I would like to thank you all for your reviews and alerts as well as your patience. Issues at home have made it difficult for me to write. I hope you enjoy this chapter.

I hope this will make you smile GibbsFan :)

Chapter 9

"Ok ladies...let's go have dinner." Harm said. "I'm starving." Mac had fixed her flowers so they all headed down to eat.

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They walked into the restaurant and waited to be seated.

It was comfortable and welcoming with its mix of warm reds and and golds and the soft background music. There was a band tuning up in one corner and the waves crashing on the beach could be seen from the massive windows. Chloe's sight though had zeroed in on one thing...the band. There must be some way they could use that band. Music was romantic wasn't it?

Within minutes they were seated at their table and Harm turned his attention to what was really important...the menu. He did however take a discreet look at Mac over the top while he threw out his nonchalant question.

"So... this... secret admirer...someone you know?" Harm asked. Chloe grinned.

"I think the word SECRET kind of says it all don't you?" she asked.

"Uhhuh." Harm said narrowing his eyes at her. This kid had just a little too much attitude sometimes. She was cute...but mouthy.

"Chloe..." Mac warned.

"What? DO you know who sent them?" She almost laughed allowed as Harm's eye twitched. Jealous...well that was a good sign. They'd meant for Mac to think the flowers were from Harm but this worked out even better. Chloe coughed and dropped her napkin to get Mattie's attention. "Bathroom...come with?" she asked. Mattie got up and followed her with a quick roll of her eyes to Harm to try and throw him off the scent. It didn't work.

"So they up to something you think?" Harm asked.

"The girls? Nah.I think it's nice they're getting a little closer."

"Hmmm."

"What Hmmm?"

"Dunno. But there's a hmmm."

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"Harm is soo jealous of Mac." Chloe said as soon as the bathroom door closed behind them.

"Uhhuh." Mattie said with a grin.

"So should we fan the fire a little there?" Chloe asked excitedly. Mattie thought for a minute before answering.

"Let's see what happens at dinner first."

"We could get them dancing..."

"Ooooh, we could request a song from the band...and say it's from Harm to Mac..."

"She'd HAVE to be impressed by that." See Chloe thought. She knew there had to be a way to fit the band into their plans.

"But what song?" Mattie asked. Chloe shrugged.

"The soppiest love song they know how to play...who's gonna ask them?"

"I will...you go back to the table and throw them off the scent...that's harder." Chloe nodded. She could do that.

Chloe headed back to the table and Mattie snuck around the back of the stage so she wouldn't be seen talking to the band.

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"Finally." Mac said when Chloe got back to the table. "Where's Mattie."

"Ummm she forgot something. She had to get it."

"Where from?" Harm asked. Geez this was like the Spanish Inquisition Chloe thought.

"Um...the room."

"How was she gonna get back into the room? We have the key." Harm said.

"Ah...don't think she thought of that...hehe...guess she'll have to manage without it. Ask a maid or something."

"Hmmm I guess she will." Harm said with narrowed eyes. These girls were up to something, he just wasn't sure what.

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"Hi." Mattie said shyly to one of the men that were setting up for the evening show.

"Can I do something for you hon?" The man asked.

"Well I was hoping you could play a request..."

"That could probably be arranged." the man said. "What'd you have in mind?"

"Well that's the thing...I'm not really sure... something romantic...and slow...so they can dance to it..."

"Oh? And who's this for?"

"Um...my folks. They've been kind of …...separated... and my sister and I have been trying to get them back together." Ok so it was a small white lie. Maybe if you wished it was the truth it didn't count.

The man smiled. Poor kid. It was kind of sweet really, he thought.

"We'll think of something. What's their names?" Mattie's face went a little white...she hadn't thought of that. Still if she didn't give their names how would they know it was for them?"

"Harm and Mac...could you maybe not say who put in the request? I dunno make them think that one of them asked?"

"Hmm...I guess. Don't you worry honey you go sit back down and I'll talk to the boys and our lead singer when she gets here and see what we can do."

"Thank you." Mattie said with a smile.

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Mattie suddenly appeared with a smile plastered across her face.

"Get what you needed?" Harm asked.

"Sure did." she slipped out without thinking.

"How? You didn't have a room key." Mattie looked at Chloe who tried not to pull a face but did shrug a little. She couldn't help it, she had to tell them something.

"Ah... I convinced a room attendant to let me in." she said with a sideways look at Chloe. Fortunately she was saved by the waiter who had come back yet again for their order.

The food was ordered and Chloe's face lit up as Harm ordered a bottle of wine for he and Mac. Perfect, wine...they hadn't thought of that. They'd be even more willing to dance if they got a little tanked first.

"Hey can I have some?" she tried.

"No." Mac said. "Drink your soda."

"If I was in Italy I'd be allowed to drink wine with dinner."

"Well Virginia beach is NOT Italy, so drink your soda." Mac said.

"Hey listen to your...m...Mac." Harm said.

Chloe didn't even like wine and she had no idea why she was arguing to get some. At the not so patient look on Harm's face she decided to let it go. He wasn't going to feel much like dancing or anything else if she made him really mad. Although he was a bit of a grump sometimes...why was she trying to match make him with Mac again...cos sometimes having a stand in grumpy Dad that gave a damn was kind of nice.

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Dinner was kind of nice...they ate good food and joked around. The girls almost forgot about the dance song they'd requested until the lead singer came over the mike.

"Hi. I'd like to welcome you all... I hope you all enjoy tonight's entertainment...For our first song...I'd like to ask...Harm and Mac..." she said turning to check with the base player who nodded. "To join us for the first dance...as a special request." Mac in a very unlady like manner spat her coffee but managed to catch it in her napkin. Harm's eyes widened in disbelief as the singer kept on talking. "Come on...don't be shy now." she continued. "There always has to be someone to make that first move." Both Chloe and Mattie suddenly found the bottom of their empty sundae glasses very interesting as they scraped away at the last dregs of ice cream in the bottom.

There was now a spotlight shining on their table and the rest of the diners were starting to applaud. With his face scarlet, Harm stood and held his hand out to Mac who stood and took it as they walked slowly onto the dance floor.

Now that the adults were safely out of reach the girls turned their eyes to the dance floor.

"That was subtle." Chloe said with a grin.

"As a sledge hammer." Mattie said without a grin. She had a funny feeling this was all about to go terribly wrong.

As the band started playing.. 'Unbreak My Heart'." Harm pulled Mac tightly into his arms and whispered into her ear.

"I'm gonna kill them." She giggled. It was actually kind of nice to be held in Harm's arms.

TBC