I've struggled a little with this chapter, so I hope it still reads okay!
In the morning, Harry poked his head into the lounge, and saw Ruth was still asleep. By the time he'd boiled the kettle for tea, she was stirring. She sat up on the sofa, blinking her eyes blearily.
"Morning," Harry said, handing her a cup of tea. She pinched the bridge of her nose as she attempted to regain her grip on reality.
"Sorry for falling asleep," she said.
"Don't be," he said.
She rubbed her hand over her face, trying to wake herself up. "God, I probably look a fright."
"You look beautiful." He spoke lowly, without thinking about the words before he'd said them, and now they were hanging in the air. She looked at him intensely, without saying anything at all. Her eyes dipped to his throat where he hadn't yet buttoned up his shirt completely. He noted her attention, but said nothing, almost holding his breath until her eyes slid away.
"I should go home. Get changed before coming in to work."
"Take your time," he said.
"I'm not having any preferential treatment Harry," she said firmly, taking a sip of her tea.
"You were working overtime until near midnight last night," he said. "You can be five minutes late. Let me drive you over to yours."
"No," she said. "With morning traffic, it really will be quicker on the tube."
"If you're sure?"
"Yes," she said. "Thanks for not disturbing me. Though my neck aches a bit."
"No problem," he said, his eyes smiling more than his lips were.
"I should go," she repeated, getting up and handing him her mug of tea. Their fingertips brushed slightly and she couldn't help the frisson of excitement that ran up her spine, even from that light touch. She quickly ran her fingers through her hair, trying to neaten her appearance somewhat before grabbing her coat and her bag. "I'll see you later."
To Harry, her abrupt moves towards departure seemed to imply that she was uncomfortable when he'd touched her. "Are you frightened of me?" he asked before he'd considered the words.
"No!" she said. "Why would you think that?"
"You're making your escape quite quickly, that's all."
"I'm not generally a morning person," she said. "I need an hour or two to wake up. To function normally."
"Okay," he said gently as she put her coat on. "Just checking." She reached for him and squeezed his hand tightly.
"I'll see you later."
"Yes," he agreed. She smiled, then turned and left his house.
Over the past thirty six hours, they'd barely had time to talk to each other about anything beyond the operation, let alone anything else. The grid was almost empty and Harry walked over to her desk.
"See? Wrongs righted, evildoers brought to heel, miracles performed. Is there no end to our goodness Ruth?" He handed her a letter before continuing. "I got down to the final two and then they parachuted a late contender into the job."
"But that's good isn't it, that's what you wanted." Ruth could tell Harry was disappointed, but she wasn't sure why. She'd been so convinced that he'd wanted to stay where he was.
"Yes, but it's still annoying when the best man for the job is passed over for a politician. Seems you were right."
"Yes. But I'm pleased." Harry smiled at her softly. "Are we on for… tonight?" he asked, almost nervously.
"If you can get a table anywhere?" He nodded, but shut up because Danny was walking over. While they were in discussion, he noticed that Ruth was sorting her hair out in a little hand mirror.
"Off out are we Ruth?" he teased, hoping it would go over Danny's head.
"Yes. I'm only three days late," she said easily. "And if anything happens between here and the pods, please don't tell me."
"Ruth?"
"I'm not listening." He laughed, he couldn't help it as Ruth went through the pods. He'd pick her up in half an hour or so, once he'd booked a table. He knew he'd be able to get something. He had a few maitre'D contacts who he used when they wanted to bug some diplomats conversations. It shouldn't be too difficult.
Ruth pushed her feet into a pair of black heels that she hadn't worn in years. They were at the back of her wardrobe and she'd decided that they went well with her little black dress that she'd bought specifically for he occasion. It was knee length with short sleeves, and rather tighter than she'd normally be comfortable in wearing. But if Harry was taking her out for a nice meal, she was going to make an impression. Hopefully a good one.
Just as she was ready, her doorbell rang. Feeling nervous, she opened it and smiled at Harry. He wore a light blue shirt and dark jacket, and she felt a surge of butterflies which she hadn't expected. His face went momentarily blank as he looked at her, his eyes slowly going up and down her figure. His face was so inscrutable, that she started to wonder if she really looked terrible, and this dress had been a mistake as his eyes returned to hers. "You look… unbelievable," he said. "Wow." He gave himself a small shake. "I've got a taxi waiting."
"Let me grab my coat." She did, and then they left.
"So where are we going?"
"The Ledbury."
"How did you get a table there at such short notice?" Harry was silent. "Or shouldn't I ask?"
"I know how to pull strings," he said enigmatically.
"Okay, the less I know…" She smiled at him. "Just as long as it was nothing illegal?" she asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Of course not," he said indignantly. She laughed gently. "Thank you." She frowned at him. "For supporting me this week. It's been a difficult week."
"I'd miss you," she said quietly. "Were you on the top floor, I'd miss you."
"I'm sure had that happened, you'd have dazzled my replacement with your brilliance."
"Yes, but I'd have to start going through the formality of knocking, wouldn't I?" she teased lightly. His lips twitched with amusement. "I would miss you," she added more seriously.
He looked at her softly. "I know. But we're breaking the rule about talking about work," he said lightly. She nodded in agreement.
They were quiet until they got to the restaurant, which didn't take long. When they sat at their table and Ruth took her coat off, Harry's eyes lingered on her deliciously.
"Can I say again, how beautiful you look this evening?" he said. She smiled, her eyes sparkling.
"You scrub up rather nicely yourself," she said. She allowed herself to look over him, her eyes pausing on his throat for a moment.
"White or red?" he asked, looking at the wine list.
"I prefer red," she said.
"Red it is then."
"I've been to Japan," she said as the waiter cleared their empty plates away.
"When?" Harry asked, not having heard her mention it before.
"Oh, the Easter holidays when I was in University," she said. "I went to Kyoto. Such a beautiful place. I loved it. I wanted to see the cherry blossom festival, the geisha. It was so wonderful."
"Why Japan?" he asked. "It can't have been a cheap holiday when you were at university."
"It wasn't," she said. "I read a lot when I was a child and a teenager. Japan always seemed so… far away from everything I knew. A different world. It took hold of my imagination somewhat."
"Paris," Harry countered, pouring some wine for them both. "Best place I've ever been."
"Mm," she said, clearly not agreeing with him.
"Beautiful city," Harry said. "And unlike most places I've been to in Europe, I wasn't there because of operational reasons."
"Fair enough, but… you know, I can't actually argue with you."
"No?"
"I've never been there."
"Ruth, it's just across the channel!" he said indignantly. How can you not have been?"
"Other places further a field to explore," she said with a shrug.
"I'll take you there one day," he said. "A quick jaunt on the Eurostar."
"That would be… wonderful," she said. "I would like to see Paris one day." He reached across the table and took her hand in his, his fingers dancing over her skin very lightly, sending shivers down her spine. She let her own fingertips play over his palm and she felt her face flushing a little, even as she smiled.
"I havent been to very many places which were purely to enjoy the culture. Usually I was there for work, so those cities don't tend to hold a place in my heart."
"What about New York?"
Harry screwed up his face slightly. "It's too…"
"American?" she suggested, biting her lip to stop herself from smiling.
"I was going to say, it's too over populated," he said. "Too many people." She inclined her head. "But yes. Too American. I hear an American accent and half of me is getting ready to do battle with the CIA." She squeezed his hand gently. "Probably will until the day I die."
A waiter came over with a menu for dessert which he silently placed on the table. Neither let go of the others hand. "Dessert?" he asked, his voice low and seductive and his eyes almost twinkling at her, and she wondered if he was simply asking about pudding.
"I couldn't," she said. "The steak was amazing, but I'm too full to eat anything else." He nodded. "But don't let me stop you." He shook his head slightly and didn't pick up the menu.
"We should get home," he said, very reluctantly. "Sadly we're both at work in the morning."
"Quite frankly I'm amazed neither one of us has been called in for some emergency," she said. He nodded in agreement.
"Shall we?" Being the perfect gentleman, he helped her put her coat on, his fingertips brushing against her neck gently. His hand lingered and ran through her hair for a moment, and she noticed.
It was a contented quiet between the pair of them in the taxi back to Ruth's house, neither knowing quite what to say. The streets were relatively quiet, so it didn't take long to get there. When they pulled up outside, Harry asked the driver to wait. He took Ruth to her door. "You could come inside," she said quietly. "You don't have to go."
"I do," he said quietly.
"Oh," she murmured. She was disappointed. She was hoping for a coffee with him, and maybe a kiss or two goodnight. "I had a lovely evening, Harry."
"So did I," he said. "I would love to take you out again?" He seemed confident but the hint of a question belied that outward appearance.
"Yes," she said, smiling. Harry leaned in close to her and kissed her cheek. She couldn't help herself, she twisted her head and caught his lips with hers. He stilled for a moment, but after she sighed with pleasure into him, her hand pulling his hair, he reacted, kissing her deeply. She pressed her body into his and he groaned quietly. He parted from her after a long minute and looked at her in the dim street light. Her face was flushed, her lips looking so very kissable.
"I'm going home," he said at the same time the taxi honked it's horn in impatience.
"Okay," she said. "Goodnight, Harry." She smiled and let her fingertips caress his face very gently before closing the door. Harry sighed with pleasure and returned to the taxi, a smile on his face.