Chapter 28 - Idiot

I'm an idiot.

He's an idiot.

We're both idiots.

Dorky, teenaged, hormonal idiots would be the best description of all.

Why else would Harm's lips be locked with mine, kissing me in the most delightful way in the middle of the breakroom? It doesn't really help that my hands are grasping the lapels of his Winter blues or that Harm's hands hold my hips.

He kisses good. Too good. Sinfully good and when we break away the evidence of our lip locking affair has tainted his mouth. It's really not his shade so I poorly attempt to dab it off with my thumb to no avail.

"Sorry." He says sheepishly but his apology is neither genuine or remorseful. He knows what he's done and I'm all out of arguments about right and wrong even though I've only been back at the office for less than a day.

Five hours to be exact and in that time he's managed to linger far more than would be acceptable in a working relationship. "No you're not."

"You're right, I'm not." And we kiss again.

This morning, he was waiting for me in the parking lot, leaning against his cherry red Corvette, looking all Officer and a Gentleman. He gallantly opened the door to my vehicle with quite a flourish and offered a hand to help me out. "Good Morning, Colonel. Wonderful day isn't it?"

I had glanced up at skies that were an ominous grey, squinting as raindrops pelted my face. Nevermind that a bolt of lightning crashed nearby, his smile seemed to make that all evaporate.

He tore the briefcase out of my hand, held open all of the doors and grinned like an idiot when I found the red roses on my desk. A tiny card was nestled between the blooms, handwritten with a simple "I love you" scribbled in his hand writing.

Then there was the morning meeting with Chegwidden where we took our usual seats, side by side, and his pen took a header for the floor. This meant that Harm went diving, searching under the large conference table. As he rose, his hand wrapped around my calf, caressed it stopping short of anything indecent at the crook of my knee.

Somehow he managed to bite back a grin and now that I think about it, I believe he lobbed the pen off the conference table on purpose, but I have no proof and knowing that sneaky sailor as I do, he'd never admit to it.

A hand at the small of my back guided me out of the conference room and out to the hallway where Harm offered to carry my briefcase again and more or less wrestled it out of my hand.

Around 1100, Harm hung off my door frame, that casually sexy smile in hand as he asked me to lunch. At 1130, it was the way his hand brushed against mine when I handed him a fax. And by noon, he was kissing the inside of my wrist as we drove out of HQ for a quick lunch.

He's smitten. I'm smitten and I love him, oh so much even if this naughty sailor is the reason I'm keelhauled out of the Marines for public displays of affection. It's worth it. He's so worth it.

"This shade doesn't suit you." I reach into his breast pocket, produce a handkerchief and begin to swipe at his lips until I think he's okay. The color is gone and with a gentle push I get my sexy sailor to back off. "For the record, this won't sway my opinion in court, counselor. Your client is guilty as sin."

"For the record," He retorts and that casual, sexy grin slips into place. I won't tell him that his smile has always given my stomach little butterflies or that it sometimes makes my pulse race. When he leans in to whisper, his voice is low and husky and it makes me melt a little. "I'm really going to enjoy our little courtroom battles especially now that we can 'make up' at home."

He drops a quick kiss on my lips and heads off whistling "Anchor's Away." If he thinks making up after a courtroom sparring match, he has another thing coming. "Commander?"

Calling his rank has Harm stepping back into the breakroom, that silly smile still in place. "Yes, Colonel?"

"I'm not that easy. You can stay at your apartment tonight and me at mine."

"Hah. Funny."

"I'm serious." I'm not but when I fold my arms across my chest, his smile instantly deflates. We've spent so much time together in the last week I honestly don't want to be without him. Harm's the other part of me, the missing piece that has helped me get my life back. I love him but, it's still fun to bust his chops.

"How serious?"

"Very. You wouldn't want to lose your objectivity or even be tempted to go over my case notes, would you?"

"I would never-"

"Come to think of it, we really shouldn't talk much until this case is over. Keep things professional."

"If you think that's best but-"

The color washes from his face and it's almost comical to see his horrified expression. "I…We can be professional and still see each other. We've spent time together during other cases. Not in bed or sleep overs but-"

He catches himself, stops the crazy tirade and then glares at me. "Are you joking?"

"Yes."

"Because, we can be professional and still…date."

He whispers the last word and I can't help but smile at how insanely cute Harm is. "I know we can."

"Good." Harm straightens and folds his arms across his chest. That male bravado disappears and I can almost hear the wheels churning in his head. "I was worried about you coming back, you know?"

"I was too. Kinda thought you'd lose interest once we went back to a working relationship."

His hands take mine and raised them up so that they rest against his chest. I swear, I hear his heart beat hammering through the layers of clothing and when Harm asks me to look up at him, those sea green eyes shine with an intensity I've never seen. "I'm not losing interest in you. I don't think I could if I tried, Sarah."

God, the way he says my name is more intimate than any lover's touch would ever be. And for the rest of the day I find a peace that had been missing and once again delight in my chosen profession, all because of the man who sits in the office next to mine.