Disclaimer: Primeval and all its characters belong to someone else. Primeval- New World isn't mine either!
Six!
Chapter Ten- Love!
"Please, allow me." Ken Leeds said to Emily as he accompanied her to his car.
He thought she looked splendid in a smart navy blue dress with a shiny black belt nipping in her waist. She wore her hair down and he had to admit to himself that he liked it best that way. It cascaded in waves down to her shoulders, and bounced as she moved, making him reach out a hand to touch a curl, but he just managed to stop himself before she could realize what he was doing.
He opened the door for her, and she gracefully slid in the passenger side at the back. As he went around the car to open the door for himself on the other side, he nodded to the driver that they were ready to be taken to the expected venue. They sat comfortably against the seats in the large car chatting easily together as it pulled away.
They had only travelled a short distance when the driver stopped by the side of the road. A short path led through an avenue of trees towards a square of luscious green grass. Emily looked up in surprise.
"This isn't the club?" she questioned.
"No- I do beg your pardon, Miss Merchant." Ken stuttered, cheeks a little pink. "But I've taken the liberty of a little detour. Please- don't be afraid or offended. I just thought it'd be pleasant to stop here for a bit…"
"Well, I don't know…where is this?"
"I found this place quite by accident this afternoon. Well, actually we…" he waved his hand to include the driver, who was still sitting in the car. "We found it. We were on the way back from the ARC, and the road was blocked by a lorry which had broken down. We decided to take a short cut and actually…well, we got a bit lost- but we ended up here, so no harm done!"
Emily laughed at the chagrined tone in Leeds' voice. She didn't feel under any sort of threat whatsoever, and the driver was with them should she need him.
"It is very charming here." she remarked. "I wish I'd brought my sketch pad."
"Oh well…er…if you'll allow me…" Leeds reached into the boot of the car and pulled out a large basket. He opened it and took out a sketch pad and some new charcoal pencils.
"Oh! Thank you!" Emily smiled. "How thoughtful of you….what else have you got in that very big basket?" she queried, peering inside.
"I…er…well, I thought you may like a little refreshment…whilst you sketch, that is. There's a choice of food… bagels with smoked salmon and cream cheese- cucumber sandwiches…all sorts. I wasn't sure what you liked but the chef in the ARC advised me…"
"You've thought of everything, haven't you!" Emily said amazed at all the trouble Ken Leeds had gone to. "Thank you, Lieutenant Leeds. It's very kind of you."
Ken smiled as he helped Emily settle down onto the blanket he'd laid out, and watched as she began to sketch the marvelous view….
~~oOOo~~
Evan and Dylan were still dancing, oblivious to the fact that some of the party had left. Evan held Dylan close as they danced. If he was truthful, he rather liked the feel of her in his arms. They'd been getting closer through this whole crazy experience for a while now. Evan wondered if it was too soon after Ange to start a new relationship- that is if Dylan wanted to.
He thought he wouldn't push it, just enjoy getting to know her for now, and see where it went. He pulled her closer to him, just to see what effect it had, and smiled as she responded by wrapping her arms tighter around his neck. It was going to be fun to find out…they had almost a week together to see. He may return home through the anomaly with a new girl on his arm- it remained to be seen. He was surprised to find that he actually hoped he would…
~~oOOo~~
Toby and Jess took in huge gulps of fresh air as they entered the garden. It was lovely to feel the breeze on their faces after the stuffy atmosphere of the club. Jess took Toby's hand and pulled her along, excited to show her the beautiful rose bushes at the rear of the garden.
"Come on, Toby- they're really gorgeous, and a sight to behold. There!" she added as they reached their destination.
"Oh!" Toby breathed. "They're gorgeous!"
"I knew it! I just knew you'd feel the same. It's so wonderful to find someone with the same taste as me, Toby! Oh, I have lots of friends- Connor to talk tech with, and Becker…oh and Abby and Emily of course. But no one likes bright colours and the make-up and stuff that I do."
"Well, you've got me now! I love all of those things…and more!"
"I know! It's great to have you as my new friend, Toby!"
"I hope…I hope…"
"What do you hope, Toby?"
"I hope I haven't read the signs wrong, Jess. I hope…you like me like I like you."
"I do! I do like you! Isn't that what I just said?"
"Yes but I mean…"
Toby suddenly leant in and pulled Jess into her arms, and placed her lips on hers. At first Jess was too shocked to do anything, but after a few moments, she pulled away.
"Toby!" she cried, holding her fingers to her lips.
"Don't tell me you didn't like it, because I felt that you did…" Toby said sadly.
"I'm sorry, Toby!" Jess replied softly. "It's just that I like Beck…I mean I like men. I'm sorry, but I'm not gay!"
"I'm not gay either, Jess. I just like some women as much as I like some men, that's all. It's no biggie… are you sure you didn't like it too? Do you want to try again- just to see?"
"No. No, Toby I'm sure. I just don't fancy you…women. I'm sorry. It's just not who I am!"
"You're wrong, Jess! I felt it, and I know you felt it too. You're deluding yourself. You liked the feel of my lips on yours…"
Toby leant in again as close to Jess as she could get. Jess was horrified- this really wasn't what she wanted. She thought of Becker and her heart skipped a beat.
"No! Toby! Please!" Jess pulled away from Toby's embrace, and felt saddened by Toby's expression.
"I…I'm sorry!" Toby cried, mortified. How could she have got it so wrong! "I didn't mean…" and Toby spun on her heels and ran off into the night.
"Toby! Toby, come back!" Jess cried. "Toby!"
Jess turned back to look at the roses- she'd give Toby some time to think, then she'd talk to her. She really did like her, just not like that! She hoped she hadn't ruined their friendship, but she couldn't be what Toby wanted her to be.
Jess remained by the roses for a while, taking in huge breaths as the aroma of the blooms cheered and warmed her, they were so beautiful. Her thoughts turned, as they so often did, to Becker- his lovely eyes and hair- the sparkle of amusement in his eyes when she babbled nonsensically in his presence. Her heart flipped again- why did it do that every time she thought about him! She pursed her lips, dreaming of lips against hers- but they weren't Toby's lips…they were Becker's, and she groaned with desire as she thought of him tangling his tongue with hers, touching her….loving her.
She suddenly froze, her eyes opened wide, all thoughts of Toby totally forgotten and her hands flew to her mouth in sudden realization. She loved him! She was in love with him!
"I love Becker!" she whispered. She wrapped her arms around her body, and said it once more, a little louder. "I love Becker!"
She bent over a rose and cupped its head in her hand, and whispered to it. "I actually LOVE BECKER!"
She suddenly giggled, dropped the rose and raced back to the bar. She was in love! OMG! She was totally in love! ...
To Be Continued ….