AN1: Forgive me for my ignorance of not only Cricket matches and the times they take but where I'm going with this now. Another short update in the romancing of Ruth by Harry but I saw this on a special on London on the travel channel Thursday night and it was one of a few things that begged to work its way into this fic. If anyone living in the UK has been to the place...is it as awesome as it looked on the travel channel?

As the game ended, Harry stood from the couch and stretched, his stiff muscles protesting at the movement. Though loath to admit it, seven hours sitting on an uncomfortable surface was not something a man his age needed to be doing. The couch; leftover from after his divorce with Jane; was reminiscent of sitting on a wooden bench. Perhaps it was getting time to retire it and seek out a new one; preferably with Ruth's help.

Flipping off the TV, Harry looked around the room. Dusk had arrived signaling that the evening would be upon them soon. His plan for surprising Ruth with dinner out and a stroll along a quaint street he'd found would have to be postponed until the following day as most of the shops would be closing for the evening. Listening to the muted sounds of traffic outside, he wondered briefly if Ruth was still out walking Scarlett or if she'd returned and he'd been too engrossed in the ending minutes of the game to notice.

Crossing towards the kitchen he was about to step into the room when the doorbell rang. Changing direction, he walked towards the door and opened it, expecting to find Ruth and Scarlett waiting. The week before she'd locked herself out when she'd walked the dog before he'd gotten home from work and been almost frozen through. With the memory of how he'd warmed her up in his mind, he turned the handle and smiled. That smile was wiped from his features quickly as he saw the woman standing on his doorstep.

"What the hell do you want?"

"Aren't you going to invite me in Harry?"

"No."

"Come now Harry. You really don't want to do this out here."

"Five minutes Juliet." With a sigh, Harry stepped back from the door and let her in.

Curled on the couch in the sitting room, Ruth was running her hand over Scarlett's head when she heard the doorbell. Shifting her legs, she was just about to get up and answer it when she saw Harry step into the hall, a smile on his features. The match must have ended since the last time she'd seen him he'd barely been able to spare her a glance. Not that she minded too much as he'd looked adorable sitting there, his hair fluffed from where he'd inadvertently run his hands through it. Had he paid her any attention, she'd never have gotten away with watching him, her mind storing away those images for later in the night. With a smile to match his, she sat back on the couch and continued to pet the dog. Her smile disappeared as she saw the other woman step into the hall. Shifting further into the shadows on the couch, she watched and listened.

"I don't think I told you what a lovely house you have Harry. Very tastefully decorated."

"Are you here to discuss my home decor or was there another reason you came?"

"Hmm. That could be part of the reason."

"Look Juliet you've got five minutes and that's it. I'm not in the mood to play games."

"Pity we used to have so much fun with those games." A quiet sigh proceeded her comment, one which Ruth could tell was meant to portray her disappointment but from the sounds of it, Harry wasn't having any of it. She watched as the older woman held out a sealed manila envelope. "This was delivered to Thames house for you."

"And you felt the need to personally deliver it to my house?" Harry's hand snaked out from behind the open doorframe and gripped the envelope.

"Just trying to be helpful. It could contain something of great importance."

"Right. Well, thanks for dropping it off. You can leave. Now."

"Oh but Harry, I just got here." Reaching to the belt of her over coat, she loosened the tie and let it fall open, revealing the low cut black cocktail dress she's wearing underneath. "I've a dinner meeting to go to with Jonathan but I was hoping we could chat for a bit before I go."

As Harry stepped back into view, Ruth held her breath, waiting to see what would happen. "Then I think you need to head to that dinner because I'm really not in the mood to chat with you."

Letting the breath out, Ruth watched as Harry reached past Juliet for the door handle. As he pressed close to reach the door, she watched as the other woman placed her hand directly across the front of his trousers, her fingers tapping gently against the fabric. Harry didn't flinch, didn't blink, didn't shudder, just stood there staring at the door.

"Are you sure Harry? Because I think I could change your mind about that chat."

"Juliet..."

The rest of his sentence was cut off by the frown on her face followed by the complete look of disbelief.

With another sigh, Harry stepped back and looked at Juliet. "What is wrong now?"

"Your...your...broken."

"Excuse me?"

"That woman has broken your penis!"

"I told you before I was not interested Juliet. Now leave."

"But you've always gotten an erection when I've done that in the past. Even when in the domestic bliss of your first marriage. What has she done to you?"

"No one has done anything to me. I told you I wasn't interested and I meant it. Now leave."

Without a word, Juliet tied her coat closed, turned, opened the door and left. Closing his eyes briefly, Harry leaned against the door and let out a deep breath. That was not someone he wanted in his house ever again. Too much negative history. Pushing a hand against the wood, Harry prepared to move into the kitchen and start dinner when he found himself being shoved against the door, breath being knocked out of his lung with an ompf. Wrapping his arms around the warm body pressing into his, he felt her face in his neck.

"Not that I'm complaining," he started softly, his hand slipping under the fabric of her shirt, "but what's going on?"

"I love you." she mumbled into his neck, her hands pressing into the muscle of his back.

"I love you too." he whispered, his cheek lying on her hair. It was only the second time she'd told him that directly; the last being on Christmas morning when he'd shown her the room. Head lifting, he turned his eyes in the direction of her room and saw Scarlett resting on the couch. Suddenly he realized that Ruth had seen the entire exchange between him and Juliet and his arms tighten more. Her biggest fear right now was that he'd grow bored with her and find someone else; at least for a sexual relationship. And he'd just turned down one of the women who'd put that idea into her head. Maybe now she'd have an easier time believing him when he said he wanted no one but her.

Ruth woke the next morning in a cocoon of warmth. Feeling the weight of an arm wrapped tightly around her waist, she opened her eyes and glanced around. It took a moment or two for the events of the previous night to return and when they did, she smiled. She was in Harry's bed wrapped up in Harry's arms with Harry pressed firmly against her back. And clear evidence that she had in fact, not broken him. Biting her bottom lip, she resisted the urge to shift her hips back until she was pressed more against his arousal. It wouldn't be fair to the man sleeping behind her; though maybe he'd do something about the tension in both their bodies.

Nothing had happened the night before. Harry was still insisting that it was too early in their relationship for sex. And while normally she'd agree that one month was too early for her to consider having a sexual relationship with a man, this was Harry. He was different. They were different. Last night had shown her that, had forced her to confront her fears head on that should he be tempted by someone clearly more experienced in the art of seduction, he'd cave were clearly off base. Juliet had offered herself up with no hesitation and Harry had clearly not been interested.

Sighing happily, Ruth burrowed further into his hold and closed her eyes. As far as she knew they had no where important to be that day and she planned on enjoying the feeling of having Harry wrapped around her. It was more than nice having his chest pressed against her back, his hand slipped under the material of her flannel pajama shirt, his fingers resting against the bare skin of her stomach, legs tangled together. For a minute she let herself wonder what it'd feel like without the barrier of their night clothes between them but quickly chased those away. It wouldn't do any good to get wound up when nothing was going to happen. Not unless she seduced him. And that was not something she could do. Not yet. Feeling his hold on her tighten, she opened her eyes as his lips pressed into the back of her neck.

"Good morning." she said softly, her hand moving to rest against his.

"Morning. Did you sleep okay?" he asked, stretching his back as he shifted his body slowly away from hers.

"Better than I have recently."

"Hmm. Good. You'll have to sleep here more often."

Turning onto her back, she looked up at him and smiled at the sleepiness still filling his eyes. Hair curled more than it did during the day, he looked adorable and sexy. She wanted nothing more than to reach up and pull him on top of her. Her thoughts must have shown in her eyes because he leaned down carefully and kissed her good-morning before releasing his hold on her and shifting across the bed. Pouting at the loss of contact, she turned on her side and watched as he climbed out from under the covers.

"Where are you going?"

Looking down at her, he smiled at her pout and brushed his fingers against the skin of her face. "To get a shower. As comfortable as I was, we've things to do today and I don't want to risk falling back asleep."

Sitting up and letting the duvet fall to her lap, she frowned at him. "What do we have to do?"

"That's for me to know and you to find out." Leaning down he kissed her again, his fingers tangling in her hair. Pulling back, he stood and made for the en suite. "Now go get your own shower and I'll see you in the kitchen for breakfast in thirty minutes."

Heavy clouds filled the sky as Harry maneuvered his SUV into an empty parking spot. Turning off the engine, he turned and looked at the woman sitting in the passenger seat, a frown on her face. If laughing wouldn't get him in trouble, he'd seriously chuckle at the look upon her face. Still, he was hard pressed to keep the smile from his lips as she finally turned and met his eyes.

"Isn't it a little early for the theatre?"

"Yes. But we're not going to the theatre. Aside from being grossly under dressed, I've no desire to spend today seeing a play."

"Then what are we doing here?"

Unbuckling his seat belt, Harry opened his door and stepped out into the cold, Sunday morning air. Already the streets were crowded with people out to do their shopping. Waiting as Ruth made her way around the car, he offered her his arm and started walking down the sidewalk. Stopping at the entrance to the thoroughfare and waited as she took in where they were. Eyes lighting up she turned and looked up at him.

"Cecil Court?"

"Between your love of books and your secret liking of the Harry Potter series I thought you might like to browse through the stores."

"How did you know I like the Harry Potter series? The books are still packed in your basement."

"I'm not living in a complete bubble Ruth, I do know what a Muggle is."

"You unbelievable man." Letting go of his arm, she turned and wrapped her arms around him in a hug. Leaning up, she kissed his cheek before smiling at him. "Thank you."

Smiling back at her, he held out his hand. As she placed her gloved fingers in his he pulled her closer until her side was pressed into his. "Where to first?"

"Let's look at the books in Tim Bryars. I hear he has original classics."

AN2: Not entirely in love with this chapter but there we go. Reviews are lovely and I thank you all for the ones you've left so far. More soonish.