Chapter 1 – The Truth

Alice stood watching the male giraffe she had just released. It clumsily moved towards the herd and after a few minutes began making subtle overtures to the young female on its edge. Behind her, a familiar khaki jeep pulled up besides the parked trailer. She turned quickly and saw Danny, the man she was hopelessly in love with, get out of the vehicle. Alice quickly wiped the tears away from her eyes, the tears that had come from knowing her love was unrequited and that soon she would be leaving Leopard's Den………….and Danny.

Alice composed herself quickly, so that Danny would have no idea that she had been crying.

"You should be resting," she said in her soft Scottish accent.

Danny walked towards her clutching his right side, the side where he had bruised his ribs following the crash in the storm.

"How's he doing?" Danny asked in his lilting Northern voice.

"Good!" she replied without turning to face him.

Alice's heart began to quicken as she felt Danny's warm breath on the back of her neck. She could clearly smell his aftershave. She desperately wanted to tell him how she felt, but she couldn't – he was in love with Vanessa - willowy, beautiful, elegant Vanessa, the owner of the Mara Reserve.

"Now I think I might just owe that animal my life and as you're the stubborn person who insisted on buying him, I guess I owe you too," he smiled.

Alice laughed quietly and turned to face Danny. "You're welcome."

Danny gazed down at her, his penetrating green eyes made Alice want to kiss him, but it wasn't right. She began to feel awkward, like a teenager on a first date.

"Look we should be getting back…." Alice muttered whilst trying to side-step him.

Danny grabbed her gently by the elbow. He wanted to know why she was going. He needed to know if there was anything he could do to stop her.

"I saw your suitcase…………..."

Alice shrugged her shoulders, embarrassed that her plan to leave unnoticed had been uncovered.

"I would have said something," she lied, "I wouldn't have just left."

"Why are you leaving?" Danny enquired. There was a desperate pleading tone in his voice.

"Because………."

Alice was lost for words, she couldn't think of anything convincing to say. Alice lowered her eyes; she couldn't bear to look at him any longer. She knew if she did, she would have to tell the truth, the truth about how she felt about him.

"It doesn't matter, okay………….." she continued defensively.

Alice's voice faded away as she tried to circumvent Danny yet again, this time to his left.

Once more, Danny's strong but gentle arms stopped her.

"Yes, it does…" he uttered softly.

Alice felt cornered. She had no choice but to tell him how she felt. Her piercing blue eyes stared at him like a frightened rabbit.

"Okay, you asked for it!" Her voice began to quiver with emotion. "…….Because I love you and I know you don't love me and I know you have feelings towards Vanessa….."

Danny realised this was his chance – God, he had waited so long to do this! Du Plessis was right after all; Alice was in love with him. Before Alice could continue, Danny kissed her fervently on the lips. He wanted her to know that the feeling was mutual.

"But I thought…………." Alice muttered, completely shocked by what had just happened.

Danny looked at Alice wistfully and tenderly cupped the side of her face with his right hand. "From the first time I set eyes on you….From the first time……."

Alice's heart leapt with joy. Danny loved her. He really loved her. Her face broke out into the most radiant smile as she wrapped her arms around his neck. Danny put his arms around her waist and pulled her closer as they began to kiss passionately for the very first time.