement.

It was perfect: A one-carrot diamond surrounded by ten small dark blue sapphires with a plain gold band.

"That's it. That's the one," Seeley said with a resounding sense of relief in his voice."

Angela nudged his arm. "I told you he was good."

He nodded in agreement still admiring the beauty of the ring.

"I'll take it." Then he remembered something. "I don't know Tempe's ring size."

"Well, mine is seven and her fingers are smaller so I would say six."

This ring size six and one half. You come back with girl and I make it fix."

"I guess I have to do that. I don't know how to get her ring size and still surprise her. I do not want her to suspect anything."

Seeing this new revelation was putting Booth back into a tailspin, Angela agreed and handed him the ring box.
"She is going to love it."

Seeley put the ring in the inside pocket of his suit jacket and pushed it down. "I can do this," he muttered aloud.

Angela smiled. "Booth, can I ask you a personal question?"

"Ask me first then I will tell you whether or not I will answer," he replied.

"Does it bother you that women like to look at you?"

He turned quickly to her and raised his eyebrows.
"I beg your pardon?"

"Let's face it, you're extremely easy on the eyes. Do you ever get tired of women trying to hit on you because of your looks?"

Seeley hesitated for a moment. "I've never been asked that question before. When they look at me like I'm nothing more than a piece of meat, then yeah, I get tired of it. But if a woman acknowledges me in a more mature manner, I humbly accept their comments and move on. I try to be a good person from the inside out. Sometimes I falter but then I am only human."

"Just so you know, I was one of those women." Angela felt her cheeks turning red. That was until I got to know you better and you captured the heart of my best friend."

He flashed her his charm smile and turned his eyes back to the road ahead of them.

"Can I ask you a question Angela? What did Tempe think of me when we first started working together? I mean you two talked, right?"

"Let's just say she is only human and has very good eyesight," Angela said with a teasing sound to her voice.

He laughed and pulled up to her car.

As she started to get out, he grabbed her arm. "Thank you for helping me out. I couldn't have done it without you. I'm going to ask her tonight."

"Your welcome. And I am very glad you are asking her tonight, because I know I would burst tomorrow morning if you didn't."

"Good night Angela."

"Good night Booth."