Liz had a hard time sleeping after the call from Alex. His words echoed through her head all night filling her thoughts with wild possibilities.
At one point around three in the morning, she had actually convinced herself Max was innocent.
But the idea was quickly pushed out by a mental picture of Max holding Tess in a tight embrace, kissing and caressing her. Squeezing her eyes shut, Liz tried to erase the images from her mind but they refused to go and finally she drifted into an exhausted sleep.
She slept through her alarm, and when she awoke her resolve was once again set in stone. She would cut Max out of her life.
Showering and dressing quickly, she arrived at work just as the flowers did, and the card was in her hand before she could think about it.
Iris -- Your friendship means so much to me
Camellia -- Pink - Longing for you
Please let me see you tonight.
I long for you.
I Love You,
Max
A familiar voice interrupted her.
"More flowers from Evans?” Kyle asked. “He doesn't give up easily does he?"
"No he doesn't," Liz said as she focused on Kyle.
"Why don't you let me take you to dinner tonight Liz?" he urged. "It would help you to talk about it. Or we could forget all about Evans and just have a good time."
Liz smiled. "Thanks Kyle, but I don't think I'd be very good company."
"It's not like you have to entertain me,” Kyle said. “You just need to get out of the house and take your mind off the situation. And stop kicking yourself for letting a jerk like him into your life."
The words to defend Max sprang to her lips but she swallowed them quickly. No matter how much she loved Max, he had been cheating on her.
She looked at Kyle as she considered his offer. Normally she would enjoy spending time with him, but he had been acting strangely lately. And the last thing she wanted to do was explain herself to him. She’d rather just be alone.
Liz shook her head. "Not tonight Kyle,” she said softly. “I’m really tired, and I’m just going to have and early night. Maybe another time."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Liz ate lunch at her desk while she talked to Maria on the phone and told her about the latest events.
“It was awful Maria,” Liz said, her voice shaking. “Max looked so sad when I saw him in his car. I wanted to run out and hug him.”
“But you stood your ground,” Maria said. “That’s the important thing.”
“I know,” Liz said softly.
Maria sighed. “You love him so this is hard for you, but we both know it’s better for you in the long run.”
She continued softly. “Liz, I just want what’s best for you. It took you so long to get over what Sean did, for you to learn to trust yourself again. And even though Max wasn’t half as bad as Sean, you can’t let him take advantage of you. I don’t want to see you in that kind of pain again.”
Liz nodded. “It’s just that Max has been so wonderful and sweet, he’s making it so hard. And he won’t take no for an answer.”
“What do you mean?” Maria asked.
“This morning at work he sent me more flowers, with a card asking to see me tonight,” Liz explained.
"So Max is still trying to make a go of this?” Maria asked incredulously. “Even after you refused to let him in last night?"
“Yeah,” Liz said softly.
“Huh,” Maria said. "He continually surprises me so I guess I should've expected him to keep after you."
"Well,” Liz said, “I refused to see him last night, and I’m not going to let him in if he does show up tonight. So maybe he'll see that it’s a lost cause and give up."
The silence on the other end of the line told Liz that Maria was weighing the possibilities. "Sis,” she said finally, “I don't think you've seen the last of him yet.”
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Maria's prediction proved to be true that evening. Max was in his car waiting outside Liz’s house when she got home.
He got out when she did, and she noted absently that he held even more flowers.
Liz tried to hurry past him and into her house, but he was too fast and stopped her just outside the door.
He caught her arm gently. "Liz wait," he demanded, turning her to face him.
"Max,” she said looking anywhere but his face, “I don't want you here."
"We need to talk," he said softly.
Liz shook her head. "No we don't."
"I won't let you shut me out of your life," he stated more firmly.
Her eyes snapped to his face, surprised by the certainty of his tone.
He held her gaze as he continued. "If you won't talk to me here I'll come to your office."
She shook her head. "No! Max, please stop this."
"Just let me come in and talk for a while," he pleaded, his eyes searching her face.
Suddenly Liz pictured him coming to her office, demanding to speak to her. She sighed. "Okay," she reluctantly agreed, "just for a minute."
"These are for you," he said as he handed her the flowers.
He smiled and she felt her knees turn to mush. Liz groaned inwardly. This wasn't a good idea.
She turned abruptly and opened the door, aware he was following her closely. With a vague motion she offered him a seat on the sofa, but she noticed that his eyes were focused on the flowers on the table.
"I'm glad you didn't throw them out," he said softly. "I wondered."
"I couldn't," she admitted.
His eyes met hers, smoldering with intensity, bringing out her nervousness.
"I… I mean they're beautiful and it's n..not right to throw them away just because we’re, um, arguing."
Turning away from him quickly, she took the flowers into the kitchen, placed them on the counter and started arranging the colorful blooms to stall for time. But she let her arms drop to her sides knowing it was useless. Max would simply wait, or worse, he would come looking for her.
Reluctantly she returned to the living room and gingerly sat on a chair at an angle to the sofa and waited for the attack to begin.
Max asked about her day and she replied warily, suspecting he was just starting slowly and working his way up to the big stuff. But it was as if he could feel her apprehension, and he kept the conversation light. He discussed his work and hers, their families, and some of the times they had spent together. He even coaxed a smile from her a couple of times, and Liz was forced to work hard to keep her attitude cool and aloof.
After he had been there about half an hour, he glanced at his watch. "It's six-thirty and I'm starving. Would you have dinner with me?"
"No Max," she answered, shaking her head.
"Come on Liz,” he coaxed, “you have to eat. Dinner with me won't kill you will it?"
She thought to herself that it might very well kill her, but she wasn't about to admit it aloud. "No," she said firmly. "You forced your way in here by blackmailing me and I'm not going to have dinner with you. I've tried to make it clear that you’re not welcome anymore. I don't want to be with you," she finished softly, her eyes reflecting her pain.
"If I believed that I would go and leave you alone," Max rumbled. “But I know you want to be with me as much as I want to be with you, and it scares you to death.”
He leaned forward. “I know you reacted so strongly to seeing me with Tess because you are frightened, and this has given you a convenient excuse to push me away. But Liz, I'm not going to let you."
He held her eyes as he continued. “Liz I am not seeing Tess. She just happened to be there, and maybe she thought she could start something between us again.” He shook his head. “But that would never happen. I don’t want to be with her.”
Liz started shaking. The past was really repeating itself. She spoke breathlessly. “I understand. It wasn’t as it appeared.” Her voice sounded hollow and detached even to her own ears. “Now tell me that even though you’re sleeping with her it doesn’t mean anything.”
“No.” Max said firmly. “I’m not sleeping with her. I swear it. And I don’t think you really believe that either.”
His voice softened as he continued. “I never slept with her, even when we were going out. I didn’t want to. It didn’t take long for me to see that she wasn’t the one for me.”
His eyes burned into hers. “It was you Liz. You are the one I want. The one I’ve been waiting for.”
Liz felt tears starting. He sounded so sincere, and she believed him.
But that was the problem, an inner voice said. She couldn’t trust herself. Her love for him was clouding her judgment.
A thousand conflicting thoughts rushed through her head; Maria’s words, Alex’s advice, her experience with Sean, her time with Max, and finally Max’s words. But it only confused her more.
She didn't know what to say and shook her head.
His eyes roamed over her face, taking in her quickly changing emotions. "I'll go," he said rising off the couch, "but I'll be back tomorrow."
Suddenly her self preservations instincts kicked in. "No Max don't come here anymore," she said more forcefully, rising with him.
"If not here or at work, where?" he demanded. "I will see you. I must."
He took a deep breath and continued with a coaxing note in his voice. "You could come to dinner with me tomorrow."
"No,” Liz shook her head. “Not ever again."
"Liz," Max said, demanding her attention. "I will come here tomorrow." His voice was low and laced with a warning she wasn’t sure she understood.
He sounded so possessive and sure of himself, she didn’t know what to think. Liz sighed resignedly. She was so confused.
Her gaze went to the flowers on the table.
Max was so persistant, so wonderful and romantic. He couldn’t possibly be capable of cheating on her, could he? Was he telling the truth about Tess?
She was so deep in thought that she didn't notice Max coming toward her until he was practically on top of her.
Her eyes flicked up, alarmed at how close he was, and she attempted to back away from him. But the back of her legs were already pressed against the chair she had been sitting in.
Overcorrecting, she lost her balance, and started to fall back, but Max quickly reached out and caught her, pulling her against him. Her hands came up to his chest automatically to keep him as far away as possible.
"Easy Liz, don't hurt yourself," he rasped soothingly.
The warmth of his body spread into hers, and she inhaled deeply, letting his scent fill her nose. Liz’s heart started to race, and her breath came in quick gasps.
His hand reached up to cup her cheek, and his thumb caressed her skin lightly, making her pulse jump.
Liz risked a glance at his eyes but quickly looked away as his face came slowly down toward hers. She pushed at his chest, struggling to get away but he tightened his grip, and as his lips came closer she turned her head so he would have to settle for her cheek.
But she knew it was a mistake when she felt his lips graze the side of her neck.
“I love you Liz,” he whispered.
Gasping as the electricity rushed through her, she held herself rigid in his arms, steeling herself for the next assault.
But Max suddenly released her and stepped away, turning toward the door. "Goodnight Liz," he said thickly, not looking back as he let himself out.
Liz stood stunned for a handful of moments before she recovered her equilibrium. Then she glanced at the door and called herself all kinds of a fool. She'd let him in and let him get to her again.
In the future she would have to stand her ground and soon he'd get tired of the games and give up. Sighing, she remembered her reaction to his kiss, and hoped he gave in before she did.
She wandered into the kitchen, and took out the card with the flowers.
Zinnia
Mixed -- Thinking of an absent friend
Magenta -- Lasting affection
Scarlet -- Constancy
White -- Goodness
Yellow -- Daily Remembrance
I remember every moment we’re together
and I mourn every moment we’re apart.
I Love You,
Max
Liz burst into tears. She loved him so much, and it was tearing her apart to deny her feelings for him.
