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….

The following Saturday Graham shows up at Ace's in the early morning hours. "Coming." Ace opens the door to a cup of coffee being shoved in her face. "Graham?"

"Morning love."

"It is," Ace looks at her smart watch, "8AM."

"Jeans and a t-shirt."

"What?"

"You asked about the dress code for our date. We will be going on a morning stroll, picnic in the park, a movie, the companion support group, then to round off the night dinner near the eye."

"A whole day?"

"If you'd like that."

"I would; come on in. I will just pop upstairs and get dressed. You can think of me with nothing on if you'd like." Ace walks up the stairs adding an extra swish of her hips.

'Think of something else, not of the woman upstairs putting on clothes. Think of something horrid.' Graham is trying his hardest to focus on anything but the idea of Ace changing upstairs when there is a hand on his shoulder.

"Graham?"

"Hi Ace."

"Thinking of something in particular?"

"Trying not to." Ace starts to run her hand over his chest.

"Does it have to do with me?"

"Yes."

"You can think about me any way you'd like to. I know I think about you in every way possible including quite naughty ways."

"What?!"

"Let me just say I have imagined what your fingers would feel like burning a hole to my skin."

"Ace, you are making it hard for me to be a gentleman."

"I like making you."

"Ace."

"Ok, I'll stop," Ace gives him a slow, sensuous kiss. "Does that help out?"

"Not much, but it was amazing." Graham takes her hand while handing Ace her coffee.

"Good, that was the idea." They walk out the door and to Graham's car.

"Where are we taking a stroll?"

"Around a local park that is near a little café."

"How much have you thought of?"

"I want our first date to be perfect."

"Graham, it will be." Ace smiles at him.

"I hope so. This is important."

"No pressure, you have already impressed me. On the way to having my heart." While inside her head, 'who are you kidding McShane, he already has it.'

"Ace?"

"Yeah?"

"Where did you just go?"

"In my head, don't worry; it was a very good place."

"As long as it was good. We're here." Graham turns off the car and the two get out when they meet around the car hands go for the other and they start to walk around the park.

"This is nice. I never thought I would be the one to enjoy a simple stroll through the park."

"I just thought it was a nice idea and it is beautiful out."

"It is."

"I am the lucky one, not only is it beautiful out, the person I am with is also beautiful."

"Stop it."

"Never." Ace lightly laughs. "So cafè or picnic?"

"Picnic."

"Ok, I will go get the food, you find the spot you want."

"I will do just that." Graham gives Ace a quick kiss before heading to grab some food. Ace finds the perfect spot and lays the blanket that Graham was holding in his other hand down. She stands looking at the view as she feels someone behind her.

"Graham?"

"Who's Graham," Ace turns around to see her brother.

"He's my partner. I told you about him a few times. What are you doing here in London?"

"Caitriona wanted to visit London."

"How is she doing?"

"Better, where is this Graham?"

"Getting some food for our date." Liam watches as his sister glows talking about her date.

"You really like him."

"I do, minus Christmas when I was visiting you for those two weeks, we see each other everyday."

"Was that who you were talking to every morning?"

"It was."

"You told me you weren't seeing anyone."

"We weren't together at that point. We just became a we, this week."

"What took you so long? The smiles you had after each talk was something I had never seen. Caitriona even mentioned it to me."

"We both were afraid."

"Why?"

"Why did it take over 20 years for you to admit you were in love with Caitriona?"

"I see, you were afraid."

"I was." Ace looks past Liam and spots Graham in the distance with her sister-in-law. "I see the two that have our hearts have met."

"Wait, you love him?"

"Yes, but don't tell him. I haven't told him yet."

"You two haven't been together for a week."

"I know that, but we have been talking to each other every day for 8 months and seeing, well not romantically almost as much." Graham and Caitriona walk up to them.

"Here's your coffee Liam."

"Thank you Cat."

"I got our breakfast Ace." Ace gives him a kiss on the cheek.

"So what you said wanting to impress someone was true," Caitriona asks Graham.

"You heard that?"

"I did. Little did I know it was my sister-in-law."

"You are Liam and Cat?"

"We are, you must be Graham. The reason my sister was waking up early enough to make phone calls during her visit during Christmas."

"I am, I have heard a lot about the two of you. Including the story of when you first met Ace."

"She has you call her Ace."

"That is what she introduced herself as. I had only heard of Dorothy McShane."

"So it didn't matter to you she had money."

"LIAM!" His sister nearly screams at him.

"What it is my job to ask those questions."

"No it's not Liam. Graham is a good guy." Graham sets down the food and wraps one arm around Ace.

"I don't care about money. I care about Ace."

"Good." Ace turns and faces Graham. "Well Cat and I will let the two of you have your date." Liam and Caitriona walk away.

"Let's eat now. I am sorry about my brother; I didn't even know that he was in London."

"Could he be here for an early birthday celebration?"

"Not that I know of."

"See your birthday is on August 20th, it is almost July."

"Please don't plan anything for my birthday."

"What about a nice dinner for you, Tegan, Nyssa, Ryan and I."

"I guess that could be ok."

"We L, I mean care about you. I know I want your birthday to be a happy one."

"It is still far away."

"I know that Dear, it won't hurt to think of where you might want to eat though."

"And the fact I will probably have forgiven Tegan by then."

"I don't want you to give up on a friendship that has been going on for over 20 years."

"I won't, I just can't believe my best friend did that."

"My Grandson did too. He told me Tegan won, and that she won a lot. It seems only Nyssa wasn't involved with the bet." Graham looks at his watch, "Speaking of that we should be heading out soon. The meeting is in 20."

"I don't want to leave."

"Neither do I." Ace lays down into Graham's arms.

"Then let's not go."

"We have to face our family and friends eventually."

"I know." Ace leans her head up and kisses Graham. "We did just face Liam."

"That we did. Though I wanted to look smart the day I met him and having a nice dinner, so he would know I am right for you."

"I am the only one that gets to decide that, and I say that you are."

"And you are right for me." They sit there for a few more minutes. "Come on, let's go before they send out a search party for us." They get up and move to the car.

"So you decided to show up Ace?" Tegan says to her friend.

"I did Tegan." Graham walks up behind the two women and sighs.

"Good afternoon, Tegan."

"Afternoon Graham."

"Come on you two, you have been friends for decades. I am not angry at the bet," Graham doesn't want the two of them to keep up this argument.

"I am still a little mad." Ace says as Tegan hands her a wad of cash.

"Here's the money Ace. Use it whenever you two go on a Honeymoon."

"Thank you for apologizing Tegan, that is what I needed."

"I won't do it again."

"Good, keep the money." Ace gives her friend a hug.

"Next time we hang out you have to tell me everything."

"You know I don't kiss and tell Tegan."

"It's fine Honey," Graham kisses Ace's crown and heads over to his chair.

"The two of you are already growing close."

"That we are. After the meeting Graham is taking me out to dinner."

"Where?"

"I don't know. He surprised me this morning and we have been together since."

"When is the last time you spent the whole day with someone when not working?"

"I honestly don't remember. I have enjoyed it though. Come on Tegan, the meeting is starting soon." They move to their chairs with the only difference being that Nyssa is sitting next to Tegan. Ace and Graham keep making eyes at each other. After the meeting is over Ace and Graham are the first to leave hand in hand. Before Ace knows it they are at the restaurant.

"This day has been lovely Graham," Ace tells him as their food arrives.

"Lovely day for a lovely woman."

"Graham," Ace lightly laughs. She looks into his shining blue eyes. "I love your eyes."

"You don't know that the first thing I see in my mind in the morning and the last I see in the evening is your eyes in my mind."

"You are the last voice I hear before I go to bed, though that can be because you are the last person I talk to each night." Ace reaches her hand across the table. While they eat they continue small chat while holding hands across the table.

2 hours later Ace and Graham arrive at Ace's house. "I know I said this at dinner, but I had a lovely day today."

"I did too. I want to go on another date with you."

"That can be arranged." Graham gives Ace a small kiss.

"Goodnight."

"What was that?" Ace grabs Graham's hand and brings him in for a deeper, more thorough kiss. "Goodnight." Ace enters her house with a large smile on her lips.