Chapter 2

Later that day after their run in with Patrick that morning, Darren and Maxine were at Daz Cabs doing some work like always. Maxine was distracted by a fussy Minnie so she stopped her task for a while and began to look for the tot's pacifier…of course it was nowhere to be found.

"Daz, have you seen Minnie's pacifier?" Max asked as she tried to soothe the noisy baby.

Darren suddenly stopped what he was doing as well and went over to help his crush. "What color is it?" He asked, looking everywhere including on the hard floor of the establishment.

"Pink" Maxine said as she continued to keep Minnie from having a full on crying fit. She hated seeing her daughter upset so she did her best to make sure she was always happy, or almost always.

"Found it" Darren said after a few more seconds of looking for the essential infant accessory. He went over to hand it to Maxine. At that same time, Max reached for it-in turn causing their hands to touch.

There went the sparks again. No matter how hard he tried to make them disappear, they always seem to come back at the slightest touch from Maxine. He laughed bashfully. "Sorry"

Maxine smiled. "It's okay, thank goodness we found it" She said as she adjusted Minnie in her arms and gently placed the missing pacifier in the baby's mouth.

Darren blushed. "Yeah" He said, getting lost in the woman's presence. Blimey Darren, get a grip. His conscience was telling him. He was never that shy around the ladies and he'd been around the block lots of times but Maxine…she was different, in a good way. Given his past, Darren wanted to do things right this time.

"Are you ok Daz?" Maxine asked, her voice interrupting him.

"Oh yeah I'm fine" Darren said, trying to hide his embarrassment.

Maxine raised an eyebrow. "You sure, seem out of it" She insisted as she placed Minnie back in her pram.

"I'm just a little tired is all, think I'm going to go get some coffee want any?" He asked Maxine.

"Sounds good" Maxine said with a smile. "Why don't I come with you? Minnie here's getting a little restless" She suggested.

Darren felt his heart pound in his chest at the thought of being around Maxine just a bit longer. Lately the eagerness to be near her was getting stronger every day and who was he to fight it? "Right, then let's go" He said as he handed Maxine her jacket and once his own was on, the three headed off to the college coffee shop not far from the village.

"You know Maxine…" Darren began to say as they waited in line to get their coffee.

"Yeah?" Maxine asked with a smile as she tended to Minnie for a bit.

Darren decided to man up and go ahead and ask. "If you're not too busy tonight, why don't we get pizza takeaway and watch a movie or two?"

Maxine laughed softly. "I rarely have anything else to do, so sure why not" She agreed.

Darren smiled. He loved spending time with Maxine, just talking and hanging out with her. But in the back of his mind, he asked himself how long could he keep up this charade until he blurts out he wants to be with her? Suddenly it was their turn in line.

"I'll have a plain black coffee and…what do you want Maxine?" He asked.

"A cappuccino with sugar and creamer" Maxine said.

"And a cappuccino" Darren added, remembering the foamy beverage Maxine asked for. He turned to smile innocently at the beautiful woman beside him.

Maxine smiled back, so lucky to have such a wonderful mate like Darren. After everything, she deserved to have someone to talk to and be there for her when times got rough.

Darren felt butterflies in his stomach at Maxine's smile. He wondered what it would be like if he kissed her. Would she let him or be completely disgusted with him?

Once the coffees were paid for, Darren, Max and Minnie got comfortable on a sofa near the shop entrance. "Here you go" Darren said handing Maxine the hot Styrofoam cup.

"Thanks" Maxine said before adding some sugar to her drink and taking a small sip.

Darren then noticed the usual foam on top of Maxine's upper lip and he couldn't help but laugh softly.

"What?" Maxine asked with a smile.

"You have a foam 'stache" Darren said, trying to keep a straight face.

"Where? Here?" Maxine asked touching the same spot on her face where the foam actually was.

Darren didn't say anything but he leaned in and wiped it off, the skin of her face feeling as soft as a rose petal. He looked into her eyes, feeling the tension between them. Darren wondered if she somehow felt it too. "I think I…got it all"

Maxine looked back at him. "Yeah" She said, not breaking eye contact.

Meanwhile across the coffee shop sat Patrick, seething with anger. He wanted Maxine back and he would stop at nothing until he got what he wanted. Patrick Blake always got what he wanted.

Darren gently pulled away from Maxine and went to go check on Minnie who was lying there happily in her buggy like any ordinary baby. "Your mummy has a very interesting sense of humor"

Maxine laughed. "And don't you forget Daz" She teased, placing a hand on his arm.

Okay she is slowly but surely sending me to my grave with all this teasing. Darren thought as he smiled at Minnie.

Later that night after work and putting Minnie down for the night, Maxine and Darren sat on the couch at the boarding house stuffing themselves with pizza and beer. Currently Liar Liar was on and the two were having a blast laughing at the movie and just being together as friends.

"Oh I love this part" Darren said as the scene in which Jim Carey's character was making a scene over the color of a certain pen, a consequence of not being able to lie.

Maxine laughed as the scene unfolded. "This movie is hilarious" She said through her laughter.

"Oh I know" Darren agreed before taking another sip of his beer.

Awhile later during Austin Powers, Maxine was asleep with her head on Darren's shoulder not that he minded. He could feel the warmth of her skin and could make out the feminine notes of her perfume which was making his blood boil. Those feelings he had for her, he didn't want to let them fade so he let her stay where she was but placing a blanket across both of them. When the movie ended, Darren left the TV on the news and brushed some chocolate brown waves off Maxine's face.