Dempsey was shocked when he saw the new client. He'd stood outside, at the window checking out the tables and picked up the vibes from her. Saw that she was pretending to be relaxed, but sitting up straighter each time the door swung open.

Yet, he didn't believe his luck.

He was used to older women. To divorcees and widows looking for some eye candy on their arm. Almost all didn't want sex, they wanted to create gossip or someone to chat with, to be made to feel beautiful and wanted. He never had a client like this woman.

She was stunning, like a portrait in a gallery, painted by a Dutch Master for all to admire. Her skin was pale, with blue eyes he could dive into and, man, he could forget his own name from the way she appraised him as he asked if he could sit down. This was going to be interesting.

Dempsey smiled at her nerves. He was used to it. He shook her hand, and said he was pleased to meet her.

"What's your name?" She asked carefully, her grip on his hand, cool and firm.

"Whatever you want it to be," he offered looking at her eyes, the lashes so thick. She was making it hard to think straight.

"This isn't going to work, I can't do cheesy chat up lines, I'm sorry to have wasted your time…" Harry got up and grabbed her bag as he stood up with her.

"I'm sorry, that wasn't come-on. Chas explained your situation and I wondered if you wanted me to be the part from the beginning. I'm just trying to get a handle on what the score is and how to help you," he spoke genuinely and waited for her to choose.

"Oh, I see," she said. Carefully she returned to her seat and invited him sit back down, her face watching him as if was a criminal.

He gave her his best, soft smile, hiding the desperate need he felt to make this work. "Let's start again. I'm James Dempsey, most people call me Dempsey and I don't mind if you did too."

"Okay, Dempsey," She tried his name out hesitantly, "I'm Harriet but you can call me Harry. How does this work, is it like that new film, Pretty Woman?"

He chuckled, a little embarrassed; "Well, I'll be at your beck and call but you need to tell me what to do, since you're the one paying me."

Harry looked at him for a long moment and her face seemed to relax a little. Starting with a deep breath, she poured out the whole story, about Arlington, his reputation and her reasons for creating a fictional relationship. He listened carefully until she stopped and let go of a cathartic sigh.

"Jeez, that guy sounds like a piece of work, I don't blame you for wanting to give him a reason to back off." Dempsey shook his head, "I wouldn't want my sister in six feet of him."

She looked surprised, "I thought you'd laugh, like my friend."

Dempsey shrugged, "I met these sorta guys before, think they can buy women." He smiled a bittersweet smile, "I'm aware of the irony."

To his relief she chuckled, and he committed privately to making her laugh more often.

Harry leaned forward. "I'm going to be upfront. This man is loaded and I imagine we'll be in elite company. I'm terrified to be honest and I'm not sure if I have the courage to do this. I'm staking my professional reputation on the line and if there's a whiff of fraud, I will lose more than this grant. It's not … oh God, it's not about sex … even if I know you're clean and you seem nice, but…please stop looking at me…"

Her face was crimson and she look down at her hands instead of at his face.

"Hey…" He unlaced his fingers and decided to be honest about his reasons for the job, something he never did, it wasn't anyones business. "I was an undercover cop, I got stitched up and came across the pond for a new job in the MET. My partner wasn't any good so I left. I'm waiting to get back to the US. This job pays enough and keep me working 'till I can leave. I've mixed with senators, politicians and been to state dinners. I can be what you want but I guess the big question is, do you want to do that with me?"

Her answer was immediate and confident; "Yes."

Over a large pot of tea - Dempsey liked Earl Grey, he revealed - they talked about the logistics and background details. He was detailed with a hint of rebelliousness she sensed. He'd make a great cop - focused and intense. They had train tickets from London to Scotland and he'd said they could complete their story on the way.

DMDMDM

"Relax, Harry," Angela told her from the driver's seat as she pulled the car to a stop outside Euston station.

"It's just nerves," Harry thwacked the visor up and looked irritably at her friend.

Angela simply offered a cheeky and unapologetic smile, "Take advantage of the full works and you'll be settled down in no time."

"I'm not having sex with him," Harry hissed with no idea why it should matter, but it did.

"Why not? You're paying for it," Angela opened the trunk of her car and Harry grabbed her suitcase. "Get your money's worth."

"Stop it."

"I'm just saying, it'll be good for you," Her friend teased, as she look around for station police wielding wheel clamps.

"Ange!"

Her friend stood in front of her, "Look, in a week, this is all over. From what you've said, this guy is a pro and seems decent enough. I'm telling you to relax."

"Angela, it's not like that." Harry poked her friend's arm and found herself eager to get on the train.

Angela relented,"I know but you're staying at a posh place, with all the food, so live a little, goodness knows that museum is expecting a lot of you."

Harry let out a slow breath;"yes, okay."

"Are you meeting him here?" Her friend asked, "Is he gorgeous?"

Harry scanned the crowd and answered absentmindedly, "Yes"

She didn't realise what she'd said until her friend laughed. Before Harry could excuse her distractions, Dempsey was right there beside her suitcase and asking her how she was. In the London sunshine, his hair was glinting and he looked smart in a dark blue suit with an expensive shirt casually buttoned beneath it. She swallowed at the sight of his chest as he pocketed the expensive sunglasses. To her surprise, he didn't shake her hand, but chose to kiss the back of it, with a feather light touch.

"Hey, Harry," he took her bags with ease and introduced himself to Angela. As he arranged their coats on his arm, her friend mouthed 'hot' and fanned herself.

Harry blushed and shook her head.

"Well, you two have fun!" Angela settled on a hint weighted down with a ton of bricks. "Don't do anything I wouldn't and all that…"

"That leaves very little," Harry sighed and then gave her friend a hug, mumbling a thank you into her hair.

She chose not to watch her friend drive away, and instead allowed Dempsey to guide her through the hubbub of the busy station and towards the early morning train. Her stomach grumbled; prior to this moment, she'd felt too ill to eat. Now, having settled into a compartment, she felt hunger. He glanced at her with a warm smile.

"I'm hungry also," he checked his watch, "I'm gonna get a coffee, do you want one?"

"Yes, please. One sugar." She wondered into the empty space he had left, just how the expenses worked. It wasn't until he came back with hot drinks and breakfast, that she realised that his getting off the train and flying back home hadn't occurred to her.

"We are really doing this," she stated, not asked, looking over the top of the plastic cup of terrible coffee.

He smiled, one that crinkled around his eyes and she realised that they were.