Chapter 78

Walking by Krystal's office AJ saw the bouquet of roses. Heading for his office, he ordered a dozen white roses for Krista. He then sat down at his desk, picked up his cell phone, and hit speed dial. Letting it ring he waited for Krista to answer.

Krista exasperated that he would call her back right after they had hung up, snapped when she picked up the phone, "Pete, I told you that I can't go out with you!"

"That's nice to know, Darlin', since I just ordered you roses," AJ said leaning back in his chair and tossing his glasses on his desk. "Mind telling me who the hell Pete is?"

"Oh, Albert! Hi! Roses? I love roses! Pete? He is the photographer I told you all about last night," Krista was babbling at the goof she had made and trying to recover her wits.

"Pete, as in the photographer you use to date and now wants to date you again, right?" AJ made an excellent guess. "Did you inform 'Pete' that you were engaged and carrying my children?"

"I might have mentioned that…" she said with a grin. Krista thought she could hear just a hint of jealousy in his tone.

"Would you like me to let him know in no uncertain terms that you're my woman?" AJ growled.

"You don't think this bulge in my tummy might do that?" she teased.

"Have you given any thought to your engagement ring, Krista?" AJ asked chewing on his glasses. "What kind of stone you'd like to have in it, or maybe more than one stone?"

"Not really, Albert. Whatever you like is fine with me, just please keep it simple."

"I always heard that diamonds were a girls best friend, how about a diamond?" he grinned picturing a
ring he seen in a jewelry store window several weeks back when he'd taken Little AJ to the mall to play video games. It would look perfect on Krista's finger.

"If that's what you want, just please not too big of one, okay?"

"Hey, Darlin', unless you give me an idea of what you really want then I'm afraid your stuck with what I buy you," he grinned listening for her to become mad and give him a piece of her mind. "Remember now, I did ask."

"Albert, I don't care what I wear on my hand. All I want is your love, the ring doesn't matter at all." She wished he understood that she didn't care about his money and jewelry; all she wanted was to be loved.

"Krista, my heart is so full of love for you it aches sometimes. I want to spend all my time with you and I find myself unable to think here at work. I would keep you by my side every minute of everyday if I could darling. I just wanted to buy you a truly beautiful engagement ring to make you proud to be my fiancée."

"Dufus! I am proud to be your fiancée without a thing more than your love! Get what ever ring you want, Albert and I'll wear it," she smiled gently. Waving at a customer that came through the door, she said into the phone, "Albert, I have to go, I have a customer. Will I see you for dinner tonight? Krystal and I are dress shopping as soon as she gets off work, if she can get away from that awful boss of hers, but you could come over after we are done."

"Can the awful boss bring dinner?" he grinned. "If I can, let me know what and I'll be there with bells on."

"Sure, I'm not sure what time we will be done, but we will be right across the street at the bridal shop. If I don't answer the door come over there and hunt us down. Remember whatever you bring...no meat please. Um...Albert...where will you be wearing the bells?" she asked with a seductive whisper so her customer couldn't overhear.

"That was actually a figure of speech, Darlin', but now that I think of it, I'll have to buy some bells on the way over. Just use your imagination," he grinned at what he was going to do. "See you tonight, my love."

"See you then, Albert!"

To be continued…