Happy New Year!

Millie and Grace

"Come on Grace, answer your phone," Millie tapped her foot impatiently as she waited for Grace to respond.

Eventually a groggy voice answered. "Millie, are you OK? Why are you ringing at this hour?"

Millie was now so used to her late nights she'd forgotten that people like Grace are asleep by midnight.

"Sorry Grace, I didn't realise the time. Look, I thought I'd better let you know, Max Carter came into the club tonight."

"What? Max did? What did he say?" Grace mentally kicked herself when she realised that her leaving that picture in the printer was probably the reason for Max's visit. "Do you think he might have jeopardised your cover?"

"I don't think so. Jenson recognised him and saw him watching me, and presumed he was 'interested', if you know what I mean." Millie was embarrassed telling Grace this. "Jenson told me to go and look after Max…"

"Millie! You know we don't have you in there as an escort. You don't have to do anything like that…"

"Come off it Grace, do you really think I would seduce Max just because Jenson said so? And actually, do you think Max would let himself be seduced?"

"Sorry Millie, that's true. I'm not really awake. Go on."

"Anyway, we spoke briefly and danced. Then he said he wanted to talk to me and we agreed we couldn't talk there, so I'm meeting him now."

"O...K," Grace said slowly. "Look Millie, if you and Max have something going on between you..."

"I don't think it's that, I think he wants to find out more about what I'm doing working for Jenson. But don't worry, I will stick with my story."

"Good, well if you need to ring at any time – any time at all - do. Otherwise perhaps we should speak in the morning."

"OK," Millie nearly forgot the most important thing. "Oh, and Grace, I told Max you and I were sharing a flat."

"Hmm, why?"

"Because he suggested he come back to my place for our talk, and of course I couldn't let him do that. Sorry, it was the best I could think of at the time, and anyway if he continues to spy on me it might be a cover as to why you visit me a lot."

"Good point. So, we can say the flat's mine and I'm having financial difficulties or something, so I needed a flat mate. Anyway, the main thing is I'm worded up now if Max asks." Grace paused as the penny dropped. "He wanted to meet you at your place? Millie are you sure you know what you're doing? You know what Max is like, I don't want you to get hurt."

"Don't worry I have no illusions about Max…" anymore, she added in her head. "I better go, we'll speak tomorrow"

"Good luck Millie."

Max, Millie, Some Wine, a Hotel Room...

Millie had time to go home and change before meeting up with Max. She was not pleased to see that what he had texted her as a meeting place was a hotel and a room number. The thought of being alone with Max in that kind of environment made her nervous. She had to remind herself that tonight he had proven himself to be as single minded as ever. It was all about the job for him, and she was only of interest to him because he'd somehow discovered a connection between her and Curtis Jenson. She knew she should just say that she wouldn't meet him and save herself the humiliation of going to see him and having it proven to her once again that he didn't care for her, but somehow she couldn't stop herself.

She decided to drive part of the way to her destination, then catch a taxi. That way, she figured, if Jenson were up to something it would be difficult to follow her. Max was apparently already at the hotel waiting for her, so there would be no risk of them turning up together. She was sure Max could figure out a way of making sure he hadn't been followed.

Max had hesitated about using a hotel as a meeting place, but figured that it was the best idea because identifying a particular room would be difficult for anyone following them and it was completely private. To make it seem a little less like a seduction, he got a room that had a lounge area as well. He figured he might as well camp there overnight to make the most of the expense.

Despite what Millie thought, Max's mind was not really focused on discussing the case with her. He sincerely wanted to have that talk they missed out on at her farewell. Sure, he was curious about what she was actually doing working with Jenson, and why so few people knew what was going on, but this seemed secondary to him some how.

Max had bought a bottle of wine and he was contemplating having a glass when there was a knock on the door. He still couldn't quite believe it would be Millie until he opened the door and saw her standing there. She'd changed into jeans and a jacket, but she still looked good. He liked it that she'd left her hair down.

"Hi, come in," he said and directed her towards the lounge area. She walked in and tried to avoid looking in the direction of the king sized bed that dominated the room. Her nervousness was renewed when she noticed the wine and two glasses waiting on the coffee table. She smiled, placed her bag on the couch, and sat down beside it.

Max had intended to sit on the couch too, but instead pulled up a chair beside Millie. It was probably just as well she did that, he thought. It was all he could do to stop himself grabbing her and kissing her.

"I figured we could talk without anyone overhearing or watching us here. I hope that's OK." Millie's bag-beside-her-on-the-couch trick had made him feel he had to justify his choice.

"Yes, it's very, um, private," Millie agreed. The wine was starting to look good. "May I…?" she asked, indicating the wine.

"Oh sure," Max opened the bottle and poured each of them a glass. He felt it would be appropriate to toast their reunion, but couldn't think of what to say, so he just raised his glass and drank.

Millie smiled, then nervously gulped down her wine. She waited for Max to talk. She was curious to see what was so important. She guessed it was all about Jenson, but after their dance a part of her began to hope it might be more.

Max managed to fuel Millie's hopefulness with the way he chose to start the conversation.

"Your singing is great, I had no idea you were so good at it."

Millie smiled shyly over the top of her second glass of wine. Max was pleased with this result.

"And you look great. I, I really like the way you're wearing your hair."

Millie felt herself starting to blush. Remember what he's like, remember how much he upset you, she told herself, trying to silence the second little voice in her head which was saying excitedly "He likes you!"

Max watched Millie intently. A bit of the old Millie who avoided his eyes had returned, but somehow this didn't diminish the new Millie's attractiveness to him. It did bring back to him, however, a sense of his position as a senior officer to her and how because of this he had to be careful not to take advantage of her. Now let's think…I've brought her to a hotel room, given her alcohol, it's late, there's a bed over there - none of this is good. Max decided he needed to get things back to a professional level.

"So, what's this Jenson operation about then?"

Millie's second little voice was automatically silenced. I should have known. I'm a complete fool to hope. Millie decided all she could do to salvage the situation and the last remnants of her pride was to answer him as seriously as she could.

"There is no Jenson operation. I have left the force and am pursuing my career as a singer," she sounded like a robot, but responding like a sentient being was simply not an option. She would have been a blubbering mess.

Max could see he had upset her. "All right, tell me about Grace then?" he said, slightly changing the subject.

"Grace and I just happened to be looking for a housemate at the same time. I don't think she would have offered me the room if I wasn't about to leave the force," Millie looked directly at Max as she said this. "It suits us well. We are both quiet and like our time alone, but at the same time we get on well and don't do things like use each other's toothpaste or eat the piece of cake the other was saving." She couldn't really think of any more clichés to add.

"Has Grace been to see your show? Surely she'd have objections to you working for Jenson."

"She's mature enough to let me make my own mistakes. And anyway, no matter what Jenson's up to, he's not involving me in anything criminal."

"Really? Are you sure? Do you know where the money that pays your wages comes from…?"

"The club does a very good business?"

"Oh really. Don't you think you're being a bit naïve about that?" Her determination to lie surprised him. No matter how attractive Millie was to him there was no getting Max off a high horse once he was riding it.

"Maybe, but I've got to eat and pay rent you know!"

"So that makes taking money from a crook acceptable does it? You sleep with a clear conscience?"

Millie had had enough. Once again she'd let herself hope he felt about her the way she felt about him. Once again he'd make it clear in that harshest possible way that she was just a means to an ends to him, just a tool of his trade. Standing up and putting her bag on her shoulder, she made up her mind to salvage her dignity. She stood in front of him, clearly angry, but steadfast in her determination to stay in control

"Look, Sarge, I'm sorry you don't believe me. I'm going to go home. I've got another performance tomorrow night, rehearsals during the day, and I need my sleep."

Max finally realised his choice of conversation was driving her away. He frantically tried to think of a way to stop her leaving now, before he'd said anything he really wanted to say.

"So, you're standing by your story then?"

"Yes Sarge," Millie pointedly made their interactions as formal as possible.

"You're no longer PC Brown, you're just a member of the public? You don't have to listen to a damn word I say because I'm not your superior officer?"

"That's right, Sarge."

"Fine," he stood before her and looked into her eyes. "Then there's nothing inappropriate about me doing this."

Max grabbed her by the waist and with his other hand pulled her face to his and kissed her fervently on the mouth.