Trust Me (55 page)

“I
don’t know what to say,” she answered in a strangled voice. “Who is this insider?”

“I
don’t know, but I’ll find out.”

“Several
weeks? We’ve only been seeing each other for a week and we haven’t been secretly dating.” Sandra’s tone was filled with nervous anxiety as she glanced outside the window of the limousine, as if expecting to see someone sitting on the fender beside them.

“Calm
down,” he said gently. “I’ll have my publicity people deal with it. The only question now is whether we’re ready to announce our engagement or not?”

“I
haven’t even told my grandparents yet.”

“My
parents know, but that’s because I had to explain why I wanted my mum to send me my gram’s ring. I’ve asked her not to tell anyone else just yet.”

“I
sort of told Cathy and I’m sure she’s told Papa and Nana, but it would be better coming from me.”

“May
I have your permission to call your grandfather?” Sandra looked at the man next to her and blushed. “It’s the proper thing to do.” She drew a deep breath and nodded, watching the nervous excitement cross his handsome face as he pulled his phone out of his pocket and dialed a number. He winked at her as he waited for the call to connect.

“Mr.
Stevens? This is Creighton Ashford, head of New Hope Technologies…I’m quite well thank you. I have your granddaughter here and we’d like to ask you a question…yes, she’s just fine. I’d like to ask your permission to marry Sandra…soon as I can arrange it…yes sir, just a moment.” He handed the phone to Sandra, his nerves echoing in his dark eyes. “He wants to speak with you.” Sandra drew a deep breath and took the phone, placing it tentatively to her ear.

“Hello
Papa,” she said softly.

“Sandy,
I can’t believe it,” her grandfather’s deep tone said on the other line as she heard a click.

“Cathy
said you were getting married, but we thought she was just spouting off,” her grandmother said, obviously picking up the extension phone.

“Hi
Nana. I know I should have phoned you earlier; Creighton wanted to speak with Papa, but I just wanted to let things settle a little before he called.”

“Are
you sure this is the right thing for you Sandy?” Papa asked.

“Oh,
James, since when has Sandy ever done anything without thorough thought? I think it’s wonderful and so romantic.”

“Mary
you’re hopeless, now let Sandy speak for herself.” Papa said with an amused tone.

“Sandy,
tell this old goat that you’re in love and let him give your Creighton our blessings.”

“Yes
Nana, I am in love. Creighton is a wonderful man, caring, loving, kind and very challenging; just like Papa. I think you’ll like him.” Creighton frowned as he heard the one-sided conversation.

“I
remember the boy from when he was here a few months back,” Nana said. “He’s very good looking; nice butt too.”

“Mary,
I don’t think our granddaughter wants to know you’re checking out her fiancée’s derrière.”

“Oh
please, I’m sure she’s looked at it at least once herself.”

“That’s
not the point, old woman; she has a right to look, now let her speak.”

“I’d
really like it if you gave your blessings, Papa,” Sandra said stifling a giggle. “We want to get married right away. We were thinking about June.”

“Are
you pregnant?” Nana asked her; her tone filled with excitement rather than condemnation.

“No,
Nana, it’s nothing like that.”

“Sandy,
ignore your grandmother, she’s just baby hungry as always. Now, hand the phone back to this young man of yours and have a safe vacation. Are you going to come home before you get married?”

“I
will be back as planned. I have a lot that needs finished before I can move to England.”

“How
wonderful!” Nana exclaimed. “We can visit you in England. I’ve always wanted to see Buckingham Palace.”

“That
reminds me,” Sandra said. “Do you have passports?”

“Yes
we do,” Papa said interrupting his wife. “We got them last year when we went on that cruise to Mexico, remember?”

“That’s
great. I’ll let you speak with Creighton now, but please make it quick and painless. We’re on our way to the opera.”

“Opera?
How romantic!”

“Oh
Mary, honestly.” Sandra handed the phone back to Creighton who stared at her with a deep frown. He took the phone with a deep sigh and placed it to his ear.

“Yes
sir,” Creighton said and waited for a few silent moments before his eyes widened, and his smile broadened. “Yes, sir…thank you sir…and you too Mrs. Stevens…yes ma’am I will…yes ma’am…I am very much in love with her; I have been since the first time I laid eyes on her in Kansas…I know; Cathy is a little put out with us right now…yes ma’am, I will…thank you again…I’d like to sit down and discuss your land at a later date, if you’re still interested in selling it…yes sir, that would be just fine…yes sir…yes ma’am, I will…good bye.” Creighton pushed the button on his phone to silence the call and pushed another one, waiting patiently as the car pulled to a halt in front of the restaurant.

“Give
us a few minutes,” he ordered the chauffeur who nodded and stepped out of the car, closing the door behind him.

“Who
are you calling?” Sandra asked with a frown.

“Time
to let my parents know for sure.” He smiled. “Hello mum,” he said a few seconds later. “I know; we've seen the reports…yes mum; it's true…yes I just spoke with them…I am very sure…alright, just a moment,” he handed the phone off to her and sighed. “My mother would like to speak with you.” Sandra drew another deep breath. At this rate, they were never going to make it to the opera.

“Hello
Mrs. Ashford,” she said softly.

“Sandra,
I am so happy to finally get a chance to meet you. Creighton has been banging on about you for the past two years. We were beginning to think he was off his chump, but when he called and asked for my mum’s ring, we knew he had either completely mental or finally found the bottle to ask you. I’m so happy he wasn’t balmy."

“Um…so
am I,” Sandra said trying to figure out what she just said. “So I need to ask you, since Creighton has asked my grandfather, may I have your permission to marry your son?” Creighton rolled his eyes.

“Oh,
my dear, absolutely, I know how much he loves you and he’s a wonderful young man, even if I say so myself.”

“I
couldn’t agree more, ma’am.”

“Oh,
love a duck; call me Emma…or mum that might be better. So when are you going to have him bring you around to meet the family?” Sandra frowned and glanced toward the man again. She hadn’t thought about that.

“I’m
not sure,” she answered honestly. “I am only going to be in Europe a few more days and then I have to go back home. I have to resign my job and sort through all my stuff. I suppose I haven’t thought about much else.”

“You just tell
Cray to bring you home before you go back,” she said excitedly. “You have to meet the family before the big day. Which reminds me, have you set a date?”

“We
were thinking about June nineteenth, but that again depends on how quickly I can get things back home finished up.”

“I
will be more than happy to help you make your plans, in fact, why don’t you have your grandmother call me and we’ll do all the planning for you. Just let me know what you want done and we’ll take care of everything.”

“That
sounds very nice, thank you, but Creighton and I haven’t decided exactly what we want to do just yet.”

“Well
you talk about it and let me know.”

“Yes
ma’am…I mean Emma. I have to go now through Creighton is waiting for me. Thank you again.”

“You
are most welcome my dear. I can’t wait to meet you in person. Tell Cray to call us with more details and I’ll let his father know when he comes in. Sandra, I am so happy for you both. I’ll see you soon?”

“Yes,
of course and thank you again.” Sandra hung up the phone and handed it back to Creighton, a little less confident than before.

“What’s
the matter?” he asked, reaching for her hands and holding them securely.

“Your
mom asked when you were going to bring me home to meet them. I guess I just never thought of the world outside of the two of us. I mean, there are really a lot of things to be dealt with and a lot of planning to do. I just don’t know if we have time to get it all done before June.”

“Trust
me? It will all work out. Now that we are officially engaged, I have an overwhelming desire to just spend the evening in your company. Come on, I’m starving.” Sandra smiled as they climbed out of the car and walked to the restaurant’s door.

“What does it mean to be off your chump?”

Sandra and Creighton sat in a very exquisite French restaurant; the tables were varied in size with clean white coverings; the outer walls were large panes of glass and golden sconces lined the walls with soft flickering lights. A large crystal chandelier hung in the center of the room, directly over a dance floor; it looked like something out of roaring 20’s. Each table held a single candle in a cut crystal container; the windows had elegant blue and gold satin covers across them, the floor a rich marble. A seven-piece orchestra sat at the side of the room playing soft, romantic music, while several couples danced beneath the twinkling lights of the chandelier.

Creighton
had reserved the perfect table; far enough away from prying eyes so they had some privacy, yet near a large window that overlooked Paris’ nightlife. They shared an appetizer of sweet pear and cheese
crostini
and
Pinot Grigio
, followed by
pommes de terre duchesse
,
roasted pike, Salade Perigourdine
and
Chardonnay
. Once they had finished their supper, Creighton held out is hand and led her to the dance floor.

“Remember,
I can’t dance?” she whispered.

“Not
true, I’ve seen you dance and I loved it,” he assured her, leading her gently around the floor. She bit her lower lip to prevent herself from giggling and rested her head against his shoulder. She wasn’t sure if it was because she was in his arms, or if he was just a natural-born instructor, but she found herself moving easily to the soft music.

“Do
you want dessert now or after the opera?” he whispered against her ear, his breath warming her and causing soft chills to spread across her spine.

“I’m
really full. Mind if we skip it, at least for now?”

“I
was rather hoping you would say that,” he smiled. They walked back to the table as the music ended and Sandra found herself feeling very self-conscious as several people turned and watched them; whispering under their breaths.

“What’s
the matter?” he asked, noticing a soft blush creeping up her neck.

“I
feel like we’re in a fish bowl,” she told him quietly. “Everyone is watching us.”

“It’s
that stupid news story. They are watching to see what we do next.”

“Could
we just leave, please? I hate people staring at me.” Creighton nodded to the waiter who stood nearby and reached for her hand. He lifted it to his lips and kissed the knuckles above her engagement ring, aware of how many people were watching, hearing the audible gasps when her ring flashed in the candle light.

The
waiter arrived a few moments later, handing a burgundy leather case to Creighton, who signed his name and returned it to him with a smile.

“Trust
me?” he asked, and she nodded. “Stand tall, make eye contact and smile politely as we pass. You are far too beautiful to allow them to have the upper hand.” Creighton winked at Sandra and held her chair for her to stand, then leaned into her and kissed her cheek tenderly. Sandra glanced at him, drew a deep breath to steady her nerves, then slipped her hand in his and began walking. They passed several tables on their way to the main door; she nodded, smiled and blushed at those who looked up to them, but held her head up and walked reassuringly next to Creighton.

“
Monsieur Ashford, comment était-ce vous le dîner
?” the Maitre’d asked when they neared him; an older man, tall and slender, his hair grey around the edges, the top of his head bald and shiny. He looked at them through dark grey eyes that seemed to twinkle. He was quite friendly and after the nerve wrecking walk she just had, that was very much appreciated. He smiled politely at Sandra and she found herself relaxing immensely.