'So,' Dempsey twirled a pen around his fingers as he put his booted feet on Harry's desk and watched her irritation at the familiarity, 'I know I'm in the penguin suit but what are you wearing to the Famine Relief Ball, as its' our coming out party I think I should vet the dress.'
'How do you know it's a dress?' She gave him a wince of a smile unwilling to allow him any say in what she wore as a matter of principle and because she was annoyed with him, 'I often prefer a more androgynous style.'
'Yeah well, you only prefer that cos you look hot when you get dressed in your little tie and waistcoat but if you put on a dinner suit for the ball I ain't taking you.' His gaze challenged hers and his jaw squared ever so slightly, 'I've got my image to protect and I ain't going as Laurel and Hardy.'
Harry sighed with forced patience and raised her eyebrows haughtily, 'I thought we were protecting my image, I hadn't realised I had to gussy up to inflate your massive ego.'
The American smirked and took his feet off her desk and leaned forward so he was closer. 'Think of this as an undercover operation Detective Inspector and then think to yourself what would I wear if I was going to a ball with the man of my dreams.'
'I'm flattered that you think I have such a vivid imagination, perhaps you would like to tell me what you think I should wear,' she rested her chin on her steepled fingers her blue eyes steady and challenging on his.
He got up and waved his arm in a flourish at the door, 'lead on. I'll come back to yours and we'll review your wardrobe and see if we can agree on something that would work.'
'No thank you, you're just going to have to trust to my judgement. I've been to a lot of these events Dempsey and there is no way I would ever let a man tell me how to dress.'
'Probably accounts for the dry spell,' he answered in a smug tone. 'Nothing's a bigger turn off than a woman who dresses for comfort,' he tried to keep a straight face when he landed that one cos he knew she'd hate that insinuation.
He was right Harry was now determined to wear a dress that would make concentration difficult for the bloody man. She was well aware that James wanted her and had a dark desire to punish him with his own stupid libido.
Dempsey knew exactly how to push Harry's buttons so he was quietly confident that she wouldn't choose some up to the neck down to the feet number that would signal a doomed evening as far as any action was concerned. If she was dressed hot and in his arms for the evening that would be a result. He was fully aware of his ability to charm a woman but it was easier if the battle armour was off.
'Freddie's chauffeur will pick you up at 7.30 p.m. tomorrow evening and then he'll drive over to my place. Please be ready on time as we don't want to be late. Photographers have been alerted as to our presence as a titillating rumour has been running that Lady Harriet Winfield will be appearing with her mystery man and I don't want to have to open the French windows and wait for the chap who delivers Milk Tray.'
He laughed at that. 'Yeah, you don't want to be piling on the calories just yet. I'll be on time. Just think of it as a con and you'll be fine.'
'No problem,' she gave him a sweet smile. 'I have difficulty thinking of it as anything else.' The look she got back could only be considered as nasty or dark and brooding if you wanted to romanticise it.
-oOo—
Harry's pulse jumped as the doorbell rang and she swallowed hard and ran her hands over her hips smoothing the dress. When she'd pulled on the dark blue, silk gown she'd been rather pleased with the affect against her lightly tanned skin. She wasn't wearing a bra as the dress had a 1920's vibe with a low décolletage at the front and a dramatic dip at the back, the waist was dropped around her hips and then the material fell to her feet. It was elegant and exuded sex appeal at the same time. 'Oh well, better get to it,' she said under her breath and got hold of a gauze wrap that went with it and pulled on her high heeled shoes.
Dempsey was getting irritated at the time it was taking her to open the door and leant on the bell. When she finally opened up he tried to school his expression into something that looked reasonably suave and debonair in other words he tried not to gawk. All right, this was going to be difficult. I mean the material was just draping over her breasts, no bra that was for sure and her nipples looked nice and perky and were saying hello.
'Are you sure that's going to stay on,' he couldn't help the question. I mean the balance of silk against skin looked precarious.
'I'd wager that's the first time you've ever said that to a woman,' she smirked in condescending way that she knew got right up his nose.
'Ha, very funny. The thing is Makepeace…
'It's Winfield now and on the marriage license it says Dempsey-Winfield,' she pulled the door behind her and walked to the car, 'try and remember our names it's the first rule of a good cover.'
'The thing is that this is us making things respectable and we ain't gonna do that if the damned, dress falls off.' He opened the car door for her.
'Well, it won't fall off,' she gave him a cool, disdainful glance, 'it's ball not a barn dance although I'm sure you would be more comfortable at the latter.'
'Hurtful,' he remarked wryly. 'Do you think we might get to a ceasefire before they take our pictures cos I'm pretty sure you giving me that look you just gave me and my manly jaw squaring ain't the look we're going for.'
Harry sense of humour rescued the moment and she tried to subdue a smile and failed.
They drew up to the venue and Dempsey got out of the car and the chauffeur opened the door for Harry. James leaned in and helped her out getting a nice shot down her cleavage as he did so. 'Showtime,' he growled at her, his voice dropping in sync with the view.
-oOo—
Angela was the first to greet them. 'Hello darlings, you both look absolutely gorgeous. It's a frightful squeeze and the press are everywhere so remember to pose accordingly.'
'Dempsey thinks my dress is dangerous,' the blonde responded as she tucked her hand into the crook of James' arm. 'My family are here James, you've met most of them but not as my husband so let's start with them.'
'Are you sure, cos a bunch of shooting eyebrows ain't gonna look good on the photos,' he smirked at that.
'They've given up on me after the divorce and the career choice so marriage to an American from Brooklyn might be seen as a hat-trick.'
'Two out of three ain't bad,' he kissed her temple. 'Maybe in time we'll get three out of three.'
'You're talking in riddles. Uncle Duffy,' she greeted the older man, 'you've met James, he's finally made an honest woman of me,' she smiled in an engaging fashion, 'he's now officially my plus one.'
'I did hear a rumour,' a benign smile accompanied his words, 'I always thought you might make a go of it. Your cousins are cut up about it as they were quite taken with your American friend.'
Dempsey smiled at that as he appreciated admiration from the fairer sex. 'Well, I'm sorry to disappoint the ladies but I got my little piece of paradise right here.' They exchanged a few more pleasantries and moved on. 'Which cousins,' he queried in a low tone and got his foot impaled by a high heel.
'You're standing on my foot,' he said through gritted teeth, 'no need to be jealous babe, I only got eyes for you.'
'Sorry, I hadn't realised,' she glibly lied and removed her foot. 'Araminta and Tabitha probably, they were dancing around you like mayflies on Christmas Eve. Please don't call me babe, I hate it, it sounds like you've forgotten my name.'
'Never forget your name Pookie,' he responded playfully as he ran his arm around her waist enjoying the feel of her warm body through the silk. 'Okay, who's next.'
'Basil, Camilla etcetera they're over in the far corner, I wish I could drink it would make this a lot easier.'
'Nah, it's easy enough, they all think we've been at it for years,' he guided her over and they listened to all the self-congratulations as everyone said they knew about the two of them all along and when was the party.
General Arbuthnot Calder-Winfield was not such a push over he eyed Dempsey through a monocle and harrumphed. 'You've done very well for yourself young man,' he sounded affronted. 'I don't know what Freddie was thinking of; you've been a disappointment to your father Harriet.'
Harry took that in her stride whilst she could feel James bristling at her side. Old fossils like her uncle didn't necessarily appeal to Dempsey's democratic ideals.
'Now, Uncle Notty you know that isn't true,' she smiled fondly at the old gentleman, 'it's the 1980's we must all move with the times and my father has a very modern outlook.'
'Harry ain't a disappointment to anyone,' the American eye balled the General, 'she's a dedicated police officer and a loyal and committed daughter sounds like a win to me. But you're right on one count, I'm a very lucky man,' he raised their joined hands to his mouth and kissed hers.
Uncle Notty didn't looked convinced but as he was fond of his niece he kissed her cheek and gave them both his reluctant congratulations.
'Where did you dig up the General,' Dempsey gave her a disapproving look, 'you got any more like that.'
'Yes, it's called having a family. They come in a variety of flavours, my father is a lot more forward looking than most of his generation so don't be surprised if we get more of that. Most of them disapprove of my job, I think I told you that. The police are looked down on whereas the military life or the clergy have always been a calling for second sons as long as one is a General or a Bishop of course. The judiciary are tolerated as well with an eye to the incumbent progressing to the House of Lords.'
'From what I've seen of the forces the police are a damn site better when it comes to command lines,' his warm gaze teased hers, 'don't tell Spikings I said that.'
'I wouldn't dream of it,' she said in mock protest. 'Look romantic James, I spy a camera lens pointed in our direction.' She was somewhat shocked when Dempsey dropped his head and dropped a sting of a kiss on her mouth. It didn't last long but what it lacked in duration it made up for in intensity.
'You obscured my face,' she pouted trying to deal with her reaction to the unexpected intimacy. Her lips were stinging and she was fighting the urge to touch them with her fingertips.
'Whirlwind romance they'll expect it, carried away by the strength of our passion.' He picked up a glass of champagne from the waiter. 'You got any soft drinks for the lady,' he asked the guy. Minutes later a selection of non-alcoholic drinks turned up and he thanked the waiter leaving a tip on his tray.
'You're not supposed to tip them,' she informed him didactically knowing he wouldn't take a blind bit of notice of that.
'American's always tip generously, ensures good service and the guy went out of his way to be helpful. You British are mean that way,' he clinked his glass against hers. 'If you wanted a stuffed shirt you got knocked up by the wrong guy.'
'Didn't I just,' she agreed sipping her drink and trying not to let the bubble of laughter escape. Dempsey had always been irreverent of rank, he respected people by the quality of their actions not by their inherited privileges. It worked well in her world because rank and title didn't faze him. To give him his due he was never rude until he found a reason to be. He had an uncanny ability to detect people who were fakes, the nose knows she supposed.
Freddie joined them with a benign smile on his features. 'Well the news of your wedding has circulated with a number of varied responses. We will be expected to provide a party at some point but you can choose your moment for that. I think we can take it that we have successfully announced the happy event.'
Harry nodded, 'we have two more evenings to complete and then we can let the gossips do the rest for us. It's remarkable how quickly news circulates.'
While Harry and her Pop had been talking James had allowed his gaze to wander over Harry in the blue silk dress. She looked fantastic and he had a strong desire to take her in his arms. 'Dance with me,' Dempsey growled as he guided her away from her father after a polite, 'excuse us,' and took her onto the floor. It was a slow number which he favoured. 'So, we're becoming legit,' his dark eyes met her cool blue gaze. 'It'll be this week's conversation over coffee and then something else'll crop up and we'll be old news.'
'Yes, I suppose so. You know we really didn't think any of this through,' she frowned at that thought. At the time all she'd thought about was protecting her reputation perhaps that had been a knee jerk reaction to the circumstances. 'I mean marriage is an awfully big step and we just bounced into it as if we were applying for a T.V. license.'
Dempsey seriously hoped Harry was in denial because he'd thought about it quite a bit. That night they'd shared had shown him how shallow his previous romantic skirmishes had been. 'It is a big step,' his mouth feathered her temple, 'and I think I may have given it a little bit more thought than you did.'
Harry's head shot up and she gave him a searching look. 'What do you mean?'
'Talk about it another time,' he soothed her, 'remember the cover, we're supposed to look like lovers,' his mouth brushed hers and then deepened the caress.
Harry was confused. His kiss seriously undermined her cool façade as her jaw relaxed and allowed him to explore the soft recesses of her mouth. Trust Dempsey to take advantage of the situation. She could hardly reject him as they were on public show. The fact that she didn't want to reject him did sail across her conscious mind only to be ignored.
He raised his head as the kiss had seriously unsettled him, he wanted more and this wasn't the time or the place. She looked beautiful, her mouth was full from his kiss and her colour was heightened with any other woman he would be looking forward to the night ahead.
'I think we've been convincing enough,' her voice was husky and sounded languorous, for heaven's sake pull yourself together she chided her aberrant self.
'I was convinced,' a smile tugged at his lips. 'You're one hell of a kisser, Harry. He caught her hand and led her off the dance floor and they did the round of goodbyes before they left. It had been a successful evening Dempsey concluded in more ways than one.
-oOo-
