Cassandra chewed on the cover of her pen as she read over the pages, music playing through her headphones. It was a Saturday, and Harrison had invited her out to the library to work together, going over their plans for their new business contract. Her mother was ecstatic that they were getting along more often; she believed it took a lot of stress off Cassandra. Cassandra didn't share her opinion. She found it stressful to be in his presence because of the way he always watched her.

She lifted her eyes to where he sat, confirming that his looking at her again, but she didn't comment. She casually went back to her reading, worrying the plastic cover with her teeth, trying to use the music to drown out her roaring thoughts.

"I think that should be all for today."

He pouted childishly. "Are you trying to run?"

"Don't be ridiculous. We have gone through all the folders we have planned. I am just stating a fact. We are done for the day."

"Well, the day is young. Want to go for a walk?"

Cassandra shook her head first, then thought about it, shrugging before nodding in agreement. "I guess we can walk a while, but not too long; I need to get home to prepare before dinner."

"Having guests over?" He inquired casually, filing the folders neatly into his laptop bag and shoving his phone into the pocket of his jeans.

Cassandra stood and smiled. "Yes. Julia and her family are coming over for dinner at my place. Her husband is celebrating his birthday, and we decided to have the party at my house."

"Am I invited?"

"No."

Harrison laughed, holding the door for her and waving goodbye at the cheerful receptionist. "I suspected. What are parties like at your home? I didn't see the insides when I came to get you for dinner, but I saw the size; it's a grand house."

Cassandra shrugged; she held the straps of her back, adjusting her shades on her face. "We never really threw large parties because we liked intimate gatherings more, and we are a small family. We usually throw simple dinners, and with only a few people, fifteen being the largest number to ever sit at my house. You?"

"None." He placed a hand over her back to draw her closer to him, getting her out of the way of people walking towards them. "My mother cooks like a chef, but not a lot of people get to taste her cooking because she plans her dinners or parties outside of the house. We have not had a lot of that anyway."

"Because of your dad?"

"Yeah. She doesn't have the passion right now for planning anything, so we are trying to take things one by one."

"I can imagine," she replied solemnly, turning her eyes to the ground. She was thankful for the shades; he couldn't see the tears forming in her eyes, and she did her best to keep them from falling. "When my dad died, my mom and I were torn up inside and out. None of us thought he would die so soon, but that's life, I guess. I am sure your mom would come back to her own in time."

"Yeah, I know."

Her phone rang; she slid away from the road to answer, standing in front of a small shop with Harrison waiting by her side. "Julia?"

"Sorry, I wanted to inform you; that tomorrow we have to revise some of the things we need for the project. We are not behind or anything, but we need to get these documents out of the way in the meantime, before they pile up. I'll pick the folders of last week from your house after dinner tonight, and then tomorrow we would discuss the budget."

Cassandra turned away from Harrison, "Julia, slow down. I have already revised the budget."

"I am sorry, say that again."

Cassandra sighed, looking back at Harrison, who grinned at her before he turned towards the road, standing casually with his hands in the pockets of his jeans. "I have already revised the budget, amongst other things. Don't worry, I am not stressing myself with work. Harrison came to pick me up today, and we worked on it together. Right now, we are heading home, and I'll tell you everything over there."

"Ah, of course. Say hello for me then."

Cassandra smiled back at Harrison, dropping her phone into the bag. "Sorry. That was Julia."

"Hmm. Problems?"

"No, you heard my side; she just wanted to go over the files we revised today that's all." Harrison casually pushed her hair off her shoulders, and she began to walk again, her fingers digging into her palms. "I think maybe we should walk back to your car now. I need to get back home and rest before dinner."

"It's one in the afternoon; a thirty-minute walk won't hurt you. Besides, you need the exercise." He pushed her shoulder, and she turned back to pout at him, but he only gave her a lopsided grin. "Ah, don't be so scared. I told you we are only walking, and talking and enjoying the sun. Although today it seems aggravated. Anyway, I'll drive you home in time, so you don't have to worry. Come on, we got on so well at the dinner; how much more here where half of Santa Montes is walking back and forth around us."

She laughed, shaking her head at him and rolling her eyes. "If you say so. I guess I can last thirty minutes with some small talk."

"Yes, Miss Majesty." He dramatically bowed, and she threw her head back, laughing. Some people watched them but she didn't pay too much attention to them. "How is your body healing?"

"Slowly," she sighed, dragging her hair over one shoulder. "Some days are better than others, but my last scan seems to show that I am healing well. Soon I would be able to hurl papers and swing arms as well as I did before."

"Hopefully not at me."

"Most especially at you."

"I suspected as much." He took her arm, turning her towards the narrow space and away from the road. "This way is faster to the library."

"Ah, look who is in a hurry to go back now."

Harrison grinned. "I am doing you the favour of taking as much as you are giving and not overstepping. Left to me, we would walk around longer, but you said you need to rest, and, also, you are not so good as pretending to be comfortable around me."

"It's not that." She lamented.

"Don't even try to deny it." She nodded. It was easier to allow him to draw his own conclusions, as far-fetched as they seemed. "At least we get to talk like adults these days, no. Remember how we fought like cats and dogs barely a month ago. Each time you saw me, you wanted to chew off my head and always reproaching me for one thing or the other."

She widened her eyes in shock, "that's absolutely not true. I happen to believe we had a normal healthy working relationship."

Harrison tsked, backing away from her and shaking his hands. "Must still be a lot of morphine in your system if you are saying that. There was nothing healthy about that relationship, and you know that. This is what I would term a healthy working relationship. I like it when we are good terms, arguing sensibly instead of on trivial matters, like when we went out to eat."

"Maybe you'll ruin it again by kissing me."

"Don't tempt me, Hernández. I just might." She stuck her tongue out at him, and he raced towards her, making her rush away with a giggle, but he gently pushed her shoulder again. "You are lucky that your ribs are still tender; you would have been over my shoulder in three-point five seconds."

"Even if I wasn't injured, it would take more than strength to carry me because I'll be kicking and screaming the whole way."

Her phone rang, and she stumbled to a stop, apologising and lifting the phone to her ear. She coughed, trying to detain her laughter as she giggled into the phone. "Ma."

"Sorry, I just wanted to know when you'll be back? The dinner plans are yours, remember."

She hissed, looking at her watch for the time and then mouthing, 'we are late'. "Sorry ma, I didn't notice the time. I am done. I am on my way home right now."

"Well, I was just checking in; no need to be in a rush."

"I'll see you soon, ma."

"I am late. We have to go."

Harrison took her hand, and she turned to follow as he led, her eyes wide with shock, but he didn't notice, and she didn't think he cared. Cassandra finally shook her head, smiling and wrapping her fingers around his as they walked towards the car.