Author's Note: I couldn't really think of something I needed to say, but I just like always having this note above the chapter*
"Oh my god… I cannot… I can't do it. Don't make me!"
Juliet giggled as Vero stared at the sundae in front of the four of them. It was huge, unhealthy, and she was going to make sure the four of them ate it all.
"Oh c'mon Vero. You can help me scarf this down! With the two bottomless pits here, we probably won't even have to eat very much of it!"
The boys pretended to look hurt. But then Marc laughed and shoveled a giant bite of ice cream and brownie into his mouth. Not to be outdone, Max scooped up a dollop of hot fudge and poured it over the vanilla ice cream before shoving it past his lips. A small streak of chocolaty goodness was stuck to his lip. Completely forgetting that she wasn't alone with him, Juliet grabbed Max's shirt collar and pulled him close, licking the smear off of his lips.
He swallowed his bite quickly and molded his lips to hers. He was sweet and sticky, and she wanted to pour more of the dessert over other places on his body. They were making out like horny teenagers in the backseat of a car when the sound of a throat being cleared finally pierced the fog over her brain. Breaking away from him, she tucked some hair behind her ear and looked down at the bowl.
When she dared to look up, Vero was smiling hugely and Marc had an astonished but pleased expression on his face.
"So, he finally decided to do more than hold you to keep the boogeymen away, no?"
Juliet laughed at her friend's comment and nodded as Max slipped an arm around her waist and pulled her closer to him on their bench seat. Vero was chattering on about something but Max was whispering in her ear about how he was going to drizzle chocolate sauce onto her before he licked it away. Putting her hand over her mouth to keep from moaning out loud, she closed her eyes as images popped into her head.
"You would love it Jules. I know you would. You already taste so, so sweet. I can only imagine what it would be like to lick all that syrup from your skin. Can you picture it now, ma chere?"
Unable to form a coherent thought, she just nodded her head. He was too much. Opening her eyes once more, Vero was staring at her, her gaze twinkling with mischief. Juliet coughed lightly and tried to start a normal conversation again.
"So Marc, have you always been a goalie?"
He laughed and started back at the beginning, giving her practically his entire life story. By the time he was finished, they were all holding their stomachs from laughing at things he and Max had told them about inside the locker rooms, bus rides, hotel stays.
God, it is so easy to fall in love with him.
Max took the bill before she even had a chance to look at it, and they decided on a walk around Old Montreal since the night was young still and it had cooled down with the sun setting. As they stepped onto the sidewalk from the restaurant, Juliet linked her arm through Max's and she smiled at him. He leaned over and stole a quick kiss before starting to stroll through the throngs of people.
They said their goodbyes to Marc and Vero shortly after the walk began. With a kiss to her cheek, Vero made her promise to call the next day so they could make plans to hang out again. As they continued to travel down the walkway, Juliet found herself internally debating her initial reluctance to this plan. Mac had been right to agree with Max. This was really a great plan. She felt as safe as possible, considering what she was hiding from.
When she woke up this afternoon she used her secured, emergency satellite phone and called her boss. Mac told her that they'd figured out who the big fish was. A man who had a personal vendetta against Mac himself. And Crawford was his half-brother. That was how he fit into the situation. Mac said they'd closed in on the area that was being used as their 'headquarters' and he was waiting for the strike to be issued so they could 'just bomb the whole fucking area'… His words, not hers.
She had asked him what would happen when the order was finally followed out. How long before she would have to leave and go back to D.C. for debriefing? Would she be able to come back to Pittsburgh? Was there protocol against sleeping with the guy who was housing her?
Mac had burst out laughing at the final question. And he had told her that he would come up to her for the debriefing, and that after that she had three choices. She could join a new team, get a desk job like he had, or she could be honorably discharged. That meant that she could go wherever she wanted, be with whomever she chose. Now she just had to tell Max that. Without being too presumptuous. She was plotting different situations in her head when she was jerked to a stop.
"You haven't been listening to a word I've been saying, have you?"
Looking around, Juliet noted that they were in a less-clustered area, walking along the river now. She turned and looked at Max. He had a pained expression on his face and she felt bad for zoning out on him.
"I was thinking about what Mac said this afternoon. We discussed what would happen after this is over."
Max's face immediately brightened, while his eyes took on a wary gaze.
"And what did your fearless leader say?"
"That's what I was trying to figure out how to tell you. It's almost over. One command and they'll be gone, and I can come back from the dead."
"And leave?"
"No…"
"No?"
She looked at his hopeful expression and the feelings in her own heart felt like they were going to burst free from inside of her. She smiled at him.
"Mac can come up here to debrief me. So he can take my statement and close everything out."
"After that? Do you get sent back to Washington and become part of a new team?"
"I have a choice to make actually."
Juliet spotted a bench close to them and she tugged his arm, dragging him over to sit down. After turning so she could face him, she took his hands in hers.
"There are three options I have. First, I could go back to D.C. and become part of a new team. Second, I could do a more 'behind-the-scenes' job like Mac does now. Or, I could pack my bags, take my honorable discharge that's due to me because of my time of service, and be done with the military."
"Would you be in D.C. if you took the desk job?"
"Yes. Mac wouldn't let them put me anywhere else. Why?"
"Well, It's not an extremely long drive between there and Pittsburgh. And there's always train rides… or flights… we'd still be able to see one another…"
He looked so cute, sitting there with that hopeful expression on his face. The fact that he wanted to keep this going, see where they could go from the present. She hadn't found a guy who wanted to pursue a future with her since her first boyfriend in high school. And yes, she was young, but the feelings she had for this man… she tugged his hair to bring him close, pressing her lips to his.
"So, you would like to keep seeing me Cherie," Max chuckled.
"I've been in the military since high school. I've done some things that men who have spent their lives in the service haven't done. I've gone places, seen things… I'm twenty-two and I feel like I'm forty! Honestly, I'd always thought I would make a career out of this. But… losing my team… it's made me seriously reconsider things. And… even with a discharge, if I wanted to rejoin later on, I know Mac could make it happen."
"Where does that leave us?"
"I think it means that we could get to know one another more, spend more time together. I could even look for a place in Pittsburgh, if I opted to get out of the military."
"Stay with me."
Juliet looked up sharply. She could tell by the surprised look on his face that he hadn't expected to say that out loud. But then he smiled and she knew he was seriously considering it.
"Maxime… do you really think that would be smart?"
"Juliet… we already live together."
Well, he has a point.
"Can I think about it?"
"Oui. I would never push you to do something… you should know that by now."
She nodded. She did know that. She wasn't sure how, but she knew that this man was one she could trust and confide in. He had taken on the role of her protector like he'd been born to take care of her.
"No matter what Max, I would like to take you up on the offer to stay the summer with you. If it still stands…"
"I don' know… I may have to think on it for a while. Okay! It's a deal!"
Juliet let out a startled laugh at how quickly he'd made up his mind and then she was splayed over his lap on her back and he was bent over her, kissing her like it was the same thing as breathing. It was almost too awkward of an angle, not quite as bad as the Spiderman rain kiss… but definitely movie-like. When, at last, he decided to lift his head, she was positive that the dreamy look on her face would probably be etched there… permanently.
"Now that you've had some time out in the fresh air, visitation time with your new friends… can we go back home?"
"You make me sound like a pet."
"You are like a tigress in bed… does that count?"
If he had been serious, she would've punched him. But looking up into his eyes, she saw the humor there and so she lifted one hand, twisting her fingers like claws, and then she growled at him.
"Don't make me scratch you."
"Oh, you've scratched me plenty already. But I don't really mind it. Besides, you only do it because I make you purr with pleasure."
"Meeeeoow," she said with a throaty giggle as she sat up. He nuzzled his face into her neck and growled as he nipped at her skin.
"We should leave before we get arrested for indecent exposure."
Juliet nodded and they walked back to the car. They were almost home when the emergency phone in her purse went off. She couldn't get it out fast enough, and only one thought entered her mind as she flipped open the phone to talk.
It's over.
"Hey Mac, when you coming up to debrief me," she smiled as she spoke into the phone.
"Don't let Max know what I'm saying. Make him think I'm giving you amazing news."
Inside, Jules felt her heart fall to the floorboards. But if Max was looking at her, he'd see a smiling face. Every question she would be asking now had to sound like a good conversation, and she had to pray that Mac would be able to translate her questions.
"It went off without a hitch?" What the fuck went wrong?
"Somehow they knew. Crawford and his brother, they got out before the airstrike."
"And when are you getting your scrawny ass up here to debrief me?" Are you coming up here to take me away for my safety?
"I'll be up there tomorrow. There's a mole. You aren't safe."
"I know a great place for lunch." Let's meet somewhere that Max won't be.
"Great, make sure Max stays behind."
"How long do you think it will take?" When will I be safe again?
"I honestly don't know Jules. I thought we had them… you have to get out of there when I come. You can't stay with Max and risk his safety too."
"I know, it's gotta be a private lunch. He'll have to suffer for a couple hours." I hate this. It's going to break his heart.
"I'll keep an eye on him. I promise you. Now, put on a brave face and enjoy another night with him. I'll kill them myself and hand deliver you to him, after I've apologized on your behalf so he doesn't hate you."
"Tell Gramps I'll see him soon." Please tell me you'll have him with you.
"He'll be on the plane. See you tomorrow. I'm sorry again Juliet."
"See ya tomorrow."
She closed the phone and steeled herself for the lie that would come out of her mouth next. When she opened her eyes, she had to blink back tears before she turned to face Max. She couldn't tell him she had to leave now. She would tell him in the morning.
"It's done?"
"The strike team blew everything to smithereens."
"And Mac will debrief you tomorrow and then you're mine for the rest of the summer?"
"I'm yours for as long as I can be."
"If I told you forever would it freak you out?"
She started to talk but the words caught in her throat and refused to come out. So she grabbed hold of his hand and held it between hers until they pulled in the driveway. Then she led him upstairs and loved him with every fiber of her being, until the sun was peeking through the blinds. Then she jumped in the shower and got ready to kiss him goodbye.
Author's Note: Wily little bastard got away again... I know.
