A/N: Apologies for the delay in posting this chapter. I've been away for a few days. I plan on posting updates every couple of days now, at least while the chapters remain short. Thanks again for reading and your encouraging reviews. They make my day. Cheers, S.C.
Tuesday, 8th December 2009
Work this week has been... different. Harry hasn't mentioned meeting her at choir; in fact their conversations have been strictly about work for some time now – ever since Jo's death, in fact, and the moment she'd failed to give him hope when he'd mentioned that there will always be something else between them. In spite of that, however, he'd seemed more present, this week, his gaze warmer and his mood more up-beat, yet at the same time, somewhat wary and unsure of himself around her. For her part, no matter how hard she tries, she can't stop thinking about him, especially not now, not after tonight.
She'd found it hard to keep her eyes off him, his open laughter, teasing and flirting with everyone, the mischief in his eyes, the ready smile that was never far from his lips, capturing her attention even more so than last week and drawing her in, so that even when she'd forced herself to look away, every one of her other senses had still been trained on him. He'd been gentle with her and considerate, gradually drawing her out of her shell despite her resolution that Grace would remain unaffected by him. And as a result, she'd had more fun tonight than she has done in a very long time and she's not in the least surprised now that virtually all the women there are half in love with him at least – some of the men too, she wouldn't wonder. Derek and a couple of others had seemed a little grumpy and jealous of all the attention Al received, but the rest of the men seemed just as pleased as the women to have him in their midst. The whole atmosphere at choir has changed and their performance has improved because of it.
She still can't get over how much difference he's made and how different he is at choir compared to work. Never before has she seen him this open, and though logic tells her it's all an act, she can't help wondering what the true Harry is really like in his personal life and feeling a steadily growing desire to find out.