JAG Continues:
Author: Teacup 2005
Disclaimer in Chapter 1
“Are you going to tell me where we’re going now?” Mac asked.
“That would ruin it being a surprise,” Harm answered, stealing a glance at Mac who sat in the passenger seat of his classic corvette. The way she looked in her stunning, bright red dress made him catch his breath again. “Have I told you how gorgeous you are this evening?”
“Twice already. I’m not falling for this diversionary tactic.”
“I’m just saying what’s on my mind. I can’t compliment you?”
“You may. And I appreciate it.” Mac honestly smiled. “But I want to know what you’re planning,” she persisted.
“I’ve told you everything you need to know. I assure you that you are very well dressed for the occasion. Though I hope you took my warning that you may be on your feet for a while into consideration when you made your shoe selection.”
“These are the only shoes I have that match this dress.”
“I do like you in that dress,” he admired.
“I noticed,” she smirked. Mac was glad she had been able to locate this outfit in her packed boxes. She had bought the dress not long ago with Harm in mind. He liked sports cars in bright red, so she took a chance that he’d like her in the vibrant color as well. It seemed to be having the desired effect on him.
“What else do you need to know about tonight?” Harm asked rhetorically. “You will be fed, I promise.”
“Good. Food is important,” she agreed. “Just don’t feed me too much, or I may not be able to get out of this dress.”
“I could help you with that if necessary.” He raised an eyebrow and grinned.
“Ohhh no,” she said defiantly, but with a smile she couldn’t hide. “As long as we’re waiting, we’ll do this properly. No peeking.”
“I wouldn’t dream of it,” Harm teased back. But after a second, he reconsidered his response. “Actually, that’s a lie. I do dream of a time when we will be undressing each other.”
Mac gave out a small laugh, keeping her wholehearted agreement to herself. Then, trying to change the subject, she gazed out the window and asked, “So, how long until we get there?”
“As soon as we’re married, I hope,” responded Harm.
Mac looked confused for a moment, but then rolled her eyes when she realized he was still referring to the removal of each other’s clothes. Amused, she clarified, “Until we get to our destination for this evening?”
“Oh. … Soon.”
“That’s helpful,” she said sarcastically. “You’re testing my patience again today.”
“Again?”
“Yeah, I was really looking forward to wearing that engagement ring tonight.”
“Hey, I bought it,” claimed Harm in defense. “Is it my fault the jeweler insisted on keeping it to make sure the setting and sizing are perfect?”
“I don’t care what the jeweler said, the size was fine. And anything else could have been adjusted while we waited,” she complained.
“I guess he takes his business very seriously. But don’t worry, Mac. I will definitely make sure you have it
before you leave for
“Ah, you want to make it clear that I’m spoken for, is that it?”
“Absolutely,” Harm agreed. “Since I won’t be there to personally claim you, I’ve got to do something to keep the guys away.”
“You don’t trust me?” Mac asked in mock offense.
“I do. I’d just rather you focus on your new job and other important things rather than thwarting off the numerous advances of drooling men. It’s more efficient if they see a ring and keep their salivating to themselves.”
“So you’re just being practical then?” she asked knowingly. In truth, she was flattered at his over-insistence that the men would be lining up to ask her out. She knew he meant it as a compliment.
“Yes,” he answered. “That, and … I don’t want you to forget about me while we’re apart.”
“There’s no chance of me forgetting you,” she assured him.
“I’m glad.” He
glimpsed over and softly smiled at her.
As he turned his eyes back to the road, he added, “… But may I also
remind you that you are now scheduled to meet with my Mom when you get out to
“Oh, so that’s what the lecture was about,” she said with understanding.
“Among other things,” he sighed.
After a moment, Mac commented with pleasure, “It’s going to be nice for me to have allies with the other women in your life.”
Harm shook his head. “Just try not to gang up on me too often.”
Mac simply smiled in response to that, before remarking, “I’m glad your Mom seemed pleased about our news.”
“Of course she’s pleased. It’s a dream come true for her,” Harm pointed out. “Her son is getting married to a wonderful woman and moving back close to home.”
“But she’s also looking forward to grandkids, Harm,” Mac said with slight worry in her voice.
“She didn’t say anything to me about having children. Did she mention something when I passed the phone over to you?” he asked.
“No, but there is a reason she asked you exactly how old I am,” Mac countered.
“Nah, she just wants to make sure I’m not having a mid-life crisis and marrying someone half my age.”
“That might be true if you told her you were marrying someone she never heard of before. But she already knew I’m not half your age,” Mac argued. “Believe me, she’s concerned about how many child-bearing years I have left.”
“I wouldn’t let my Mom worry you, Mac,” Harm advised. “… By the way, thank you for being willing to spend some time with her before I get out there,” he added quickly, trying to get away from the topic of children for the night.
Mac brightened a little and insisted, “She and I need to get to know each other better. After all, she is going to be my mother-in-law.” Thoughtfully, Mac added, “It’s kind of bizarre.”
“What is?”
“I never thought of myself having a mother-in-law. … It’s just kind of strange to be gaining any type of mother figure at this point in my life.”
‘Uh oh,’ thought Harm. Out of the frying pan and into the fire. Away from the possibility-of-not-having-a-child concern, but on to what could be the mother-abandonment issue. He didn’t want any negative thoughts ruining the evening.
“Well, Mac, it’s a time for new beginnings. And right now, you’ll be happy to know that we’re only about two minutes from our destination.”
--------
“It figures we’d end up on a boat,” Mac stated.
“That’s what you get for being involved with a Navy man,” Harm replied.
“At least it’s not a plane, Mr. Aviator.”
“Don’t think I didn’t consider it. But I can’t fly and offer you the kind of attention I’d like to at the same time.” He leaned over and kissed her on the cheek.
“That was sweet of you to consider me,” she said playfully.
“What can I say? I’m a considerate guy,” he replied with equal humor.
Before Mac could respond, a young man in formal wear approached them. “Sir, Ma’am. May I show you to where you’ll be dining this evening?”
“Yes, please,” answered Harm.
When they reached their seats, Harm pulled out the chair for Mac and helped her slide closer to the table.
“Thank you,” she responded. As Mac watched Harm walk around to sit across from her, she couldn’t help but admire him in his formal mess dress. “Have I told you how handsome you are this evening?”
“I’m not sure,” he said thoughtfully. “You were starting to say something at the door when I picked you up, …but I think you became distracted.”
Mac’s eyes gleamed in response to the mischief in Harm’s, and the corners of her lips turned up just a bit more. “Yeah, I wonder why?” she asked with pleasant sarcasm. She was referring to the earlier scene when he presented her with a bouquet of flowers from behind his back, followed by a very passionate kiss.
Refocusing on the present, she assured him, “Well, you do look very handsome. … And I’m not the only woman who’s noticed.”
“There are other women on this boat?” Harm pretended to be serious.
“Are you really not aware of how women eye you?”
“I only care how you eye me.” After a few seconds of giving her his trademark grin, he added, “… Actually, I almost wore a civilian suit tonight because I thought my dress uniform might attract too much attention.”
“But … you realized you like the attention?”
“No, I just figured that we’d be the center of attention anyway with you all dressed up. Since I’ve now seen what you’re wearing, I know I was right. Plus, … you did mention last night that you like me in dress uniform.”
“I do,” she confirmed. “You wear it well.”
“Thank you.”
“So how did you find out about this dinner cruise anyhow?” Mac asked.
“It’s much more than just a dinner cruise,” he countered. “And,” answering her question, he added, “I have my ways.”
Her smile grew. “Thank you for doing this.”
“Doing what?”
“Providing a proper night out for us.”
“Well, I figured we should at least have one real date before we get married,” he said.
---------
“That was delicious, Harm. After that dessert, I may have to sleep in this dress until I lose some of the weight I just put on.”
“Oh, we can’t have that. I’ll just have to make you work it off tonight.” He briefly gave her an impish look.
Mac’s eyebrows rose. “And how exactly do you propose to do that?”
With his eyes he indicated where the musicians had just begun to set up. “The band is about to start playing.”
“This is where the warning about my shoes comes in?” Mac surmised.
He nodded his head in reply.
A few minutes later, when the band was serenading the passengers with a slow jazz song, Harm stood and offered Mac his hand. “Dance with me?”
“I’d love to,” she answered, her eyes glittering.
He led her to the dance floor, which they proceeded to occupy for the next two hours. They both felt freer to let loose and have a good time with each other than they ever had before, and it showed.
They had fun with some of the faster numbers, but Harm and Mac mostly enjoyed the slow, sensuous tunes. In truth, the song lyrics, melody, and even the tempo didn’t really matter … as long as they were holding or having contact with each other. They had gone too many years without really being able to touch.
“What’s that smile for?” asked Harm, after Mac had turned her beaming face up to him during a particularly romantic number. Usually, during these slow songs, she contented herself to lay her head against his chest, as he rested his cheek gently on top of her, so it surprised Harm to find her looking up at him with such an amused expression.
“I was just thinking …” she answered.
“You shouldn’t be thinking now. Just feeling,” he lightly scolded.
“Oh, I am feeling. But what I’m feeling got me to thinking.”
“Okay. It must be a happy thought.”
“Mm-hmm,” she agreed. “I was thinking that … you’re not dancing with me like I’m your sister tonight.”
It took him a few moments to place her reference, but then he remembered the comment she had made ages ago during the very first military ball at which they had both been in attendance.
“No, I’m not,” he agreed, smiling gently. “You have to understand though, … back then I wanted to maintain a professional relationship with you. If I gave in to touching you the way I wanted to …” He didn’t need to finish.
“Did you want to … back then?” she asked.
“Part of me did,” he answered very seriously.
Mac tried to suppress a smirk.
“What?” Harm asked.
“Nothing.” She lost the battle and fully gave way to her grin. “It’s just that, … based on what I feel of you right now, … I know which part.”
Harm blushed slightly and instinctively pulled his body away from her a bit. “… I think it’s time we took a break from this activity,” he concluded.
“Hey, I didn’t mean to upset you …” she began to protest.
“You didn’t,” he assured her. “But I would like … uh … some cool, fresh air. … And I’d like you to come with me.”
“Okay.” Mac expected Harm to guide her through the doors to the main deck, but he walked her past them and over to a set of stairs that she was sure had previously been chained off. They reached the small upper deck, which to Mac’s surprise was empty. “Are you sure we’re allowed up here?”
“Positive.”
“It’s just odd that no one else has wandered up,” she observed.
“Their loss,” was all he commented as he wandered over to the railing.
She followed him. “It is very nice out here. The breeze, the stars, the sound of the waves, … the lights in the distance.”
Harm turned around and leaned his back against the rail. Even though Mac was commenting on how nice it was, he could sense some sadness in her voice. “But it reminds you of another time, another place?” He knew this would be tricky.
Mac took in a deep breath. “A little.” She turned away from him, leaned her arms over the railing, and stared out into the darkness.
He moved behind her. “I was hoping that tonight you’d let me rectify a mistake I made years ago.”
She turned back around to look at him. “It was a long time ago, Harm. We can’t undo the past.”
“I know. But it’s a shame for you to associate such nice surroundings with a bad memory.”
She placed her hand on his chest and said sincerely, “Tonight’s memories will be good. It’s been wonderful, Harm. Everything about it. The dinner, the dancing, … the company.” She had moved her hand up, softly caressing his cheek.
“Well, I’m not quite done with you yet,” he said slyly. He took the hand she had on his face, grasped it, and placed a kiss on her palm before lowering it. Then he swallowed hard and looked at the ground for just a moment before declaring, “I know it’s not exactly new ground since yesterday, so maybe it won’t have the effect I’d like it to, but … I love you, Mac. And I guess it’s obvious at this point, but … I am ready now, … to pull the barriers down and … to let go … with you.”
“Oh, Harm.” Finally being given the words that she had longed to hear so long ago, the words she had dreamed over and over of him saying since that time on the ferry, made Mac’s heart melt.
She couldn’t help but wonder though, what their lives would have been like if he had been able to let go with her back then. She wouldn’t have wasted her time with Mic. She wouldn’t have had to put up with Renee pawing at Harm for over a year. Her relationship with Clay would have remained as it belonged, as mere friends and acquaintances.
She thought of the time Harm and she could have spent loving each other instead of fighting. They might have had children together by now, unhindered by her current medical problems. She didn't blame Harm. She was at fault at least as much as he was, but it didn't keep her from wistfully thinking about what might have been all these years.
‘Okay,’ Harm thought. He’d said the words he wished he’d uttered years ago, but he knew that saying them now still reminded Mac of the regret from that night long before. She may have been touched by his new proclamations, but Mac still had a somberness about her. He needed to lighten things up before he moved on to the next part of his plan for the night.
“Mac?”
“Yeah?”
“May I kiss you?”
This did bring Mac out of her reverie. “Since when do you need to ask?”
“You seemed kind of distant,” he answered. “I didn’t make you sad, did -”
“Yes.”
“- I? … Oh, I’m sorry. I …”
“No!” Mac interrupted to correct his impression. “You didn’t make me sad. But yes, you may kiss me … after you say those three words to me again.”
Harm wasn’t sure which three words she was referring to. “I … am … sorry?” he guessed.
“No, before that part,” she stated, making it clear just how obvious that should have been.
Harm had to think. What was so novel of what he had just said that she would want to hear again? Probably the part about ‘letting go.’ That was where he’d made the mistake before. But what part of that statement was three words?
He knew he needed to say something quick or she’d think he didn’t mean whatever it was that she wanted to hear again. He was literally counting on his fingers, “to … let … go?”
“No.” Mac was surprised and somewhat amused that Harm didn’t realize the words she meant.
“I … am … ready?” he tried again. Mac shook her head in answer. Harm became flustered because most of what he had said really required more than three words to be meaningful. “Pull barriers down?”
“Before that,” Mac urged, smiling.
“Not done with you? … No, that’s four,” he answered himself. Mac quietly laughed at how Harm was attempting to play what had become a word game.
Despite his frustration, Harm appreciated that he had at least lightened Mac’s mood. However, since he felt he was metaphorically drowning, he decided to go on the offensive. “Are you just giving me a hard time?” he accused, wanting to know if she was simply toying with him.
“I’m inclined to ask you the same thing,” Mac replied, “but I really think you’ve stumbled into making this a game for yourself.” She somehow managed to make the smirk on her face somewhat sympathetic as she pointed out, “It’s you classically making things more complicated than they are.”
He gave up. “Then tell me what three words you want to hear again.”
Becoming very serious, she answered, “The ones about how you feel … about me.” She used his language from the night before when he wanted to hear the words from her.
“I love you,” he said matter-of-factly.
“Those are the three,” she affirmed, giving him a gentle smile.
“But that was too obvious. I’d already said them before tonight,” he protested.
“I hope you’ll say them again,” she answered simply.
“I love you,” he said sincerely, looking her in the eyes. But then his thoughts of the last few moments distracted him. “You must think I’m an idiot …”
“Harm …”
“I thought you wanted something -”
“Harm …”
“- that I hadn’t said before -”
“Harm …”
“- like making a point about me being ready to …”
“Harm!!” Mac took him by the arms and shook him lightly. He stopped. When she was sure she had his attention, she continued. “I love you, too.”
Harm smiled and did nothing but gaze at her for a few seconds.
Impatient, Mac whispered, “You can kiss me now.”
“Right,” Harm snapped out of it. It was time he took charge of things again, so he restarted from the point at which he had lost control of the situation. Caressing her shoulder, but looking fixedly in her eyes, he declared, “I love you, Mac.” Then he brought her close and kissed her in a way that made her forget everything else.
As their lips finally broke apart, before Mac had a chance to even think about speaking, Harm stated, “I’m going to be right back.” He let her go, and, as he walked backward to the stairs, he pointed at her and added, “Don’t go anywhere, okay?”
“Okay …” Mac said, confused.
“I’ll just be a minute or two.” He turned and disappeared down the stairs, nearly running.
Mac’s heart was still pounding, as happened every time Harm kissed her. She took in a deep breath and turned around to lean on the rail overlooking the water.
Her thoughts turned to how fantastic everything had been tonight. Even Harm’s antics were wonderful. Just thinking about him counting out words on his fingers made her smile again. He had managed to help her deal with the past memory too, didn’t he? She was here on the water, atop what was more or less a glorified ferry, under the lights and the stars, and while earlier it only reminded her of a more painful time, she now wore a smile. She now had the new memories of humor, love, … and that kiss.
Despite the warm feeling she had on the inside, she shivered and realized that the cool, night sea breeze was making her chilly. She rubbed her arms and waited for the man who she hoped would warm her with his embrace. She remembered how he felt against her when they were dancing earlier. She shivered again, but didn’t think it was from the cold this time. Able to hear the muffled music from below, she closed her eyes and imagined herself in his arms again, tightly pressed to his firm, warm body.
Mac might not have even heard Harm approach except that he was humming along to the tune playing below. Since she didn’t move, she expected him to wrap his arms around her from behind, but instead, when he reached her, she felt fabric across her shoulders.
“Cold?” he asked.
She opened her eyes and turned her head to see that he held a lightweight black jacket behind her. “A little,” she answered.
Instead of draping it over her shoulders, he pulled it back and held it open. “Come on then, arms in.” He helped her put it on.
“Where did you get this?” Realizing it was a woman’s jacket, she turned to him and asked, “You didn’t take it from someone here, did you?”
“Hey, I may be many things, but I’m not a thief!” he joked.
“I wasn’t implying …” Mac suddenly stopped. “Wait a minute,” she said, recognizing the design of the jacket. “This is my jacket. But I didn’t …”
“I thought you might get chilly when I brought you out here, so I snagged it from your apartment earlier. I would have just planned on giving you my jacket, but I didn’t want to lose any of the appeal I might have in my white jacket with its gold wings.” He grinned.
Her eyes narrowed. “This was very premeditated,” she remarked.
“Guilty,” he admitted. “I figured fashion-wise, simple black was safe no matter what you decided to wear. Did I do okay?”
“Yeah. But why didn’t you just warn me to bring a jacket along?”
“I didn’t want to give any more hints away. And I didn’t want the extra requirement to affect your choice of wardrobe.”
“That’s very sneaky of you. I didn’t see you take it … or bring it aboard. How did you get it here?”
He gave her one of his famous grins. “If you’re good, I might tell you later.”
“Haven’t I been good all night?” she asked coyly, before wrapping her arms around him.
“You have,” he answered, “been very good.”
Her voice was now soft and sultry. “I deserve something for that, don’t I?”
“You do,” he breathed. “… As a matter of fact, I have something for you.”
Mac, hoping the something was going to be another kiss, was disappointed when Harm pulled himself out of her arms. She became slightly alarmed as she noticed that he was becoming a little nervous.
“I, uh …” He wasn’t sure how to begin; however, he was positive his ‘uh’ wasn’t the best way. He took a moment to breathe before restarting. “I’ve noticed that you’ve been leaving this …” He hesitantly reached his finger up and ever so gently caressed her neckline. “… spot … bare.”
It was true. Mac hadn’t worn a necklace tonight, just as she hadn’t the evening before, despite the low cut of each of the dresses. None of her necklaces had seemed appropriate. The ones she owned had either been gifts from former boyfriends that she would rather forget or they had just not seemed to look the way she wanted with her outfits. … Or maybe she had just hoped that leaving that spot of her skin exposed and bare would get Harm’s attention. Apparently it had.
“I couldn’t find a necklace I thought would look good on me,” she finally murmured.
Harm raised an eyebrow in disbelief. “Mac, you make even your dog tags look good.”
“They don’t quite go with this dress,” she responded with a smile.
“I guess not. But, I’m glad you left that spot open tonight,” he said as he pulled her by the hand a few feet to stand next to a nearby bench, “because I want …”
He reached under the seat and pulled out a wide jewelry box.
“… to put this on you.” He opened the case to show her the pendant diamond necklace inside.
Mac gasped. “Harm!” Scanning the necklace, she immediately noticed that, although it had numerous small diamonds, its design otherwise matched the ring setting they had picked out earlier that day.
“I’m not sure about the ‘character’ of these diamonds,” said Harm, “but something about this necklace made me think you should have it.”
“It matches the ring …”
“Yes. Well, except there are multiple diamonds, … smaller of course, but several of them. … Nine, to be precise.”
Mac knew that since he mentioned the number, it carried meaning. “For each of the years we’ve known each other?” she asked.
He nodded in affirmation.
Mac was in shock. She wasn’t expecting this. “Harm, you didn’t have to do this. I … I don’t need this.”
“I know,” he said softly. “But I wanted to.”
“It’s beautiful.” She couldn’t manage to say more than that.
Harm smiled, relieved that she had finally said something indicating she liked it. “Could I … put it on you?” he timidly asked.
Mac considered for a moment that she shouldn’t accept it because it was too much. But she did love it. Moreover she loved the man giving it to her. While part of her thought she should not let him spend so much on her, when she looked into his eyes she knew that he wanted to give this to her with all of his heart. He had given this a lot of thought and went out of his way to procure it for her.
If she objected, it would offend him. Far be it for her to hurt him like that. … She would just have to accept the beautiful, expensive, symbolic gift that she already adored. How did she get to be so lucky?
She met his eyes and smiled. “Please do.”
He removed the necklace from the box, walked around behind her, gently clasped the chain, and adjusted it to lie appropriately on her neck underneath her hair.
When he returned to face her, he was beaming like a child who had just earned a gold star and was proudly bringing it home to show his parents. Mac realized that Harm was feeling accomplished for finding her something that she would love and for successfully surprising her with it.
Unlike the extreme self-confidence, bordering on hubris, which he maintained in the courtroom and in the air, there was something very innocent in his pride over this achievement.
In fact, Harm was well aware that he had not been confident when it came to Mac and how she would react. Her acceptance of his gift made him feel unexpectedly content with himself. He was outwardly radiating with delight over his accomplishment, … over her reaction.
Mac was in awe again that it seemed she could make him happy just by accepting what he had to give, … by letting him please her.
“I love it,” she told him. “But mostly, … I love you. This was really, really sweet.” She put her arms around him and hugged him tightly. “I don’t know how to thank you, Harm.”
“You just did. … So, I did good, huh?”
She pulled back her head to look at him. His eyes were sparkling. “You did great,” she confirmed. “You are beyond wonderful. But you’re spoiling me.”
“You’re worth it,” he said, before giving her a quick kiss.
A few moments later, while they were still in each other’s arms, Mac noted, “I guess I can’t complain now about having to wait for my engagement ring.”
Harm chuckled and then told her, “You know, in some cultures, they use a necklace as the symbol for being committed to another person instead of a ring.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. … The thinking is that if you got your hand with the ring on it cut off, you could still manage to live without the hand, … and thus, without the ring … and what the ring stands for. But, … if your head was cut off, … losing the necklace in the process, … well, obviously, you couldn’t survive. It sort of represents the significance of the other person, -- that you can’t live without them.”
“That’s a beautifully romantic concept,” she commented appreciatively. “… The symbolism that is,” she corrected, “… not decapitation or losing appendages.” Suddenly amused, Mac kidded, “But tell me, Harm, what is it about nighttime pleasure rides on boats that makes you want to share your wealth of trivia knowledge with me?”
Harm looked at her with confusion.
“I’m sorry. That wasn’t fair of me,” Mac said quickly. “It just reminded me of when you told me about the lights spelling ‘eternity’ on an Australian bridge.”
“Oh,” said Harm. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to remind you of my prior …”
“No, Harm. There’s nothing to be sorry for. Honestly, I don’t mind knowing about those lights that spelled ‘eternity’ anymore, because I know now … that ‘eternity’ isn’t how long we’re going to wait. I realize that it represents something entirely different.”
“What’s that?”
“‘Eternity,’ Harmon Rabb, Jr., …” She placed her hands gently on each side of his head and, from her eyes to his, connected to his soul. “… is how long I’m giving myself to you. … It’s how long I’m going to love you.” And with that, she drew him close and kissed him intensely for what might have seemed like eternity.
When Harm finally pulled away from her mouth, which he only managed to do because he had one more thing he was determined to accomplish before the ship docked, he looked her in the eyes, reinforcing their souls’ connection. “Likewise, Sarah MacKenzie,” he said, caressing her cheek. “I’m yours, … always and forever.”
He brought her into a hug, guiding her head to his chest, because he knew that otherwise she would kiss him again, and then he wouldn’t want to stop until long after the ship made it back to land. He needed to stay focused on his mission.
When his heart rate slowed a little, he suggested, “Why don’t you have a seat, Mac. You’ve been on your feet a long time, and they must be getting sore in those heels.” He gestured toward the bench for her to sit on.
“If you join me,” she answered, as she took a seat.
“I will …” he responded, but he did not move.
“Harm, you’re staring at me.” He was actually making Mac a little uncomfortable.
“I’m just appreciating how that necklace looks on you in this light,” he said.
“Well, why don’t you come appreciate it from over here?” she suggested.
“I would like to look at it on you from a different vantage point.” He sat down on the far end of the bench away from Mac.
“You can’t see my necklace from over there,” she pointed out, wondering what he was up to.
“You’re right,” Harm agreed. He moved next to her. “No, I still can’t see it well.” He stood in front of her. “That helps, but I need a better angle.” Harm then lowered himself until he was squatting just to the side of Mac’s feet.
“Perfect,” he said as he looked up, taking in the sight of the necklace and the beautiful marine wearing it. “The light is hitting just right to make both the diamonds and your eyes sparkle.”
“I think my eyes would be sparkling right now regardless of the outside lights,” she told him.
“Either way,” he said, “I wish I had a camera to capture this image right now.”
“You mean there is something you didn’t think to smuggle on board tonight?” she teased.
“You may not want to use the word ‘smuggle,’ if you’re referring to my bringing diamonds on board. People might get the wrong idea,” he kidded back, as he shifted, putting a knee down on the deck and sitting back on that leg.
Mac took one of his hands in hers and kept it on her lap. “Are you going to tell me now how you managed to get the necklace and my jacket on board without my knowing?”
“Nope,” he answered simply. Quiet followed. For a few moments they did nothing but look at each other appreciatively.
“You know, you’re probably getting your nice uniform pants dirty, sitting like that,” Mac finally observed, indicating his pant leg on the ground.
“Then I’ll get ‘em cleaned,” he answered, not breaking his gaze.
As Mac continued to look Harm in the eyes, she sensed something important going on in his head. Though she was curious, she limited herself to asking, “So, are you just going to sit down there looking at me for the rest of the evening?”
“It’s not a bad option.” He beamed and tilted his head.
“I can think of some better ones,” she suggested. Mac pulled Harm’s hand to bring him up on his knee so that his head was close to her. Then she leaned over and kissed him soundly, hinting that she wanted more.
When she finished, Harm smiled at her actions. Other than testing his willpower, she had just made things easier for him. He steeled himself with a breath of air and became very serious.
“Mac, … I have a confession to make.”
Mac looked at him and saw the weight of his thoughts reflected in his face. She swallowed hard. ‘Not now,’ she thought. Whatever it was could not be so bad that it couldn’t wait. She didn’t want anything to burst the bubble of this perfect night. She couldn’t resign herself to that, so she took a calculated risk.
“Save it, Flyboy. I don’t want anything ruining this evening.”
She leaned over to kiss him again, but Harm interrupted her. “You’ll want to hear this, Sarah.”
That got her attention. If he was using her given name …
She sighed and readied herself. “Okay.”
“Remember earlier, I asked … if it was my fault that the jeweler didn’t let us have the ring when we left the shop?”
The look in Mac’s eyes told Harm that she did remember, but she remained silent. She was busy balancing her curiosity against the immense feeling of relief that, if this was only about jewelry, the confession couldn’t be that bad.
“Well,” he continued, “the non-rhetorical answer is that I did have something to do with that. … Actually, I arranged for it.”
Mac’s eyebrows creased in confusion. “Why?” Then remembering what he said earlier about some cultures using a necklace instead of a ring as a symbol of commitment, her face relaxed as she answered herself. “… Because you got me the necklace instead,” she determined.
Her conclusion surprised Harm, but amused him. “No,” he corrected her. “I arranged it because I’m aware that I haven’t properly proposed to you. And more importantly, … from my point of view anyway, … is that … since I haven’t really asked, … I haven’t officially gotten an answer from you.”
Mac was stunned. Was
he out of his mind? They had already
announced their plan to wed. He had
already declined the
“Hey,” he interrupted, “let me do this right.” He reached into his pocket and produced the ring that they had chosen earlier that day.
Mac looked at the ring and then at Harm. Joy flooded her face. “Yes!”
“I haven’t asked a question yet,” he admonished her, although he was smiling blissfully as well.
“Sorry,” she said, trying to contain herself. “You can’t blame me for being impatient though.”
“No, I can’t. But bear with me while I stumble through this.”
“It only takes four words to ask,” she offered helpfully.
“Hey, no more word games!” he protested. They both laughed.
But then Harm started in earnest. “I’ll try to keep this simple, Mac. But there are some things I want to say, okay?”
She nodded with anticipation.
Harm accepted the fact that he had never been much of a romantic. At least, he was certainly not one to get all gushy with words. So what he was doing tonight was unchartered territory in many ways. But this was the woman of his dreams. This was the only woman who had ever affected his heart and soul. And she deserved to hear that.
Earlier in the day, while he was planning the evening for Mac, Harm shook his head when he realized what his desire to please her was doing to him. Sarah MacKenzie, … a marine of all people, … his no-nonsense partner, Mac, … was turning him into a romantic. For the first time in his life he found that he actually wanted to express his feelings to a woman. Maybe that was because Mac was the only one for whom his love was ever genuine, … and he no longer had any reason to hide how he felt about her.
Harm knew that Mac had yearned … no, had needed, to hear that she was loved and desired. She had so longed to hear such language that in the past she had succumbed to those words, even though she hadn’t really loved the men saying them. Harm felt that his failure to tell Mac much sooner just how much he loved and wanted her, … when other men were willing to tell her just that, … had cost them a lot.
Maybe Mac didn’t need the words so much anymore, - now that she knew how he felt, … now that she knew he wanted to spend his life with her. At least, she might not need much beyond a fairly regular reminder of ‘I love you.’ But he decided that she deserved all the loving words in the world. Harm needed to overcome his prior discomfort and explain to her just how she made him feel. He would try his best to avoid his usual bumbling on this subject with her.
At least this once, he would try to make up for his past omissions. He was a lawyer, after all, so he ought to be able to finally come up with some words to clearly state his intentions and his desires in a way that she would appreciate. Despite his nerves, he called on the coolness of his oral training and forged ahead with his loosely planned speech.
“I guess … the simplest part, even though it’s taken me forever to say it, is … I’m in love with you.”
As Harm paused to give that statement its full effect, he found himself lost in Mac’s eyes. He could read the returned sentiment in them, and it made his heart race even faster than it had already been pounding.
If he had meant to captivate her with a seamless oration, he lost that opportunity the next second. “I, um …” He stopped, frustrated with himself for fumbling.
Mac pulled her one hand away from Harm’s grasp and reached up to put her palm on his cheek. As if reading his earlier thoughts, she assured him, “That’s all I need to hear, Harm.”
“But it’s not all I want to say …” he protested. Harm suddenly laughed quietly, and added, “I know, … I make simple things complicated.”
Mac smiled slightly at the reference to her observation of him on the Admiral’s porch so long ago. She had already alluded to that comment herself earlier tonight. Some conversations could never be forgotten.
“I started simple, and I’ll end simple,” Harm told her, bringing her hand back down in his. “But … I want you to understand, … at least a little, where I’m coming from.” He was determined to get back to his intended speech.
“You and I, … we’ve always had this … this thing between us, this indescribable bond. … It’s like it’s deeper than love, … er … most kinds of love.”
He tried to expound, “… You‘re the most important person in my world, Mac, and … I can’t even begin to explain how you make me feel, … the power you have over me. … Since I met you, you’ve become the one person I need to have near me, … at least if I want a life that feels anywhere near being complete.
“… Mac, I need you to be there for me … for the little daily things and the big life-changing things, and probably a million things in between. I mean, I can get by on my own, … sort of, but … it’s not the same. I realized that during those times when we were apart; … those times I thought I might lose you. I hate it when you’re not with me. … And I don’t like to admit it, but … I have relied on you so much over the years, … and I don’t think that will ever stop.
“The truth is that I don’t want it to stop. Because, even if I didn’t need you, I’d still want to have you be with me more than anything else. I want us to spend time together, because … I love being with you. You’re my favorite person … just to be with. And I want … to always be able to … to talk with you, … and to look at you. I want to be able to … touch you …”
He gently traced his finger up her forearm, his eyes attentively following along, and Mac couldn’t help the goose bumps from forming over her. Harm was transfixed by her very presence, as he continued his list, “… able to smell you …” His eyes returned to her face, drawn to her lips, as he added, “… to taste you.”
Becoming overwhelmed with those sense-filling thoughts, Harm suddenly declared, “God help me, you’re everything I could ever want in a woman, … more than I could dream. … I meant what I said last night about you being the most desirable woman I have ever met.”
He paused, and after a moment, diverted his eyes for a mere second before returning to her waiting and astonished gaze. “But for as much as I want and need you to be part of my life, Mac, I also love you. You are the only woman that I have ever felt this way about. And I love you so much that … I want you to live your life however it will make you happy.
“… I know now that you love me, and that, in itself, means everything to me. That’s the only reason I have the courage to ask you to even consider being with me. I just … want to ensure that you have the best life possible, - whatever you want most.
“And that’s what this boils down to, Mac. That’s how simple it is. I love you enough that I want to let you choose what will make you happy.
“So,” he swallowed hard, “if you think that … you could be happy sharing a life with me, … sharing our love, then … Sarah MacKenzie, would you marry me? … Give me the honor of being your husband?”
Mac was thunderstruck. She was quite certain she must be dreaming, except that -- even in her most fantastic imaginings -- Harm had never said anything like that. It was the pressure of his hand squeezing hers that convinced her that this might be reality after all. And even if it wasn’t, there was no way she was going to pass up on seeing this through.
Finally, she breathed, “God, I love you, Harm.” Tears were welling up in her eyes. “That was … one of the most … beautiful speeches I’ve ever heard you make.”
“Hey, come on, I promised myself I wouldn’t let you have any tears tonight,” he objected kindly. “And I don’t care what emotion is attached to them,” he preempted her saying that they were tears of joy.
Mac inhaled deeply, and he could see her trying to fight the salty drops back.
“I’m just looking for a one word answer with no crying,” Harm stated.
“Damn you, … it’s that last part I’m struggling with.” She desperately wanted to bring her composure back before she answered.
Harm saw this and decided he might be able to help by diverting her attention a little. He just hoped he wouldn’t mess things up. “Take your time. There is actually something I think you should know before you answer me.”
Mac looked at him inquisitively, as she continued trying to overcome the threatening deluge of waterworks from her eyes.
Trying not to worry her too much, Harm continued, “I don’t think it will affect your decision at this point, but I’d just like to lay everything out on the table. … Full disclosure, if you will.
“I’ve, uh, been told this is something I may not want to mention to the woman I might marry, but really, … I think it’s only fair that if you’re going to take on the role as my wife, you know everything important about me up front.”
“What are you talking about, Harm?” Mac was becoming slightly concerned, but his demeanor did not suggest that he was giving her awful news.
“It’s nothing bad,” he reassured her.
“If it’s nothing bad, then why would you even consider keeping it from me?”
“Well, I’m not keeping it from you, and it’s not bad,” he told her gently. “I just need you to understand about someone very special to me and the nature of my relationship with this person.”
Mac tried to figure out who this individual might be. Probably his father. Harmon Rabb, Sr. had always been an inspiration and a driving force for his son. Or maybe he meant Mattie. She was certainly very special to him. Or maybe it was some other relative, like his grandmother or Sergei. For a second she even considered that it might be Diane. Or could Harm really be referring to someone else? Could he have kept such a secret from her?
Harm continued, “See, there’s someone who has been a big part of my life. And, my feelings about her, … for her, … are just for her. I mean, … I’ll never feel about anyone else the way I feel about her. Which is why a friend of mine advised me not to tell my wife, … whoever she might be, … about these feelings. See, … my friend thought my wife might not understand.”
And with the last sentences, Mac recognized her own words from the day before, and even without Harm’s impish smile, which had broken through at last, she would have realized who he was talking about.
Her mind flashed back to the beginning of that pivotal conversation between them.
*** Flashback ***
“Let’s talk about … you and me.” Mac had summoned up the courage to put the
issue out there.
Facing away from her, Harm began, “Neither one of us -”
“- wants to be the first to say goodbye,” she finished. “Yeah, I know the song. We’ve been singing it for years.”
“Mac, … I don’t think that I will ever … feel about anyone else … the way that I feel about you.”
By the end of his statement he had turned back to face her. That was as close to an admission of love as he had ever given her, and her heart soared. But at that moment, despite the look Harm was giving her, Mac could not and would not believe that he seriously considered a future with her. There were too many complications.
“… That’s very flattering,” she had responded. “… One piece of advice – Don’t share that with your wife, whoever she might be. She might not understand.”
Mac had tried for humor, although her statement was completely serious. Despite her love for Harm, …or maybe because of it, she had been getting herself ready to cut loose whatever hold she had on him, so that he could get on with his life. Within five minutes, that all changed.
*** End Flashback ***
As soon as Mac realized what, … and more specifically who, Harm was referring to, she let out her breath. She almost called Harm a jerk for playing with her like that tonight. For making her worry about her own words, now that she, Sarah MacKenzie, was actually in the position to become Harmon Rabb Jr.’s wife. She settled for declaring, “You can be so infuriating.”
“Yeah, but at least you know that about me up front.” Harm grinned. “And you don’t have tears in your eyes anymore,” he pointed out. “… So, should I ask the question again?” He was still waiting for an official response to the proposal he had just given her.
Mac thought that, since Harm had wanted to play, she’d take him to task. “Well, now I’m not answering until you tell me who this person is and the nature of your relationship,” she declared in a stubborn, but light-hearted manner.
He was actually kind of glad she was playing back with him, even if it did prolong the time he spent down on his knee. “She’s a very close friend of mine.”
“Very close? What kind of feelings do you have for her exactly?” Mac implored.
Harm made a show of searching his brain for an answer. “That’s always been very complicated.”
“Should I be jealous?” Mac asked with playful concern.
‘Interesting question,’ he thought. “Why don’t you let me tell you about her?” he suggested, “Then you can decide.”
“Okay,” Mac pleasantly agreed. “This, I’d like to hear.”
Harm began. “Well, I think you’d like her actually. She’s a marine – tough as nails, and could probably have me on my six in two seconds if she tried.”
Mac laughed. “I think I do like her.” Thoughtfully, she added, “Although I suppose it would depend on what she intended to do with you once she got you on your six.”
“Lucky for me, she never tried. … At least, she hasn’t yet,” he smirked and lifted an eyebrow.
“What else?” Mac urged.
“Well, she’s a magnificent lawyer. That’s how I know her. She’d been my partner at work for years. I really admire her as an attorney. She’s very intelligent and very persuasive. There’s no one else I’d rather have representing me.” He tilted his head. “I don’t always like it when we’ve been opposing counsel and she’s occasionally wiped the floor with me in court, … but I always respect her.”
Mac surmised, “So she’s an admired colleague?”
“Of course. But that’s just the surface. … See, we’ve been through a lot together. We’ve been out on countless assignments, investigations, through personal chases and crises, where we’ve had to trust each other with our lives. … Even when she didn’t have any sort of duty to help me and when I didn’t ask anything of her, she came to my rescue more than once. … I can honestly tell you that if it weren’t for her, I wouldn’t even be alive today.”
“I suspect you probably saved her life a few times too,” Mac sincerely pointed out. “And I’m sure she’s very grateful for each and every time.”
Harm smiled and continued. “She’s a great person. Not just in the courtroom, or with a gun, or … coming up with dispassionate plans that won’t get me killed. But I admire her character. The way she’s been able to overcome adversity. Her commitment to what’s right, the way she can be so caring, her sense of humor, the way she won’t give up … She has a lot of wonderful qualities. I love being around her.”
“She sounds like a good friend to have.” Mac felt that Harm was exaggerating, but it was still nice to hear him compliment her.
“The best,” he replied. “She is my best friend, and I’m really lucky for that. She probably understands me better than anyone else does, and … I know that understanding me is not easy.”
“It’s not,” Mac agreed very seriously.
There was a brief pause before Harm started again, more lightly. “I do have to warn you that, despite being a no-holds-bar attorney and a strong marine, she is a very attractive woman.”
“Despite? A woman can’t be both tough and attractive?” Mac challenged.
Harm grinned at Mac’s defensiveness. “If I ever thought that, she proved me wrong.”
Mac was back in the game. “So … you’re saying that you personally find her attractive?”
“Hah,” he laughed. “I tried very hard for many years to ignore that I do.” Becoming more serious, he continued. “After all, I had to maintain a very close professional relationship with her. And I didn’t want to ruin the best friendship I ever had.”
“I see. Anything else I should know?” Mac asked.
“Just that she pushes me to bring out my best. Though admittedly, it’s also in her unique power to have brought out the worst in me on occasion, … but I think she’s always gotten me back on track when that’s happened. The truth is … I trust her more than anyone else in the world.”
After a moment, he suddenly remembered something and uttered, “… Oh, yeah.” Pretending it was insignificant, he elaborated, “I should probably also mention that I made a deal, circumstances willing, to have a child with her. It’d probably mean being intimate with her and then, you know … spending a lifetime making personal decisions together.”
“Obviously, a minor detail,” Mac said sarcastically, trying to hold back her grin. Despite the knowledge that they may now never have a child of their own, she couldn’t help but be amused by Harm’s casual downplaying of what had been such a significant agreement between them.
“And I adore her smile,” Harm said, noting her expression. “My day brightens when I see her or hear her voice. Even when we’re fighting, I can’t get enough of her. Other times, a few soothing words or a light touch from her can comfort me like nothing else … although, the slightest touch from her will also send my heart racing.” The look in his eyes had Mac entranced.
He paused and swallowed. “… I think … that’s about it. You should just know that I can’t live without her, and … I would do anything for her - anything.”
Harm finally stopped, and there was silence for a few seconds. Eventually he asked, “So, … should you be jealous?”
Mac thought for a moment. “I would have to be. Because it sounds like you are in love with your best friend. … It sounds like she’s the one you really want to marry.”
Harm nodded. “Then it’s a good thing I just proposed to her, huh?”
Mac smiled. “It’s a very good thing. And a very good thing I don’t actually have to be jealous.”
“So you understand? About how I feel about you?”
Mac again remembered the conversation from the night before.
*** Flashback ***
“Mac, … I don’t think that I will ever … feel about anyone else … the way that I feel about you.”
“… That’s very flattering. … One piece of advice – Don’t share that with your wife, whoever she might be. She might not understand.”
“Do you understand?” he had countered.
*** End Flashback ***
Truthfully, Mac hadn’t fully understood when Harm had asked her that question the night before. At the time, instead of answering him directly, she had shifted the conversation, away from his feelings, to how they had never allowed themselves a romantic relationship together.
But so much had changed in just one day. So much had been admitted, uncovered, and accepted. She was ready to answer his question now.
“Yeah, I’m … finally starting to,” she answered happily.
“Then, what do you say?” He held the ring up. “Will you marry me?”
Mac smiled from ear to ear. She nodded. “Yes.”
Harm didn’t know why he felt so relieved. He knew what her answer would be, but still, it felt so good to hear. His eyes sparkled with delight as he slipped the diamond ring onto Mac’s finger.
“Perfect,” he said, looking from her ring, to her necklace, to her eyes.
“Almost,” she corrected.
He was confused for a second, before he thought about the ring. “Oh, right. The symbolic flaws in the ring’s diamond.”
“No, the flaws make the ring perfect for me, … for us. I was referring to this scenario being almost perfect.”
“Almost? I thought I did a pretty good job.”
“You did a fabulous job. And I must say that was smooth how you got yourself on one knee in front of me without letting me notice what you were doing until you were actually proposing,” she said, honestly impressed.
“Yeah, that part worked out well. So what would have made this perfect?” He was a little disappointed in himself for not having been able to do whatever it was she had ideally wanted.
“One more thing that you can still easily remedy.”
“Oh yeah?” he asked hopefully.
“Yeah. I need my fiancé to get up here and kiss me to seal the deal.”
Despite his sore knee from having knelt for such a long time, Harm lifted himself up next to her in a swift, easy motion. However, before his lips reached hers, she started speaking.
“Harm, I want you to know that I will be more than happy to be your wife. In fact, I think the only way I can be really content is to share a life with you. … I just hope that … I can be and do everything you need … and want … for you to have happiness too.”
“I am happy,” he said, delighted that she had responded to the words of the earlier part of his proposal. “And you just need to be yourself and love me to keep me that way,” he assured her.
“… Now, … are we ready to finalize these negotiations?” he asked, referring to the settlement talk started at the bar the night before.
“One more thing,” she said, keeping him from her lips a little longer. “I do love you, Harm, so much. … I can’t wait for you to be my husband …” With a whisper conveying just how much in awe of the idea she felt, Mac finished, “…for me to be your wife.”
Harm couldn’t believe the effect her words were having on him. “I love you too,” he uttered softly. “And I’m very much looking forward to being married to you, Sarah.”
In response, Mac put her hands behind Harm’s neck and declared, “Then I think we’ve officially reached final settlement.” The two then sealed their intentions with a long, long kiss.
--------
The car ride back was comfortably quiet. Somewhere along the way, Mac rested her hand on top of the one Harm had on the stick shift. She didn’t mind the occasional abrupt movements because she was enjoying two important aspects of her hand’s position. First, it was touching Harm, and second, she could admire the new addition to her left ring finger, as the beams from the street lights bounced off its facets.
She only removed her hand from the favored position when the cell phone in her purse began to ring.
“MacKenzie … Hi Harriet! … … No, not at all. Is everything okay? … … No, you’re not interrupting anything. Harm and I are just driving back from a wonderful evening out. … … … Something like that,” Mac laughed.
After a long period of silence on Mac’s part, she responded, “Oh, sure, Harriet. Since I’ll be in town myself now, if you need to back out all together I’ll understand. … … … Yes, that would be nice. … Thanks. … …
“Please stop apologizing. … … Are you kidding? Believe me, tonight, it would take a major catastrophe to put any kind of damper on my mood. … …” Mac laughed again. “I’m sure you are. … Thanks again. Tell Bud and the kids good night for us. … Bye.”
“What was that about?” Harm asked.
“Before I got the postponement on my travel date, Harriet volunteered to be at my apartment on Monday when the movers come. Even though I’ll be here now, she still wants to come over in case I have errands to run, and just for us to spend some time together before I have to go.”
“That’ll be nice. Especially since I have to work.”
“Yeah, it will. Anyhow, she called tonight because her babysitter just let her know that something came up for that morning, so Harriet won’t be able to come over as early as she thought. She needed to know tonight if that would be okay, or if she needed to make other arrangements, because I guess the sitter is going out of town tomorrow morning and needs to know now whether to plan to be back on Monday at all.”
“Not to make it sound like spending time with you is unimportant, Mac, but if the babysitter thing is such a hassle, why doesn’t Harriet just stay home, since you’ve got it covered now?”
“Because there is no way that Harriet Sims-Roberts is going to miss out on an opportunity to hear anything I have to say about why I am in such a good mood tonight … and probably will be for the rest of the weekend,” Mac stated with amusement.
“And just what are you going to tell her?” Harm inquired.
“I don’t know. I’m not sure that I’ll tell her any details. But I’ll certainly give her the basics … and show off my new jewelry.”
Mac couldn’t see Harm’s face too well in the dark car, but she knew he was grinning.
“Harm, I owe you big time for everything you’ve done and given me tonight. It’s been the most wonderful evening.”
“You don’t owe me anything for this. I enjoyed tonight as much as you did.”
“Maybe, but … I still need to thank you properly.”
Harm remembered just how Mac had begun to thank him the night before after he helped her pack. He swallowed hard. “Would you mind terribly if I waited until we were married to collect on your gratitude?”
Mac chuckled. “No. … But we do need to get a move on this wedding. We really should have tried to talk to Chaplain Turner today.”
“I already called him earlier, but he’s out of town for a few days. I left a message.”
“You have been busy today, haven’t you?” Mac was impressed. “I only let you out of my sight for a few hours,” she remarked.
Harm smiled. “Hey, I can get a lot done when I’m properly motivated.”
---------
They walked hand in hand down Mac’s apartment hallway and stopped in front of her place.
Mac turned with her back facing the door as she fished in her purse for her key. Once she pulled it out, she lifted her head to the handsome naval aviator in front of her. “Harm, thank you for everything tonight. It was perfect.”
Harm was lost in her eyes and said nothing.
Noticing he was a bit dazed, Mac asked, “Harm? Are you with me?”
He suddenly smiled. “For as long as you’ll have me.”
She smiled in return. “Forever then. … Did you hear me thank you?”
He nodded. “You’re welcome.”
Mac searched Harm’s eyes, trying to read what was going on in his head. She noted he was staying a few feet back.
“You’re not planning on coming in, are you?” she surmised, with a slight hint of disappointment.
He shook his head. “Not tonight.”
Two days ago, if under the same circumstances, Mac would have been hurt, but she was beginning to understand new dimensions of Harmon Rabb, Jr.
Harm quickly added, “But I’ll come back early … if you want me to.”
“What do you have in mind?”
“I was thinking the park is nice this time of year.”
“Romantic stroll early in the morning?”
“No, I was thinking of a romantic run. Or maybe just a romantic jog.”
Mac laughed, “You really think there is something romantic about exercising?”
Harm’s eyes got wide. “Absolutely!”
“Hmm.” Mac thought for moment. “You are pretty sexy when you’re covered in sweat. I’ll give you that.”
“Oh? I’ll have to keep that in mind.” He grinned. “Although that may mean this activity will be counterproductive.”
“How so?”
“Well, I don’t know about you, but I admit my ulterior motive for wanting to exercise is that I need an outlet for - some extra energy - I’ve been having to cope with the last two days.”
“Extra energy,” Mac laughed again. “Is that what you’re calling it?” she asked. Harm just smiled at that. Mac went on, “I guess I can sympathize with how bad that is.”
“I doubt that.” Harm raised an eyebrow and looked at the floor.
Mac decided not to argue the point. “So how about you be here at 0545? Or is that too early?”
“It’s never too early to see you.”
“Okay. Let’s do it. We can have breakfast afterwards,” she suggested.
“Sounds good,” he said.
Mac paused for a moment. “Harm, just so we’re on the same page … The reason you’re not coming in tonight is … because you want to finish this night off as a formal date, where you leave me at my door?”
He nodded. “As soon as I make sure you’re in safely.”
She almost quipped back that she was a marine and could take care of herself. Though her eyes probably conveyed that message for a second, she thought better of saying anything. If he wanted to live out his traditional fantasy for the evening, it was the least she could give him.
However, she might as well make sure she got to enjoy her fantasy at the end of such a formal date too. “If this is a proper date where you leave me at my door, … does it mean I at least get a good night kiss?”
Harm’s eyes twinkled. “I think that’s part of the door-to-door service after such a night out.”
“You won’t think me licentious if I let you kiss me after only our first date?” she teased.
He smiled and shook his head, more at her attempt at humor than as a response to her question. “I love you, Ms. MacKenzie.”
“I love you too, Mr. Rabb.”
Harm closed the distance between them and very slowly leaned down to bring his lips to hers. Because the quickening intensity of the kiss caused Mac’s legs to feel a little weak, she pulled Harm with her as she stepped back to lean on her apartment door.
To her surprise, instead of providing support, the door gave way and opened, causing them in their unbroken kiss to stumble slightly into her apartment. Suddenly, Mac tensed and broke the kiss. “I hadn’t unlocked the door yet!” she whispered, eyes wide.
As Mac whirled around, alert and shifting into marine mode, Harm made out the figure in the shadows.
He couldn’t help but exclaim, “You have got to be kidding me!”
Mac gasped, “Clay!”
***TBC in
E-mail: teacupofjag@hotmail.com