We wanted to thank Candie for inspiring this scene.

He was dangerously close to waiting too long to approach her. It was one thing to give Maxie a day to cool off; it was quite another entirely to wait almost a week before trying to contact her. Ric realized it was more than likely a huge mistake on his part, but one he was more than prepared to defend if she forced him to. And he knew she would force him to.

Making his way carefully up to the front door, he checked again to make sure there was no one else about. During his rounds at the hospital he had spotted the Commissioner in the cafeteria with Kristina. A few discrete questions of some of the chattier student nurses had confirmed his suspicion that Alexis was indeed in for treatments. Ric had stopped in Kelly's, allegedly to get a cup of coffee, but primarily to see if she was working today. When he didn't see her familiar blonde hair, he had come here. Straight to the lion's den as it were. Raising his hand to knock on the door, he leaned his body against the heavy oak frame. It was best to approach this as casually as possible, he decided.

Balancing a basket of laundry on her left hip, Maxie stumbled over to the door and opened it wide, her expression morphing from confused to downright furious. "Are you lost Doctor?"

"Not at all." Ric tried to sidestep her and make his way into the house.

"I don't think so buddy. Back away. I don't allow strangers in my house." Maxie dropped the basket and hurried to close the door.

"Then I guess you just want your entire neighborhood to hear us talking?" he questioned, quirking one eyebrow upwards. "Although I've never known you to remain quiet, I guess there is a first time for everything."

Maxie strained to see around his tall frame. "I think I see your wife coming with a big camera. You better go."

"Kate is my wife only on a technicality of law. I told you that."

"Maybe you're working with her. I wouldn't put it past her to sink that low. Should I check for a hidden camera?" She ran her eyes lazily over his body.

Catching the way she was scanning his body, he leaned closer to her. "Would you like to frisk me to make sure?"

Maxie cursed the blush she felt creeping into her cheeks. "No thanks. Did you need something or can I go back to what I was doing?" It was impossible to not be slightly scorched by Ric's smoldering gaze. Maxie cleared her throat. "Look, maybe it's best we're not seen together...at least until your wife goes back to New York...or the divorce is final."

"Why?" Ric asked genuinely confused. "We've been separated for a long time now. Kate knows I've been seeing other women. I know she's seen other men. I'm not seeing a problem here."

The truth of the matter was that Maxie hadn't expected learning Kate's identity would affect her the way it had. She was jealous and it was a new feeling. There might some animosity now, but she doubted that would be the case if, say, Kate never returned to New York. Could she really handle being in the same town with that woman and be with Ric? It was impossible. She wasn't her mother. "Well you wouldn't." Maxie stalled. "Does it not register in your mind what linking our names would do?"

"Besides announcing my fabulous taste in women?"

"Let me spell this out for you. While I was supposed to be babysitting my stepsister, I was downstairs fooling around with you. Alexis already blames me for what happened. Finding out that I really did cause her daughter to be stolen...that I was actively ignoring Kristina—"

"Kristina was supposed to be asleep. You don't honestly think anyone expected you to sit by her bedside all night making sure she was breathing do you?" Ric took advantage of her distraction to finally step inside the door, kicking it shut with his foot. "Blondie it's not your fault." He began rubbing his hands up and down his arms. "I swear it's not your fault."

"You're right." Maxie nodded without argument. "It's yours."

"Mine?"

"If you hadn't distracted me, I might have been able to get to her before any of this could be put into motion. I'm not saying it's not my fault too, but it's not just my fault." Maxie pushed away from him and crossed the living room.

"So now it's my fault for you not being psychic? Look I'm not going to take the blame for something neither of us could have seen coming. And you shouldn't either."

"It's not just that Ric. It's so many other things. For all my sins, I've never been involved with a married man, not even one who was only technically married. If my dad found out about this..." She let her voice trail off.

"He'd what?" Ric teased taking another step closer to her. "Arrest me for dating his legal daughter?"

"You can't take anything seriously, can you?" Maxie charged, spinning around to face him.

"I take plenty of things seriously." He assured her. "I can handle your father's disapproval. I've had years of practice with my own."

"Things are just too complicated right now. Your wife makes me uncomfortable." Maxie admitted. It was no use going into all the reasons why.

"Kate is only here for one reason and one reason only: She's got a serious itch for a story. Eventually it will pass and she'll leave. No other reason." There was no reason to bring up his original suspicion that he was behind Kate's extended stay in town. For one thing, Maxie would never let him live down the pure ego it took to think it. For another, he had this feeling it would lead to another fight.

"You keep saying that." Maxie drawled, retreating back a foot for every foot he covered.

"Because it's the truth. I have never lied to you Maxie. You know that."

"I don't want to get screwed over."

"I wouldn't do that to you." He took a risk and grabbed her hand with his own, lacing each individual finger together. Ric brought their combined hands up to his mouth and kissed her knuckle. "What I had with Kate is the past. You are the present."

Maxie could almost hear a pick chipping away at her resistance and tried desperately to buffer his attempts to pull her closer. He was saying all the right things; she hadn't realized how much she wanted to hear these words. For as long as she could remember, she was at the top of the conquest list for the men in this town. She stopped just short of asking him what he was still doing with her. "I didn't say you could come in."

"I didn't ask you if I could." He replied.

"I think you should go home." Maxie gulped.

"I disagree." He succeeded in pulling her closer to him.

"I didn't say you could touch me either." Maxie choked out.

"Are you objecting?"

"Why do you always have to do this?" Maxie pleaded.

"Do what?"

"I say something you don't like, so you distract me with a touch or a kiss and think that's all it takes to win an argument with me." Maxie explained.

"It's the most time effective method. Talking isn't exactly our strong point." Ric pointed out.

"And that's just the trouble."

"If we attempt to talk, you might have to admit there is something going on here."

"Like what?" Maxie got one hand free and planted it high on her hip.

"Like we might actually be dating."

"Sex doesn't mean dating." Maxie countered.

"Then why are you so threatened about Kate? Why are you so concerned with what your father would think if we are nothing?"

"I'm not threatened by anyone!"

"Really? Then why were you giving me the brush-off speech when I showed up?"

"I already told you: I don't want to make your life harder."

"So we're back to this being my fault? Blondie, just admit it. You were jealous."

"I was...surprised."

"Jealous."

"I wasn't jealous!"

"Green suits you." Ric teased.

"This is not...you're so..." Maxie struggled to find the most appropriate adjective.

"Right?"

"Frustrating."

"I think you mean irresistible." Once again he surprised her and grabbed her arm, pulling her closer to him.

"I think I mean full of yourself."

"Just admit it, Blondie. You like me."

"Nope. I can't stand you."

He ran his hand down her sides, circling her small waist with his hands. "I beg to differ."

Her eyes closed without her approval and she forced a breath through her nose in frustration. Frustrated at him for having this effect on her. Frustrated at herself for not being stronger. He allowed her one more breath and then kissed her, the pressure he applied tempting her to stand on tiptoe to deepen it.

"You always kiss people you can't stand like that?" he teased as he pulled away just far enough to whisper to her before lowering his mouth to her neck.

It was almost embarrassing the effect he had on her. All at once she wanted to push him away, pull him closer, make him leave, beg him to stay, and tumble into bed with him. "Especially the ones I can't stand."

He ran his hands up and down her sides pausing his assault of her neck to chuckle at her answer. Raising his head, he caught her ear between his teeth before releasing it quickly. "I wonder what you do for the ones you like." He whispered before kissing the spot directly behind her ear.

"I don't think you could handle it." Maxie quipped.

"I'd love to try." He slipped his hands underneath the thin t-shirt she wore, squeezing her skin beneath his fingers.

"Did you hear that?" Maxie's head jerked up and her hands flew over Ric's wrists.

"Hear what?"

"A car." Maxie explained. "I think they might be back."

"It could be just a neighbor." Ric pointed out.

"It could be my dad." Maxie argued sidestepping him.

"I take it you think I should leave."

Maxie pushed back the drapes and blew out a breath of relief. The neighbors across the street were moving. "False alarm."

Reaching out and grabbing her by the waist easily, Ric yanked her to him. "The best news I've had all day." He declared before dropping his mouth to her neck.

As his hands folded across her waist, she leaned into him and smiled. "I'm flattered Dr. Lansing. All for me?"

"Always Blondie. Always." Lifting her up with ease, he backed her against the entryway wall.

His fingers jerked at the top button of her jeans and she leaned down to kiss his arrogant mouth, her hands roaming up and down his back in her attempt to melt their bodies together. He pushed the edge of her top further up her body, crouching to kiss his way up her skin. Separating from her just long enough to remove her shirt completely, he resumed his task of learning the taste of every inch of her skin.

She didn't know what it was with this man and button-downs but she was not going to complain. The buttons gave slowly and she brushed a hand over his chest and abdomen making him tremble with pleasure. This close, she could feel his heart slamming against his ribs and let out a shaky breath as she moved her hand to cover it. He came in for a kiss that had her arms up above her head and left no space between them.

"You'll be the death of me," he managed when he released her lips just long enough for air before pulling her lower lip between his teeth.

"I can't breathe." Maxie whispered with a half smile pushing him back slightly. She must have pushed too hard or been thinking of something other than air being a necessity because she had him braced against the opposite wall that second.

"Who needs to breathe?"

"Hmm." Maxie purred.

Laughing, he steadied her against his hips and started to make his way towards the steps. "Let's move somewhere more comfortable."

"I like you right here." Maxie shook her head, clasping his head in her hands and kissing him again.

"Blondie." He dipped his fingers into the open waistband of her jeans, tracing just slightly below her peach colored panties. "Let's go to your room."

"Come on. Where's your sense of adventure?"

"I think we explored that in the kitchen."

"What about the couch? We never finished what we started there." Maxie reminded him.

"Blondie. I'm planning on continuing this until we're both exhausted. Unless you are certain we'll be alone for hours and I do mean hours, I suggest a place a little more private."

"You're right." Maxie responded throwing her arms around his neck. "I think you should take me home with you."

"I won't last the drive. We've not touched one inch of the upstairs." He kissed her again, hard. "Let's explore that, shall we?"

"I can't." Maxie shook her head.

"Why not? You have another man chained to your bedpost?"

"I just can't." Maxie's eyes darted to their forgotten clothing.

"What do you mean you can't? What's so different about downstairs and upstairs?"

"Why does it matter? You want me, don't you?" Maxie challenged sliding her hand over his thickening shaft and squeezing him tightly through his pants.

"You're not playing fair." He growled, reaching up to knead at her breasts through the fabric of her bra.

"I never have." Maxie responded hoarsely.

"Neither have I." He winked before unsnapping and removing her bra in one quick motion.

Feeling her eyes roll to the back of her head, Maxie let herself focus on the sensations. He traced the tips of each breast and took his time paying them special attention. His shaft jumped in her hand so she figured it was her pleasure, as well as his, to stroke him from top to bottom.

Pushing them both off the wall, Ric removed her hand from him only so he could walk. He secured her legs around him, making sure to keep his mouth near her neck. He took two steps forward and succeeded in stepping onto the first step, determined to kiss and stroke her body all the way up the stairs to her room.

"What are you doing? I told you I don't want to go upstairs." Maxie reminded him.

"Give me one good reason why."

"It's too personal."

"Blondie, what we are about to do is considered too personal by some cultures. Just tell me."

"I did." Maxie grumbled.

"What are you talking about?" Ric asked, releasing his hold on her so she could slide down his body and onto her own feet.

"Nothing. Forget I said anything." Maxie tried to step out of his arms.

"No. I want an explanation." Ric held her firmly in his arms, not allowing her to wiggle away.

"Fine. You want to know? When this is over..." She pointed to him and then herself, "and I have no doubt it'll be over before I'm...I need to be able to make a clean break. For now, my room is Ric-free and that'll make the inevitable easier. It's the one place that's just mine." With every word, Maxie found herself more and more upset. "It's okay." She assured him after a long silence. "You don't have to say anything."

"What's there to say?" he said hollowly as he sunk down on the step. "It seems you've decided everything." He was banned from her bedroom because it would make it easier when they ended? And she was still convinced they would end soon, by the tone of her answer. After all this time, she still thought he was just in this for the sex? If it was just sex for him, didn't she realize he would have left her alone after the first time they were interrupted?

"I'm sorry." Maxie deadpanned.

"Now don't you start lying Blondie."

Maxie watched him with unshed tears in her eyes. "I can't handle more than this. That's as simple as I can make it. I thought you understood."

She had a point. It was all she had told him repeatedly, all she wanted was casual. And in the beginning that had suited him just fine. Somewhere, somehow, he had changed his mind, but apparently she hadn't changed hers. Once again Ric, he told himself ruefully, you were on the wrong page where a woman was concerned. You'd think you would have learned your lesson after Kate. He stood up and retrieved his shirt from where Maxie had shoved it off of his body. "I think it's time I left."

Maxie couldn't think of an appropriate response, not that he seemed in any mood to wait for one. Congratulations, she scolded herself. You lost him way ahead of schedule. She wanted to cry, but it would feel cheap. She wanted to tell him it was all a lie and trust him enough to have him come upstairs with her. What she couldn't handle though was going to bed and being ambushed by his scent. She watched him do what she had always predicted he would: She watched him walk out on her.