Hey gang! Hope eeryone is having/has had a good weekend. Hope you guys enjoy this part, I had to re-write it a few times to get it where I wanted it to be. Enjoy!

Jackie

Thanks to: e-dog, Macaroon, BeachChick, Dessler, dansingwolf, Maria, blueangel, Vrbinka, BiteBeccy, SarahRabb, my.evian, anna, Jaggie107, snugglebug, Manda, Lisa, cbw, Xblue, froggy, aserene and mizukimar for the feedback:)

Story 2 – Date Number One

I study myself in the mirror, doing a once over at my attire. Harm suggested it to be casual but nice. Okay, so I am wearing a white dress with long sleeves. It's simple, casual, there's nothing over the top about it, but it also does look classy if I do say so myself. Checking my internal clock it tells me that he has ten minutes to arrive and I am curious as to whether Mr. Greatness For Lateness will arrive on time or not. My mind travels back and forth with the conversation we had in his office. You wouldn't know it at the time, but I was ecstatic to hear that he hadn't been involved with Dr. Elgin or Professor Montes. I guess when he said he'd wait, he meant it. And God, I think my heart jumped out of my chest the moment he called me beautiful. It wasn't just that he said it, it was the way he said it. Simple, non-complicated as if it were completely normal for us to talk that way. It was sweet, very sweet, but it did catch me off guard.

My curiosity is killing me as to where he's going to take me, what we are going to do and how this is all going to work. I have so many butterflies in my stomach that I might as well move into Butterfly World. It's been so long since I've been on actual date. Wow! Date! I am going on a date with Harmon Rabb. I am going on a date with Harmon Rabb, the sexiest lawyer slash pilot in the Navy. Harm and I, on a date. Hee hee, I haven't been this giddy in. . .well, ever! Just in case, I keep looking out the window to see if pigs started flying yet. I am sure Hell has probably frozen over!

Grabbing my lipstick, I start to apply a bit of it when I hear the knock on the door. He's five minutes early, not bad for a squid. Taking a deep breath, I consider walking calmly to the door, but that just does not happen. My legs, having a mind of their own, have me sprinting across the apartment which is not an easy feat wearing three inch heels. I take a deep breath, then open up with an attempt to dazzle him with a smile. Cept, he's the one dazzling me.

When his eyes lock onto mine, I feel the zing between us. There is a change in the air as Harm takes in the sight of me, slowly, but respectfully. I take my own time taking in his sexy self. He has on black slacks, a light blue, button down shirt and a black sports jacket. The shirt just gives more life to those gorgeous blue eyes of his. God, and I said 'never' to this man? What in the hell was I thinking? We smile at each other shyly. Wow, I haven't felt this way since I was a teenager. "You're on time sailor." I finally manage to get out.

"Well, I had a gorgeous lady waiting for me." Stepping into my apartment he offers a smile and a bouquet of yellow roses. "For you."

I know I couldn't smile more if I tried to. Gently, I take the vase and sniff the roses surprised that, for once, they actually smell like roses. "They're beautiful, thank you." I turn away from him and head to the coffee table which will be the bouquets new home in a place I'll see it every time I walk by. I sigh happily, we might get this right just yet. I wonder if Guinness has some sort of record for how long two people, who are very attracted to each other, can go without being together? Better yea, a 'how stubborn can one be' award. I sniff the flowers again, then turn to Harm who is just standing there studying me. His gaze washes over me making me feel so wanted and sexy. As weird as it sounds he brings out the woman in me, something that few, if any, have had a chance to see. "Do you want coffee or something?" I am rambling something at this point, mainly because those eyes are captivating me.

"Actually, I have reservations at Mario's. So we need to get going." Ah, Mario's. That's our new restaurant in town, a nice, quiet, romantic spot that I keep hearing about. According to Bud, it's a nice place, not overly stuffy. If you manage to snag one of the back tables, it's very intimate and definitely not the type of place to go alone.

I take my purse and jacket, then head over to him. "Well, let's head off then."

The ride down to Mario's was a little less than smooth. The conversation was great, he complimented my dress at least three times and once he almost ran us off the road because he was staring. Halfway there, Harm's car decides to blow a tire and we spend twenty minutes trying to fix it. Well, I heard a saying once that at least, one thing should go wrong per occasion. Supposedly, once that wrong thing is out of the way, it expels all negatives. I am not superstitious, but if that's what it takes to make this work, I am all for it.

When we arrive at Mario's Harm gets the bad news that our table had been given out to someone else. We stand in a small waiting room until the Maitre d', called Giuseppe, ushers us through the restaurant to a table in a not so intimate section of the restaurant. Damn and I had my hopes up. Giuseppe goes through the list of specials and as he is speaking, you can tell the man isn't anything close to Italian. If anything he is a Latin guy and his real name is Pablo. "This is not what I expected." Harm said, looking around the place. For that matter, I thought we'd be canoodled up in some small table, in a dark corner while some romantic Italian number washes over us. "I'll be right back." Man with a mission, Harm stands and heads on over to Pablo. Ugh, I mean Giuseppe.

I eye him suspiciously as he pulls out his wallet and a few bills. I can only deduce that he is looking to bribe the man into giving us a better table. Like those nice ones at the back. Harm points behind me, to one table in the back of the room, in a much more intimate setting than right in the middle of the restaurant. Apparently, Pablo is in no mood to negotiate and Harm is too hard headed to drop it. He pulls out another bill from his wallet then points over to me. When Giuseppe glances over, I wave the fingers of my hand, then blow a kiss in their direction, laughing when Harm's jaw drops. He's just too cute. Whatever he did, or maybe it was what I did, I am not sure, but Harm did manage to secure us that small intimate table.

He pulls out a chair for me then gives me this sheepish grin. "It's a little less noisy over here. . .And I want you all to myself." Harm says unabashed. I like this new side of him, a lot.

"Are you afraid someone will steal me away?" I tease him with a grin.

"Oh, I'd stab them with the silverware if anyone tried. . .But, no, like I said, I want you all to my. . ." Harm never gets to finish his sentence because, out of no where, a perky, overly enthusiastic, dressed in an indecent frock, blond bimbo appears at his side. For a moment I believe she is a waitress, until she starts talking.

"Harmon Rabb Junior! Oh, it is you!" Great, we're on a date and one of his former arm decoration shows up. Well, I am not sure if she is an arm decoration, but she seems a bit too friendly, if you get my drift. Maybe we should have stayed in the more crowded space? "You never call!" She whines at him, her voice sounding like someone has just raked their nails on a blackboard.

Whatever business this woman had with Harm doesn't seem to be too pleasant if his audible groan has anything to say about it. He gives me a pleading glance, then looks up to the side where she is perched. It looks as if he is forcing himself to respond to her "Barbie? How are you?" Barbie? Her name is Barbie? I am trying, so hard not to laugh when he mentioned her name. Barbie? Yep, she does look like some form of Barbie doll – plastic, annoying as hell. All she needs is her Ken doll. And Harm is no Ken, who, in my humble opinion, is a poor excuse for a man.

Barbie smiles genuinely at him and I suddenly want to jump across the table and tear her eyes out. Better yet, didn't Harm say something about stabbing people with silverware? I am not above violence especially when it comes to getting this party girl away from my date! "I am going great, who's your friend?"

"This is Sarah MacKenzie. . .Mac, this is Barbie Angelique Mardossa." The name flowed in such a way that all was missing was a title after it like: countess of bimboville.

I smile politely at her, but all the woman could do is shoot me daggers. Shouldn't that be the other way around? Her attention then turns completely to Harm and the way she is eyeing him is making me nauseous. How fair is it that I go nine years watching this man with other women. And now, that I finally have him to myself, some bimbo has to drop on by. If someone finds Murphy, tell him that I know where he could shove his law.

Without so much as an invitation, Barbie takes a chair from the table closest to us and sits between Harm and I. Glancing over at Harm I give him my best 'get rid of the bimbo' glare. The way she's ogling him is as if she seems intent on stripping him naked and having her way with him right here. Ugh, deep breaths, deep breaths. "So, how are things? Have you seen much of Mattie?"

I've never been really interested in who Harm dated. Well, I've been interested but just didn't want to know the details. Well, okay, I wanted to know the details but, then again I didn't. Okay, yes I am a confused woman. But, if I find out he dated this. .. thing, I think I might have to beat him upside the head. God, I'd almost prefer Renee to this woman.

Oh, please tell me he didn't date her. Harm's flustered for a moment and I know what is going to happen. Mr. Officer and a Gentleman is just too polite to tell Barbie to take a hike. As her hand darts out and caresses his arm, I am tempted to put her into some headlock followed by a coma. The only thing restraining me is the look on Harm's face. "Uh." Casually he removes her hand from where it was trailing up his arm. "Yes, we still see each other and talk, a lot. . . Barbie do you mind, Mac and I. . ." He never gets to finish that one either.

Barbie flops the upper half of her body over the table, effectively cutting me out of the conversation. "Alex is with his dad right now. . .so I'll have the house all to myself." This woman is as subtle as a rhino. She tosses me a dirty look. "Well, I guess you are busy tonight. . .But how about a rain check?"

"Actually, thanks but no, thanks. . .most, if not all of my free time I am planning to spend with Mac here." He moves around her, taking my hand in his. I can feel the tingle in his touch as his thumb rubs the back of my hand. It's a small gesture, but it fills me with pride.

Now, I don't know exactly what happened in that split second, but Barbie went into psycho mode. Two seconds after it registers that Harm is on a date and apparently serious about perusing something with me, Barbie totally flips out. Picking a plate from the tray a waiter just set up for the table closest to us, she pours it all over Harm getting tomato sauce, meatballs and spaghetti all over him. "You are a jerk! You don't call, you lead me on. . .What kind of a man are you?"

I am sure Harm had lots to say, but instead he just sits there as if in disbelief that this had occurred. He may be flustered, but this Marine sure isn't. I stand up, meeting her face to face using the best drill instructor voice I could muster. "What the hell is wrong with you?" I bark out. Barbie tries to say something, but I cut her off. "First, I suggest you shut the hell up. Second, I want you to apologize. Third, I want you to never bother Harm again." So much for trying to sound like a Marine, the way those terms came out sounded much more like a lawyer.

My direct approach has Barbie backing down completely as she back peddles away from us. Unfortunately, the whole 'intimacy' thing has gone out the window. Two seconds later, as all the other patrons go back to their conversation and meals, Harm and I are escorted out of Mario's. I guess you could say we were kicked out and the manager sort of suggested we never return again.

So much for a night out on the town. Leaving Mario's, we hopped in the Lexus and headed to the local diner, a place Harm loving calls "The greasy spoon." The food there has always been good, the company was excellent. We chatted and joked about the evening, both agreeing that we wouldn't let that little bit ruin any of it. I asked Harm about Barbie and he told me she was the mother of a boy Mattie had gone to school with. Apparently, because he'd helped Mattie and her son with a project, the woman had an unhealthy attraction to him. "It's probably the only good thing I got from Mattie moving back to Blacksburg. . .Since she wasn't lab partners with Alex anymore, I didn't have to see Barbie."

Barbie, I chuckle, still not getting over the name nor the spectacle. I glace at Harm's shirt which is most surely, permanently ruined. "Be glad you never went out with her then, could have been like 'Fatal Attraction.'"

"Ugh." He groans with a face of disgust that I just giggle at. Harm can be so damned cute. He smiles up at me with a look of guilt and I am suddenly worried. "Look, I had a lot of things planned, but, is it okay if we call it a night and try this again some other time?"

Normally, I would be upset, but Harm looks so uncomfortable in his stained clothing that I have to agree. "As long as it's sometime soon, you got a deal."

Taking my hand, he kisses the back of it then just smiles. I catch myself sighing and know I have a goofy grin on my face. For all of the bad things that has happened tonight, it was still quite wonderful.

As we come to a stop outside of my apartment, the weather has a turn for the downright nasty. I really don't want him heading home like this, besides he does need to clean up and he can do that in my place. "Come up, Harm. . .I don't want you driving in this." I nod out the window the wind seems to pick up at my motions.

Harm turns to study me for a moment and then concedes, I bet he is wondering what else could go wrong tonight. For that matter, so am I. He parks his Lexus behind my Corvette, then comes around to open the door for me. I stiffle a chuckle at his suit covered in tomato sauce. We head up to my apartment in silence, when I unlock the door to let us in, I find that my apartment has no lights. Great. Just great. "Figures." Harm says grumpily as he trudges in behind me.

"Stay put. . I'll go get some candles and flashlights." I head towards my kitchen to find said items which is easier said than done, even if I do know where everything is.

When I return, Harm is standing in the middle of my living room with a sheepish expression. "You mind if I get cleaned up?"

I hand him over the flashlight then work on lighting a candle. "Sure, I'll put something on the bed for you to wear." He heads into the bathroom as rummage through my drawers. There isn't much there and if Harm actually fits into my pants I will shoot myself. I settle for a pair of old sweat pants and a sweatshirt. It is kinda cool outside, I am sure he could survive for the night.

Heading back into the living room I work on getting the fireplace started. Anything is better than having a zillion candles lit all over the place. I learned this, of course, the hard way when we had another power outage and I wasn't paying attention to the candles. My coffee table nearly caught on fire and I sure as hell don't want that happening again. After getting a nice fire going, I move to the sofa and am about to blow out the candle when I see Harm heading out of my room. Oh My God.

Nothing fits him, at all. "You laugh, MacKenzie and you're so in for it." First off, the sweat pants are too short, riding up to his calves like a pair of Capri pants. Second, I apparently put the wrong sweatshirt on the bed. The one Harm is wearing is cut at the hem and the collar so that it hangs off of one shoulder and his midriff is poking out. And he's still wearing his black dress socks, which makes the pants look that much more ridiculous.

I bite my lower lip, but that still doesn't stop me from laughing. "Harm. . .How. . .could. . .I . . not . . .laugh?" I say between giggles. It occurs to me that I've been doing that way too much lately. But, this is Harm I am giggling with and we are dating. Well, attempting to.

As he walks over, the sweats just ride up a bit more and Harm tries to modestly bring it down to cover his stomach. Nothing doing and I really don't mind because it gives me this peak at those delicious abs of his. He flops down next to me and grins. "See something you like?"

"Oooooh yea." That comes out a bit too. . .too. . .well, intimate sounding. That ego of his, totally got stroked with that one. Not that I mind, especially with that killer look he's giving me.

"Not that I don't appreciate what you're wearing, but aren't you going to slip into your jammies?" His voice has this playful undertone in it. And as much as I would love to slip into something sexy and skimpy, I am not too sure that is the way to go. At least, not tonight. I want to marvel in going out with him a few times before we actually seal the deal.

I pat his leg playfully then stand. "Sure, I'll be right back." I say softly in a bedroom voice, then head into my bedroom and pull out my cowboy pajamas which have got to be the most unsexy thing that I own. They are comfy, warm and leave everything up to the imagination. For good measure, I take a few extra minutes doing absolutely, positively nothing. Good to let them stir. When I finally do head out to the living room I half expect Harm to pout, but, instead, he's grinning like a Cheshire cat. Oh, c'mon! He can't be THAT enthralled over cowboy jammies.

As I make my way over and sit next to him, I find he is chuckling. "You know, I kinda hoped you'd wear those."

Wow, now that I never expected. Clay had hated them. Actually, Clay hated anything that didn't show off an ample amount of skin. Ugh, Webb, what a mistake, if I do say so myself. No more thinking of him, thank you! "Okay, you actually like my cowboy pajamas?"

There is this grin that he doesn't bother hiding at all. A deadly, sexy grin as his hand reaches over and takes mine. "Oh, yea. . .I think you look positively cute in them."

Cute? Did he just call me cute? Ladies and gentlemen, Harmon Rabb just called me cute! "Cute?" I mask my elation as much as possible, too careful not to stroke that ego of his.

Harm does that smile where he sticks his tongue out slightly and I know I've been had. He can see on my face exactly what I was trying to hide. "Yea, Mac. . .cute, adorable and so very much you."

I move closer to him and he welcomes my intrusion on his personal space. My fingers trace down his cheeks, nose, lips. "One could say the same thing about you, Harmon Rabb." In the span of a second, my lips replace my fingers and we kiss, slowly. At first, I swear he didn't realize what happened, but when my hands slid through his hair, he got with the program.

Harm kisses me back, slow and passionately. Pulling me towards him, I manage my way onto his lap which makes our slow, tantalizing exploration that much better. After a few minutes of indulging in what was now so in reach, we part breathlessly. "Wow." He says.

"Yea, wow." I repeat, damn he's a good kisser. A very good kisser. And I want more than just a kiss, but it can't be tonight. And I think he knows the same thing.

Harm smiles at me. "I want to stay the night, Mac. ..but I am afraid of what would happen if I do."

Oh, I know what he means but I, in no way intend on him leaving tonight, not with the weather how it is. "So stay, nothing has to happen. . .Not yet, anyway." It's a bit ridiculous to wait, considering we've waited for how long? But, it feels right to do so, to not treat us like every other relationship. This has to be handled right. "But I want you to stay. The weather is not nice outside."

"I'll stay, Mac. . .But it might be a good idea for you to get off my lap." He says with a mischievous grin.

I barely realized that I had wound up on his lap, shyly, I move of him and onto my side of the sofa. "Woops." I grin at him and we just stare at each other. It isn't awkward at all, just nice. Really, really nice. We spend an hour just going over mundane chit chat, things that are personal and we rarely discuss. When it was time to head to bed, we had a bit of an argument, he wanted to hit the couch and I refused. Eventually we did wind up in bed together, platonically, of course – each on our side. However, sometime in the middle of the night, his arms wrapped around me. I've never felt so safe before in my life