Bubble Bath Fantasies

AN: This one is for you, Steph!

As soon as she heard his soft baritone voice she snapped out of the fantasy world the book in her hands had created.
“Harm, what are you doing here?” Mac asked confused, staring at her partner now sitting in the armchair next to her.
“Uh, maybe I should ask you that question. Wasn’t it you, who were supposed to be on a fancy sailing yacht at the moment? Besides that, what do you think I’m doing here in a public library? For sure not cooking.” he said in return, not hiding his sarcasm.
“Funny, Commander, really funny!” Mac retorted, but continued more seriously, “Well, yeah, I was supposed be on that ‘boat’, but you know how it is with spies. They frequently cancel shortly before you’re supposed to meet them. With all my weekend plans cancelled, I’d thought I’d rather pay this wonderful library a visit instead of sitting alone in my apartment and staring at the living room ceiling. I had nothing better to do…” Just as those words came out of her mouth, she regretted them and wanted to take them back. She hoped he hadn’t had heard them, but wasn’t that lucky.
“Oh, so you had nothing better to do? You could have called me, Mac. You knew that I would be home. We still could have met for a run this morning. You just had to call or is it too hard for you to do that?”
Mac looked down at her fingers playing with the pages of her book. In a very low voice, barely audible to Harm, she answered, “I probably could have and for sure at one time, it would have been the most normal thing to do, but I wasn’t sure if your offer was still open after what I told you yesterday. I didn’t want you to think that spending time with you was only plan B for me in case Webb wasn’t available. Anyway, I almost called you, had the phone in my hand, but I thought better…you know, I didn’t want to complicate the fragile friendship we have regained recently.”
When she finished her reasons behind her actions, Mac slowly looked up and saw softness reflected in his aquamarine eyes, not anger or hurt as she had expected.
“You have a point there, Counselor. And I can understand where you’re coming from, but next time just remember that I would never turn you down when I’ve offered you something. You should know that I stand by my word.”
He paused, which caused her to look into his eyes. “Mac, even though the last month, hell probably the last year, wasn’t the best for us and, of course, many things have changed in the process, we’ve changed and in a way have moved on. Still, some things never change and I haven’t changed all that much. That means, even though I’m Mattie’s guardian, the code I have lived by all my life and which I was taught by my mother and father and the Navy, is the same and keeping your word is one of the things I want to teach Mattie, too. Ok? So, the next time you wonder if I meant what I said, stop wondering and just ask me. Deal?” Harm flashed her a trademark smile and Mac couldn’t help but return it with a shy smile of her own.
“Deal, Harm. Maybe, we can still watch a movie tonight?” she asked hopefully.
“Bring some Chinese and a movie, and consider yourself on a date, Marine.”
“A date, huh?” she teased and Harm rolled his eyes. “You know what I mean…”
“Do I?”
“Maaaac…” he sighed in frustration.
Glad to see that they were teasing each other like in the old days, she gave him a break, “Chinese, so be it. When shall I come over?”
“How about 1900?”
“Sounds fine.” She was about to lean back in her chair again when she caught a look at the books he had brought with him.
“’How to Raise a Teenager?’ ‘In 100 Steps Safely Through the Teenage Years.’ ‘Questions to Which You Should Have the Answers – The Guide for Parents’, Harm, what is that all about?”
Harm blushed slightly, “Well…um…I thought I’d better be prepared for whatever comes. You know this situation is new to me and I want to give Mattie the feeling that she can always come to me with her questions and troubles – that I’m going to understand her. But truth be told, I’m not sure I’m up to it and I’m not sure if I have all the answers to her questions. So, I thought these books might be a little help. You know, Mac, I want to do things right.”
“I know that, but I’m not sure you need all those books. And I know that because I’ve seen how you relate to children. I have no doubt that you’ll be a wonderful father for Mattie because you already give her something which you can’t learn from books: You give her you unconditional love and support. That’s all she’ll need.”
He looked at her intensely, then spoke, “Thank you, Mac. That means a lot to me.”
“I meant it and you’re welcome.”
She again settled back in her chair and buried her nose in her book. He followed her example and grabbed one of his ‘How to become a good father for a teenage girl’ books, really trying to focus on the topic. But that wouldn’t work, so he watched Mac reading her…in fact, what was she reading? He bent his upper body slightly forward to read the title.
When he read the title, he had to blink twice and then read the title again – this time out loud.
“’Scents – And How They Influence Our Soul, Heart, and Mind’. Mac, what are you reading there? You’ve got to be kidding! You don’t seriously believe in that stuff, do you?” He shook his head.
“Of course, I do. Why not?”
“Oh, c’mon, Mac, I don’t believe that.”
“What’s not to believe here? It’s a medically proven fact that different scents have different impacts on our physical and mental state. Furthermore, many ethereal aromas have a healing effect and are used in homeopathic medicine and home remedies. Think about eucalyptus, which you use for a sore throat, flu or bronchitis; or spruce and pine needles for the same illnesses and it’s extremely relaxing and phlegm loosening when you use it in a sauna. Or look here, lemongrass increases concentration and has an optimistic effect on your mood. And it’s good for combating oily skin. Not to forget lavender: it’s wound healing and has either a relaxing and balancing or a stimulating effect depending on the concentration of the aroma…oh, and not to mention…”
Harm simply grabbed Mac’s book and studied the listing of the different scents and their effect and use. He read for a while until a playful grin appeared on his face.
“Well, that’s interesting!” he confessed.
“What do you mean?”
“Well, you left something out. If you had told me ‘that’ earlier, I probably would have been more interested,” he stated mischievously.
“What do you mean, Harm?”
Harm leaned over to her, coming extremely close, and let her look at the page he had just opened. Then he read out loud, “Cloves and Cajeput – sexually stimulating, patchouli – has an erotic effect…or here cinnamon – sensually-harmonizing or ilang-ilang, it causes sensuality and eroticism. Look, even pepper is stimulating…” he grinned – his male ego right in place.
“And? What’s your point?”
“Uh, Mac…if I had known that in high school…well, then…” he trailed off and arched his brow seductively. His eyes sparkled when he looked her up and down.
Mac shifted uncomfortably and nervously and a soft pink flush crept along her neck and cheeks. His intense gaze and closeness caused warmth in a place deep inside her. She never thought she would feel it there again. To hide his obvious impact on her – that would only increase his enormous male ego and self-confidence – she slapped him on his arm and answered, “Men! How could I have thought you would take that seriously?”
“Ouch!” he rubbed his sore arm.
“You really should try it, Harm. Believe me, nothing is as relaxing as a hot bubble bath with the right aromas. Some perfumed candles and joss sticks placed in the bathroom, soft music is playing and you just can close your eyes and dream while the ethereal oils work wonders on your sore and taut muscles. And afterwards your mind, soul and body is refreshed up and you feel like a new person.”
“Well, Colonel, that all sounds wonderful, but…you’ve forgotten a very important point…”
Mac arched her brow in question.
“I don’t have a tub!! So, even if I would be willing to try what you suggest, I couldn’t do it.”
Harm thought he had everything figured out, so that they could leave the topic. But he hadn’t thought about a special marine he used to know.
“Harm, if that’s the only problem, I have a solution for you. Just use my tub.”
“What?”
“You heard me. You already have your own key to my apartment and the next time I have to leave town alone for an investigation, you can let yourself in and enjoy the fantastic experience of a wonderful scented bath. What do you think?”
“O – kay…thank you for the offer and we’ll see. So, did you say which movie you wanted to watch tonight?”
Mac had to laugh at his unsuccessful attempt to change the topic. So she gave him a break, but kept her suggestion in mind, vowing herself to remember it on a later occasion.
“Uh, I thought about this fantastic movie with Johnny Depp and Juliette Binoche. It’s called ‘Chocolat’. Do you know it? It fits our current discussion perfectly.” She smiled at him sweetly, then grabbed her book again and snuggled back in the armchair to read more about scents and their impact on the human being.
Harm groaned in frustration about her movie suggestion, but said nothing. He was happier to watch a kitschy female and over-romantic movie with her than being alone in his apartment tonight. Following her example, he leaned back and once again buried himself in his literature.

Half and an hour later, they decided to call it a day and left the library – Mac with the ‘scent book’ and Harm with two examples of his ‘education lecture’.
Both looked forward to the evening. While driving to their separate homes, they were more relaxed and at ease with themselves and their momentary relationship than they had been in weeks.

TBC