True Love Waits

Sheffield sensed Evelyn's gaze. He turned around and asked, "Do you want to give it a try?"

She nodded.

Sheffield fetched another basket. It had apples, bananas and berries.

"Let me help you," he said. He picked up an apple and gave it to her. She took it with her right hand. He then stood behind her, grabbed her right hand and handed the apple to the elephant along with her.

He was so close to her that Evelyn's heart started beating furiously inside her chest. She tried to zero in on feeding the elephant.

The refreshing scent on her hair wafted into Sheffield's nose. Her hand was soft and delicate. He couldn't help planting a gentle kiss on her hair.

They didn't leave the pen until Evelyn was content.

At lunchtime, he took her to a restaurant beside a man-made lake. Tayson positioned himself outside the private booth and insisted that they keep the door open. When Evelyn went to the ladies' room, Sheffield went to Tayson. He airily wrapped his arm around the bodyguard's shoulder and said, "Dude, buy yourself some lunch. And stop staring at us while we eat. She needs some space." Tayson gave him a cold glance. "I'm not hungry."

"We're all human. Humans need food to survive. Don't beat yourself up. Relax. I can protect her." Sheffield removed his arm from Tayson's shoulder and leaned sluggishly against the wall, one knee bent and one hand in his pocket. He carried himself with ease and such calm demeanor.

'You can protect her? With what? Your brain?' Tayson thought. And he didn't think Sheffield looked that smart either. "No. It's my job to protect her," he said.

Sheffield found him stubbornly dutiful. "What's your terms to not be the third wheel on our date?"

'Date? When did Miss Huo agree to go out with this guy?" "When you can fight me," Tayson replied.

Sheffield was amused. "I could stab you with a scalpel."

Tayson didn't want to waste more time on him. "Go away." He decided to go inside the room to find Evelyn.

But scarcely had he moved when someone grabbed hold of his wrist from behind.

By the time Evelyn walked out of the powder room, three courses had been served. Sheffield was leisurely seated at the table. He smiled at her and asked, "Shall we eat?"

She nodded and turned towards the door, but Tayson was nowhere to be seen.

for something?" he asked deliberately as he

wild pigeon soup. The owner of the restaurant just caught it on the hill. Super fresh." He put a bowl of the white-milk soup in front of her.

It smelled delicious.

"The utensils are new.

he was such a thoughtful man. He didn't look like one when

spoon from him and started

while, he asked, "Can you handle

She nodded.

towards the kitchen, "Quick-sauted termite mushrooms, please.

chef

Hot peppers filled two-thirds of the plate. It looked so yummy that

put it into Evelyn's bowl. "Have

In under two seconds, she felt

and swallowed it. Then, she hastily picked up

out of her. When she turned to him with a glare, he

had turned red. "Why don't you eat it?" she

up a termite mushroom and ate it, without

went slack. 'Are we eating the

eat it anymore if it's too deviled for you." Sheffield was worried that her stomach wouldn't

plum from her bag and put it in her mouth to

at her ponderously.

that she carried a packet of plum

"Yes," she admitted.

"Oh."

them seemed to put much thought into

from eating the spicy food.

water, she ate more termite mushrooms. Eventually, her mouth was burning as if she had swallowed the sun. After lunch, Evelyn remained in her seat, supporting her head with one hand. Sheffield went to the counter to

with a mischievous grin. "Here, drink some crystal sugar

better, but not by much.

way to make it better.