Chapter 7:

Once they reached the store, Jason manned the cart as they strolled up and down each isle while Maxie picked up odds and ends, stopping to justify her impulse buys of ice cream and chocolate. Jason only adding items to the cart for that night's dinner. After watching the girl eat the limited amount of food she had and consume the amount of alcohol she did he was taking it upon himself to cook a "healthy" dinner, full of protein and nutrients. Maxie wrinkled her nose when Jason led them over to the fresh fish section and Maxie caught of glimpse of a fresh fish, eyes and all.

"I'm going to go over there while you deal with that." She said excusing herself while Jason talked to the man behind the counter and purchased some fresh Salmon to cook on Maxie's small patio grill. Jason watched the man weigh and clean the fish wrapping it in white butcher paper before handing if across the counter. Jason found Maxie standing in the produce isle standing in front of the avocados looking perplexed. Jason tapped her on the shoulder and Maxie smiled and they continued to the checkout counter.

With the grocery's loaded in the car, Jason drove them back to Maxie's where they went about their respective jobs, Jason working on the fish and Maxie making a salad and cutting up some red potatoes, adding some seasoning and wrapping them in foil before taking them to Jason for the grill.

As Maxie was walking back into the kitchen to retrieve a few beers her phone sprang to life; the number for Exotic one of their newer club accounts appeared on the screen. "This is Max." She answered already going into business mode. "I'm really sorry about that, Sir. I'm actually not on tonight; but if it would make you feel better I will personally come by later this evening. I'm in a meeting right now," She said as Jason walked back in with the cooked salmon, and the foil wrapped potatoes held between the grill tongs. "I'll see you later tonight Mr. Fuller." Maxie said before hanging up letting out an exasperated sigh.

"You have to go to work?" Jason asked already knowing the answer.

"Not yet, but yes. We just signed this club, and the owner isn't happy with whoever we have working to door at the moment." Maxie answered pulling her MacBook pro out of her traveling case; quickly logging into her work email account Maxie pulled up the Exotic work schedule to see who was ruining her night. After she figured out it was the new girl they had just hired, she made a quick call getting someone else down there, before putting her phone back on the charger and shaking off work responsibility to be present with Jason. "So let's eat, I'll go to the club after and then we can get back to our night?"

"Okay."

The two elected to eat in the kitchen, both perched on barstools, letting the conversation flow with natural ease. After the meal Maxie excused herself to her bedroom to change into her work attire which tonight consisted of black mini dress with a banded bottom. She grabbed her black strappy heels and went to find Jason before she moved on with her night. "Wanna come?"

"If you want me too?" Jason answered pulling his phone out of his pocket and checking the caller id.

"You gonna get that?"

"No, let's get out of here."

Deciding it would be easier to find parking for Jason' bike this late downtown, Jason dropped Maxie off at the club just as his phone rang again, with a simple glance at the caller ID it revealed this time to be Carly. "Why don't you get that while I go do this work thing—meet you back out here in about twenty minutes?"

With a quick kiss Maxie disappeared through the crowd leaving Jason to answer the call, "Hey Carly."

"Don't you hey Carly me! I've been calling you for days!"

"Didn't Sonny talk to you?" Jason said knowing that she probably had. When Carly wanted answers she would talk, annoy and bagger anyone she needed to get the information, and out of sheer preservation they would tell national secrets just to get away from her.

"Jason that's not good enough! You just left, don't I deserve more than that? And Sonny told me you were with some girl? I know it's not Elizabeth or Sam because they were both at the funeral today."

"Carly I'm fine; I am more than capable of taking care of myself. You just need to worry about yourself and the boys." Jason told her trying to sidestep any conversation about Maxie, or Emily but knowing Carly it wasn't going to work.

"So the girl?"

"Goodbye Carly," Jason said, trying to end the conversation, and avoid explaining.

"Jason I am your best friend, I want to be here to help you through this!"

"And right now I need to be away from Port Charles. Carly I needed to get away, from the place the people; you should understand that." Jason said trying to explain his reasoning for leaving. "I'll call you when I'm headed back to town." Jason finished before hanging up. He would catch hell for it when he eventually returned but that was then, this was now. Hopefully time would kill some of her angerfire.

Before sliding his phone into his pocket he checked the time and saw it was nearing midnight, and that Maxie would be expected to come out in a few minutes. He took some time to look at the line of people waiting to get into the club and marveled and why these people would wait hours for the possibility to get into a club and pay way too much money for drinks they could make at home? It had been a long time since Jason had gone to bars to pick up women; and even in his travels to Europe and the cities he had visited he never understood this. The fact that he had met Maxie the way that he had was completely outside of everything Jason Morgan did, maybe in the beginning of his life as Jason Morgan he would go to Jakes, hell that's how he'd met Carly, but now.

Moving past the hordes to people Jason found Maxie talking to the person at the door thankfully for both of their sakes that it wasn't Logan.

Spotting Jason standing nearby Maxie said goodbye to the doorman and moved to join him. "See quick and painless." She smiled grabbing a hold of his arm and "How did the phone call go."

"It went fine." Jason waved off leading Maxie back over towards where the motorcycle was parked. "So where to now?"

"Honestly? Would you find me completely lame if I just said I'd rather go home?" Maxie asked sheepishly. "I mean if you want to go somewhere we can, I'd kind of just rather stay in a watch a movie, put on some less confining clothes?"

"Despite how we met, I'm not really the trendy late night bar kind of guy." Jason explained handing her a bike helmet.

"Oh don't worry Jase, the leather boots gave you away." She smiled, waiting for Jason to mount the motorcycle before using the curb to slide her leg over, taking an extra minute to arrange her dress so she wasn't exposing herself as they drove across Miami back to her home.

As they approached the guest parking in front of Maxie's complex Jason helped Maxie off the bike before securing their helmets, allowing Maxie time to smooth her dress and take in Jason full appearance. Board Shorts, a simple tee and some tennis shoes—a far change from his appearance a few days earlier on the pier.

Jason had just moved his hands to her hips to pull her into a kiss when he noticed something that instantly put him on full alert.

"Do you have time censored lights?" Jason asked taking a step back, his hands still lightly gripping her hips, the thin material of her dress allowing him to feel the heat radiating off her body. 'She would never survive a cold winter in Port Charles'. Jason thought to himself, he was brought out of his thoughts when Maxie pulled out of his grasp.

"Jason I didn't leave the lights on." Maxie said the worry apparent in her voice. "Oh my god is someone in my house?"

Most normal people would call the police but Jason just bent down alongside his motorcycle and put his key into the locked compartment before pulling a locked gun case out and unlocking that as well.

"Jason what are you doing with a gun?" Maxie asked becoming more shocked and worried with each of his movements.

"Maxie stay out here, I'm going to go check it out." Jason said cupping her cheek with his calloused hand.

Maxie waited a minute for Jason to disappear around the corner of the complex, making his way towards Maxie's back patio where the glass doors were. It would allow for a better visual. Maxie slid her heels off to prevent the noise as she followed him; but worst case she could use them as a weapon if need be.

Jason saw the pixy blonde when he made his way around the corner to her backdoor. Shaking his head, Jason waited until Maxie caught up to his back before she handed him the keys so he could open the door quietly, and hopefully surprise the intruder. Keeping Maxie pressed up against his back. He entered the condo gun at his side. It didn't take long for them to find the intruder, a young woman with light brown hair wearing headphones. She was surrounded by what appeared to be textbooks and notebooks sitting on the couch clearly oblivious to their entrance.

"Georgie!" Maxie said moving from behind Jason. "What the hell! Are you trying to give me another heart attack?"

Jason sensing the danger had passed slipped the gun in his waistband before stepping forward to see the woman explained to be Georgie, whom Jason remembered was her sister.

"Sorry, I had a long weekend planned with Dillon, but he had to fly home for a family thing. So where else would I go but to see my socialite big sister?" Georgie said standing to hug Maxie. "And what the hell are you wearing?"

"Never mind that." Maxie shot back turning quickly to shoot daggers at Jason who laughed at Georgie's comment. "I saw the light turn on and you scared me. I thought someone had broken in. Oh this is Jason. Jason this is my sister Georgie, not a burglar."

The two exchanged pleasantries, Jason hanging back by the door as the sisters talked. Jason tried to follow the conversation but it all seemed to be going too fast for him to keep up. It wasn't too long before Georgie had excused herself into the kitchen, leaving Maxie and Jason alone in the foyer/living room.

"I'm going to leave you and your sister to catch up." Jason said pointing towards the back door; the sisterly interaction was beginning to remind him of Emily. And although Maxie know knew about Emily, it wasn't something he wanted to talk about or even actively think about.

"Yeah, I'm going to have to explain all of this to her, meaning you—it's going to be a long conversation." Maxie said gesturing to her clothing and him. "When do you have to go home? And I mean home—home?"

"Don't worry about that, I've got time."

"Really? So that's why your cell phone rings about once an hour?"

"We're good." Jason said taking a step closer to lightly kiss her forehead. In reality he had no plans of staying long, his original plan had been to stay for a few days and then fly somewhere in Europe for a couple weeks. Meeting Maxie had never been a part of that plan.

"That's all I get?" Maxie whimpered grabbing hold of his shirt to pull him back in. Jason smirked back and greeted her with a heated kiss, his thumbs stroking her cheeks as the rest of his hand cupped her delicate neck. The slight groan that escaped Maxie's throat was the sign that Jason had to end the kiss. Tonight Jason would go back to his hotel room alone and try and find something to occupy his time.

"Call me tomorrow if you can."

"I will." She smiled kissing him again quickly before walking him out the front door.

"It was nice to meet you Jason." Georgie finally said poking her head out from behind the kitchen wall.

Seconds after Maxie closed the door Georgie instantly opened up the questions wanting to know who Jason was and how they met and what on earth they were doing.

"He's the guy that I told you about." Maxie answer sipping her oversized glass of wine.

"He had a gun?"

"Yeah, I didn't know about that until just now." Maxie answered honestly. She was still pretty confused why he would need to carry a gun. "I'll ask him about it tomorrow."

Georgie rolled her eyes at Maxie, grabbing the bag of freshly popped popcorn and moved over towards the couch. Maxie followed grabbing the bag and take a few handfuls.

"So what are you doing here?" Maxie asked trying to divert the attention.

"Dillon had to go home for a funeral. His cousin died, and the last time I was with his family was Thanksgiving last year—it's better for me to be here. Especially considering the engagement." Georgie explained holding up her hand for Maxie to see the ring. Georgie had sent a picture but it couldn't quite do the ring justice.

The two sister instantly starting talking wedding plans allowing Maxie's mind to wander away from Jason and the gun situation for a little while. Talks of Maxie calling her contacts to find the perfect place to go dress shopping and about bridesmaid's dresses and where they would hold the wedding. Even though most of Georgies friends were from the greater New York area she had always dreamed of having her wedding on Grandmother Mariah's farm in Texas.

"If that's where you want to have it, then that's where it will be!" Maxie declared, her promotion experience was going to make this wedding run seamlessly.

"So will Jason be your date to this wedding then?" Georgie asked getting back to her sister's love life.

"I don't know. Georgie my life is not like yours. I'm not going to find the one sitting in creative writing class and run off into the sunset and get married. That's not my life." Maxie said being realistic. She had been living in her world for a few years now and she had seen the way that relationships were ruined by careers and just by the lifestyles she had chosen. And for the time being that fit what Maxie wanted; freedom, fun and most of all, no complications.

Georgie just smiled at her single sister with a knowing look. She had been around her sister long enough to know that things were different this time with Jason. She had met Logan on one of her visit and instantly knew that they weren't in it for the long run. Although she had only met Jason and their interaction had been minimal the way Maxie reacted towards him was more than just lustful indulgence; she would just have to wait and see what developed.


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