"Rosie, last night I wasn't your superior."
"Max, I understand, I just wanted to say I've forgotten about it. It's in the past." I turned away from him and looked out of the window. How the hell could I forget about last night? It was amazing! We drove the rest of the way in silence. Now that they had James Steele's name they had set up an Obbo. We had rented a house opposite where he lives and we were setting up some gear.
"Max, he'll know what's going on as soon as he sees me."
"Actually, you're part of my way in. You're my girlfriend Rosie Johnston. I'm Max Cutler, and I run a gun outfit. I know about the questions asked up in Newcastle about whether you were helping him. I know they were never proved, but I know they were true. You loved him and you thought he loved you but he didn't, he only wanted information about what the police were doing and whether they were closing the net. I've seen it before Rosie. Time and time again. You're not the only one to fall for it."
"This was supposed to be a fresh start Max. And I'm back here again. Near him. I hate him Max. I just want to be far away from him."
"Rosie, we can put him away. You can put him away. That way you get him out of your life for good."
"If I see him again, I might not put him away, you might be putting me away. I don't trust myself Max. Please don't do this to me. I won't be able to stop myself. I'll kill him Max."
"I trust you Rosie. I know you can do this. You're a great cop. You just need to believe in yourself."
I smiled
"Thanks for the pep talk but it just isn't going to work." I said as I turned and stared out of the front windscreen.
"Rosie Johnston! Stop that defeatist attitude now!" Max exclaimed as I turned around to face him.
"I'll play along but don't come running to me if it all falls to pieces."My eyes met his and I had to break away from them and stare forward.
"Thank you."
I looked towards him and smiled before returning to staring out of the windscreen. We arrived at his new home and we got out of the car. He came over and put his arm around me and led me in. We came out having set a few things up. He took my hand and pulled me towards him. He dipped his head and kissed me tenderly, nothing like last night. Last night it was desperate and passionate. He moved to my head and trailed them down the side of my face before whispering in my ear. The whisper tickled my ear and I had to bite my lip to stop myself from laughing.
"Steele is watching us from his driveway. He's walking over towards us."
I moved in to kiss him some more and pulled away. I could hear footsteps approaching. Max handed me his keys. My stomach knotted and twisted, I clenched my fists. Wanting desperately to hit the man that made an idiot out of me. I stood stiff. Holding myself together. Max took my hand and traced circles in my palm to calm me. I looked up through my eyelashes at him and he smiled encouragingly. With Max by my side I felt I could do anything. Shame it wasn't the same for him. I shouldn't fell this way about my superior.
"Well babe, duty calls." I said loud enough for James to hear. Max pulled me into another kiss.
"Hi, mate, I'm James Steele I live opposite you." He grinned.
"Yeah I see mate!" He made an emphasis on mate. "I'm Max Cutler." He introduced himself. Max turned me around so I was facing James. His face dropped when he saw me. His grin disappeared only to be replaced by a scowl. He glared at me threateningly. Trying to intimidate me.
"Stop looking at her like that mate! It's not very polite now is it?" Max asked with authority.
"It's ok babe. That's my ex husband."
"Oh you mean that bastard that treat you like shit!"
"That's the one!"
Max withdrew his hand from mine, clenched his fist and threw it at James' face.