"Oh this is absolutely priceless!" he laughs, "I'd give my right nut to have seen it!"

"Seriously?" Grace huffed, "that's all you can say?"

"Yes darling!" Jonathon continued laughing, "your expression, blondie on the laptop and Harry in his underwear flying at full mast..." he trails off, "surely that would be the stuff dreams are made of? Wet dreams in particular."
"I wouldn't know," Grace replied, "I didn't really stand there and take enough notice to give him a score out of ten."

"Darling I wouldn't even have to look at him to know he's more than a perfect twenty," Jonathon said dreamily, "and he's such a glorious specimen of a man, I'd even let him top me..."

"Jonathon!" Grace gasped then laughed.

"Can you blame me? I mean, those biceps...I'd get down on my knees and pray for those babies to be wrapped around me and I don't even believe in God."

"If you're so into him why don't you..." Grace began.

"Honey," Jonathon cut her off, "you and I both know Harry's as straight as a flagpole so there's no point at me having a crack at him. You on the other hand..."

"What?" Grace replied.

"You should definitely have a crack at him," Jonathon suggested, "have a crack at his lovely crack!" he laughed.

"You're not helping me," Grace said, "how am I going to face him after this, I'm so embarrassed! Mortified more than anything!"

"Look, just apologise and move on!" Jonathon advised.

"God," Grace groaned, "move on how..?"

"Move on top of him?" Jonathon suggested.

"Oh my god Jonathon, tell me why we're friends again?" Grace snorted.

"You love my sassiness, my brutal honesty and the way I cut your hair," Jonathon said proudly, "and the way I'll always have your back, especially with that hideous family you've inherited," he adds with disdain.

"You may have a point," Grace conceded.

"Course I do!" Jonathon exclaimed, "and I'm quite sure Harold would have your back if you let him."

"Harold," Grace emphasises, "does not need to have my back!" Grace replied, slightly exasperated.

"Well let him have your arse then, or any part of you for that matter!" he hoots.

"Look, all I'm saying is that you're both young and hot," Jonathon says, "well, he's young and really hot, like I need to go and stick my head in the freezer right now hot," he swoons.

"What is your point?" Grace sighed, "that's if you even have one."

"My point is," he said, "is that the only satisfaction you get these days is in the form of a battery powered operated one."

"Jonathon," Graced groaned though she knew he was right, "I'm hanging up now."

"My point!" he yells over Grace's groaning, "is that I'm sure if you opened your legs right now that spiders would be hanging off the cobwebs you've got down there."

"Truly, I'm hanging up now," Grace said.

"Just...Grace!" Jonathon spoke.

"What?" she sighed again.

"No one would blame you, you know?" he said quietly.

Silence.

"You're thinking of him now aren't you?" Jonathon broke the ice with his cheekiness.

"I'm going now!" Grace replied laughing, "I love you and I'm going now!"

"Love you too darling!" Jonathon replied, "think about what I said, I'm sure Rosie would agree with me!"

"You two are as bad as each other!" in spite of herself she laughed before hanging up the call.

She smiled to herself before remembering what she was trying to forget and covered her face with her hands, shaking her head and groaning in embarrassment.

Okay.

These things happen.

They happen to everyone.

Sure, Grace's inner thoughts mocked her.

She stood up and straightened her shirt before lifting her head up proudly into the air.

She was going to find Harry, apologise and fix her mess then they could all get on with life.

Graced walked to her door and opened it, pausing as she stepped outside.

She could hear Harry in the kitchen talking with Rosie.

You can do this, she reminded herself.

After all, you are the boss.

And what you say goes.

Grace marched on down the hall, her newfound confidence carrying her into the kitchen.

She stopped dead in her tracks when both Harry and Rosie ceased talking and turned to look at her.

Her mouth fell open but nothing came out.

Harry's eyes stared at her, the beautiful clear green colour seemed to burn right through her.

"Grace?" Harry spoke gently.

"Yes?" she snapped out of her daze, "that's me."

Of course it fucking is you moron, she mentally facepalmed.

"Uh...I have...office stuff...yeah..." Grace blurted out before she turned around abruptly and headed to the safety of her office, closing the door behind her and sinking herself down into her office chair. She leaned onto the desk with her elbows, her face in her hands as she groaned out loud.

Her pity party for one was interrupted by a knock on the door so Grace did the most sensible adult thing she could.

She flew out of the seat and onto her knees so she could hide under the desk.

The door slowly creaked as it was opened as someone entered.

"Grace?" Harry said quietly.

Grace held her breath and a moment later she heard the door close again.

Letting out the breath she was holding she eased herself out of the space under her desk and turned around on her knees, only to be met with a grinning Harry leaning on her desk from the other side.

Damn.

Feeling her face flame, Grace reluctantly got up onto her knees and stood on the other side facing Harry.

Just carry on, she willed herself.

"I just wanted to apologise yesterday for coming into your room like that, it was wrong of me and I invaded your privacy and your personal space, though I was kind of excited to chat to one of your friends, but that's still no excuse and it shan't happen again because I want you to feel comfortable here and-"

"Grace?" Harry politely interrupted her.

"What?" she breathed out like she'd just run a marathon.

"It's fine, no harm done," he smirked.

Grace frowned at him.

"But I..." she started, "you were going to..."

She stopped short at what she knew they were about to do in the privacy of his room.

"And I stuffed it up..." she closed her eyes and sighed heavily before slowly opening them up and looking at Harry sheepishly, "for you..."

Harry merely shrugged his shoulders.

"Not really," he smiled.

"You mean you finished?" Grace blurted out, "oh my god I'm so sorry I didn't mean to say that!" she squeaked.

"Well my friend did end the call," Harry said.

Grace said nothing, just stood there looking mortified, wishing the ground would swallow her up.

"Nothing I couldn't get a grip on myself," he smirked as he flexed his hand before winking at Grace.

"Oh...good," Grace said, realising what Harry meant.

"Are we good?" Harry went on, smiling at Grace, "these things happen right?"

"They do," Grace replied, smiling weakly, "mainly to me though I think."

Harry smiled at the woman in front of him.

He really did like her.

Enough that when he did finish himself off that his inspiration had started with Penny but had finished off with Grace.

He cleared his throat and shook his head to rid himself of the thoughts he knew he shouldn't be having.

"Did you really have some work to do or was that just an excuse...?" he asked.

"There's always work to be done Harry," Grace shrugged.

"So what you're saying is," he said, "is that you could put it off until later?"

"Possibly," Grace replied, wondering what Harry was getting at.

"Rosie and I were gonna take the girls out and get something to eat, I hope that's okay..." Harry trailed off as he noticed a questionable look pass over Grace's face, "do you wanna come with us?"

Grace thought it over for a minute.

She was still embarrassed over the whole incident with Harry and the thought of spending and outing with him right now...

"How can you say no to ice cream hey?" Harry asked her.

"Okay, fine!" Grace huffed, "just let me go and change first."

"You look fine," Harry blurted out, "um, it's just casual and you're dressed casual..." he trailed off.

Grace glanced at the green eyes staring at her for a moment and was sure her heart skipped a beat.

"Um...let's go get the girls then?" she broke away from his intense gaze first, moving around the desk and out the office before she headed to the kitchen.

Rosie was making sure the girls were dressed neatly as she waited for Harry and hopefully Grace as well.

She hid her smile when Grace walked into the kitchen, followed by Harry.

"Come on mama!" Tilly called, "let's get some ice cream!"

"Alright, let's go," Grace smiled at everyone.

They waited for Rosie to grab her things and they followed Dottie and Tilly out the door as Grace trailed behind Harry and Rosie.

"What flavour ice cream do you like Harry?" Dottie asked.

"Hmmm..." Harry thought about it, "I do like a good mint choc chip."

"Pffttt," Rosie replied, "no ice cream for you, you'll have a good Italian gelato instead!"

"Flavoured ice?" Harry raised his eyebrow at Rosie.

She narrowed her eyes at him.

"Don't make me divorce you Harry amore," Rosie replied.

"Too bad I didn't sign a prenup," Harry answered, "I'd be entitled to half your baked goods."

Grace laughed quietly as Rosie smacked Harry on the arm as they walked to their waiting car, Mac opening the door for them.

During the drive, Dottie and Tilly chatted animatedly to Grace, debating what they were going to have on their ice cream.

Between looking out the window and asking about what he saw, Harry snuck the occasional glance at Grace when he thought no one was looking.

But Rosie was.

And although she knew that Harry would be good for Grace, and lord knows she deserved to be loved properly and wholly, should he, was the question.

~~~~~~

Grace was sitting outside eating breakfast on the porch, the quiet chirping of birds made for a comforting background.

She took another bite of her toast when the sound of footsteps broke the tranquil calm.

James came into view, newspaper in hand and a cup of coffee in the other as he made his way over to sit opposite Grace.

"Beautiful morning," he commented as he took a sip and placed his cup down on the table.

''It is," Grace agreed, not taking her eyes away from the view.

James snapped his newspaper open and began reading quietly, the silence comfortable between them.

Eventually he cleared his throat.

"Harry seems to be settling in well," he said, "the girls have taken quite a shine to him."

Grace nodded in agreement.

"They have, but I'm sure they'll start to test him very soon," she replied.

"He uh...took the hair incident quite well...considering our daughter chopped off half his hair," James said.

Grace thought back to Harry sitting shirtless in the kitchen as Jonathon repaired the damage that Tilly had done.

"Grace?" James said softly.

"Sorry," she shook her head, "what were you saying?"

James offered her a small smile as he folded his newspaper and stood up.

"I like him," he said as he placed the newspaper under his arm and grabbed his empty cup, before placing a hand on her shoulder, "I like him Grace," he repeated as he gently squeezed her shoulder and walked back in the direction he came, leaving Grace alone again with her thoughts for company.

Thoughts that she knew she shouldn't be having.

~~~~~~

The smell of a delicious roast dinner filled the house and Harry knew it was probably close to being ready.

Ready to be in his stomach.

"How about we pack up and go and see if Rosie needs any help in the kitchen?" Harry suggested to Dottie and Tilly.

"Okay Harry," Dotty replied, "come on Tilly," she directed her sister to help clean up their colouring books and pencils to where they belonged.

After their toy room was tidied up, the girls bounded down the hall to the kitchen, both receiving a hug from Rosie and a carrot shoved in their hands to eat and to keep them amused while Rosie finished up.

"Harry love," she said, "would you be an angel and set the table?"

"Of course," he replied, "for five?"

"Six," Rosie corrected him.

"Six?" Grace echoed as she walked into the kitchen, "who's the other person?"

Rosie pulled a large roasting pan out of the oven and set it on the stove top just as the doorbell rang.

"Lucy," Rosie answered rolling her eyes.

"What the he-" Grace began.

"Children!" Rosie interrupted before making her way over to the fridge, "wine?"

Grace pulled an exaggerated face as Lucy's shrill voice could be heard from down the hall, causing both Rosie and Harry to stifle a laugh.

"Half a glass," Grace answered, "half a big glass."

"Grace!" Lucy breezed into the kitchen, going in for an air kiss on each of Grace's cheeks, "hello girls!" she gave both Dottie and Tilly a kiss, leaving lipstick on them, much to the girls' horror.

Grace tried not to cough from the amount of perfume Lucy had applied to herself, taking a large sip of her wine.

"Harry!" she gave him a big smile, "so lovely to see you again!"

"Nice to see you Lucy," Harry replied politely.

"Dinner's ready!" Rosie interrupted, letting everyone know they could sit at the table and eat.

Lucy was quick to nab the seat next to Harry, her hand brushing the side of his thigh as she laid her napkin across her lap.

"I didn't know you were coming over for dinner," Grace commented.

"Oh that was my fault, forgot to tell you that Lucy wanted to come over to discuss something with me," James said, "sorry love."

For some reason, when James called Grace 'love,' it just didn't seem to sit right with him.

But this is her husband, he reasoned with himself, he can call her whatever he chooses to.

"This is delicious Rosie," Harry commented, earning himself a beaming smile from her, "I'm gonna have to start working out more at this rate!"

"You could always come to my Pilates class!" Lucy piped up, "I feel so...'worked out' after it!"

Grace hid her smirk behind her glass.

If you count getting down on all fours while the instructor fucked you from behind, then sure, it's probably a good workout, Grace thought.

"I'll think about it," Harry replied kindly.

"What was it you wanted to discuss?" James asked Lucy as they ate.

"Oh nothing that can't wait until later!" Lucy gave him a dismissive wave, "let's enjoy dinner."

"Well I may have to leave later so what was so important that it couldn't wait?" he asked.

Grace's glass landed on the table a little harder than it probably should have, her knuckles turning white as she held it.

Harry stared at her, willing her to look at him but she kept her gaze firmly on her dinner plate.

"Oh...well..." Lucy took a sip of her drink before taking a tiny bite of her chicken, "it wasn't overly important..."

"You made it sound rather urgent over the phone," James replied, "what was it?"

"Uh...just, well I was wondering what to get Grace for her birthday?" she said weakly.

"Grace's birthday isn't for another three months though," James said with confusion, "that's what was so urgent?"

He looked over at Grace immediately.

"Not that your birthday isn't important, I just generally don't think about it until a month before," he said.

Grace just shrugged her shoulders in response like it didn't matter.

And it didn't.

He'd just give her some expensive gift that he figured she'd like and be done with it.

"So how are you getting on in our fair country?" Lucy quickly turned her attention to Harry, "I could show you around if you like?"

"Uh...I'm pretty busy at the moment with the girls..." he replied, hoping she'd get the hint.

"Nonsense!" Lucy laughed, "I'm sure Grace will give you some time off, won't you Grace?"

Both Lucy and Harry looked over at Grace.

Lucy raised her eyebrows to silently indicate to Grace that she should while Harry's eyebrows indicated that she shouldn't.

"He is still settling in," Grace replied, "give him a few more weeks to really settle in perhaps..."

"I'm sure you want to settle him in," Lucy scoffed.

Grace threw her cutlery onto her plate and stood up abruptly.

"Thank you Rosie, delicious as always," Grace smiled at Rosie, "I think I'm full though."

She glanced down James.

"See that the girls get to bed...before you leave," she said, her teeth gritting together, she lent down and kissed both girls' goodnight before grabbing her wine glass and leaving the table.

~~~~~~

"Harry, walk me out would you?" Lucy asked after she'd finished dinner and had bid goodbye to James.

Reluctantly he did as she asked.

Standing outside, she put her hand up in his chest and smoothed his shirt collar.

"So, when would you like to go out?" she asked.

"Uh...not at the moment..." Harry replied awkwardly.

"You seriously don't want to go out with me?" she asked, her hand dropping from his chest.

"Not really..." he said.

"Why the hell not?" she asked sharply, "are you gay or something?"

"No," Harry replied, insulted she would suggest that just because he wasn't interested in her that he must be gay.

He just wasn't interested in her full stop.

"It's Grace, isn't it?" she suddenly said, "you want her, don't you?"

Shit.

"No of course not, she's married to your brother!" Harry replied.

Lucy narrowed her eyes at Harry.

"I suggest you rethink my offer of going out, never know what I might let slip," she said in a low voice.

"But you have nothing on me," Harry said.

"Who is everyone going to believe? Me or you?" Lucy smirked, "think about it."

She stood on her toes and kissed Harry on his cheek.

"Think about it," she said, "look forward to hearing from you Harry!" she purred before sauntering off to her car.

Harry ran his hands through his hair.

What the fuck was he supposed to do now?

Who would believe him?

Grace would, wouldn't she?

At that moment Harry heard another set of footsteps and he turned around to see James walking towards his car, getting inside and driving off.

Where the hell was he going at this time of night?

And why did it make him feel so goddamn frustrated?