As the clock in the study chimed two times, I rose from my reading nook and set Gone With the Wind on the sill bench of the window. The date was set to take place in fifteen minutes and Robert was probably ready to leave. The nerves in my stomach clenched as I thought of going on a date with a man I knew more as a brother-- that had to be some sort of sick incest! It had to! With a long, drawn out sigh, I exited the study and debated for a minute whether or not to join John Paul in the recording room and hide from Robert. The stairs were so close and so persuading....
I cleared my throat and continued toward the front door, my heart hammering. I was sure Robert would see it pounding heavily and I tried desperately to make it stop, but it wouldn't and I grew more and more nervous. Naturally I wasn't a nervous date, but with Robert around, I was a nervous wreck. I didn't want anything to happen that might jeopardize our friendship, and moreover, I didn't want Jimmy to suspect I had a thing for anyone else but him. As I neared the door, I heard Robert call from the hall on the other side of the stairs, "Go ahead and get in the car, Jen! I'll be out in five!"
Doing as I was told, I trekked to the door and before I could open it, the devil-designed knocker rapped on the door outside and the door swung open. My heart nearly stopped and soon calmed as I recognized the familiar and handsome face that stood in the doorway. Those dark eyes, black hair-- which, as I had only realized, I was a sucker for-- cut in an edgy Velvet Underground fashion, the patterned Renaissance style blouse (Oh! what were those called?), the tight pink chino trousers with Chelsea/Beatle Boots, that flowery scarf-ascot that matched nothing of the ensemble, the all-around outfit of a person from the last decade: Donovan.
We stood there for a moment, searching each other's eyes for any sort of indication that one of us would move, which neither did. My lips parted some-what, ready to greet him, but I couldn't speak. He was the most handsome man I had ever met, besides Jimmy and Keith Moon, and Paul McCartney didn't count because I had never met him. Finally, noticing the awkward tension building, I moved aside and let Donovan inside.
"Good afternoon, Ma'am," his sweet, thick Scot accent carried through the air, making me swoon. "You wouldn't know where Jim might be, do you?"
"He's..." Oh, drat! Where was he? "He may be in the living room or in his bedroom. I could check for you, Mister--"
"Leitch. Please-- just call me Donovan. If you could escort me to his bedroom, please. I can see you're dying to lead me somewhere."
"Pardon?" I snapped indignantly. This was why I couldn't keep a boyfriend-- I was too fierce and quick to the draw. But Donovan seemed impressed by my hiss rather than offended. He grinned and entered the house fully, taking in the foyer like everyone who ever visited did. The gold light was always what first caught the guests. "Well, just for that, Mister Donovan, I'll find Jim and you can just wait here."
"Very well," Donovan grinned wider, his tone sounding as if he was hiding something. As I began to walk toward the stairs, I glanced back at him.
"You didn't want to go looking for him at all now did you, little man?" I asked, seeing through him. He tossed his head back and laughed. "Very well, you go check the living room I've have none of that cheekiness from a man I hardly know, let alone a Scot." Donovan's eyes flickered with an unreadable emotion.
Just then, both Robert and Jimmy exited the living room, obviously having cut an important conversation short just in time to see the two people in the foyer. I wondered if it had been about me. Donovan's eyes, previously having been locked on me, now searched Jimmy. Donovan turned and walked toward Jimmy with a chipper expression. They took hands and shook vigorously, smiling and greeting each other.
"How is your wife?" Jimmy asked as the two separated hands. He was grinning like a fool and Robert seemed to be lost in thought.
Donovan threw a fixed glimpse at me, and replied steadily, "Please, Jim, not in front of the pretty unmarried lady. But for your benefit, she's well. Three years this year, she and I."
"Congrats!" Jimmy exclaimed. "I haven't a clue in all my life where My Lady is, neither Scarlet. Dear, dear Scarlet. My Lady has her somewhere and Rob's been dying to see her lately; a baby play-day with her and Karac Pendragon and Jason, Bon's son. She's around two, I believe."
Jimmy was married? I thought. At this time, Robert escorted me out of the manor, but not before I sent a final glower Donovan's way. He seemed thoroughly unaffected and instead stared at me over his shoulder with seductive heavy lids.
♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫
I knew Robert was talking, but I wasn't listening. I was thinking-- fantasizing, rather-- about Donovan and that look of pure interest in his eyes. He undoubtedly equally as handsome, as mysterious, as fashionable as Jimmy, as hard as it was to admit, and he would surely be equip enough to take Jimmy's place, considering how Jimmy seemed altogether uninterested in her.
"Jen?" Robert asked, concerned. I blinked back to earth and faced him sweetly. I placed my hand on his left thigh and he smiled.
"Do you like me like a girlfriend?" I asked incredulously.
"I...." I muttered, not taking his eyes from the road. "Do you think of me as a beaux?"
"No."
Now he eyed me. "Oh thank God!" He laughed obnoxiously. "So this was just Bianca's doings?"
"Completely," I sighed with relief. "Can we still go to lunch in London?"
"Why not? Bianca would kill us if we came home early because she's the bleeding boss. She wants us to have sex tonight or something wholesome and sensible." He gave me a humorous glance and I retracted my hand. "We'll just tell her we felt more like.. like--"
"Brother and sister!"
"Precisely! Besides, you like Jimmy, don't you?"
A surge of embarrassment, pride, and dignity swept through me like the tides of an ocean and I snapped, "How did you know?", my cheeks becoming red.
Robert laughed again. "It's only obvious. You talk to me about the lad all the time, I'd be damned if I hadn't figured it out by now. I also noticed a little spark between you and the Scot a bit ago."
"Donovan Leitch."
"I know who he is. It's your own self that felt the need for everyone to know his name. That gives it away right there. But no need to worry, dear, your secrets are beyond safe with me. I may be Jimmy's best mate first, but I never go back on my word."
"Oh, thank you Rob! That means a lot. If Bianca found out how I felt about Jim-Jam, she'd never want to be my friend again, and neither Cynthia nor Florence nor Pamela-- Bonham-- are as good a friend as she is."
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