Danny took a sharp left.
"Hold on to your seat." Danny winked at Alice as they hit the rough terrain, she quite literally did so.
"What the hell are you going this way for?" Alice asked completely confused, this so was not the way to Leopards Den and as mad as Danny was, he wasn't quite mad enough to keep her prisoner... she hoped.
"Back way in." Danny smiled softly. "I'm not that much of a madman." He chuckled as though he'd read her thoughts, she laughed nervously too as he forced the Jeep over some of the not so pleasant terrain.
He parked the Jeep quickly as they finally got round the back of Leopards Den. He looked at Alice. She was saw frozen in her seat, staring at the house with almost longing, a hurt yet fearful expression of her face coupled with that gave her a sombre look. He sighed and reached across and squeezed her hand.
"It'll be ok Alice." Danny promised her as her eyes locked with his. She nodded unsure but one smile from Danny had made all those fears fly away. She smiled back at him before the pair climbed out and quickly got her stuff.
"Drop your stuff Alice and go reckon to speak to him... leave the rest to me." Danny whispered in her ear as they reached the hall where their rooms lay. Alice raised her eyebrows but otherwise agreed. She quickly threw her bags in her room and walked off to greet the family, Charlotte hugged her tightly with warmth, Rosie to was extremely happy to see her.
Danny composed himself, this was just to divert Terry away, nothing more and nothing less. He was still going! Going to England... yeh, that's right. He knew she'd see the family first, and he needed to do the same. He waited five minutes... before walking out. Perfect, he could see Alice outside with Terry, thank god she still trusted him enough to do this.
"Hey dad!" Rosie grinned. She was alone in the kitchen. Danny hugged her tightly before looking around. "Everyone's gone off doing jobs, I'm going to do mine too... see you later, fill me in at dinner!"
Danny sighed at the young, care free attitude she had. He wished he could go back to her age... life had been so easy.
Now to put his plan into action...
"Terry... I'm sorry... but it's not happening. You were full of promises and it was three years of you breaking them plus I..." Alice told him, where was Danny, she thought mentally.
"But Alice I lov..." He stopped as the scene before him uncurled. The tall man came from inside the big house, he had green eyes, greying hair. Terry automatically felt jealous.
Danny put his plan into action and threw an arm around Alice's waist from behind and tapped her shoulder. She spun round in shock and was further shocked when Danny clamped his lips with hers. He lingered for a while, savouring the feeling, he was tempted to deepen the kiss further but he doubted Alice would appreciate any tonsil tennis!
"Hmm... morning gorgeous." Danny smiled as he placed an arm around her shoulders pressing her gently yet tightly into his body in the most possessive way he could.
"Hello Mr Trevanion." Alice replied suddenly clicking onto his game.
"So who's this?" Danny asked staring evilly at Terry, his ice cold glare was scaring him.
"Terry..." Alice told him collapsing into his chest. "Danny please sort it."
Danny kissed the top of her head gently before looking directly at Terry.
"Terry eh?" Danny laughed. "Well the next thing you best do mate is get on your way and never turn up again... Alice isn't interested got it?"
Terry gulped and nodded, grabbed his bag and jumped in his Jeep. Danny crushed Alice against him until he was well in the distance and out of sight before letting her go.
"Thanks Danny." Alice told him softly.
"You're welcome... but this doesn't change a thing Alice, I'm still going."
"Why are you going?" Alice shouted chasing him. "We can work through this!"
"It's not about you, or me or us! Alice I need time!" Danny replied as they stood outside the animal hospital.
"Don't give me your bullshit Danny... You are running away!" Alice spat at him. "Why can't you just admit your feelings... tell me you didn't enjoy it, and tell me you don't want it!"
"This is unfair!" Danny exclaimed throwing his arms in the air.
"Unfair? You think that's unfair! Why don't we rewind and think of the things you said to me!" Alice cried. "And you know another thing Danny, you won't listen! Every time I speak you just go off on one or do something else and it's really starting to piss me off!"
"Well... I wonnae be here much longer to pisch you off will I?" Danny replied nastily.
Alice glared at him as he mocked her accent.
"Sometimes... I really don't know why I try to care or bother. You certainly don't care or bother much about us!" Alice told him turning away from him.
Rosie stood in the animal hospital speechless. She'd heard the sound of a Jeep exiting at high speed and then a few muffled voices. Then of course she'd recognised them as Danny and Alice... she'd heard Alice shouting and her dad shout back and automatically had been on guard and nosey. Danny and Alice never argued that bad!
Then of course, Alice was going on about him going away, running away... she wanted to work through it, something was unfair, he'd been nasty to her judging by her words, and she wanted to tell him something.
Her dad had stopped low. Lower than she thought he would go... he was being truly hurtful and nasty. Mocking her accent was cruel and highly insulting. He also mentioned us. What had happened between them. They went happy enough, now they were at one another's throats and arguing.
Rosie gasped as the pieces began to slide together... had her dad and Alice shared more than a dance at the ball and an innocent kiss? She frowned... why would that warrant her dad to leave... was he leaving? She began to get back on with her work, waiting for her father to come in... she had a few questions for him.
"Thank you." Danny spoke into the phone and placed it down. He sighed, he was outta here!