Course of Love Part 6/9
Disclaimer - See part one for all important information
Mac's apartment
11:43 PM
Mac had gotten home about an hour and a half ago and decided to take a bath and relax for the evening. She was sitting on her couch in her silk nightgown and her terry cloth bathrobe. She had a book in her hands, a CD playing in the stereo and her hot tea was on the end table. She slowly read the book and let it take her to a far-away place where in the end the girl got the guy and they lived happily ever after. As a knock at the door brought her back to reality.
Mac walked to the door, looked through the peephole to revel at seeing Harm standing there. She took a deep breath and opened the door. "Harm, what can I..." She was suddenly stopped as Harm forcefully kissed her. The kiss grew and Mac found herself being pressed against the wall near her door on the inside of the apartment. With the force and passion of Harm's kiss she barely heard him shut the door before her back was against the wall.
Mac tried to resist at first but quickly found herself lost with Harm as his tongue entered her mouth. Their hands like their mouths were not idle. Mac's hands were on the back of his neck, pulling him closer to her. While Harm's hands were on her waist and back, feeling her muscles pulling him closer to her. The kisses lasted a while and they enjoyed the feeling of being together in a way that they both wanted and needed.
Harm finally broke the kiss but kept Mac pressed against the wall, knowing if she wanted out of his arms she would and could drop him to the floor in a heartbeat. Harm waited for her to drop him, but it didn't happen. He opened his eyes and looked into her passion-filled deep brown eyes. He took a ragged breath as his heart slammed against his chest. "Remind me again why we're fighting?"
"Something about not dating each other." Mac said with her voice strained and her face showed a mix of confusion and passion.
Harm rested his head against the wall next to Mac's head and whispered into her ear, "Why aren't we dating?"
Mac ran her finger thought the short hair on the back of his head as tears filled her eyes. "I don't know."
At the sound of her voice he lifted his head and saw the tears. He lightly kissed her lips. "I care about you. A lot and I want to be with you."
"I want to be with you."
Harm smiled briefly at her words. "Then let's do it. Let's date each other."
"But what about work?"
"No, this is about you and me and being happy. And I would be very happy if right now you and I went over to that couch and talked."
"Just talk?" Mac questioned him with a knowing teasing look.
Harm smirked back at her. "Well, if we happen to find ourselves kissing and holding each other, I think that will be fine."
Mac laughed slightly. "I think it would be fine also."
Harm took her hand and they walked to the couch and talked for the rest of the night.
PRESENT DAY
"So that's it," Chloe said to the couple across from her.
Harm took Mac's hand into his. "When it's right you know."
"You can't push it to be the right time," Mac added on.
Chloe looked at her hands. "I really like Matt."
"Give him time," Mac suggested as she reached for Chloe's hand with her free hand. "It is very hard to date your best friend."
Chloe laughed as she picked up her head and looked at Harm's surprised face. "It was not hard to date me," Harm defended himself and pulled his hand away from Mac's.
"Okay, before he gets upset," Chloe interjected, "Mac, why would you say it's hard to date your best friend?"
"You two know so much about each other that you skip over the getting-to-know-you phase of dating. Plus, both of you are worried about hurting the other. And let's not forget the part when he annoys you, you can't go to your best friend to complain about him."
Chloe looked at Harm and he shook his head. "I hate her for this, but she's right."
"But there are the good things. He already knows how you take your coffee, your favorite foods, and what to do when you don't feel good." Mac smiled at Harm.
"She's right about that, too." Harm placed an arm around Mac's shoulders and pulled her to him.
"So I should just let Matt come around?" Chloe asked.
"As much as it hurts right now, yes," Mac informed Chloe.
"When will it stop hurting?"
Harm and Mac both thought about the correct answer. Harm smiled and said, "When she says she'll marry you."
Chloe smiled at Harm and Mac and knew they had the love she was searching for. "How long did you wait before you asked?"
Harm chuckled. "I would have asked her that night, but I knew I had to wait till both of us were ready. Plus I needed to take care of some things before I could ask," Harm said as Mac looked at him, smiling like she knew a secret.
Chloe looked at Mac, knowing she knew something and had a feeling that it dealt with their engagement. "Tell me this story."
"You don't want to hear it," Harm said as he let go of Mac. "Besides, I'm sure you know it."
"Not all of it," Mac said with a chuckle. Harm started to blush, having a good idea about what Chloe didn't know.
"Tell!" Chloe demanded. She looked at the couple, Harm was holding his head with one hand, obviously embarrassed about something and Mac was starting to laugh at his embarrassment. "Please, it will make me feel better."
Harm looked at Chloe as she gave him the pouting face his children gave him whenever they wanted something. "That's a low move, Chloe."
"I know," Chloe said, keeping the face in place.
"Oh, come on, Harm, let's tell her." Mac smiled sweetly at her husband.
Harm sighed. "I don't have a choice, do I?"
"No," Chloe and Mac said at the same time.
"We had been dating for about a month and I decided it was time to propose. We were at Mac's apartment, going over a case when it starts to rain heavily. She tells me that she doesn't want me driving home in the rain and that I can stay the night."
"Were you two…you know?" Chloe vaguely asked.
"No, we had talked about it and decided to wait," Mac said, taking the question, knowing the story was hard enough for Harm to tell.
"I'm impressed," Chloe complimented them.
"Thanks." Harm was slightly surprised at Chloe's remark. "So I go out to my car to get my bag and upon entering the apartment, I'm soaked so I decide to take a shower." Harm took a deep breath.
End of Part 6