The next day Ruth took the morning off, after explaining to Harry that she needed to go shopping. She was embarrassed about using work time to do personal stuff, but she kept reminding herself it was for operational purposes. Which didn't explain why she found herself lingering in the lingerie section, looking at the array of underwear and wondering which colour Harry would like her in best. No, it couldn't explain that at all.

She knew it was irrational, and most likely Harry would never see them, but… it couldn't hurt to be prepared could it? And she'd be mortified if they did get that far and all she had on were her boring plain knickers.

She found a black lace bra which she really liked the look of and carefully went through the rack. It was almost as if she were afraid of anyone seeing her buying underwear. Which was ridiculous. She was at perfect liberty to buy whatever she wanted. Of course she was. She found her size and saw an attached thong with it. Touching the flimsy material she shook her head. No, this wasn't something Ruth would wear. A bit of black elastic? But she wasn't going to be Ruth was she? She was going to be Marianne Glover. Ruth bit her lip, and after a moments hesitation she picked up that style in four different colours and took the underwear to the counter.

That night she was packing, and memorising all the information on her legend, two things which weren't conducive to each other. On top of that, her phone rang. She wedged it in between her shoulder and ear. "Yes?"

"Hi Ruth, it's Harry," he said, his voice sounding both a little strained and a little… what? She couldn't quite define it.

"Oh. Hi," she said.

"I've caught you at a bad time," he said.

"No, I'm packing," she said. "And teaching my memory that I'm Marianne Glover. It's coming along slowly."

"For a woman of your capabilities, I can hardly believe that." She blushed at the compliment. Inside her case were the new outfits she'd bought, everything that she'd feel comfortable wearing but just a little more… well, a little more. Ruth reached the shopping bag that held her new underwear and her fingers traced over the lace lightly. "Ruth, are you there?" Harry asked.

"Yes," she said. "Sorry, I was miles away."

"You should sleep," he said, lightly chastising her.

"I'll pack first, then sleep," she said. "What did you want?"

"Hmm?"

"You called me," she said.

"Ah, yes," he said, suddenly seeming uncomfortable. "I did. I wanted to tell you that… if you really don't want to come, you don't have to. I mean it's an undercover operation, and I think I might have presumed too much. You're a desk officer after all. Not to negate your work, you're absolutely brilliant at what you do, I just…"

Ruth smiled at his rambling. He was nervous. God, Harry Pearce was nervous about going away with her for a week. The thought was flattering. "Harry, slow down," she said. "Our legends are all sorted and planned, you've left it to the last minute to ask about my feelings."

"I know," he said. "I've been selfish."

"Harry, this is a professional operation," she said slowly, even as she cut the price tags off of her newly acquired bra. "There is no reason I should be uncomfortable sharing a room with you, is there?"

"No," he said after a moment.

"Look, this is important and it needs to be done," she said. "If I was uncomfortable or was going to back out, I'd never have let my legend be arranged in the first place. I don't do things without thinking them through."

"Okay," he said. "I'll pick you up at nine then. For the drive up?"

"Perfect," she said.

"I'm… I'll be driving a rather… ostentatious car. After all, I'm meant to be Jonathan Golding and he's quite… flashy with his money."

"What car is it?" she asked, curiosity getting the better of her.

"I'll let you be… suitably surprised when I arrive," he said. She knew he wouldn't budge and she smiled into the phone. "Well, I should go."

"Yes, I'll see you in about ten hours," she said, looking at the clock.

"Looking forward to it." She put the phone down and finished packing, all the while thinking of Harry. She wondered what the week would hold. And she wasn't thinking about the case they were working on either.

In the morning Ruth ate breakfast, but she was wondering about Harry. She was both nervous, worried and excited. A very odd combination.

Suddenly there was a knock on her door and she quickly answered it. Harry stood there, a dark jacket over a white shirt which was unbuttoned at the throat. The small patch of skin held her attention for longer than it should before her eyes reached his face. He was smiling. "Ready?"

"Yes," she said. "Let me grab my case." He ignored this, walking past her to pick it up himself. She smiled at his gentlemanly behaviour and then she saw the car.

"Wow."

"Yes," he said. "Apparently this was in Jonathan Golding's garage and we're making full use of it."

"Bloody hell."

"Well, when will I ever get the chance to drive an Aston Martin ever again?"

"Is that your excuse?" she asked, smiling at the look of eager anticipation on his face.

"Come on, you know what men are like with cars," he said, opening the passenger side door for her in a surprising gesture. She sat down and felt this his enthusiasm for the car wasn't as annoying as it maybe should have been.

"Good luck driving through London rush hour traffic with this," Ruth said as he sat in the drivers seat. He grinned as he started the car, and it was infectious.

"You look great," he said. She looked down at herself and shrugged. She was wearing a white blouse and a knee length skirt. Her legs were bare from the knee down and he'd never seen her showing so much flesh. Of course, sitting down in the car, he couldn't see much, but he had had an appreciative view of her calves as she walked to the car. He took another look at her, and then swallowed uncomfortably. She was wearing a black bra, which could be seen through the thin white shirt. Only just, but he could definitely see it. God, how was he going to control himself this week?

Ruth had seen him looking and she blushed a little. "I am meant to be undercover as a cheap tart," she said as a reminder.

"Sorry," he said. "I didn't mean to… look." He sighed for a moment. "Sorry. And I don't think Marianne Glover is cheap by any means." He nodded at the car in question and she laughed.

"True," she said. "Shall we rehearse our legends?"

Harry sighed, feeling them slip back into work mode, but he nodded in agreement.

More soon. Thank you so much for the reviews and encouragement for chapter one.