Ruth had said yes. Not a hesitant yes or one that told him in no uncertain terms that there was no way back from what he'd said. Or that all the grovelling he was prepared to do would be necessary. Before she'd turned on her heel and disappeared behind her door. Which begged the question as to what time they were going to leave? Knocking or ringing her, he rejected as appearing to be needy and instead worked on the fact that as Ruth was a creature of habit, she'd remember that when he'd last taken her out to dinner, that he'd picked her up at seven. Which left him an hour to do what? Other than to have a shower and change out of the clothes that he'd worn on the journey and to formulate a plan that would win her back. Only for his phone to ring.

Tempted as he was to ignore it, he looked at his watch and remembered that he'd arranged to call Adam. Only to see it was Malcolm.

'It's a bit noisy I'm afraid because we're in the George. Adam's rather tied up at the moment, trying to persuade Ros that crossing the river won't put an end to her career, so I thought I take the opportunity to have a word myself.'

'Is everything alright Malcolm?'

'Only if you can confirm that Ruth's with you. The last time I saw her was on the grid this morning when she was very upset. I need to know that she's safe.'

'If I have anything to do with it, and yes she's with me.'

'Then I don't need to worry?'

'No, you don't.'

'And you Harry?'

'If I tell you that she's said yes to going out to dinner with me this evening and that I can assume you played no small part in that happening, then I need to thank you.'

'Just make sure that you look after her.'

'I will.'

While Harry had been chatting to Malcolm, Ruth had told herself to stop over thinking things, including whether or not people realised that she and Harry were more than just colleagues. That almost everyone you met and ever would, was either in a relationship or had at some time in their lives, said no only later to regret it. Good or bad, that the past was just that and what Harry had said and how she'd reacted to provoke what had been in Malcolm's words typically Harry, was one of the things that defined who he was. Which meant that he didn't change like the wind, but was consistent in his dislike of politicians and fiercely loyal when it came to his friends and colleagues. That separating the personal from work, even this, which in all honesty felt more daunting than anything she'd ever had to do, wouldn't be possible without Harry alongside her to metaphorically or otherwise hold her hand.

As was the way in which they managed to negotiate themselves through the moment when Ruth opened her door and Harry wanted to tell her that she looked lovely and her to say can we just get the hell out of here, without either of them saying a word. Before they stepped outside the hotel into the cool Geneva evening.

The decision to walk and find somewhere to eat was a mutual one. In as much as Ruth had asked Harry if he'd ever been to Geneva before? Which as he hadn't meant that unlike the first time that he'd taken her out, there wasn't a taxi ready and waiting. A luxury that ranked along with the many others that had they not been where they were, from Harry's point of view was now filled with possibilities. So much so that when they were being shown to a table on the first floor of a restaurant which was aptly named the wall of glass, because there was an uninterrupted view from the window of the lake and the fountain in the foreground, he decided that before that went back to the hotel, he was going to apologise.

The meal as good as it was, passed with very little conversation. This time it wasn't because either of them was tongue tied. It was because they both thought that they knew what the other was thinking. Which went way beyond isn't the view from here wonderful on his part or this wasn't one of the cities that you implied you'd like us to visit together on hers. Which meant that it wasn't until the coffee arrived. Something which coincided with the sun dipping below the horizon, that Ruth spoke out.

Echoing what Malcolm had said to her, 'have you ever thought what it would it would be like to do something else? A job that doesn't require you to give everything of yourself as they tell you in training.'

'Not really, why?'

'Malcolm asked me how I'd feel if you just upped and left.'

Did he, thought Harry. 'And?' he asked.

Well firstly I couldn't picture you leaving Thames House.'

'And secondly.'

'Can we go for a walk before we go back to the hotel?' asked Ruth.

.

Again, by mutual agreement, no surprises there, they were aiming to walk as far as the first of what were several small wooden piers, where during the daytime, boats took tourists on a site seeing trip on the lake. Seventy - three kilometres long, it could also be circumnavigated by road. Which had thrown up the question in Harry's mind, that rather than travel on the same train as everyone else to their next destination in the Alps, whether or not Ruth would be receptive to him hiring a car at the end of the first week. An overnight stop wasn't far from his mind either as they'd be leaving Geneva on the Saturday morning, with the second week of talks not due to begin until the Monday. He was so engrossed in his thoughts that he didn't realise that Ruth had stopped and was leaning against the railings. Looking back at the city which in comparison to London was bland when it came to its architectural heritage.

'Miles away,' he said, making his excuses, when he was walking back towards her. The amused look on her face, enough for him to say, 'Ruth before you say anything, I need to apologise for what I said.'

That Ruth hadn't been planning on saying anything or had she expected Harry to apologise, she left hanging in the wind. Harry as far as she remembered had only ever apologised when he'd suggested he still looked on her as one of the senior pros. Which had led her to ask him if that meant that Adam was their new team captain and Malcolm the head groundsman?

Only to hear him say, 'I don't know why I said what I did and I should never have assumed that you'd say no. I'll do anything for us to get back to where we were.'

Ruth knew if she said, no you shouldn't or I don't want to get back to where we were I want us to move this on. In fact, I'd quite like you to stop talking and kiss me, he definitely would.

Only to find that Harry surprised her yet again, by assuming that her lack of reply meant that she agreed with him by saying, 'I'd like to think that we can use the two weeks away from the grid, at least in the evenings and next weekend, to treat this opportunity as some sort of holiday.'

Ruth nodding and shivering at the same time, he took to mean that she felt cold. Their future depending on how he reacted hanging in the balance, he took both her hands in his own and blew on them, before turning up the collar on her coat. His restraint such as it was buckling under the weight of expectation of what was to come. Whereas Ruth was there and had been since he'd said the word holiday. Only to feel it sky rocket when he'd blown on her fingers.

Nothing happened of course because a couple walking their dog called out, 'Bonsoir' as they walked past. Other than Harry did find the courage to offer her his arm, before they set off for the hotel. An arm which by the time they walked through the front door, he'd managed without any resistance, to wrap around her shoulders.

.

On entering the hotel, the noise emanating from the bar, suggested that there would be some thick heads in the morning. A morning that was due to start with a buffet style breakfast with the other delegates. In a reception room where the conference was going to take place. But before that happened, there was the not so small matter of them taking the lift to the first floor and saying goodnight outside their respective doors. Where Ruth was just about to say, well I'll see you in the morning then, when, 'I don't suppose you fancy a night cap?' Harry asked her.