Cork

The next day was Sunday. Dempsey had called to pick Makepeace up, but she had to drive her mini back to the car hire. She did so and jumped into the Porsche where Dempsey was waiting.

"Where to now partner?" the grin was back on Dempsey's face "You coming back to the Rochester with me?" he asked, assuming she would.

"I don't think so Dempsey" she looked into his eyes and saw the shock and disappointment. "I like being back on an even keel" she explained, "Let's not rock the boat again just yet. Besides I only took an overnight bag to Klonakilty, all my stuff is still in my hotel room."

Dempsey absorbed his disappointment and Makepeace continued "Let's try the local cop shop, see if O'Malley can arrange for us to use a desk here in Cork for a few hours or so."

Detectives from SI10 London was the biggest thing that hit Cork in a year, they never really featured in any major crime scene so they were more than willing to help out.

O'Malley was grudgingly impressed with their progress and agreed to arrive with the back up and paper work needed on Tuesday, ready for possible arrests on Wednesday or Thursday.

Dempsey was worried about the time delay, but O'Malley said it would take Monday to sort out the paper work and they would travel on Tuesday.

Harry tried to reassure him that it was just a slower way of life out here.

"It gives us a little time, time to look around" she suggested

Dempsey laughed; she had no idea about what but he seemed happy and that made her happy. He hummed to himself as they drove away from the police station.

Dempsey pulled up outside Harry's hotel.

"What about dinner tonight?" he asked, unsure how he would cope with another rejection but determined that he needed to forward his plan.

Harry looked at him; there was a sheepishness look to his eyes that she didn't quite get. "Sounds good to me" she smiled positively.

"I'll pick you up just before 8.00" he paused uncertain of what else to say - if Harry didn't want to 'rock the boat' he didn't want to venture anything too radical and so he simply said "It'll give me a chance to wear my DJ"

Harry grinned; he meant 'dinner' dinner! "I'd better start getting ready now then" she laughed as she got out of the car.

Dempsey sped back to his hotel, and asked the concierge to book him a table at the smartest restaurant he could advise. He had a couple of other preparations to make, made a little harder by the fact it was a Sunday, but he was pleased with his results in the end.

At 7.45 he arrived back at Harry's hotel and made his way up to her room. Outside he adjusted his bow tie, mainly out of nervousness, and knocked the door.

Harry opened it, she looked stunning and Dempsey fell speechless for a moment, her hair was up with a few soft strands of hair emphasising her beautiful face. He so wanted to touch her neck, her hair - to gentle explore the softness of her skin.

"Wow, you look wonderful" he said, it came out as a whisper he was so over awed. Harry stood aside to let him in, and looked almost as nervous as he felt. Dempsey kissed her cheek and offered her a small package. It was exquisitely wrapped, decorated with posy of freesias. Dempsey coughed slightly "I didn't get you flowers, given that we're moving around so much, but I hope you like it"

Harry carefully unwrapped the gift; she opened it and saw a silver Celtic brooch.

"It's gorgeous" she picked it up and admired it in her hands. She looked at Dempsey, he seemed a little uncertain of himself, most unusual she thought, "Hey this is just like a first date" she laughed aloud as she spoke then noticed that Dempsey was actually blushing. Oh my God she thought, 'may be it's meant to be a date!' She mentally kicked herself so hard, she had dreamed of this so often and now she had just blundered into making him feel so uncomfortable 'you bloody, bloody fool' she said to herself. Desperate to retrieve the situation she picked up her pashmina and used the brooch to secure it. "I love it," she kissed his cheek, "thank you". She put her arm through his, "Let's go"

The food was fantastic; the Irish staff were both friendly and discreet at the same time.

Whether Harry was eating or talking Dempsey was captivated; he was so engrossed in enjoying her beauty that at one time Harry asked him why he wasn't hungry.

When she laughed her eyes light her face and thought she looked divine; when she told stories of her family holiday here in Ireland with her Mother and Father she wistful and Dempsey so wanted to hold her and tell her that she wasn't alone here now, that this time he was here with her, really with her - not just as work.

She told stories of running along the beaches, the rock pools and the sandcastles she had made with her Father, she giggled and he loved it and later when she spoke of her Mothers death he reached across the table and used his thumb to brush away the tear she had refused to allow surface.

Dempsey told her of his visit to the beach at Coney Island but it mainly consisted of a description and explanation about 'Coney dogs' and how they need chilli sauce and mustard. Harry laughed and contemplated how anyone could be dining in a 5 star restaurant and debating the merits of different hot dogs "would he not admit they were all gross?" she teased.

She listened intently when he spoke about his childhood, jealous of the community that sat and played on the stoops and the street that sounded like a huge family. Yet she was horrified and failed to understand how each neighbourhood could become so gang orientated. Makepeace saw a loneliness in Dempsey's eyes when he talked about his Mom and New York, his friends and family there and she felt uncertain that she could offer enough to compensate for all that he was missing.

Realising the tempo was beginning to edge towards melancholic reflection and away from fun Dempsey returned to the huge list of Irish jokes he had acquired and although he intended to keep the whole evening very low key on the dating thing he couldn't resist sharing dessert with Harry, wiping a touch of cream off her lip with his finger. When he got that close to her though his heart was pounding again, he let his thumb linger on her chin and his touch was starting to send anticipation and hope though Harry. Their eyes locked on to each other and both found themselves powerless to move, speechless but able to read something about desire in the others being. Torn in two Dempsey raised his eyes and the waiter brought the bill.

Dempsey dropped Harry back at the Hotel.

"Are you coming in for a drink?" she asked

He walked around the car and opened the door for her. He helped her out; his lips brushed hers as he then kissed her lips with the lightest of touches and murmured "Good night Harry" He looked at her feeling a desperation to try for more but he fought for control. He wished he knew the extent of Harry's true feelings about him; right now he didn't want to ruin a perfect evening.

"James" Harry was deliberately looking straight into his eyes; she just hoped he would see her happiness. She needn't have worried, her eyes sparkled. "I loved every bit of the evening, thank you" 'I love you' was the phrase that skipped through her mind, but she didn't dare verbalise it. Their eyes parted and Harry walked away from the car and into the hotel. She calmly made her way to her room, but once there threw herself down onto her bed and laughed out loud, it was a mixture of nervousness and joy. She picked up the small freesias the smelt so powerful, she would press them to keep.