A/N: All credit to Kudos – unfortunately, nothing belongs to me.
She shouldn't feel this way about him. She knows that her heart shouldn't race as she walks into Thames House because of the prospect of seeing him. Her face shouldn't flush when he speaks to her. Her stomach shouldn't somersault when he smiles. But it happens, just the same.
All of her working life, Ruth has prided herself on her professionalism. And now it has come crashing down around her. She hasn't known him for long, and she's amazed at how quickly her attraction to him has developed. She has always been a firm believer in feelings that develop over time. Ruth has never believed in love at first sight. But that is what this is. She has never fallen for a colleague before – she isn't that sort of girl. The men she has previously been involved with (all three of them) are nothing like Harry. He is kind, compassionate, witty, intelligent…
A large hand suddenly alights on her shoulder, making her jump. The assorted stationary and files on her desk leap as she turns to face her assailant. Her face goes bright red. It is the very man she has been thinking of. She sneaks a quick glance at her laptop screen from the corner of her eyes, wondering if she's been inert for long enough to activate her screensaver. Thankfully she hasn't. The last thing she needs is for Harry to ask why she hasn't been hard at work like the rest of the team.
He smiles, and her stomach flips. "Sorry to disturb you, Ruth," he grins. "I just wanted to see how your first week's been."