Madelyn was completely taken with Murphy. She remembered the kindness he and Becca had shown her after the meeting with Jack about finding a location for Etta's. He didn't make her feel awkward or uncomfortable about the state of her first marriage. Instead, he began to extoll the 'virtues of Harry.' He sounded like a proud father. As the evening wore on, Murphy and Madelyn became fast friends. Eventually, Becca came round to chat as well. Harry zipped in and out of the conversation as he continued to handle the bar.

Madelyn was loathe to notice that Harry had an admirer. The cute blond server, with legs up to her armpits had been making frequent trips to the bar all evening, requesting refills before customer's drinks were even half empty; she never missed the opportunity to giggle and bat her eyes. Now that the table service had slowed and most of the business was at the bar, she was loitering. Well, loitering in Madelyn's opinion.

When Murphy got up to deal with a situation of some sort in the kitchen, she seized on the opportunity to question Becca.

"Who is that woman?"

Becca followed Madelyn's look down the length of the bar to the serving station.

"Who, Katelyn? She's part-time, works a lot of weekend and evening shifts. She's pretty good at her job, doesn't hesitate to pull rank if someone gets in her way. Why?" Becca was all ears as she turned to her new friend.

"She keeps flirting with Harry. Do you think he realizes?"

"Do I think he realizes? Um... yes. I am pretty damn certain he realizes. She has been after him for months. He's driven her home after closing a couple of times when she had car trouble, but I doubt anything has happened between them. She isn't really his type. Too clingy."

"Oh."

"Madelyn, are you worried about Harry dating other people?"

"I don't know. This is all so new for both of us, but things are happening fast. He's telling me he wants in one hundred percent; he's like a man on a mission. I guess I have so much of my own baggage occupying my mind, it simply didn't occur to me that he might have someone waiting in the wings. I don't like the idea, to be honest." That was a massive understatement, she thought leaning on the bar, holding her chin in her hands, and released a heavy sigh.

"If you want my opinion, you have nothing to worry about. Harry has had his share of interested women, but you're all he's been talking about these days. Murph told me Harry has gone on about you so much, that his ears are getting numb! Harry understands what he's getting into, and he has always known his own mind. If he wants to be with you, it'll be 'damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead.' That's how he works. Once he sets his mind to something, it's as good as done."

"Thanks, Becca. I do trust him, and he has been incredible with me. I can hold my own, too, I'm just not crazy about 'Legs' over there shoving herself in his face." Madelyn laughed and shook her head at her own jealousy. "Sorry, this isn't usually my style. Would you mind if I excused myself for a minute? I need to run to the restroom," she explained, hoping a few minutes alone would give her a chance to reset.

Things were winding down, the seated diners had all departed, and the last of the bar patrons were settling their tabs with Harry as she made her way past the kitchen to the lady's room. Madelyn had nursed her drinks slowly, still they'd had an impact none the less. Leaving the restrooms, she halted when she heard Harry's name spoken amongst the girlish chatter emanating from the kitchen.

"Shit, he looks so hot tonight! He's been chatting up some chick at the bar, but I know he can do better, he just needs a little push and I plan to provide it. I'm going to tell him the battery in my car died again and I need a ride home. This time I'm not taking 'no' for an answer."

"Katelyn, he isn't going to know what hit him, and I want the full blow-by-blow details tomorrow. If you know what I mean!" exclaimed the other girl.

Their laughter echoed as heat ran into Madelyn's face and causing her to feel as if steam were pouring out of the top of her head. Katelyn, aka Legs, stopped just short of running into Madelyn as she exited the kitchen, hiking her boobs up into the low neckline of her top as she walked.

"Oh! Sorry, didn't see ya there."

"No, I don't suppose you did. Too busy planning your ambush." Madelyn didn't get jealous or territorial. Or did she? It struck her that she may have never cared enough to have these feeling manifest themselves in the past. Well, the train was set in motion now, and it was fueled by inhibition reducing gin.

"You can scrap your plans for Harry. He's taken." She was quite glad that she was wearing her boots with heels as she stood, hands on hips, facing down the taller woman.

"Excuse me? I don't know who you think you are, but I've put in the time and paid my dues. Harry's been a free agent and I plan to resolve that." The blond was younger than Madelyn and clearly not wanting to give up easily.

"You are not excused, and he isn't a 'free agent' any more." With that, she turned on her heel and marched back to the bar.

"Are you finished?" she asked Harry in a rather demanding tone, as she stuffed her papers hurriedly into her bag.

"Yep, just closed the till. You ready to head back to your place?"

"No." She looked at him pointedly. "Take me upstairs to your apartment."

Murphy had returned and he and Becca looked at her questioningly. "Is everything alright?" Becca asked.

"Everything is fantastic, actually. It was lovely to see you both again; Harry and I would be thrilled to have you up to my place for dinner sometime soon. Let's go, Harry."

"Well, okay then. Goodnight, all," he raised his brows and shrugged his shoulders at his friends.

Harry had retrieved their coats and was trying to throw them over his arm as Madelyn was tugging on his hand impatiently as she began walking.

Realizing she had no clue how to get upstairs to Harry's apartment, she halted and faced him. Clutching onto his bicep, she said, "I... I don't actually know where I'm going."

He didn't understand the change in her demeanor but recognized that she was charged up about something. Reversing their positions, he kept her hand in his as he led her through the nearly empty kitchen, and up the staircase near the back door. Unlocking and pushing his door open, he entered with her close on his heels. Harry flipped a light switch, then took her bag and tossed it, along with the coats, on a bench in the entryway.

His intention as he shifted to face her, was to ask if she was alright, offer her a drink and to decompress after his shift. Those things didn't happen. Instead, Madelyn was on him in an instant, palms flat on his chest as she walked him into the wall. He reached his hands behind to brace himself at the impact.

She kissed his throat where his shirt was spread open.

"Madelyn?" He was taken aback by her unexpected aggression. "Are you okay? Are you mad?" He didn't think she would be pressing him against a wall and kissing all over his throat, and now Jesus, his chest, if she were mad at him. Still her attitude was telling him that something had pissed her off.