Mick Maudsley and his link to the Cotterdam fire cover-up keep them very busy for the rest of the day, but despite the apparent neat resolution to the problem that is presented with their discovery of Zakir Abdul, Ruth doesn't quite buy it. Her gut tells her that they're missing something and she's still sure that Maudsley's tenner was a drop. So she goes to Harry, hoping to convince him that her hunch is right, but much to her disappointment and frustration, she fails; he doesn't believe her.
"I don't want you to get fixated on this," he murmurs when he's finished reiterating the conclusion they've reached based on the evidence they've found.
"Fixated?" she frowns.
"Well, no, not fixated. Sorry, that's the wrong word," he stammers. Then he turns and approaches her, his eyes softening as he says softly, "But you look exhausted, Ruth, and I'm worried about you."
"Don't be. I'm fine," she objects immediately, feeling frustrated that he won't trust her judgement and not wanting to hear the tenderness in his voice right now that's blurring the lines between boss and... whatever he is or, more accurately, would like to be - lover, partner, significant other.
"I can't help it, Ruth," he admits softly. "I always worry about you."
He holds her gaze for several moments and she gets lost in those wonderful, hazel eyes of his for the second time today, her irritation slowly dissipating.
The impulse to kiss her is overwhelming, and for the third time today, he almost gives into it before he manages to pull back from the brink. "Let me give you a lift home," he murmurs instead, breaking the spell that has them frozen in time as they gaze at each other in adoration.
"No, I'm going to go on the tube," she replies stubbornly, fighting his pull on her despite the fact that most of her desperately wants to give in to it and fall into his arms.
"Don't be such a stubborn old mule!" he says abruptly, exasperated by her insistence on doing everything the hard way.
"Mule?" she queries incredulously, almost smiling at his adorably flustered look when he realises what he's said.
"Well, I don't mean mule. It's just an expression," he mumbles, looking apologetic and so adorable that she just wants to kiss him... again. Damn him! She smiles at him instead, making him almost sigh in relief. "Please, Ruth," he adds softly, "let me take you home." It's on the tip of his tongue to add, "It wasn't so bad last time, was it?" but he checks himself in time.
"Fine," she replies somewhat forcefully, realising that she's being unnecessarily difficult when he's being incredibly sweet and considerate. "I'll get my things." And with that, she turns and leaves his office.