Tiffany was woken up by the sound of a knock on the door, she groaned, for once couldn't she just have a day where the door didn't shout at her? She opened the door and there on the floor was a parcel, she looked left to right down the hallway confused as to who had left it there. Puzzled she picked up the box and brought it inside 'What on earth could it be' she thought to herself as she put it on the kitchen table and started to open it. Inside was a note and it read...

When I saw you last it

It looked like you needed this

Beautiful as ever though.

Tiffany's heart leapt to her chest, had he seen her? Had her ex boyfriend seen her on a date with another man? And more importantly did he finally know where she lived? Had he followed her from the restaurant to her flat? She had never felt so frightened in her life, but could it be Max? Of course it couldn't, she had hurt him a lot running off like that and she could see how hurt and confused he had been in his eyes so it was unlikely that he was going to spend all that money buying her a new one. It had to be her ex boyfriend it just had to be. Fuming and angry that he dared to do this to her again she grabbed her phone and called his number.

"Tiffany?" he answered surprised at seeing her number on his phone.

"Ivan, what they hell are you playing at, you trying to frighten me?" She ranted, fuming at hearing his clueless sounding voice.

"What are you talking about?"
"You know what I'm talking about, the creepy phone calls, the hairdryer at my door" She shouted at his ignorance.

"Hairdryer, well I guess you're still the crazy bitch you've always been, bet your still beautiful as ever though" 'Oh my God she thought that was what was on the note' she thought.

"Don't try and play ignorant with me" She growled, she was used to him playing games making her feel like she was paranoid. Ivan gave a bitter laugh.

"I have no idea what you're talking about but you better watch talking to me like that" He threatened.

"Fine if you want to play games, we'll play games" She fumed hanging up the phone.

Max slowly closed the peep hole after the argument had finished, his face fell, how had a lovely, caring gesture gone so wrong? She seemed mad and angry at receiving the hairdryer her ex seemed to have got the blame for that, but if she wanted to blame him, fine let her it would be less bad press for him. He wasn't going to take the credit for this, if she asked him he was going to act clueless 'why would he admit to something that made her so upset' he thought to himself. Still he felt disappointed and upset he had meant it to be a romantic thoughtful gesture but instead she had got the wrong end of the stick and thought of it as a creepy gesture from an ex boyfriend, so let her think that , what good could come out of her finding out the truth?

Terrified and afraid to be in her apartment alone she decided to go out and get some fresh air, she locked the door and bumped into someone. It was an old man, he looked sick and frail.

"I am so sorry" she stuttered "I, I wasn't looking where I was going"

"You the new tenant?" he asked, Tiffany nodded.
"Any pets? Are you loud?" Tiffany shook her head.
"Well then welcome, hope you like the place" Tiffany nodded.

"It's starting to feel like home now" she said smiling.

"Oh Tiffany I see you've met August, my grandfather" A deep husky voice sounded behind her, her heart leapt to her throat, it was Max.

Tiffany turned round and saw him stood there in a t-shirt and black trousers with his hands in his pockets.

"Oh Max hi" she tried not to stammer, his face looked serious and she could still see the hurt in his eyes, where had the happy always smiling Max gone.
"Go inside grandfather I'll be in in a minute" August left, leaving Max and Tiffany alone and looking at each other in silence.

"Max, I, about last night, I, I feel like I owe you an explanation" Max turned his head to the side and closed his eyes; he didn't want to be reminded of that night.

"I understand, it was a mistake you regret it I understand" Tiffany shook her head.

"No, Max, no it's nothing like that"

"August always says I'm no good, that I'm a weak man, that I'd never be man enough for you, last night just confirmed it" He said turning around to walk away, Tiffany reached out and grabbed his shoulder.
"Max wait, please" She begged, he turned round to look at her. "Would you come to my house for dinner tonight so I can explain, please?"

Max looked into her big round eyes pleading at him to give her chance to explain, how could he say no to her? Tiffany meant everything to him, he needed her like he needed air, he wanted things to be how they were before he didn't like awkward tension that was in the air.

"I owe you an explanation, please for me?" she whispered, Max slowly nodded.
"Alright I'll come" Tiffany smiled.

"Thank you" she whispered as she hurried off to get some supplies for dinner.

August was sat in his chair looking angry when Max walked in and knelt down beside him to administer his medication.
"I thought I told you to leave that poor woman alone" He growled.
"I tried, I did but I love her"

"Your mother, she was beautiful she married a weak man and gave birth to another"

"But I..." Max was suddenly silenced by August striking him hard across the face, Max's head snapped to the side but Max carried on not reacting or expressing anger for the slap.

"Just like your father, how long will it be before you do to her what your father did to your mother?" When she discovers your secret or when she finds out your not man enough for her?" Max clenched his fists and jaw at the accusation of Max ever harming Tiffany.

"I will never hurt her" he growled standing up abruptly to make Augusts' meal.

Tiffany laid the last piece of cutlery on the table when Max knocked on the door and walked in.

"Perfect timing" she said smiling going into the fridge to grab a bottle of wine. "Look about last night can we have a nice meal before we get to the serious stuff?" she asked, Max nodded understandingly, it looked like she had put a lot of effort into this meal and serious conversations would just spoil it. She laid the plates on the table, Max pulled out a chair for her and she sat down. It was nice to have a nice meal without any tension, they just chatted like they used to, Max could still make her laugh and smile, Tiffany was relieved to see Max smile again.

Tiffany stood and went to clear the table.
"I can clear up" Max offered, Tiffany smiled at the offer. She had done a gorgeous meal he couldn't let her wash up too.

"It's fine really you're my guest"
"At least let me help" he smiled gathering the wine glasses.
"Ok" she smiled "You wash and I'll dry"

Tiffany and Max stood by the sink doing the dishes; they knew that the awkward conversation was looming over them, threatening to raise its ugly head.

"Max about last night I want to explain, I've just got out of an abusive relationship, I let my guard down and kissing you frightened me, I was afraid of ending up with a man that would hurt me again" Max's heart stopped did she think the same as August that one day Max would end up hurting her? He turned towards Tiffany.

"I would never hurt you" he said running a damp hand through her hair, Tiffany lowered her head.

"I know, I think I know that now I'm sorry for hurting you that day" She apologised.

"I was afraid that what August says to me is true"

Tiffany sighed and closed her eyes, the poor man's confidence had been shattered to bits by his grandfather she felt so sorry for him and felt guilty that her actions had made him feel that way. Tiffany reached her hand out and put her palm on his cheek.

"August is wrong Max, I want you to know that" Max looked up at her and smiled. "I do want you Max I was just frightened before, but I'm ready now" Max's heart beat through his chest, she had opened up to him and let him into her world, feeling her soft hand on his cheek made his breath catch in his throat, so soft, so delicate. She took a step closer to his, his hand instinctively reached out to touch her; he placed his hand on her waist, holding her close to him.