~ chapter 7 ~

She could feel his warm breath on the back of her bare neck as he grazed his lips across her soft skin in a brief kiss. Wrapping his arms around her waist, he whispered in her ear. "Do you have any idea how stunning you are tonight?"

Liz closed her eyes and swallowed the disappointment in not feeling another set of arms around her and hearing another voice speaking low in her ear. She shook her head mutely and forced herself to smile as she turned in his arms and looked up into his blue-green eyes. A wave of guilt swept over her as she saw his eyes so full of love. He'd given her so much. Loved her so patiently. She had no right to be wishing for someone else right now. Like she had a million times before. So…she wouldn't.

Liz wrapped her arms around Ben's waist and gave him a warm smile. "No. But I'm always up for hearing it."

Ben chuckled as his sparkling eyes moved down the length of her as they began to shine with admiration. "The dress…wow! Is it new?"

"Uh…n-new?" Liz shook her head as she felt her cheeks start to flush. "No. No, it's not…it's not new. It's been quite a while…since I wore it last though."

Ben leaned forward and closed his eyes as he took a deep breath through his nose. "And the perfume…you smell…"

"Like rain after a desert storm?" Liz supplied for him in a dreamy voice.

"Huh?" Ben asked as he pulled back and looked into Liz's eyes. "Actually, I was going to say like roses."

Liz looked down to hide her disappointment. "Oh. Well, that's good too."

Cocking his eyebrow at her, Ben ran his thumb along her jawline. "Hey. We can go with rain if you really want."

Liz chuckled and shook her head as she looked back up at him. "No. Roses are fine." Leaning up and giving Ben a quick kiss on the lips she nodded toward the desk. "Why don't you go see about the reservations?"

"Okay." Ben smiled back at her before kissing her lightly on the cheek. He moved past her then stopped and turned around with a wink "Oh. And if anyone tries to steal you away while I'm gone, tell him the guy who loves you most will be back in a bit."

"You got it." Liz stated with a nod before she watched him walk away allowing her smile to dissolve the moment his back was turned. A sinking feeling appeared in the pit of her stomach. A sense that things would ever be the same after this night. A fear that she'd lose the sense of normalcy she'd gained in the past year. And a disturbing, inextinguishable hope that somehow she would.

Liz shivered as a cool rush of wind whipped through the entryway. As quickly as the shiver arose so did her temperature. She didn't have to turn around to know he was there. She could feel his heated stare on her back as her mind drifted suddenly to another night. A night when glances and looks only fueled their desire for one another. Deepened their love.

It had been years before, but standing there dressed as she was, her heart pounding in her chest and goosebumps rising on her arms, it felt as if that night was happening all over again. She wondered if he felt it too.

Turning slowly, Liz raised her eyes to his and immediately knew that he did.

Max stopped short in the doorway and stared, his eyes drinking in the sight of his Liz standing in front of him. The short simple dress fit all of her soft curves in just the same way that he remembered. He could almost feel the sensations of his hands sliding over the silky material once more. And her hair...the way it was swept up to the top and back leaving wispy little curls around her glowing cheeks caused his heart to stop dead then race furiously in his chest.

Max jammed his hands into his pockets to resist the temptation to reach out and curl a strand of hair around his finger or tuck it behind her ear. Or better yet, to dislodge the clip that was holding it in place and let her thick hair cascade freely down her shoulders. And that smell. God, how that perfume used to drive him crazy. Mixed with Liz's own personal scent it had been intoxicating. It still was. So cleansing and fresh, soothing yet energizing. Like the rain after a desert storm.

"Hey, Liz." Max's velvet voice greeted Liz softly.

"Hey...Max." She returned just as softly.

The moment their eyes met, words were spoken that couldn't be heard out loud and memories they could never forget flowed in the space between them…

"Do you have any idea just how seriously breathtaking you are?" Max's soft voice came to her on the night wind. Liz turned from her mirror to see Max crouched next to her window gazing in at her. His dark eyes sparkled with awe as they took in every inch of her from head to toe.

Usually used to his intense scrutiny, Liz suddenly found herself growing shy under the devoted adoration she saw so clearly in his eyes. She blushed and looked down embarrassed. Running her hands nervously over her new cranberry colored slip dress, she took a shaky breath and tried to smile away the sudden butterflies floating around in her stomach. The way he was looking at her…like he wanted to worship her and devour her all at the same time...made her feel slightly lightheaded and definitely flushed.


Nervously pushing a few spirals of loose hair from her face, Liz glanced up at him through her long dark eyelashes. She hadn't needed to look to know he was staring at her, but a force beyond her pulled her gaze to meet his. She looked away and smiled shyly. "Come on, Max. Stop looking at me that way."

Max took a deep breath, his chest rising and falling slowly as he shook his head slightly. "I can't help it, Liz. I've never seen perfection like this before. Your skin. Your hair. The way you smile. You're…beyond words."

"So are you." Liz smiled, looked down at her hands then back up at Max as radiant love started shining in her eyes and spread out over every inch of her body. She crossed over to the window and reached up to caress his cheek. "And about that perfection thing…for the record, Mr. Evans, I think you've got me beat by a mile." As her smile deepened, Liz leaned closer and lowered her voice to a whisper. "In fact, I never knew what perfection was until that day at the Crashdown…when you let me see your soul. It's the most beautiful thing in the world."

Max closed his eyes and turned his face into her hand with a smile. "Impossible...because that's what you are."

Liz tilted her head to the side and smiled dreamily at the man before her. He was only 16 but in many ways he had the wisdom of a sage. How he put others needs and wants above his own and took responsibility for all of them. How he lead the others. Not flawlessly, but with a discernment the others lacked. God, how she loved his soul.

Liz smiled as her eyes took in his broad shoulders and well-toned chest before they roamed his handsome face. Thank God he didn't have the body of a sage. Or the wrinkled face of one. Those long dark eyelashes that curled so appropriately upward were a sin against nature. And the way his hair fell lightly over his forehead made it a constant battle to fight the temptation to reach up and brush them to the side.

That jaw that was usually set in studious seriousness gave her a sense of safety and strength. The same way his arms did when they wrapped around her to hug her to his hard chest for comfort or protection. As did the steady beating of his heart. She was enveloped in love when she was in Max Evans' arms.

Liz's eyes followed her fingertips as they traveled from his cheek to Max's perfectly shaped lips. They rarely turned into a full-blown smile, but it didn't matter. Liz thought him most adorable when a bit of amusement from his eyes would travel downward to curl his lips ever so slightly putting a charming crease around his mouth and in his left cheek. What that boy did to her when he smiled that smile meant only for her should be considered criminal. And the barely discernable dent that ran the length of his chin was irresistible to touch.

"I want to kiss you." The announcement was made in a voice softened to an almost whisper as Max's eyes opened and caught Liz taking silent inventory of his features.

Liz chuckled at his quiet confession. The overwhelming urge to tease him came over her and Liz leaned into him as she wrapped her arms around his neck. "Then why do you look so scared? You've certainly never asked before."

"I've always been sure I could stop before." Max whispered huskily as his eyes caressed the face he wouldn't allow his hands to touch.

"And now?"

Max swallowed hard, his eyes flickering with emotions he couldn't voice. "Now...I'm not even sure I can touch you and ever hope to make it to your surprise tonight."

Liz's eyes darkened as a warm smile curved her lips in the most tempting way. Max felt his mouth go dry and he swallowed hard trying to dislodge the lump in his throat. His eyes moved from her full lips to her eyes and he saw a glimmer of amusement dancing in their dark depths just before she leaned forward and brushed her lips lightly against his.

Pressing herself closer to him, Liz deepened the kiss till she could feel his willingness to surrender to her starting to take control. His hands raised to cup her face and he was pulling her into him with a tender passion that always seemed to surround them when they were together when she pulled away slowly. Her eyes remained closed and a look of pure bliss spread over her face. "Max?"

"Yeah?" He breathed back taking in every nuance of her expression.

"I wouldn't mind." Her eyes opened to meet his and her fingers began to feather their way through his hair. "You know. Missing the surprise…"

"How do you know when you don't even know what it is?" Max asked as he eyebrow raised in amusement.

"Because I have everything I want…everything I need right here…right now…with you."

Max's smile lit his eyes. "You only believe that because you don't know what the surprise is…"

"I'll believe it even after I know."

Max leaned his forehead against hers a moment before bringing his lips to hers for a tender kiss meant to give a preview of things to come. "Maybe we should test that theory."

Liz grinned and rolled her eyes. "Fine. If you don't believe me, I guess I'll just have to follow wherever you lead and prove it to you."

"Wherever, huh?"

Liz nodded. "Uh-huh."

Brightening, Max held out his hand to Liz. "Great! Let's go…"

"Uh…Max?"

"Yeah?"

Liz nodded her head in the direction of the door. "My parents…they know we're going out tonight. Sooo…don't you think it might be best to pick me up at the door. You know...like a normal date."

Max grinned sheepishly as his eyes drifted to the door. "I guess you're right." He leaned forward and kissed her lingeringly once more then winked when he pulled back. "But after that, Liz Parker, expect anything but normal..."

As the memory began to fade, Liz let out a shaky breath and noticed the rise and fall of Max's solid chest as he let out one as well. Somehow, in those few moments spent in the past, they had gravitated toward each other and Liz was surprised now to see just how close they were standing to each other.

She stole a look up into Max's eyes. Uh-oh. This wasn't good. It wasn't the way to start out the night that would show everyone where her heart belonged. With...Ben. Liz forced her eyes away from Max's face to focus on anything but those eyes that always drew her in. She looked to see Tess standing behind and slightly to the side of him. His Tess. The one that had ruined everything.

Tess cocked a slender blonde eyebrow at Liz and tilted her head to the side. The smile that played on her lips was anything but devious and arrogant, but that's exactly the way Liz took it. Tess had Max's heart and she knew it. And she was going to do everything in her power to remind Liz of that ever second of this dreaded night. Liz just knew she was.

Had Liz known Tess' real thoughts she would have been shocked.

Tess had observed the silent but palpable staring contest between Max and Liz and the way they just moved toward each other as if a force was pulling them together. She couldn't help but think that this evening was starting off rather well already. The heat had risen at least 50 degrees in the room since the two of them had locked gazes but their obviously equal reluctance to give in to what they were feeling...what they had felt all of these years...would prove to be highly entertaining to watch.

Beyond that, she was considering the best tactic to use in this little scheme of theirs. Should she try to gain Liz's confidence by being her real self and then hit her with the truth at just the right moment when she was confused and maybe a bit vulnerable? Or, despite Max's desires, should she play the role they'd all placed her in years ago? The shameless hussy willing to do and say anything to get...and keep...her man. No matter who she hurt. Push Liz to the brink of jealousy then pull her back in time to tell her there was nothing to be jealous of.

Seeing the barely veiled hatred go up in Liz's eyes and the way her chin raised in defiance, her jaws tightening with resolve, as her eyes flicked back to Max's face Tess sighed inwardly. Oh, she was going to be a tough one tonight. Alright. So, shameless hussy it was.

Tess opened her mouth to make some biting comment to Liz when two children about six years old ran squealing and screaming into the lobby drowning out her greeting. One child was chasing the other and tripped over a rug causing him to fall forward and grab for something to hold onto. Like a game of dominos, his fall set off a chain reaction. A quick chain reaction. He grabbed for his brother only to have his brother trip over his own feet and fall forward as well.

"OH!!" Liz yelled as she felt something, or better yet someone--two someones--knock into her and forcibly sent her stumbling forward...right into Max's arms.

Max's reactions were as quick as lightening. His arms shot out and grabbed Liz as she slumped against him. His chest tightened instantly and his breath caught when he felt her body come into contact with his, her arms wrapping around his shoulders for instant support. Sensations he hadn't felt in years shot through his body.

Liz felt them too. She sucked in her breath and closed her eyes willing the electric currents flowing through her to never stop. Just as long as her heart didn't. In fact, she would love it if it would start beating at a somewhat regular rate right about now. Deep down inside she knew that was nearly impossible with Max Evans so close to her. She could feel his breath blow her hair against her cheek and it sent shivers down her spine. "You ok?"

Liz nodded mutely wondering how one touch could send her soaring and set her on fire and make her feel a million other things all at once. She swallowed hard and blinked a few times before slowly drifting her gaze upward to meet his stopping along the way to take in the soft lips that used to kiss her every day. A half-smile formed on his lips when he saw the focus of her gaze and she couldn't stop a light blush from creeping over her cheeks.

Suddenly a deep voice sounded behind her. "What are you trying to do? Steal my girl? "

Liz's head snapped to the side when she heard Ben's voice. "Ben! We just..." Liz and Max jumped apart abruptly then she turned to face Ben. "These...kids…" She looked around frantically but the children had disappeared. Casting a plea for help in Max's direction she smiled back at Ben when Max jumped in to pick up where she left off.

"Yeah. Um, that's right. There were kids here that, um…just kinda…um…"

"They just..." With a wild gesture of her hand, Liz told the story without coherent words. "Then I...I just...and Max, well he just..."

"Hey, guys! What's going on?" Maria's voice pulled all eyes to her beaming face.

Ben crossed his arms in front of him. Having seen the children's fall and the aftermath, his statement was meant as a joke. But seeing the guilty look on both Max and Liz's faces and the way they jumped apart at the sound of his voice, the lawyer in Ben couldn't resist throwing a test their way. So far, they were failing miserably. "Looks like Max here's trying to kidnap my fiancee'."

"Damn! That didn't take long." Michael rumbled low in Maria's ear. "Can we go home now?"

Maria elbowed him in the stomach and looked around the group noting the differing expressions on each face. Liz was flustered, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment and guilt. Max looked very much like a cross between a bewildered little boy and a very frustrated man. Tess was trying to hide a grin behind her hand. Ben was fighting valiantly to don his cool lawyer's reserve and push back any doubts or pangs of jealousy that might have sprung to his mind the moment he saw his finacee's response to being in another man's arms. Especially *that* man's arms.

Shooting a glance in Michael's direction, she gave his hand a quick squeeze. So far so good. Maria's smile widened. "Kidnapping, huh? Aww, and here I always thought *we* were the life of the party. Looks like Max's learned a few things from you, babe." Maria leaned back against Michael as he wrapped his arms around her.

Michael's eyes twinkled when they met Max's, who looked like he was ready for the earth to open up and swallow him whole. "Who? Old stick-in-the-mud-Max? Nah. He's still got a ways to go." Michael's eyes shifted to Liz as she nervously glanced up at Max then over at Ben. "But it looks like he's made a great start..."

Taking a deep breath and grabbing Maria's hand in his Michael started heading toward the inside of the restaurant. "So, anyone else as starved as I am?"

Maria winked at Liz as they passed her. "Oh, come on, Lizzie! Liven up! The night has just begun!"

Refusing to look in Max direction, Liz turned to Ben and shrugged before taking his arm with a smile. Left alone in the lobby with Tess, Max ran his hand wearily over his eyes then looked over at her with a sigh. "Is there any chance this is just a really, really bad dream?"

Tess chuckled as she grabbed his hand in hers. "Didn't seem to mind a few minutes ago. Look, just think about it this way. You get to spend the rest of the evening the way you started…staring at Liz. Sounds like a nightmare to me, but for you..."

Max smiled and finished her thought. "…for me, it's a dream come true. I haven't felt this good since…" He let the thought dangle knowing he didn't need to say it for Tess to know what he was thinking. Wrapping his arm around her shoulder and pulling her to him for a light squeeze, Max added sincerely. "I'm glad you're here. I have a feeling this is going to be a very long night and I'm going to need all the help I can get to remind me why I've stayed away from her for so long."

"That's why I'm here. To help." Tess smiled as she wrapped her arm around Max's waist. "So, fake boyfriend. You ready to convince them I'm your only one?"

Max groaned even though his eyes retained a hint of laughter. "Like I said…a very long night…"

"And to think. We've only just begun…" Her chuckle joined his as they followed the other couples into the restaurant unaware of the silent observer with the evil smile sitting only a few feet away.