A/N Thank you for your kind reviews, here's what happens next.

In a few months time she would spend many an evening replaying that walk to the pub in her imagination. She would recall the simple soaring thrill of tripping along the pavement with him holding her arm snug against his side, the warm scent of his cologne and the crisp cool evening air against her face. Not feeling the cold.

As they neared the pub door she stopped, and so he turned to her, releasing her arm slightly. Was this when she would change her mind?

I've got an idea, she said plainly.

Tell me.

Let's leave everything out here tonight - work, colleagues, government, queen and country.

When we walk in there let's just be two people -

On a date?

Yes if you like. Not Section Head and Analyst, just Harry and Ruth. Deal?

He realises that he would have said yes to anything just in order to walk with her into this pub right now. But it did seem like quite a good idea, and he was very curious to see where this was all going.

Deal. He nodded once.

She smiled, nodded back and as he held the door open for her, she ducked underneath his arm girlishly.

Inside it was perfect - not too busy, not too loud, a real fire in the grate, and that sweet little jazz trio that were there sometimes were even playing at the back. She willed one of the snug booths to be free and it was. She offered up a quick prayer of thanks to whatever gods appeared to be giving their approval to this night out. If there was such a thing as a sign then surely this would be it? By some miracle the dream was within reach.

What can I get you then? He smiled down at her gently as they arrived into the room.

I better stick with red wine I think, I had a couple of glasses before you - um arrived...

It suddenly occurred to her that she hadn't eaten since lunchtime.

And - maybe some peanuts?

He beamed at her then -

Okay.

As he walked to the bar she sidled into the booth and smoothed her dress over her legs. Unbelievably this could actually happen tonight, she thought, as a deep warmth spread right through from her toes up to the crown of her head. She leant her back against the wall and turned then, to watch him ordering their drinks at the bar.

His back looked so broad and strong in his fine wool overcoat. He really did always look so good. In that instance she felt so much love for him and, underneath that, a deeper peace feeling under his wing like this. He was ordering their drinks for them and all was well. Just a man and a woman on a Friday night having a drink or two.

As he laughed at some unknown joke from the barwoman she wanted very badly to claim him as her own. She wanted to be the one making him laugh. Jealousy rose up quick but clear. Alongside that of course was the growing burn of her desire for him. He seemed a little out of her league suddenly. The man, the myth, the legend…

Then he turned back and suddenly there he was, sitting in the booth opposite her with their glasses. Her initial disappointment at the fact that he had not sat next to her faded quickly when their knees met under the table and he smiled beautifully at her.

I got salted and dry roasted just in case - he pulled them from his pocket with a flourish.

I realised that I didn't know which you liked better...

You're a handsome man you know -

His eyes fixed on hers with quick surprise

Nobody wears a suit like you, although I must say I miss the waistcoats...

Is that so?

Yes.

Ha. Well you never wear red any more.

No, I suppose it has been a while...

I miss that. The day that George W Bush visited us - that was the last time.

Really?

Yes, I remember it well - it was difficult not to look at you. Although you look good in black too. Like now for instance.

Cheers? He held up his wineglass towards her.

Cheers. They clinked and everything seemed fine.

They fell into the easy, flirtatious banter they were so good at. One glass became two.

Suddenly, the double bass player of the trio leaned into the microphone

"We'd like to invite our friend Ruth to accompany us for this next one. Ruth?"

Her eyes widened in terror at Harry and he grinned at her, surprised.

She leaned round the side of the booth to face the band.

No I can't ! Not tonight, I'm sorry.

"Come on ! we can't play the song without you !" He implored and people were looking now at her. At them.

I'm with someone ! she pleaded, feeling a rush of fear.

"Well I'm sure he'd like to hear you sing too! "

I would, very much actually, said Harry quietly, with a twinkle, for her.

Harry ! She swung back round to glare at him.

His eyes were sparkling with amusement and pleasure. Damn him.

She closed her eyes and sighed deeply.

Rising and padding head down, towards the band, people watched her curiously from the bar. A couple of small cheers rose up.

The band began to play the opening bars of 'Blue Skies' and then after a moment she opened her mouth and began to nervously, but sweetly, sing.

As she sang she tried desperately not to look at him but it didn't matter because the warmth of it felt like the very sun itself, such was the intensity of his gaze.

"Never saw the sun shining bright,

Never saw things going so right,

Noticing the days hurry by,

When you're in love, my how they fly"

As he watched her sing he wanted very badly to possess her, claim her as his own.
But she seemed a little out of his league suddenly. Surely all the men in here were in love with her at this moment. And they didn't know the half of it! He felt his resolve strengthen then - he was going to show her how important she was to him, how special she was. The time was right.

When the song ended the pub erupted into applause and she smiled shyly with pleasure but mostly relief.

Thank you Ruth ! called the bassist.

"Isn't she lovely Ladies and Gentlemen?" More applause.

Harry was on his feet, clapping, when she padded back and slid back into the booth, face flushed with embarrassment at being the focus of this much attention. He sat down opposite her, his eyes still burning into her with the same intensity as before, but saying nothing - just smiling at her. Then he suddenly seemed to change his mind, got up again, and came round to sit down next to her. They were so very close that she felt the need to shuffle up slightly.

Ruth

Yes

Look at me?

She put her face into her hands then and laughed nervously into them.

And that was when his hand gently reached under the table and pulled her legs slowly around to face him. Finally she let her hands drop and looked him straight in the face.