NOTE. Let's be honest: the previous chapter was a disaster and for that I apologize now. Hopefully this one's better.


After breaking off her engagement, Madison needed time to heal, to figure out what she wanted from her life. And to do just that, she needed space; space from her family, her friends and people like Harry Hart. He was a complication she didn't want to deal with, even if it was hard for her to forget the way he kissed her that night.

A part of her believed he was the answer to her problems, a man who was everything but selfish, someone who would never force her to change her lifestyle only because there was something they didn't like about it. But Harry was a Kingsman and deep down she knew there was a high chance they could never have a happy life together.

Although who knew, maybe an actual date wasn't something he would be against after all they'd briefly talked about this possibility before she left.

Either way, she hadn't been that nervous for a long time because she liked Harry and she didn't want to mess things up. At least it was only a simple lunch, not a date. That thought was quite comforting as she waited for him to arrive. When she saw him get out of the cab, though, all her calmness disappeared and was replaced by a nervous feeling.

"Good afternoon, Madison," Harry told her the moment he stopped in front of her in the restaurant.

Madison smiled to herself as she said, "Harry, it's nice to see your manners haven't changed."

"Have you been waiting for long?" His eyes barely left her face as he sat down across from her and signaled the waitress to come over to them. Once he saw her shake her head as an answer to his question, he went on. "Well, I know I was late so I'm sorry if I kept you waiting anyway."

When the waitress arrived Harry took the liberty of ordering wine for both of them. While many women probably wouldn't have liked the way he chose for her as well, Madison didn't really have a problem with that. She trusted him and his taste so she knew he most probably made a better choice than she would have.

"How was Canada?" he suddenly asked.

"It was great. I mean, a bit lonely in the beginning but that's kind of why I went there." She fell silent for a moment as she thought about what to say next. It was an unusual scenario during their conversations and she could barely recall such awkward silences from the past. In the end she let out a long sigh and said, "Look, I'm sorry for leaving without saying a word."

Harry moved his arm a little as if he wanted to reach out and touch her hand but almost immediately changed his mind. "There's no need to apologize, Madison. You're an adult and have the right to go wherever you want."

"Geez, are you some kind of a saint?" she asked with a laugh.

"No, I'm not."

Though his voice was serious Madison didn't miss the small, barely visible smile that formed on his lips. "Okay, what's with the smile?"

"You asked the exact same question the last time we met. Well, the night before that," he corrected himself.

For long seconds she only sat their in complete silence, her eyes need not leaving Harry's face. She didn't even flinch when the waitress returned with the wine and it was the Kingsman who had to ask for a few more minutes before they were ready to order.

Madison tried to remember what happened exactly after they'd left the bar, what made her ask this question but in her mind there was only darkness. She could only recall certain pieces of information, like the way he kissed her.

Twice.

Shaking her head and clearing her throat she eventually said, "I don't think I remember much of that night to be honest."

Luckily Harry simply laughed it off. "You're truly entertaining when you're tipsy," he told her reassuringly.

"Let's be honest," Madison began with a finger held up, "I was drunk."

"That doesn't change my opinion."

She had known Harry for a few years but this was probably the first time he let the textbook gentleman image slip for a moment so he could look more like an average guy. She liked it. She liked the way he smiled and laughed about things.

The silence that fell between them was only broken by the waitress who returned to take their orders. This time Harry didn't chose for her and she was grateful for that because she was so nervous that her appetite was practically non-existent.

Several moments after being left alone once again, Harry cleared his throat and rested his forearms on the table. "Were you mad at me?"

"For what exactly?" Madison asked, genuinely surprised.

"What I did that night."

She needed a few moments to think about what he was referring to exactly. Then the list was shortened tobone possibility. "You mean when you kissed me?"

Harry quickly nodded. "And I took you to my flat."

"It's not like you took advantage of my pretty drunken state of mind," she pointed out, having no idea where exactly he was heading with this.

"I still believe I crossed a line."

Letting out an annoyed groan she reached out and took his hand out of instinct as she said, "Harry, you're seriously one of the most amazing man I've ever known and I know you would never do anything bad to me."

But apparently he only heard what he wanted to hear. "Personally I'm not so sure about that anymore."

"Why?" Madison asked with her head tilted to the side.

"Do you know how I found you that night?"

Letting go of his hand and leaning back in the chair she said, "You're a spy, I'm sure you have your methods."

"I placed a bug on your phone before you left the tailor that day. I was listening to you flirting with those men and after a while I just felt like I had to get you out of that pub."

She wasn't a hundred percent sure but she could've sworn he was almost upset about what she had done there. Was it jealousy? Or was it something entirely different? Did he thing she was reckless?

"And?" she asked eventually.

"And? Aren't you upset?"

"God, Harry, you were only protecting me, I should be grateful for having a friend like you. Just stop being so hard on yourself." She waited but Harry remained silent. It was clear as day he didn't agree with her about this. "Listen, if anyone I should be the one apologizing for my behavior. I acted like some immature little brat and coming to save me wasn't your job. There's something we really should talk about, though."

Harry let out a quiet hum as he thought about what she said. After what seemed to be an eternity, he asked, "What would that be?"

Should she even go there? Was it the right time and place to discuss these things? After all she'd been thinking about how she needed time away from complications like Harry Hart all day.

But all her worries disappeared when she looked into his eyes and saw the smallest of smiles on his lips. Maybe the part of her mind that believed he was the solution rather than the problem was right.

Maybe he was the only one she needed right now.

"That I like you," she replied after a long period of silence and didn't wait for him to say something. "And when I say I like you, I mean more than just a friend. You know, I had quite a lot of time to think and I realized that if you're interested we should... well... maybe we should go on a date. Just to see if it would work at all."

And right then Harry's posture suddenly changed; he leaned back in his chair and it seemed like his body language became sort of defensive. She wanted to stand up and run away but her rational part reminded her that she was an adult therefore she had to stay and listen.

But Harry's words truly surprised her. "Are you sure about this?"

"Yes," she began slowly, "a hundred percent sure."

"So you want to go on a date?"

"Well, only if you're interested."

"I can assure you I am," Harry told her as he moved forward to be closer. She had to bite her lower lip to stop herself from saying or doing something reckless. "Why are you looking at me like this?"

Was she that obvious? "Like what?"

"Like there's something else you'd like to tell me."

Madison nonchalantly waved her hand. "Nah, I'd rather keep it to myself."

"Come on, what is it?"

Leaning forward, she took a good look around. Once she noted that the waitress wasn't around she said, "I really, really want to kiss you right now," she admitted.

"Let's not rush things," he told her as he reached out and took her hand.

She loved it. She loved everything about the way he touched her and only feeling his warm skin on hers managed to calm her anxious thoughts. He was interested, it wasn't a question anymore.

"I agree with you about that one," she said, referring to not rushing things. "You know, I was thinking about calling you when I came back to London but I couldn't get myself to do it. To be honest, I was embarrassed about what happened and how I acted before I left."

Before he could say anything, the waitress returned and they were forced to wait until she left in awkward silence. As she did her job, the pair didn't break eye contact, and the urge to stand up and kiss him became stronger than it had been before.

But now they had all the time in the world and it felt amazing.