'I think he's a keeper,' Laura told Harry, 'I mean he's gorgeous and that American accent is to die for, you work for him, don't you?'

Harry sighed and wished Dempsey would hurry up at the bar as she didn't want this conversation with the pretty but vacuous girlfriend, it was busy in here tonight. 'I work with him, I don't work for him. And, he's usually in relationships for fun, he's not the settling down type.'

She could see she'd disappointed Laura with that remark but what was she supposed to say. Laura, must be his third girlfriend this year and it was only March. In fact, she wasn't entirely sure he'd finished with the other two.

'Bar's busy tonight,' Dempsey came over with the drinks. Laura had something with a parasol in it and Harry a vodka and tonic.

'Thank you,' Harry responded politely.

He looked from one woman to the other and it seemed to him there was a bit of an atmosphere. 'What did I miss?'

'Laura and I were just discussing the likelihood of your settling down in a committed relationship and I told her I thought it was a long shot.' Harry responded coolly as she sipped her drink.

'You girls talk about that huh,' he didn't look particularly phased. 'I don't have a problem with commitment but I guess you don't get to that conversation after a few dates,' he gave Harry the stink eye. She didn't usually try to screw things up for him so this was new.

'Well you usually keep it to a couple of dates so I think the term a 'keeper,' doesn't really apply to you, you'd be difficult to keep.' Harry smiled at him sweetly. She hadn't like the inference she worked for him and she didn't like it when he came to the pub with her and then some girl turned up to take him off.

'I see, well maybe I ain't found the right girl yet,' he smiled at Laura who looked delighted that she might be the one.

'Well you've certainly sampled a few,' Harry got up as she'd spied Joyce and she went to the bar to join her friend. 'How has your day been, you seem to be moving much better.' Out of the corner of her eye she could see that Laura was in interrogation mode and James was looking awkward. Good it served him right and maybe he'd avoid her company when he had the latest airhead on his arm.

''I'm feeling much better,' Joyce smiled. 'It's good to see you back Harry, I see you're still working with the Lieutenant, I applaud your patience.'

'I think I've just run out of it,' Harry responded in a wry tone. 'He can be very stupid at times or perhaps that's me.' She sighed and ran a hand through her fringe in a gesture of frustration. 'What are you up to then Joyce, what are you working on.'

'Deskwork unfortunately, it's not very stimulating but then since I've basically had to learn to walk again I suppose that's realistically what I'll be doing for a while. How about you? I see our American friend is still charming the ladies.' As Laura had just stalked off, it could be taken that Joyce was being sarcastic.

Harry decided this might be the time to beat a hasty retreat, 'I think I'd better be going, lots of long hours take their toll…

'Makepeace,' Dempsey turned up at her shoulder. 'What exactly was that?' He growled at her looking none too pleased.'

'What exactly was what,' she asked innocently, her gaze direct and unflinching.

'You told Laura that I basically was a bad boyfriend,' he leaned on the bar and took in her expression. He'd never had Harry stick her oar in with his lady friends before so he'd been surprised that she would do that.

'I didn't say you were a bad boyfriend I just said you were a short-term boyfriend, it actually wasn't my fault Laura asked me and I'm incurably honest, it's always been a fault of mine.'

Joyce tried to quell a smile and took a mouthful of her drink.

'You're looking better Hargreaves, walking suits you. Do you want me to get you a bar stool?' He was concerned because he knew how badly injured the woman had been.

'Thank you, if you can find one that would be excellent,' she watched as Dempsey basically told one of the young officers to get up and took a stool out from under him.

Harry watched the byplay and tried to stop a smile as Dempsey had unseated Fry, and then made the young man feel rude for not offering his seat. Poor Dave was blushing with embarrassment.

'There you go, Joyce,' he put the seat next to the lady and then got back to his partner. 'What's the matter, I get the feeling you didn't like Laura?'

'I had no opinion about Laura because what would be the point, I'll have to learn a new name in a couple of weeks' time so I didn't invest in the relationship.'

'Is this some women's lib thing you got going? It was like you were warning her off or something,' he lit a cigar and looked at her knowingly, 'if you want me all to yourself you just got to say.'

'I think I have a good helping of you already, one wouldn't want to be greedy,' her blue gaze mocked him and she heard Joyce choke on her drink. 'Anyway, I need to get going because I've got a date tonight and I don't want to be late,' she left the bar. She did have a date but she was going to finish with Barnaby and then it occurred to her that her relationships didn't last very long either and that made her think a little bit about how she'd just treated Dempsey. 'Oh dear,' she said softly, 'I shouldn't have done that.'

-oOo—

The next day it was rather awkward when they sat in the car together as they waited for a senior figure in the criminal fraternity to come out of the building, he ran a construction firm and he wasn't a very nice man.

'How did your evening go,' he growled at her obviously still in a mood about the fact she'd screwed up his evening.

'It was okay, nothing special,' she admitted. They'd only got to their starters when she'd delivered her speech and Barnaby had left after that so she'd had to make herself dinner when she got home. It hadn't seemed fair to wait until the dessert. 'I'm sorry if I negatively impacted your evening,' she cast him a quick glance to see how he took that.

'You didn't, she came back and said she thought you were jealous and she wasn't going to give you the satisfaction of breaking up with me.'

'I see, well that's all right then,' Harry remarked in an even tone.

'Not really, I told her you weren't jealous which was in fact, a very stupid move… He gave a deep sigh.

'Yes, well stupidity can be catching,' Harry couldn't help herself. 'Lowry has come out,' she nodded her head in the direction of their mark.

Dempsey started up the engine and followed the car. 'I got to thinking about what you were saying about my dating habits, I guess my relationships haven't exactly lasted very long.'

Harry turned to look at him her gaze curious. 'I've got to ask, what happened to January and February, I can't remember the girls names but I distinctly remember a blonde and a brunette…

'Still seem them sometimes, on and off,' he responded dryly. 'I guess now I'm settled here I could invest more time. It comes with being a cop, being on the front line. It's like going off to war, you don't know if you'll be coming back.'

'We'll meet again, don't know where don't know when…. Harry replied sarcastically. 'I'm hardly one to talk,' she looked over at him. 'My relationships aren't exactly known for their longevity, one might say I get easily bored.'

'Me too,' he agreed with her. He pulled in as Lowry's car stopped at a warehouse, 'get the address Harry, we can check it out. You ever wonder what we'd be like,' he said looking uncomfortable. 'I mean we spend a lot of time with each other and you don't bore me. Although you said that time that I bored you….

'You don't bore me,' she wrote down the address and got on the RT to check it out.

Dempsey was pleased she'd said that cos it had hurt when she'd said he was boring. 'So, how about it?' He pushed her.

'How about what?' She answered the RT when Chas called back. 'He owns the building,' Harry looked at James, 'I wonder what he keeps in it?'

'Let's go take a look,' Dempsey was out of the car and walking to the Goods In area when she caught him up.

'Spikings said surveillance only, we can't go in there.' She wasn't expecting him to take any notice and he didn't so she went in after him. It wasn't very exciting as it was a big empty space.

They walked back to the car and got in. 'If it's empty he's obviously gonna put something into it, it's just working out what.'

'Spikings probably knows more than he's told us, he seems to keep his finger on the pulse of the criminal fraternity, knows a lot of the old lags.'

'Yeah, so the conversation before. How about we date, see where that takes us?' He asked her in a tone that didn't suggest he liked the idea that much.

'What, you're suggesting I become Miss April,' she sent him a scathing look. 'At least you'd probably remember my name, it was embarrassing when that blonde turned up and you called her babe all night because you didn't know who she was.'

'Yeah, that wasn't my finest hour,' he agreed. 'I think you'd last longer than a month and I'm more fun than Barnaby, cos at least you eat the whole meal when you're with yours truly. Big mistake dumping him before the coffee and mints.'

'You followed me,' she flicked him a disdainful glance, 'I thought you said Laura came back.'

'She might have, I just wasn't there cos I wanted to know what you were up to especially after you'd screwed up my night. I nearly came round with a Chinese.' He laughed at that. 'So, come on we've danced around this long enough, let's do it.'

'I'll think about it,' she responded her eyes dancing with laughter as she met his gaze. 'Lowry's on the move again.'

Dempsey started up the engine a smile tugging at his mouth. 'I'll take you to this cool bar, it reminds me of New York, I think you'll like it. You need to dress sexy though, not formal.'

'When,' she asked him as she picked up the RT and told Chas they were on the move again.

'Tonight,' he grinned at her.

'That doesn't give me much time to think about it,' she responded in a patient tone. She held onto the car door as he took the corner in a rather innovative manner.

'Nah, thinking gets you nowhere. I'll pick you up at seven we'll eat first,' they followed the villain to his home and then radioed in and were told they were finished for the day and that they had to come into the office first thing as Spikings wanted a word.

-oOo—

Harry went through her wardrobe and viewed it for something sexy that was also more bar than nightclub. She decided on mohair sweater dress in black that flattered her figure was soft to the touch, she put her hair in a messy up do and wore rather barbaric earrings in battered metal. The dress clung to her breasts and she was showing an appropriate amount of cleavage without looking like she was asking for it. Black patterned stockings and ankle boots completed the look and she had a thin gold chain around her throat. She was pleased with her appearance she looked arty and not at all like a police officer.

Promptly at seven the doorbell rang and she answered it and was pleased to see Dempsey had made an effort. Chinos not jeans and a jacket and shirt, the tie of course was half undone, very casual.

'You look hot,' he smiled at her. 'Our first date, princess.' He gave her a single, long stemmed white rose which she popped into a tall thin vase and he guessed she was used to floral tributes cos she had one handy.

'Would you like a glass of champagne,' she poured him one and clinked her glass against his. 'To Miss April,' she mocked him.

'To a three-course meal,' he smiled at her.

'Touché,' Harry responded in a pleasant tone. 'So, what kind of boyfriend are you Dempsey, apart from a short term one. Are you romantic, well you've brought me a rose so that suggests that you might be.'

'Harry, you know me better than most people so I guess you know what I'm like, the good and the bad,' his dark gaze flirted with hers. 'And I know what you're like so we ain't got all that finding out to do.'

'Hmm,' she wasn't entirely satisfied with that answer. 'I know what you're like at work and I suppose we've been out for evenings together and you've flirted like you would with any personable woman,' she mocked him. 'What else have you got to offer,' her gaze challenged him.

He came up to her and took away the champagne and tipped up her chin and his gaze fell to her lips, 'I suppose we haven't done the kissing bit,' his voice tone lowered.

Harry's pulses hammered and she ran her arms around his neck in a very flirtatious manner, her blue gaze on his as he lowered his head and his mouth met hers. The kiss was dynamite and as they were both competitive it became something of a trial by arousal. When they broke away to catch their breath there was a spark of awareness that they'd met their match.

'Well that kind of works,' Dempsey ran a hand round the back of his neck. This was gonna be tough Harry'd always been a challenge and he was just beginning to realise that he might get in deeper than he could handle.

'Perhaps we should save that for later, I don't want to miss another meal,' she picked up her champagne and took a sip her blue eyes sensual on his.

'You can certainly turn it on princess,' he came back up to her and ran his finger around her jaw, 'did you always go for me or is this some kind of epiphany that happened?'

'I was always attracted too you, James but there were times when I thoroughly disliked you. You grew on me over time.'

'Yeah well, I didn't want to work with a girl. Used to terrify me that you'd get hurt, still does,' he admitted awkwardly. 'I know you're tough and you can out shoot most guys but I hate the thought of anything happening to you.'

'Same here with Crazy Joe,' she sipped her champagne. 'Perhaps I should have stayed at the museum,' she teased him.

'Nah, I like working with you,' he picked up his champagne and drank it down. 'Let's go eat because I've booked this fancy place and you look like a million dollars and it would be a shame to waste it.' He walked to the door and opened it for her. 'Your carriage awaits,' he indicated a chauffeur driven car. 'Friend of mine owes me a favour,' he opened the door for her and she got in.

Dempsey noticed that Harry got a lot of attention when he walked into the restaurant, guys heads tended to swivel. He'd kind of got used to that over the years he'd known her but it was different when she was his date rather than his buddy. In fact, he didn't like it and he glowered at the guys gawping at her.

'You look very cross what's the matter,' she asked as she folded her napkin.

'Nothing,' he wasn't about to tell her that he'd developed a jealous and protective streak they were only on their first date.

James consulted her on the wine and the waiter came up and they ordered a Chablis and their first two courses.

'I knew you'd order steak,' she mocked him. 'Do you ever eat anything other than steak and burgers.'

'I knew you'd order fish and a green salad,' his gaze ran over her. 'Can't complain though cos you look good on it.'

'A compliment,' she remarked with a small smile. 'Well, you look very smart James, you've obviously made an effort.'

'Got to impress you with my masculine charm,' his eyes held amusement cos she'd usually give him some kind of put down.

'What would you have done if I hadn't come back to work,' her eyes held his. It was a question she'd been dwelling on.

'Gone back to the States maybe. I don't know, you were pushing me for something and I was trying to work out what that was. Spikings said you had feelings for me but I could never work that out.'

'I was defensive I suppose. I told you I couldn't see you die and you turned it into from the specific to the general. And then when you came to see me it was all about work and not about me so I was hurt.'

'I know. I can charm a lot of women but when it came to you I always screwed up,' he took her hand. 'You mean a lot to me, I want you to know that and you ain't Miss April, you're Harry.'

The waiter poured their wine and they clinked glasses. 'To courtship,' he said softly.

Harry smiled and felt happier than she'd been for a long time. It had been hard wanting his attention and just being one of the boys. She had valued his friendship but she'd come to want more and here they were. The challenge was could they make it work.

-oOo—

Harry stirred and then smiled as an arm tightened around her waist. 'You're awake,' she murmured as she turned over.

'I keep waking up to check I wasn't dreaming,' he murmured as he kissed her softly. 'Got to tell you Harry, I've had a lot of dreams about you.'

She laughed. 'I hope they were nice dreams and I behaved appropriately,' she rested on his chest and almost purred as his fingers stroked through her hair.

'Well sometimes you were very naughty and I to talk to you about behaving better,' he laughed as she pulled his chest hair.

'I can see why the ladies liked you,' she said in a thoughtful manner. 'I mean you do aim to please,' she gave him a knowing look, 'and you certainly know your way around the female body.'

'You ain't seen nothing yet,' he growled as he rolled her over so that she was under him. 'You're kind of different than I expected. I had you down as the Ice Queen but you certainly ain't that.'

'It's my aristocratic training, we're not supposed to show emotion,' she ran her arms around his neck, 'and I'm a police officer and a female which isn't the easiest job in the world because some coppers are very chauvinistic.'

'Yeah, like me,' he kissed her enjoying the warmth of her lips and he groaned when her jaw relaxed and she let him explore the recesses of her mouth. 'We're just guys, it's natural to be protective…

'Patronising not protective,' she tugged his hair in admonishment. 'You were horrible to me at the beginning,' she pouted at him.

'God you're sexy,' he growled as he took her mouth with a fiery passion that came close to overwhelming her. 'Sorry, too rough for you,' his breathing was all over the place.

'I er… This is going to be difficult,' it would be a nightmare at work if they couldn't keep their hands off each other. 'It's like letting the genie out of the bottle,' she looked troubled. 'I can't think when you kiss me like that.'

'Is that a good or a bad thing,' he asked, not sure where she was going with this.

'Good if we're in here and alone, bad if we're in the office,' she admitted honestly. 'We will have to behave professionally James, we can't let this affect our work.'

'Well, we're changing jobs soon so that shouldn't be a problem,' he rolled off her and laid on his side facing her. 'You're becoming the police spokesperson for women in the force and I am running a serious crime team so it shouldn't be a problem. In a way I'm glad I won't be working with you anymore cos I don't want you getting hurt.'

'I suppose we'll get used to each other so it won't be so distracting,' she moved closer to him. 'How tired are you exactly,' her blue eyes were sensual on his.

'You'll be the death of me,' he growled as he pulled her into his arms. Funnily enough it was one way of dying he wouldn't really regret. Life in this case wasn't so hard.

-oOo-