Author's Note: A few of you requested more Harm and Mac time, so here it is ;) Just a forewarning, in any of these updates I may be experimenting with slightly different writing styles, but hopefully you won't find the general tone of the story too confusing.
10:25 pm
Bachelor Pad
Malibu
"Sarah," his voice is a shivery warmth on the nap of her neck. Mac turned around to face a smiling Harmon Rabb. It's a faintly cheeky smile that fittingly bestows upon him the title of the Bachelor. He's acutely aware of the prey status he's obtained to the hungry stares of fourteen voracious women; perhaps even to the remaining marine.
"Join me for a walk?" he asks, offering her his arm in proper gentlemanly fashion, even though they are both in shorts, t-shirts and bare feet. Harm sees a flicker of surprise in her eyes before its blinked away. She gives an indiscernible 'why not?' shrug, and links her arm through his. He'd already asked for similar individual time with two others, so although this request left a dozen other bachelorettes pouting with discontentment, it didn't construe as a suspicious maneuver on his part.
He leads them leisurely out to the rear of the grounds which overlooks the ocean. The mansion is built on the crest of a small hill, raised majestically for the world to see. At the hill's edge is a steep slope, an unintended trail leading down to the beachfront. Harm encloses his hand over hers securely, taking a careful step on the grassy terrain down.
"Harm, what you are doing," Mac pulls back with a laugh.
"Come on, this way the cameras won't be able to follow us," he whispers eagerly.
"Are you crazy?" she hissed, but follows.
It's an extremely ordinary act of spontaneity, reminiscent of two school kids escaping from being caught through any outrageous means at hand. Something the two officers in the US military would never have considered doing just because ... they can. They half ran, half staggered down the hill.
The near forty-five degree decline sends Mac sliding down the last meter on her feet like a pair of skis. Puffing, she stumbles to a halt at the base, consequently her toes stub on some rocks, causing her a small yelp of pain.
Immediately, Harm was at her side. He knelt down, lifting up her foot and examining it gently with the feel of his hand. "Mac, you ok? Does it hurt?" he asks anxiously.
"Yea, no big deal," she's grateful for the darkness. His hand which is still running tenderly over her skin is sending heat literally coursing from the tip of her toes right up to her face.
"Are you sure? This was a bad idea-"
"Harm, I'm fine," she stressed lightly. Slowly she extracts her foot from his grasp. "But you won't be if I beat you to the water Navy!"
In a flash she took off, the tinkering of her laughter floating back to him in the breeze. However, it doesn't take more than a few running strides on his long legs for Harm to catch up to her. He grabbed her arm, smoothly pulling her to a halt. "What was it you just said?" he mocked her jokingly. Impulsively, his hand reclaims hers and a self-conscious grin passes between them.
Their joined hands swinging between them, they stroll leisurely for a while along the length of the beach. The sand is a delightfully fine texture on their feet and at length Mac tugs on Harm's hand to sit down. The only sounds' enveloping them is the peaceful tranquility of the night and the soft crashing of waves.
Eventually, Harm speaks of what was beginning to bother him. "If I didn't know better, I'd think you've been avoiding me," he says evenly, but the apprehension in his voice lets her know he fears there's at least a grain of truth to his words.
"Hmmm?" she murmurs innocently, taking her time to reply. "I just thought you had enough on your platter." She misses his questioning look and assumes he accepted her answer. Glancing back at him, she comments offhandedly, "So, how're you enjoying your days thus far as the bachelor?"
So that's what it's all about, Harm realized with a blend of relief and a fair amount of self-satisfied elation. She's uncomfortable about the other women. His first instinct was to tease her, but then intuition thankfully redirects. "Mac, I'm not looking for a fling," he tells her in all seriousness.
She casts him a startled look and then her features soften into a bashful smile. She should've known he wouldn't be fooled, no matter how vague she tries to be with her emotions. They'd progressed a long way from the fundamentals of a solid friendship. Harm and Mac lapse into comfortable silence, this was as far as they would delve into in terms of 'them' for tonight.
Saturday
Undisclosed Location
Clayton Webb smiles smugly to himself in satisfaction. He's reviewing the latest footage for The Bachelor. Although the cameraman hadn't been able to lug his equipment after Harm and Mac's unexpected getaway, he'd still filmed what he could from above. The lens hone in on what appears to be intimate scenes of the lone couple. The distance is close enough to make out the Bachelor's arm is wrapped around the women waist, whose head is resting on his shoulder. The camera pans out to include the wide expanse of water shimmering under the moonlight, projecting and enhancing the romantic moment for all it was worth.