"Hi Ruth," Ella kissed her. David turned to Harry.

"And this is?"

"My boss," blurted Ruth, wondering why she'd said it.

Harry looked at her, "but not this week," he smiled and turned to David and Ella.

"Harry," he said and held out his hand.

"Good to meet you, Harry, Ruth's boss," laughed David.

"And is he a good boss, Ruth?" asked Ella.

"The best" said Ruth quickly and vowed to start thinking before engaging her mouth.

"And," said David, "is she a good employee Harry?"

"The best," he said still smiling, "the very best."

Ruth blushed. David and Ella watched them and smiled.

"And that's in the civil service?"

"Yes," answered both of them together.

"Good, well glad that's all sorted. How about a drink, Harry."

And off they went to the patio in search of alcohol.

"He seems nice," said Ella.

"He is."

Dinner went well, they were all comfortable in each other's conversation and Ruth managed to not say anything else stupid.

Ella went to the kitchen to get the coffees, David followed her.

"Do you think he's married?" whispered David.

"Why do you say that?"

"I don't know, her boss and a holiday away and there's clearly something going on and yet they're almost behaving like it isn't."

"Well, that's as clear as mud, Sherlock."

"You know what I mean."

"Yes, kind of. I'll quiz her after coffee. You go and engage Harry in brandy and cigars and I'll do girly chat."

Finally Ella had Ruth to herself.

"So how long have you known Harry?"

"Oh, years," said Ruth

"No, I mean 'known', you know, how long have you been together?"

"We're not."

"What do you mean you're not."

"We're not really together."

"In what sense?"

"In any sense," said Ruth.

Ella just looked confused.

"Though he did ask me to marry him."

"Oh" more confused.

"But I said no."

"But why, you love him don't you," said Ella, simply.

"Why does everyone keep saying that?"

Ella was seriously confused.

"Look, Ruth, I don't know who everyone is and I don't begin to understand what's going on here but even a blind person can see that you both adore each other and whether you're together or not there's clearly something going on. My god, I could feel the sparks before you'd even got out of the taxi. If there was anymore sexual tension round here it would be pornographic."

Ruth looked stunned.

"Do you think so?"

Ella was exasperated, she sighed to maintain some element of composure.

"Yes, Ruth I do think so. Now for god's sake go and kiss him."

"What?"

"Kiss him."

"I can't."

"You can."

"No Ella, I can't,"

"Kiss him, I dare you."

"Ella you used to do this to me at Uni, I'm not biting."

Ruth, I dare and double dare you and if you don't I'll tell Harry about the incident in the University fountain."

"You wouldn't," said a horrified Ruth.

"I would. So kiss him now."

"Ella."

Ella folded her arms and pursed her lips together.

Ruth slowly turned from the kitchen.

"Hi" said Harry as she joined them. He was standing on the balcony, his open necked blue shirt loosely billowing in the breeze. He was leant against the railing, a cigar in his hand, with a warm and wonderful smile, looking more relaxed and at ease then she'd ever seen him. It suited him. My god he looked sexy.

Ruth walked up to him, "hi" she replied and stood on her tiptoes and kissed him. She'd momentarily forgotten about the dare.

It was a gentle, tender, chaste kiss but it was on the lips and it lasted for several seconds. As she pulled away she saw his slightly surprised but evidently happy expression. She turned and walked back to the kitchen and Ella who was standing by the doorway.

"Happy now," said Ruth.

"I am, how about you?"

Ruth tried not to but couldn't quite help smiling.

David looked at Harry and raised an eyebrow, Harry just shrugged and smiled.