Heartbeats in Moonlight

Chapter 60

It took Ella ten minutes to locate Ben. He was surrounded by a veritable tribe of young women. "Excuse me." Ella pushed past a couple of women, then latched on to Ben's arm and dragged him toward her, "I promise to bring him back. Soon." She smiled at the women. "Come on Lothario. Good job you aren't driving my car tonight."

"Heard of planning. That's why I can drink. I have plans. Someone will give me a ride home, or I can get a taxi. See, all good planning." Ben smiled happily. That is what she liked about Ben, the fact that he knew he couldn't drive after the reception and had arranged for a sober driver.

"If it was good planning, you wouldn't have to look for a taxi out here! Your family-farm is in the middle of nowhere! No chance of a taxi here!" She grinned at him. "I'm leaving now, I could offer you a lift, but I doubt you want to leave."

"Too early." He chuckled. "You dragged me away. To offer me a lift?" He shook his head at her. "Ella, you dragged me away, did you see those gorgeous..."

She chuckled at his expression and interrupted him. "If I give you something, for Peter, will you forget it and leave it here."

"Why can't you give it to him?" He shrugged his shoulders and then grinned, "Are you scared of Peter?"

"Yes. Of course." She said with sarcasm. He frowned at her.

"Not nice, Ms Jones! You don't do sarcasm! Just frosty normally!" He said as if he was paying her a compliment.

Ella rolled her eyes. "I can do both sarcasm and frost! A particular skill. You, of course, have other skills." She looked over her shoulder and nodded towards his harem.

"Oh yeah!" Ben grinned and he also looked over his shoulder. "Yup. Lots of skill." He turned around and looked at Ella, "Ok, no sarcasm. Why can't you give it to Peter?"

Ella reminded him, "He's your share-milker, more chance of you seeing him."

"Ok, yeah, yeah." He nodded, as if that was news to him. "Ok. Go and get it. You can keep it with my other stuff."

"What other stuff?" She frowned at him.

"Emergency stuff. You know Ames." Ben laughed as he remembered the conversation he had with Amelia, "She insisted I came prepared for any emergency!" Ella laughed, given Ben's state, he couldn't possibly help Amelia if she had an emergency at this reception. Ben carried on, "That woman is so paranoid. I have a case full of first aid stuff to cover almost every eventuality. Plus, my parents would deal with any emergency! It is their farm. They have everything for any emergency!"

Ella nodded, "Great! But you know Amelia. You should have prepared for everything and anything!" She laughed. "At least it was only first aid stuff, she could have asked you to arrange for substitution for the priest, the band, the venue, the..."

Ben laughed and draped an arm around her shoulder and drew her closer. "Thanks Ella, you are right, it could be worse! Did I tell you that you are gorgeous?"

Ella giggled. "You are drunk!" And she slipped out from Ben's embrace.

"Maybe. But you are gorgeous."

"Thank you Ben, for that compliment. But I am not your taste! And you don't fancy me."

"I know." Ben agreed, smiling broadly. "But still, you are gorgeous!" Again he draped an arm across her shoulder.

Ella giggled again. "Come on, Lothario, let's go get that stuff." She knew he needed her support so she allowed him to leave his arm on her shoulder!

At the bar, David watched their antics and was not happy. He wondered when Ben had developed this camaraderie with Ella. From his vantage, at the bar, he could see they were laughing.