�Let me check my calendar,� Harry said, whipping out his agenda and flipping dramatically through its soggy pages. He stopped on one page and feigned disappointment. �Oh, sorry, I�m booked,� Harry shrugged. Diane looked down at her feet.

�I guess I deserve that,� she said, and she rubbed the back of her neck.

�I�ll show you what you deserve,� he said, putting his hands on her shoulders and spinning her around. He began to rub her shoulders and neck gently, massaging the knots out of her flesh with expert fingers. She moaned at the release of stress, forgetting herself in the moment. Forgetting Siquieros. Forgetting the investigation that surrounded them. Suddenly self-conscious of showing so much pleasure in front of all the other cops in the room, her shoulders tensed again.

�Just relax, Diane. Trust me,� he whispered into her ear.

Just as she began to close her eyes, she saw Danny�s face as we walked by her on his way out of Claire�s bedroom. He stopped, looked at both of them, and nodded. It was not a happy nod, just a brief bob of his head in their direction. It was an olive branch, all the same, and Diane sighed and smiled. She closed her eyes, and she allowed her body to tingle with delight at Harry�s firm, gentle touch. She noticed his right hand was not as strong as his left hand, and she felt him wince once or twice when his wound tweaked him. She had missed him badly, even though she had not wanted to admit it during the past torturous week. She had longed to feel his practiced fingers on her skin, bringing her flesh back to life again. He patted her gently on her shoulders, shaking her from her reverie.

Whispering in her ear again, he said, �Say, I know this nice little Italian joint on Seventh. Would you like to join me there in about an hour?�

�Are you sure I won�t be in the way of your plans for the evening?�

�Completely. I�ve got the whole evening lined up. C�mon. Let me make it up to you.�

�In that case, you�ve got your work cut out for you. This has been a bad week, Harry.�

Harry spun Diane around to face him again, and he put his hands on her face, pulling her lips to meet his. He lingered there, tasting her slowly, delicately, and feeling her melt into him, encircling him with her arms. �Oh, Diane,� he whispered when they came up for air, �I�ve missed you.�

�Let�s go,� Diane said, taking his hand. �I�ve still got to figure out a way to repay you for saving my life again.�

�I�m sure you�ll think of something imaginative,� Harry grinned wickedly, then pulled her hand up to his lips to kiss the back of it, and slid his lips over her wrist, turning her palm upwards to get at the delicate tissue. She wrapped her fingers around his jaw and shivered, enjoying the tremors he sent through her sensitive skin.