The Moon is Not Enough by ThePekingNoodle

AN: Thank you Superblonde for picking up on the blooper of Max's public name (embarrassed PN here). Cousin Ryan knows her as Maxine Felina. Oops…PN blushes. PN was going to say she had a blonde moment but in the circumstances doesn't think she'd better!! Blame it on too much caffeine and chocolate and too little sleep… a long story… PN owes the bunnies something for that…watch for it soon. PN

Chapter Twenty-Six: A Taste of Honey

In which our hero and heroine encounter some unexpected emotions as their plot progresses…

Somehow Max managed to keep her composure and not give Logan's aunt the response she would have preferred when Margo made her comments. Instead, she smiled sweetly at her before she walked away to get some champagne and hopefully, reel in a shark.

Kendra who was in on the fact that Count Ryan was a money grubbing phony had pointed him out to Max, so it was an easy matter for her to drift in his direction. She figured she wouldn't have to wait long for him to approach her and she was right. Within moments of her taking a glass of champagne from a passing waiter, she heard a smooth voice in her ear.

"Excuse me, but I believe you are Maxine Felina?"

She turned with a smile, to find the Count smiling down at her with practiced charm. Max let her eyes travel over him in admiration and gave him a vacuous smile.

"Yes, I suppose I am that again. I was Max Cale, or at least I thought I was, until I found out the truth about that lying bastard that I supposedly married." She let her tone become one of indignation, and pouted prettily.

"Ah yes. I heard of the terrible deception that he tried to perpetrate on you. I am only sorry I was not here to protect you from him." Ryan answered.

Max looked at him in puzzlement. "Why would you be here to protect me?"

Ryan lifted her hand to his lips as he bowed slightly, "I forget you do not know. I am your cousin Ryan. I was devastated to hear of your family's deaths, and I hastened here to offer my condolences and assistance, only to hear of the terrible fraud that this Logan Cale had tried to deceive you with."

Max sighed at him and widened her eyes. "Thank you." She paused and then said, "but why have I never heard of you?"

The Count smiled, "My father and yours were second cousins. They were not close after my branch of the family moved to Spain and lost touch with the other branches. I knew of you, but it was not until the news of your parents' death reached my family that I thought to contact you."

Max smiled vaguely as if confused by his story.

The count smiled down at her. "If I had known how lovely you were I would have made your acquaintance sooner."

"But we're cousins." Max pointed out.

"But so distant as to make no matter." Ryan said smoothly. "Would you like to dance?"

Max glanced around and let her glance linger on Logan dancing with Jondy. She frowned. "Yes. I would."

Ryan had followed her glance. "So the wolf is on to another innocent. If this were Europe I would know what to do with him." He put his arms around Max and swirled her into the crowd of dancers.

Max looked at him, "What would you do?"

Ryan smiled at her, "Why I would make sure that he was well punished for daring to bring any harm to my lovely cousin."

Max giggled and Ryan's arms tightened around her pulling her closer to him. She allowed it, as she looked up at him with what she hoped was a dazzled look. "You sound like a knight in shining armor."

"For you I would slay any dragons. I must confess that it was not only for altruistic reasons that I came to find you. I lost my heart to you the first time I saw your picture." His hands began to roam down Max's bare back dropping to her waist.

Max flowed up against him. "You don't even know me."

"I know quite enough. Tell me that I have a chance to win your heart? That, that blackguard has not

damaged it irreparably."

"I don't even think of him anymore." Max tossed her hair.

Ryan leaned in and dropped a kiss on her neck. "So I have a chance with you?"

Max let herself shiver as if in reaction to the kiss. "Perhaps."

Ryan smiled smugly and his hands dropped below her waist pulling her hips against his. Max allowed it, even as she gritted her teeth and maintained her pleasant expression. The music ended and they stood there for a moment before Ryan released her.

"Shall we walk a bit and get acquainted?" he suggested. "Dinner will not be served for a short while."

"I need to visit the powder room," Max demurred. "I'm at table 32. Perhaps while I am gone you might arrange to join me there?"

Ryan smiled. "It is done lovely lady."

Max sashayed toward the hallway that contained the rest rooms, conscious of Ryan's gaze following her.

She caught Logan's eye as she left the room and he nodded slightly. She found the ladies room and took a few minutes there, giving Logan time to slip out to meet her. When she emerged in a few minutes and glanced down the hallway, she spotted him standing in a dark shadowed alcove down the hall. She checked for observers but the hall was empty, so she hurried to where he waited. The alcove contained a door and Logan quickly pulled her inside.

Max looked around and laughed softly " A broom closet? Really Logan."

He smiled at her ruefully; "Best I could locate on such short notice." His smile faded, 'What did you want?"

"I've asked Ryan to join us at Table 32. Just wanted to give you a heads up. How's Jondy doing?" Max asked.

"Jondy is having the time of her life." Logan smiled softly. "She's a lot like you."

Max felt a sudden jolt. She shook it off, not wanting to admit she was the least bit jealous of her sister.

"Just watch what you're doing with that charm of yours Logan Cale. She's my sister and I don't want you hurting her."

Logan stared at her in amazement. "Max, you don't think for a minute that I… that Jondy…"

Max flushed, "I saw the kiss."

Logan chuckled, "She was trying to keep me from blowing it with Cousin Ryan." The memory of why Jondy had found that necessary hit him and he frowned. "Might I mention that Cousin Ryan 's hands were getting more than a bit out of line out there on the dance floor by the way?"

Max flushed and glared at him. "You're the one who came up with the idea that I play the dumb twit."

"I don't remember the word easy being part of the description." Logan glared back.

Max gasped and in a surge of anger at the injustice in his words raised her hand. She slapped his face. As soon as she did her mouth dropped open, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean…"

Logan's eyes darkened in anger and he pulled her roughly to him. "Well I do mean this." He kissed her possessively making sure she knew exactly who she belonged to. Then he pushed her away. "I don't hit women, Max, but be careful how far you push me."

With that he opened the door and left her standing in the closet shocked and confused by the anger that had arisen between them. She frowned and then looked outside to see if anyone was around. The coast was clear so she smoothed her skirts and headed back to the ballroom.

End of Chapter Twenty-Six…TBC…