"You're doing it again. Not listening." Grace told him.

Boyd couldn't stop the smirk from forming on his lips. She was right again. He hadn't been listening for at least the last twenty minutes. He knew it was wrong but he was mesmerised by the psychologist. Smitten his Mum would call it. Boyd would be the first to admit he loved women. Give him one that was head strong, intelligent, classy, beautiful, well he didn't think he should be held responsible for a bit of day dreaming when he was with her.

They'd been meeting during and after work for a few weeks. He'd never met anyone who put him so at ease. Although to the outsider you could never tell. That first week after they'd talked about her paper they'd had a huge argument. Over money of all things. Her insights had helped to close his case and he was only too happy to let his DI know of her help. She had helped so she should have been paid.

The day she'd received that cheque for "consulting" they'd have a very public shouting match at the station. He couldn't understand why she was so angry with him so he told her that. It didn't go down well. She launched into a long winded speech about being able to take care of herself, find her own work, just because he was a man didn't mean she was some weak minded tart. Boyd didn't know where that last bit came from and when he explained he didn't "buy all that feminist bull shit" her face and neck went red and she stormed off. You could hear a pin drop in the office and his DI came out motioning for his presence in her office. That was a real good day for him.

That night after calling her home repeatedly he finally got Grace to let him apologise. They met again two nights later and he found she had a weakness for very expensive wines. It was worth it though as he found her more and more fascinating.

"Boyd what did I just say?"

"I wasn't listening but since I know that it proves I was." Again he had to smirk.

She shook her head and sipped her wine. If he'd learned anything these past weeks it was how to wind her up. He decided to change tactics.

"So is there any husband, boyfriend for the esteemed Dr. Foley?"

"Excuse me?"

"There you go again not listening." He mimicked her earlier words.

Sighing she continued, "How do you get from a decapitated body to my relationship status?"

"I was growing bored and I'm curious." He said moving to sit beside her.

Grace had cooked them dinner that night. She'd been edgy for a few days and when she called him with the dinner offer he was only too happy to agree. He liked her flat. It was calm and soothing just like the woman who inhabited it.

"Boyd really . . ."

"No I want to know. Is there anyone in Grace Foley's life?" she didn't seem convinced, "What? We can talk dead bodies but not your love life."

"What about you? Is there a Mrs. Boyd? Are you married?" she asked turning his words back on him.

He decided to play the game. A game they were both getting very good playing.

"Sort of . . ."

"Boyd you can't be sort of married. You either are or you aren't."

He moved back and pulled out his wallet. Boyd felt a bit nervous but he was happy he would finally get to introduce Grace to his secret. He handed her the item he pulled from his wallet.

"Who's this?" she asked him running her finger slowly over the photo of a blonde headed boy.

"That's Joseph Boyd. Joey." He knew he was beaming as she handed the photograph back.

"Sort of?" she prompted sipping more wine. He noticed she'd been nursing that same glass most of the dinner. He added the observation to the mental list he'd been making of the small things she did. He was determined to find out what was making her uneasy.

"He's my son. He just turned four."

"All right that explains that but what about his mother?" she asked and he knew he had her full attention for the rest of the night. He really liked that about her. Once Grace was like this you knew she was listening, really taking in all you had to say. Thinking over every word you had said to find its meaning. It was no wonder Harry Taylor kept her on the Greene case.

"That's where it gets a bit complicated." He told her as he filled his glass. The bottle was now empty. He had drunk almost the entire bottle himself it was no wonder his tongue was a bit looser than normal. "There was this girl I met at a deli. She actually wouldn't give me the time of day. So naturally I took that as a bit of a challenge."

"That goes without saying."Grace told him, "If I've learned anything about you since we've met it's you don't take no for an answer."

He chuckled but continued, "So I finally got her to go out with me. She's called Mary by the way. I guess I was charming that night as she agreed to see me again and that went well so there was another date. Before I knew it we'd been going out for over six months. I was a PC and I was studying for CID. We'd practically moved in together by this time. Mary's a solicitor and had just started at an accounting firm, in the legal department. Everything really was going fine. Well I thought it was fine. We were coming up on 9 months and I wanted to do something special. I'd been thinking of proposing. I was looking for a ring. I really wanted to get the right one."

"I'm going to get a glass of water." She told him setting her wine glass down and standing. Boyd didn't like to see anything go to waste so he emptied the glass and followed her into the kitchen. She motioned for him to sit and continue.

"I'd made some plans for a romantic dinner for us when I'd made a discovery. My first actual murder victim. It was a PC's wet dream. I knew the DI in charge. He was a mate's father so he said I could stay on the case."

"Please don't say you forgot about the dinner." Grace said touching his arm.

"I did. Mary was furious with me when I finally got back to my flat. She was in such a state. I really thought it was the end of our relationship. We fought and she'd told me she didn't ever want to see me again. She wanted to leave but I wouldn't let her. I sat her down and told her she was going to hear me out. I never made any secret my career ambitions. I'm going to be Superintendent one day. "

"I don't doubt it Boyd." She said and he paused as he a little wave of guilt washed over him. He'd been day dreaming off her just minutes before but now talking about Mary and those early days, of how in love he'd been. It was a bit disconcerting. Women would be the death of him he was sure of it.

"She calmed down and I explained about the DI and the opportunity I'd been given. I must have convinced her as she then got excited for me. I do think all she's ever wanted for me is to succeed. Her enthusiasm was contagious and we ended up, "he stopped, feeling his face reddened which caused a huge smirk from Grace, "getting carried away that night."

"Resulting in Joey." She finished for him.

"Yes, which should have been the happiest day for both of us. I went and put my foot in it and asked her to marry me. I had the ring ordered but hadn't gotten around to picking it up. I was working a lot on that case. Again Mary was furious with me. Actually Mary's angry with me quite often."

"That's understandable."

He ignored her, "This time I couldn't make her see I really wanted us to get married. It had nothing to do with her being pregnant. I wanted it. I got the same speech from her about 'being her own woman, she could take care of herself'.

Even as he said the words he watched Grace pale for a split second. She turned away from him.

"Grace?"

Her voice cracked ever so slightly as she spoke next, "What happened?"

"I couldn't make her see sense. I'll never understand it. If it wasn't for knowing her parents from the deli I don't think I'd have even been part of Joe's life." His voice had gotten lower and he hated it still affected him this way.

Grace gave a hollow laugh, "We sure know how to kill an evening."

He didn't say anything taking her hand. The ticking of the clock seemed to get louder as they sat quietly together.

"I just wanted to know if you'd like to go out. Not to talk about work or papers. A date."

"You're not very good with this type of thing are you?"

"Normally I am you just bring out my cocky side."

"Boyd you don't have a cocky side. You're cocky all the time." She laughed trying to lighten their mood.

"You could be right. So will you go or do you want my sad story about Joe's first birthday? Or his disastrous second birthday right after Mary's mother passed away?"

He'd watched her stand and go to the sink. She'd turned her back but he watched the tension in her shoulders. Moving he went to her placing his hands on her shoulders.

Leaning over he whispered against her ear, "I'm sorry Grace."

He heard her breath catch as she turned slowly against him. He hadn't realized how close he'd gotten in her personal space until she was there in his arms against the sink.

"You have nothing to be sorry about," She told him adding, "this time."

He couldn't help but smile at that.

"I think I may have had too much to drink." He told her noting neither of them seemed to want to move.

"That may be the answer."

Being this close was turning into a very dangerous situation. Boyd wanted nothing more than to kiss her. To remove all her clothes and make love to her all night. I need to go now.

"I think we should call it a night." They both said in unison.

Boyd backed away the moment immediately defused. He was sorry things had ended this way. As much as he'd wanted to tell her about Joe he hadn't expected to share so much about Mary. He'd never done that before. Being around Grace made him want to share everything. He would have to put a stop to that.

He put his jacket on deciding he would call a taxi from the payphone two streets over. It would be best if he left, calling her tomorrow. He wasn't sure he could talk to her face to face anymore this evening. He also needed to get back to his flat. A cold shower would do him a world of good.

"Peter?" she called to him from the door of her flat. He had just made it to the foot of the stairs.

"Yes."

"I'll call you tomorrow and we can talk about our date."

"Really?"

"Yes. Now hurry up before you miss that last taxi. I don't want you driving."

Not for the first time in their relationship would Boyd find himself surprised by Grace Foley.