Marriage in ten lessons (ML/AU/ADULT-)7/26-Complete

[martine]

Title: MARRIAGE IN TEN LESSONS
Category: Max and Liz
Rating: adult I'll try (Bixie get ready!)
Disclaimer:I don't own the characters, they belong to J.Katims and Melinda Metz
Summary: Liz Parker, 25 years old, creates cakes for a company. All of her friends are married, she is the last one and her best friend Maria is desperate to see her getting married one day. Liz has decided to find the right one. She has the help of a book her grandma Claudia wrote 50 years ago, and had a real talent for making cakes. A coffee shop company is interested in her cakes and asks her to create THE CAKE which will be sold in their shops. Who is the company's owner? You guessed it: Max EVANS. He gives her one week to seduce him with her cakes...

A/N: Tess will be here but only as reference.


Hey! I know what you're going to say...another fic!

Sorry, but I'm completely addicted and poor readers, you're my target!
Seriously, "Behind the scenes" is coming to the end, and I wanted to write something "lighter" for once. I really hope you'll follow me once again.

Thank you Bixie to correct my mistakes and support my states of mind



Banner by BIXIE





Chapter 1



*Always a bridesmaid and always alone* grumbled Liz Parker to herself, she examened herself in a yellow satin dress which complimented her skin and the color of her long dark silky hair.

"Maria, yellow is a great color. The ideal color for a summer wedding." Liz exclaimed over the phone.

"No, Isabel chose it for her wedding." Maria retored.

"Realy? I forgot about that." she said as she threw the dress on her bed. "Okay, Lilac?" she asked.

"No, Serena used that for her wedding."

"Ah, yes?" and Liz threw it on the bed too.

"But green would be great! That color will perfectly match with Michael's eyes, don't you think?" Maria asked.

"Sorry Ria but No.... that was the color Ava used for her bridesmaids."

"That's too bad!" Maria replied.

"Blue?" Liz suggested.

"Sarah."

"Fushia?"

"Courtney."

"Saphir?"

"That was you mothers color." Maria replied.

"I don't remember, for which one?"

"When she married Roger."

Liz didn't want to say a nasty word about her mother, so she continued with the search...

"Ruby, Light blue, Gold?" she asked again.

"Jane, Laurie, and Pam!"

Exaspearated Liz pushed a strand of hair behind her ear. "Geez, Maria! How can you remember what the maids wore in each wedding?" she asked irritated.

"I have a good memory and I love weddings to the opposite of you. And instead of always complaining about your high heel shoes, you should have looked at the best men, then you would get married too. You're the only single of the group." she said.

"WRONG! Kathy is single too." she stated triumphaly. Kathy was a good girl, but she had a problem. She couldn't stop eating, she was tall and overweight. She didn't want to be rude but she had to make it clear.

"Sorry honey, but Kathy got engaged 3 weeks ago." Maria said. "Didn't you know?" she asked.

"Engaged? With who?" she strangled the phone cord.

"You know, she kept doing these diet cures and she succeeded to catch one of her doctors. You should have seen the ring he gave her. It's not just a diamond, it's enormous! A marvel!" exclaimed Maria.

Liz was shocked. Even fat, insomniac and boring Kathy was engaged, with a rich man. And she.....

"Liz? Are you still there? You are looking at you life passing you by and you are scared, aren't you?" she asked.

"I'm only 25 years old! Maria, I'm not desperate. I still have some time to find a husband. I'm still on the marriage market." she retorted, a little hurt to see her best friend making fun of her.

"Be careful Liz, people are talking about you, and not in a good way! Liz, you would tell me if....huh....if....you were....ho....if you were ho...." she couldn't say the words and for Maria that was a miracle.

"If I were ho.... what?" Liz asked, getting angry.

"You know......homo.....sexual." she blurted out.

Liz dropped the phone in shock. Then picked it up, "Are you crazy? I'm not homosexual! Maria, why would you think that?" she bellowed. "How can you think like that about me?" she asked shocked and hurt.

"You haven't had a date in a long time! You never get involved in a real relationship! You would wonder too if you were in my place, Liz!" she said trying to find an excuse.

"I don't know Maria, maybe I'm looking for the 8th marvel of the universe!" she said sadly. "And you know that I don't live in Albuquerque like you, Roswell is a small town and tell me, when you were living here, did you find someone interesting enough to take that step with? NO! No one, and you know it." she added.

"Change, move and come here." she proposed.

"I can't. I can't leave the company and I need that job." she said. "Maria, I have to go. I promised grandma Claudia to help her pack her things before I go to work." she explained.

"Liz, listen to me. Find a guy and pull him into a church and get married! Look what I did with Michael, he didn't want to get married, believe me!" she told her.

"What did you do to make him change his mind?" she asked curious.

"I lied. I told him that I would leave him and he got scared. The next day he proposed!" she said proud to have caught such a good man. "Do you want to grow old alone?" she asked.

Liz closed her eyes. "NO!" she couldn't survive alone. She knew it.

"So, don't be like this anymore and do something to change your life." she advised her.

"Okay. I will do it.......Could we change the subject please?" she asked depressed.

"Yes! And I found the color for the maids dresses! Salmon!" she said before she hung up the phone.

Liz was spending the last 10 minutes checking her maid dresses, she had all the colors she wanted except a salmon one.

[martine]

Chapter 2


Max Evans looked at the ring in the velvet box on the table, then looked up at Tess who was sitting in front of him at the reataurant.

"Ma...marry you?' he stammered.

"Why not? We do get along very well, we both have good jobs, and we're ambitious and realists. We are not the romatic's who are waiting for THE love of our lifes. Max, I'm sure that you won't be making a bad deal by marring me." she told him as if she was talking about something out of the Wall Street Journal.

Max didn't answer and just stared at her. Tess was a pretty blond woman with the curves in the right places, that was certainly the reason for her succes in her work.
* A pretty face! But I'm not sure that I want to see that face every morning when I wake up and every night I go too bed for the rest of my life.* he thought.

"Tess, look. I don't know if I'm waiting for the love of my life, but I like to get married for all the right reasons and none of the ones you told me are enough for me." he argued.

"Max! are you kidding? Almost every time that you are in town we spend the night together. Marriage is obviously the next step." she took his hand in hers. "Look Max, I know I surprised you, but think about my proposal. And don't forget that you're not a young man anymore...." she added.

Max stiffened. She was right, they did spend almost every night together, but that was no reason to get married. They have good jobs and are both realists but that still wasn't a good reason to marry Tess. She is right, he is not a young man anymore, but he is only just 32 years old, and he hoped to have more good years. And most of all, did he love her?

"My G-d, Max! Are you shocked?" she asked a little upset. "I have asked you to marry me, that not so horrible!" she insisted.

He took the ring in his hand, looking for the right words to say and not hurt her.

"Tess listen. I have the right to be a little surprised!"

"That's just what I had planned, too surprise you!" she said excited.

"Do you mean that all of this is just a joke?" he asked more dumbfounded.

"Of course not! Do you think that I offer a wedding ring with diamonds to every man I sleep with?" she asked laughing. "I'm serious Max, I'm the best woman you will find on the market." she said, using those strange words again.

Max tried to laugh too, but he felt a lump in his throat and his back was sweating. "Max, just try it on your left hand?" she asked.

He looked at the ring again, it was really marvelous, with diamonds almost 2 carats. Tess always liked showy jewelry. His heart was racing when he slid the ring on his finger. "Exactly the right size!" he said tensed.

As if she had read his mind, while she was checking her lipgloss, she said. "Max, you don't have to give me an answer right away. Wear it for a few days and see if you get used to the idea of yourself as a married man. If you say yes, we will buy the same ring for me!" she explained to him.

He felt like if he was obligated to say something. "I'm leaving tomorow, for business."

When he decided to go on a business trip he thought it would be boring, but now with this mess he was glad to have a reason to get away from Tess and her marriage project.

"An interesting place?" she asked, her eyes sparkling. Sometimes he asked her to go with him, like Los Angeles, Chicago or recently New York. But this time, he was sure that she wouldn't be so eager to go with him. "Only Roswell, you know the Alien city!" he replied.

"What the hell are you going to do in Roswell?" she asked disapointed. She hoped he would ask her to go to Europe, like Italy or France... but Roswell?

"I'm going to the company that makes Italian desserts."

"The Tiramisu or that cake with mascarpone and caramel?" she asked with a disgusted tone.

"Exactly." he confirmed.

"Not for me this time Max. I want to be able to fit in my swimsuit this summer. I'm sorry, but I can't go with you this time. I hope you're not too disapointed, are you?" she asked worried.

Max did his best to look disapointed. "Maybe next time?"

"Why do you have to go?" she asked.

"Because I need to find a product which is good and cheap enough to attract young people to my coffeshops." he explained.

"No, that's not what I mean. Why do YOU have to go to Roswell?" she asked again.

"Ooh. It's an important project and I want to be there ffom the beginning, so I've decided to do it myself." he said.

"How long will you stay there?" she inquiered.

"I don't know how long it will take to make the deal with that company." he answered.

"At least you won't cheat on me overthere." she said full of herself. "If Roswell looks like what you've told me, then you will have all the time to think about my proposal." she said stroking his hand with the ring.

Max smirked. * At least I will be at a typical place without any woman ready to lead me to the church, and that's the most important thing for now.* he thought.

When he tried to take the ring off, he failed. He looked at Tess horrified and angry to see her shrudd. "What am I going to do now? I can't get it off!"

"Maax! It's not the end of the world! Keep it on for now." she said upset but after that she gave him a bright smile. "Maybe it's fate, that you have to wear it because we're destined to get married!" she said mouthing him a kiss.

"Fate can't be that cruel to me." he grumbled to himself. "Tess dear! Don't be so sure of yourself! I will get this ring off as soon as possible and we will talk about this when I get back." he said with a fake smile.

He put his hands under the talble, trying with al his might to get that ring off his finger. * Damn Tess! If I had known what you had in mind I wouldn't have accepted to go too lunch.* he thought.


TBC......IF YOU WANT IT..........

[martine]

Chapter 3

"Hey grandma!" Liz said kissing her on the cheeks. "I'm sorry I'm late, but Maria kept me on the phone. She's completely obsessed with her wedding."

Claudia Parker was a great 75 year old woman, she laughed all the time and lived her life one day at the time. That's why nobody could guess her real age. She smiled at her granddaughter. "Don't worry, it's never too late for people with good intentions. We have a lot of things to pack."

"I've always wished to you would live in this house after me, honey." she whispered.

Liz shrudded, in her heart she felt guilt. "I would be happy to live here with you, I've already told you that."

"Yeah, that would be great for me, but not for you, honey. You have to live your own life, Liz. I just expected that you would be looking for a house, when I put mine up for sale." she said a little sad.

Liz cherised this house. She had been saving every penny in the hope that one day she could buy it. If she got a bonus at work, she could have had enough money to get a lone from the bank. This was her secrect and she intended to keep it that way for now.

"Stop dreaming Claudia! I don't have the money to buy your house and I won't let you give it too me." she stated firmly.

"I know. You want to leave Roswell and live your life in some other beautiful place, yet I would have loved it that one day you and your children owned this house." she insisted.

"Hey, you need money to live comfortably....and my children? We would have to wait a century before I have one. In case you haden't noticed, I'm not pregnant yet!"

"Unless you are a Virgo. Which you are not." she laughed.

"GRANDMA!" Liz yelled.

Claudia looked at her. "Sorry Liz, but frankly, you are living like a nun, honey!"

Liz was shocked and tried to stay calm. "uh grandma, I don't want to talk about my.... about my..."

"Absence in life?"

"My PRIVATE life. Don't look at me like that. Even though I'm not a virg...." she stopped and swallowed. "Virgin! Virgo!" she laughed shyly. "Since I'm a Pisces."

"Did someone break your heart when you were in college, Liz?"

"My heart is undamaged, don't worry."

"And there is no one special in your life now?" she questioned again.

"No."

"Honey, sharing your life with the right person is an marvelous experience, believe your old grandma!" she said with a sweet smile.

"I have some other priorities right now. I want to get a good reputation for what I do at work." she assured her grandma. "I'm asigned to this new project. I have to convince our biggest client to sign a contract with us. Wish me luck, I will need it." she said.

"Good luck, honey! But try to join the fun instead of working all the time, huh?" she advised.

"I will let my ex-roommate from college take care of that for me. I mean to find a husband for me." she said with a mischevious look. They both bursted out laughing. "Okay, let's get some work done. Enough talk about my life!"

When she was in her living that night, she opened the first box and looked into it. Something got her attention, a book! She took it from it's hidden place, it looked like a diary or an agenda, but she recognized her grandma's handwriting on it. She read the title 'How to get the man of your dreams in 10 lessons.'

Liz laughed. Since her grandma Claudia and her sisters wrote this book, she , Liz, was going to follow the lessons and find the man of her dreams.

Finaly, all hope was not lost.

Lesson 1: Open your eyes, cause a potential husband might appear at a moment and a place where you didn't expect to find him.


"Hi Liz, how are you?" bellowed Sean, her neighbour, the next morning.

Liz didn't like him, but she should respond.
"Hi, Sean." she mumbled.

He looked at her as if she was his next meal, and Liz cursed herself for the choice she made. Since she had read the book, she had decided to find a husband and today she dressed herself sexy, a short black skirt and a yellow silk blouse.

"You look great today!" he continued to stare at her as if she was a piece of fresh meat, and Liz had the urge to hit him over the head with her shoe.

"Why did you dress that way? Did somebody die?"

"NO! Not at all, I'm just going to work." she retorted when she climbed in her old car.

"WORK? AGAIN?"

"Of course!"

Sean gazed at her with a mischevious look. "What a shame! A babe like you should do nothing else, but to take care of her man!

Liz closed her door without answering. It wasn't worth it.

"Liz, could you bring a cake from your work? Tomorrow is my mother's 60th anniversary, that would be nice." he asked her, scratching his eyebrow.

"Don't count on it Sean. We have rules. You should just order one for your mother." she said starting her car.

"WAIT!" Sean yelled. "Come on Sean, I'm running late, what do you want?" she looked at him. 'He is lazy and doesn't take care of himself, but he is not that awful.' she thought, but shook her head. This man hunting was starting to drive her crazy already.

"Look, you are invited to the party we've planned for mom's birthday. I can show you some photo's of me as a baby, you will see that I was cute!" he said laughing.

"I will come to kiss your mother, but I'm not staying." she said, leaving him on the sidewalk.

When she drove to work, she saw some dark clouds in the sky. "Shit! It's going to rain and I forgot my umbrella." she cursed herself.

On her way she stopped at the videostore to rent some movies for the evening. The owner Kyle Valenti was single, but a well known ladies man. He walked out of his store. "Liz Parker? Is that you?" he asked dumbfounded.

Kyle was what people would call a handsome man, with blond hair, blue eyes and sculpted body. A lot of women hoped to catch him, but he was happy as a single.

"Of course it's me, Kyle!" she replied smiling.

He looked at her the same way Sean did earlier. 'Geez, are the men always horny when they see woman wel dressed?' she wondered.

"I didn't recognized you....I've never seen you with a......skirt!" he said keeping his eyes on her legs. "A funeral?" he asked. Liz saw red, this was the second time that someone asked if she was going to a funeral. She started to believe that people thought that she only dressed well for a funeral.

"Maybe we could go out, you and me? I thought about it a lot lately." he said with a bright smile.

"Why not, that would be fun." she replied, returning his smile. "Kyle, I've got to go."

"To work?" he asked and she nodded. Then she hurried before he could say something else.

Liz wondered why the men here thought that a woman should stay home instead of working. She remembered how she got the job. It was pure fate. She was on vacation and staying at her grandmothers house last year, when she met the owner Mr Simon Chase and his wife. It was during a applepie with pecan nuts tasting. He had been stunned by her experience and her certificates. He hired her at once for the new company he was starting, as a Laboratory Chief. She had accepted, even if she was allergic to chocolate. She took charge of creating sweets and cakes.

Today was THE DAY, she thought looking for a place to park her car. Simon had told her that someone from the Evans group was coming. They were interested in finding a new cake for their coffeeshops, an original cake.

Seeing a free spot she turned to take it when a black car rushed to take it too. Liz hit the brakes on time and her car stopped, hiting her head on the steeringwhell. The pain was intense when she bit her tongue. 'Great! now it will be difficult to taste anything! Damn those sales represtentatives!' she fumed to herself. She couldn't stop the tears from falling and her head was spinning. She heard someone knock at her window.

"Is everything okay?" he yelled.

Her first reaction would have been to open the door, only for the pleasure to make him fall down, but her head was hurting and she could only nod.

She opened the door slowly and stept out of the car. Then she noticed the man who was responsible, tall, dark haired and well dressed. But when she looked up at him, she couldn't help but just stare into his incredible eyes. Their color made her think of warm honey and they were full of worry now.

"Are you sure that you're okay?" he asked again.

She swallowed and tasted the blood in her mouth. All of a sudden she forgot everything but her anger. "ARE YOU CRAZY? DO YOU KNOW YOU ARE A DANGER FOR HUMANITY!" she yelled to him.

"Do you think that you are better then me? Has nobody ever told you that you have to turn on the dipped lights when it rains?" he asked, angry now.

Despite the pain she was feeling from her tongue, she retorted. "Lights or no lights, I was unable to do anything against someone who thinks he is driving on a roundabout."

"They created the seatbelts to be used, but I couldn't care less that you didn't!" he bellowed.

"And I regret that they forbit guns!" she retorted.

He glared at her. "Okay, but how do you feel? Good or bad?"

"I'll survive." she grumbled.

"Good, I'm gonna move my car so you can take the parking place."

"I don't want you to do me any favors but I did saw it first so it is mine." she replied roughly.

"I didn't see you!" he said with a tensed vioce. "I would have let you have the place if I did!"

Turning around, he walked away with long strides under his umbrella, she heard him mumble in anger. He did as he said and a moment later he was gone. She didn't know where, the car vanished.

She parked her car and it was still raining. She took a plastic bag and helt it over her head and ran out. But she didn't got very far. She slipped..... and fell....she was soaked!

She closed her eyes, her head felt like it was about to explode.

"It seems that you can't prevent yourself from getting hurt." she heard a deep sexy voice talking to her. She opened her eyes slowly and the sales person was bending over her with his umbrella.

She wondered what would be better, die drowing in a puddle or die with humiliation.

"You don't feel so good, do you?" he asked again.

He helped her to stand up, but she lost her balance and grabbed his arm. "I should have let you have the parking place." she whispered. Her head was spinning again.

"Do you think you can walk?" he asked and his breath caressed her face.

"Do I have a choice?" she replied.

"I could carry you!" he said with a smirk.

Suddenly she felt confused, and her heart was beating fast. Their eyes locked and stared at each other longly, each roaming the others face, under the umbrella.

"No,..... thank you..... I think I can walk by myself." she whispered. Most of all, she didn't want her co-workers mocking her if they saw her arrive in the arms of a stranger.

"That's going to be difficult." he said and bent down to pick something up. When he showed her what it was, she discovered that the heel of her shoe was broken. She sighed.

"Okay, I will hop. It's nothing." she said bravely.

"Oh come one. Take my arm, I owe you at least that much!"

"Oh yes, you owe me!" she assured him.

He laughed. He had a throathy laugh which arroused Liz. Even though, she took his arm and walked slowly to the building. Liz had a strong feeling that she wanted to go to the end of the world with this stranger. Except his bad temper, he was handsome. He looked like the ideal man her grandma described in her book. Tall, great body and well dressed.

Liz couldn't help but think about what her grandma had writen in the book and started daydreaming, looking for something spiritual to say. She casted her eyes downwards and all of a sudden, all her romantic plans vanished. A gold wedding ring with diamonds was shinnig on his hand. HIS LEFT HAND!!!! HE IS MARRIED!!

That's horrible!! Someone had seen this piece of art before she did! Someone had turned her dream into a nightmare! She felt like she could kill that bimbo who had dared to take what was supposed to be hers.

After the internal fight, Liz felt frozen, soaked, lonely and miserable. She was cursing her bad luck. HE IS MARRIED TO ANOTHER WOMAN!!! (SHIT!)

She still had some principles, so she didn't want to think about having an affair with him, and she was so lost in her thoughts that she twisted her ankle and the other heel broke. She cried out in pain.

Sensing Liz falling, the man held her and helped her to reach the stairs. She sat down on a step crying. "My ankle....aaahhoouuu... it hurts!"

"Keep quiet, don't move!" he ordered as she tried to stand up. He tried to pick her up in his arms. "NO!" Liz protested.

"I've told you to keep still, or you will end up falling on your face!" Then he took her in his arms and carried her.

She was fuming with anger, but he didn't care. He was focusing on the steps, but mostly on this cute little body he held in his arms. Max was aware that the young woman in his arms was very attractive. Petite, slender, she could be like 20 or 30 years old and she had a mouth of a greedy girl.

"I can walk by myself now, thank you!" she said wiggling in his arms like a wild kitten.

Looking at her was a mistake. When he looked in her eyes he stumbled. He saw wide doe brown eyes, almost black because of her anger and long lashes which seemed never ending. A really beautiful face framed with magnificent silky long braun hair. She was gorgeous.

Liz's twisting and wiggeling was the most erotic dance he ever saw.....felt in his life. And without wanting it, without knowing it, Liz was turning him on, he was on fire.

"We are here, stop moving, you're making things only harder." he said huskily.

'G-d, I came to this little town to forget about women, at least for a while, and now I have one in my arms, a really attractive one.' he thought.

When he walked into the building, he saw a woman looking at them. "LET ME DOWN! LET ME DOWN!" Liz cried.

"If you don't stop, I will just let you fall!" he threatened. Ignoring the looks of the woman, he walked Liz to a couch and fell on her when he tried to put her down.

They stayed laying there, staring at each other, unable to move. Then unable to restrain himself, Max swooped down on her lips and devoured her mouth.

[martine]

Chapter 4

Liz told herself to resist, to fight all those intoxicating feelings, but oddly enough she surrendered when she felt Max's lips and tongue caresses hers and showing his desire for her.

She was trembling in his arms and let herself being carried away with the power of the kiss. She felt herself drowning in an ocean of unknown passion. When she moaned , she pulled him further against her, feeling his strong chest.


She wanted to get lost with him in that wave of desire that overwhelmed them, but when she felt him hardening against her belly she opened her eyes. Panicked, she pushed him away with her little hands.

"NO!" he whispered panting.

All of a sudden, she woke up from her daze. Mortified she moved back to the other side of the couch. "NO! I can't do this! This is not me, I'm not that kind of girl!"

He looked at her, his eyes still dark with desire and sighed. "I understand." he said quietly. "But can you give me one reason why you can't?" he asked her, oblivious to the fact that he was still wearing the wedding ring on his left hand.

"WHY? YOU have the nerve to ask me why?" she exclaimed. It seemed that he was the worsed kind of men, if he dared to ask her such a question. She crossed her arms and waited for him to answer.

"I really don't see a reason!" he said completely dumbfounded. He looked at her as if she was speaking Hebrew. He didn't understand what she was talking about, and what had her all exasperated. If he wanted to play the amnesia game, that was his problem but Liz refused to play along.

She didn't want to argue with him, after all he was just a sales representative and she wouldn't see him again after this. It wasn't worth to say anything. She felt a pang in her stomach when she realized that she wouldn't see him again after today. Life was cruel. She had found a gorgeous man. Not only would he continue to be a stranger to her, but the worsed thing was that he was already taken. She sighed, cursed her bad star and cursed the man himself for entering her life and leave her with nothing.

"Please, could you help me to stand up. I have to get to the sick bay. I want them to check out my ankle and I have work to do. I'm not getting paid for kissing a stranger on the couch!" she said angry.

She was looking at him with a glare and Max couldn't help but wonder what happened to him. He normaly didn't kiss a girl he didn't know. He tried to think about the reason that pushed him to act so weirdly. He stared at the petite brunette who was still seated on the couch. She was really gorgeous despite her soaked clothes, her pale face and everything. She was stirring and Max felt incredibly drawn to her.

She reached her hand out to him. "Could you help me to stand up, please. I can't stand on my foot." she asked again roughly, ashamed to have to beg for his help.

"Yeah...sure!" he said. He took her hand and wrapped his arm around her waist. He held her tight and feeling her souple body against his, made him feel his body hardening all over again.

"Thank you. I can walk by myself now. I just needed your help to stand up." she said unable to be so close to him. She didn't trust herself with this handsome man next to her.

"Don't be stupid! You can't walk by yourself, your ankle might be broken and you will only make it worse." he said tightening his grip.

His words made her angrier. "I'M NOT STUPID! AND LEAVE ME ALONE! I don't need some macho man who thinks he's always right! I'm a big girl and I don't need anyone's help let alone yours." she retorted and tried to get out of his grip.

Unfortunatly she twisted her ankle again and Max caught her before she fell, lifted her up in his arms and carried her to the sick bay. "LET ME DOWN!" she yelled, unaware that her cries alarmed the staff.

"LIZ? What happened to you?" the woman asked. Then she looked at Max, an admirative glimmer shinned in her eyes. "Hmmmm...I would love to take your place, darling! He's gorgeous!" she said and walked away laughing.

"COURTNEY! NO! He's not....OOHHHH SHIT! This is really the best day of my life." she said sarcasticly. "LET ME DOWN! People are thinking that we're..... we are...." she was so furious that she coudn't find the right words.

"Leave that kind woman alone, and stop twisting in my arms or I won't be able to restrain myself even if we are in the middle of the lobby!" he said huskily.

When she wanted to give him a piece of her mind, she looked at him. His eyes were dark with desire, and he was staring at her as if he wanted to take her right then and there. Liz opened her mouth to yell at him but closed it, blushing when she remembered their kiss.

He tightened his grip and this time she didn't protest. They reached the sick bay, and when Max sat her down on the examination table, the door opened and a beautiful red haired woman walked in. "My G-d, Liz! What happened to you?" she asked.

"Hi Serena. I'm doing well,thank you, at least I was doing well until I left my house this morning. After that, things got worse by the minute. Actually, I fell and I think I sprained my ankle." she said with a poor smile.

Serena pushed Liz's hair out of her face and looked at her head. "Did you hit you head when you fell?" she asked. "Yes." Liz replied.

"Why are you dressed like this. Are you going to a wedding or a funeral today?" she asked again.

The shame and anger reddened Liz's cheeks. * Again that funeral question! I'm fed up with those people! Why can't I dress well without everybody asking me if I'm going to a funeral! Without that book this wouldn't be happening. DAMN BOOK! DAMN MAN HUNTING!* she thought

Without letting Liz answer, Serena asked whispering. "And who is that piece of art that carried you in his strong arms? You're a lucky girl, Liz! If you weren't my friend, you would have competition." she said glanzing at Max with envy. "By the way, he hasn't stop staring at you since you came in here. I've told you, you're lucky!" she added.

Liz turned all kind of shades of red when she turned her head to look at Max. He was still staring at her and she couldn't help herself but getting lost in those warm honey amber eyes. Max quivered *probabley because of the rain* he thought. He losened his tie, his body was boiling.

The ring scratched the material and the Max remembered it. Damn ring! It felt too tight on his finger, and damn Tess who wanted him to wear it. He couldn't get used to it, he never wore jewelry. That ring reminded him of his problem with Tess and her proposal. He cleared his throat.

"I think you're in the best of care here. I can leave you here now." He said reluctant to leave the room. "Maybe I'll see you again!" he added with a bright smile.

"Maybe... but I'm sure we're not. Thank you for your help by the way." she said with a smile. She was sad to see him leave. * This man is too gorgeous and he makes me feel ooooohhhh.* she bit her lower lip to restrain a moan that threatened to escape her mouth.

Before Max had a chance to leave, the door opened and Simon Chase walked in. "LIZ! Courtney said that you arrived in some guy's arms... What happened to you? Are you okay?" he asked with concern.

"I'm okay Simon. I just fell in the parking lot and this man helped me..." she said pointing to Max who stood behind Simon. He turned around and stopped dead in his tracks. "MAX EVANS!" he turned his head to Liz. "Max Evans carried you inside?"

Liz was speechless. Max Evans? Their client? And he didn't just carried her, he kissed her....aaahhhh and she kissed him back!!!!! She closed her eyes, unable to say a word, she felt so ashamed. She felt Simon's gaze on her and decided to ignore it. She leant her head and looked at Max shyly. He was there, scratching his head. It looked like if he was trying not to laugh, because he knew she didn't know who he was.

Simon walked toward him with an out streched hand. "Mr. Evans, I'm pleased to see you here. So you have saved our cake creator this morning. Thank you on behalf of our company. I don't know what we would do without Liz!" he said with a bright smile, oblivious of the silence between the two young people.

Max was staring at Liz. She is the one that creates all the cakes! Whaou! Their first encounter has been very HOT and he wasn't sure if he could work with them anymore. Or maybe... he wouldn't have to be around her after all.

He cleared his throat. "Liz... is the one who creates the cakes! The truth is I didn't know who she was when she fell earlier." he said sincerly.

"Me too." Liz mumbled.

"What did you say, Liz? We couldn't hear you." Simon said kindly.

"Nothing Simon, my ankle is just hurting. I'm sorry." she lied and blushed when she saw the smirk on Max's face.

"Mr. Evans, let me introduce you to our great cake creator Liz Parker." Simon said proudly. "The woman you came to see and the one you're going to work with most of the time." he added, oblivious of the uncomfortable silence between them.

Max broke the silence. "I'm looking forward to work with Miss Parker, I'm sure that she's a very talented young woman!" he said with a wink.

Liz blushed again. She was certain that he was not refering to her pastry's talents. Working close with Max was going to be the hardest thing she had to do for the next couple of days.


TBC.......IF YOU WANT IT.........

[martine]

Chapter 5


Lesson 2: Don't waste your time with the loosers, the alcoholics, THE MARRIED MEN and all the unwanted ones.

"So Liz created those delicious Italian desserts I tasted in my shops! I'm impressed, they are one of the most appreciated by our clients." Max said with a warm smile "I'm sorry for my previous behavior Ms Parker, I'm Max Evans" he added as he reached out his hand.

"I know now!" Liz said sternly "And it seems that we are going to WORK together, Mr Evans, I hope you'll appreciate my work. I'll do my best." she said trying to smile, but she was still thinking about their kiss.

"I'm quite sure that I'll like it to work with you, Liz. Can I call you Liz, I'm Max. Please let's drop the formality. It will be a pleasure to work with you Liz and I can't wait to taste what you are going to create for me." he said with seductive smile.

"I'm sure that your clients will be in heaven when they will taste her new creation." Simon said. He was a little embarrassed standing between them, and he had the feeling that Evans was talking about something else. He looked at him..no maybe he was wrong. "Liz, I'm going to take Mr Evans to my office, we'll wait for you there."

"I won't be late, if Serena hurrys a little with my ankle. I'm coming as quick as I can." she said to Simon and avoided Max's look.

When they left, Liz turned towards Serena and before she could open her mouth, Liz glared at her. "Don't say it. Don't say anything!" she said angry.

"I'm not saying a word! You should calm down a little Liz, you were too tense around Mr Evans, even Simon wondered why?" she said. "But let me tell you that he's a handsome guy and you are an idiot if you don't take advantage of the situation as long as he is here. But if you really don't want to be with Max Evans, I have no problem to take care of him myself, if he wants too." she added with a greedy smile.

"SERENA! He's married! Didn't you see his wedding ring? I can't, I'm not that kind of a girl!" she cried out.

"That's what I said, you're an idiot! Look, Max Evans was eating you alive with his eyes, and it looked like that you have a certain effect on him. Don't waste your time, take what you can take as long as he's with you, married or not, it doesn't matter!" she stated before a dumbfounded Liz.

She had read the opposite in the book, and she was not the kind of woman going out with married men, even if that married man is gorgeous and he makes her feel so good when she's in his arms."NO!!! No, I'm sorry Serena, if I do it, I will loose my soul." she said sadly.

"Okay, I won't bother you with Max Evans, go and show him what you're able to do with those desserts and let Mother Nature do the rest. Okay? I didn't say anything wrong. Let Nature do it's job....and you'll see!" she said looking straight in Liz's eyes. "Okay, I'm finished. You can walk quietly to your office now. I think that you better change your clothes if you don't want to catch a cold. See you later!" she said and returned to her desk.

Liz walked out of the sick bay limping, her ankle was hurting and she had to wait until the evening to take another pill to sooth the pain. She reached her office in a lot of pain and went into the bathroom to change. When she stepped out of the bathroom, she found Nicholas waiting for her. "I've heard a lot about you since I arrived this morning. You with a gorgeous...."

"STOP! I will hit you if you say another word Nick." she retorted pissed. She was fed up of hearing people talking about the Gorgeous Max Evans, they should talk about the Married Max Evans, who she couldn't have.

Nicholas stared at her, that was the first time he was seeing his boss losing her temper, that Max Evans should be 'something' if Liz jumped to the ceiling like this. *Hummm! maybe I should take a look for myself.* he thought.

Nicholas was a handsome guy, tall, darkhaired with amazing green eyes and all the women of the company were dying to go out with him. But Liz was the only one that knew that Nick was gay, she respected him and he trusted her enough to tell her his secret. There was just a strong friendship between them, even if all the people around were certain that they were more than friends.

"Don't waste your time Nick, thinking about him with that greedy look, he's already taken. Apparently, he must be wealthy if you you could see his wedding ring." she said sadly.

"What's about his wedding ring?" he asked disappointed to learn that he lost an opportunity.

"That's the first time that I've seen a man wearing a wedding ring with diamonds. Weird no? for a man." she said with a smirk of contempt.

As she was with her back to the door, she didn't see Max enter followed by Simon, he had heard what she said and was looking at her amused. "Liz, are you ready to take care of Mr Evans and to show him what you can to do?" Simon asked innocently, unaware of the double meanings of his words.

Liz blushed and Max was trying to hold his laugh, she frowned and straightening herself and looked at him proudly. "Oh, Mr Evans, this is Nicholas, my precious assistant.......Nicholas, " she said taking Nick's hand in hers, "this Max Evans, our biggest client. We have to create an amazing dessert for his coffee-shops." she said, amused to see the look of yearning Nick had when he reached out his hand to Max.

Max stiffened when he heard Liz introducing her assistant, and he was pissed to see them so close...pissed and jealous *WAIT! JEALOUS?? I have no right to be jealous of this man because he has his hand in Liz Parker's one!* Max thought. *This petite girl is driving me crazy without doing anything, I never felt like this around any woman before, even with the most gorgeous women!*

"Okay, Nick I think that you have someone to see, Courtney is waiting for you. Liz, I think that you don't need us, so we leave you alone. Mr Evans, don't worry, I leave you in the best hands of the company. You'll taste what she already made and you won't eat anything else." he said with a bright smile. Poor Mr Chase, trying to impress his client.

Lesson 3: When you will meet the good one, don't giggle..don't flirt...In short don't let him know that you're interested...
They walked out of the room, leaving Max and Liz alone.

"Come with me, I need to get some ingredients from the supplies room." she said as she walked, limping, to her destination.

"How is your ankle?" a husky voice asked behind her.

She shivered, even if she wanted, she couldn't get rid of Max Evans, her mind was occupied by him. "I'm fine." she replied as calm as possible.

They entered the supplies room and Liz got all the things she needed from the shelves against the wall. Flour... white sugar...brown sugar...chocolate...spices that she weighed on the scale.

She had some creative ideas running in her mind but she prefered the ordinary and safe receipts for the moment. Her pudding with bananas would make Mr. Evans lose his mind for sure.

*I'm sure that'll be the only way to make him lose his mind....* she thought when she heard behind her, a deep and sexy voice. "G-d, protect us from all those temptations!"

Some erotical images popped in her mind but she pushed them aside, it was hard enough to be around him without those image in her head. She succeeded to smile. "Take what ever you want and put them in that basket." she said unable to look at him.

They walked in silence, into the laboratory. "I hope that you'll appreciate the receipt I'm going to present to you, Mr. Evans...she said as she was opening the bananas sirop bottle.

"You're the chief and I like almost all which is sweet except for the bananas." he stated.

She froze and put the bottle on the table. "You don't like bananas?" she asked surprised.

"The bananas don't like me, I'm allergic." he explained.

"Allergic?" she questionned again. He shrudded.

"Yeah, but I'm fond of chocolate." he said.

"Chocolate??" she repeated after him.

Nobody, in the company, knew that she was allergic to chocolate. She thought about all the problems she was gonna have, since she had to taste what she was creating.

"Wonderful." she said. "You'll never find someone better than me to make chocolate cakes." she said flatly.

"Great! You know Liz, you can try something with bananas too." he said. "If bananas inspires you...." he added.

"But you've just said that..."

"I won't deprive my clients of a good dessert because I get sick from bananas. I'm strong enough to know what I can't have..." he stated.

Liz looked at him...Was that a hint because of that incredible chemistry they shared, which was pushing them towards each other or of his married man status? *Nah... he is just talking about bananas.* she thought.

"I wouldn't want to see you...suffer." she blurted out.

"Sometimes, things deserve that you suffer for them." he whispered. He was leaning slowly towards her and she felt her knees weakening, but all of sudden, she saw his wedding ring and it was like a cold shower for her. She straightened *He has a sort of sex appeal almost animal but I can't be involved with a married man!*

"Mr. Evans..." she began.

"Max."

"What?" she asked surprised.

"Call me Max." he repeated.

"Humm...Sit down at this table, I'm going to let you taste some of my creations." she said quietly.

He went and pulled a stool near her chair where she was sitting and startled her when he took her foot in his hand and rested it on the stool. "For your ankle." he said huskily.

"Hummm...Did you think of a name for your dessert?" she asked.

"No..Do you have any ideas? I'll listen to them with pleasure."

"I was thinking about a dessert for 2 persons, they could share it..." she stopped looking if he would laugh at her but he was quiet and completely enthralled by what she had to say. "With a rich flavor wich will associate perfectly with your exotic coffees..."

He was staring at her and didn' t laugh.

"It would be served on a unique plate for the couple...." she finished and looked at him anxiously

He didn't say a word for a while and was just staring at her. "What do you think?" she asked.

"I was asking you the same question!"

HE WAS LAUGHING AT HER! "What do you mean?" she asked angry.

"Liz, I know now why your recipes are so popular... You think about them before you make them."

That was the most wonderful compliment she had ever received.

"Tell me Max, against who am I fighting?" she asked softly.

*Against Tess...* he thought.

TBC...IF YOU WANT IT.................................

[martine]

chapter 6

After Max and Liz talked about what kind of cake he expected from her, he left the company leaving Liz alone to think about a perfect dessert.

He climbed in his car and decided to go to his motel to check on his messages. As he drove, he remembered the events of that morning, and his incredible encounter with the creator of the cakes. *Liz.....what a woman! Even if she is petite, I can see that she has charm and a temper. Yes, she definetly has a temper! The way she was twisting in my arms, yelling to me even if she was soaked and wounded.* he smiled. * Working with that enchanting Goddess won't be very easy! And I'm not sure I'll get through this easily.* he thought.

When he arrived in his room, he called to see if he had any messages. He got one from Alex, his best friend and business partner. They were planning to buy a Southern house and transform it into a restaurant. Alex told him that he maybe found the perfect house and that he would call him back later.

The second message was from Tess. 'Hi hoonney! I hope that everthing is okay for you in that little town. My poor Max, stuck in some alien town. How did you spend your time? Did you think about my proposal? I know that you left just yesterday but you didn't need to go there to find out how wonderful our marriage could be. I'm sure you'll get bored soon, so call me so that we can talk about our future. Bye hoonney!'

Max shivered, hearing Tess whinning over the phone. His mind flew towards a petite brunette, soaked and wounded, who aroused him more than any other woman he had ever met, but he pushed the thought aside. She certainly must have a boyfriend and the way her assistant was looking at her....

He stood up, got his car keys and walked out of the room. * I need a breathe of fresh air and lets see if I can find some aliens in this town.* he thought. He climbed in his car and drove along the streets. * Roswell may be a little town, but it's not as boring as Tess thinks it is.* He drove through the town for what seemed like hours.

He smiled seeing the way people were looking at his car. They were certainly not used to see that kind of car in their streets. He continued to drive and got to a place near a small lake bordered with some white houses with gardens full of flowers. At the end he saw the perfect house, with white stones and pillars. It was surounded by a white gate.

Max got out of his car and his heart beat got stronger when he saw the sign that said 'FOR SALE'. He knocked at the door but nobody answered. He tried to take a look inside through a window and saw a lot of carton boxes and some furniture. * That's weird.* he thought. He took his phone and called his partner. "Alex, it's me Max. You can stop your research, I just found the house of our dreams!"

In the meantime, Liz was at the drugstore. Her face was swollen and her skin was itching.

"If I had anything to say about it, I would order you to stay in bed." Colin said as he looked at Liz.

"I know, Colin, but you are not a doctor and I've an important client who's waiting for his perfect cake." she said in a weary tone.

Colin was the son of the chemist. He worked hard, trying to graduate from college, but failed each time. So he came back home to help his father at the druggstore. He was a tall, lean darkhaired man and he always hoped that Liz would agree to go out with him.

"Tell me Liz, did someone put chocolate in your bowl without you knowing it?"

"Yeah! I did!"

"Are you kidding me?"

"Not at all. I already told you that I've an important client, he likes chocolate and I have to create the perfect cake for him. I can't allow myself to disappoint him."

"LIZ! ARE YOU CRAZY? You're allergic! You know what, if you have the sense to sarifice, you coud be a wonderful player in a team!"

"Please Colin. This is painful!"

"Sorry! What about Serena? Why didn't she help you?"

"The sickbay was closed when I left. Ooh, do you also have something to sooth my ankle? I fell this morning and it's really painfull right now!" she said showing him the bandage.

"OKAY. OKAY. Stop. I'll see what I can do for you." he said putting her leg on the booth to look at her ankle.

"COLIN!"

"Relax Liz, I'm almost a doctor, you know?.......It's broken!" he stated.

"It's sprained." she corrected him.

"That's what I said. You sprained your ankle." he repeated.

He got up and went behind the counter. His father worked in a little room in the back of the store and Liz knew that Colin went there to tell his father. He came back with 3 pills. "Here Liz, the 2 pink ones are for your allergie and the blue one is for the pain."

He handed them to Liz with a glass of water. She swallowed them all at once and stood up. "Thank you, Colin."

"You're welcome, but you can't drive because of the medicine."

She looked at him. "What? You are kidding me, right?"

"NO...of course not. Did you eat something?"

"No."

"Liz, those pills are going to make you sleepy. You will be asleep in about 15 to 30 minutes maximum!"

Liz felt as if she had the weight of the world on her shoulders, and she was on the edge of tears. "Call me a cab, Colin." she sighed.

"If you want to wait for me, I can drive you home."

"Thank you, dude. But Miss Parker already has a chaufeur." Liz turned around when she heard that familiar voice. Max Evans was in the druggstore with a tube of toothpaste in his hand, and he gave her a bright smile.

Lesson 4: You should always have something you can use to defend yourself with when your lover asks you to sleep with him.
Colin got suspicious and looked at Max. "Liz, do you know this guy?"

Her heart was pounding in her chest, and she mumbled. "He.....we.....we work together."

She was unable to act normal, he had been on her mind all afternoon and seeing him all of a sudden right in front of her made her lose all her means.

"I'm going in the same direction as you are." he said.

"NO!.....I mean, I don't think so."

"Liz, I want to make up for my faults this morning, please." he pleaded with a such a cute smile that she couldn't resist. She tried though. "My car is...."

"I'll bring it back to you after we close the druggstore." Colin said with a venemous glare toward Max. "Look, I'll have to check on her to see if she is fine."

"So, you don't have any reasons to refuse." Max said taking her arm.

She left her keys with Colin and left the druggstore. "What happened to you?" he asked with concern.

"Did you forget already? I'm that stupid girl who always gets herself in trouble!" she said with a smirk.

He ignored what she was saying and took her hand and saw the red skin on her wrist. "What's this? Measles?" he questioned.

"NO! It's an allergie but don't worry, it will be gone by tomorrow!" she said trying to hide her wrist. She must look so horrible! No, she was certian that she looked horrible. * This is really my day! I meet an hansome guy but he's already married, and I got an allergic reaction from the chocolate....ooh I almost forgot. I fell this morning, spraining my ankle. Great! Everything is going great for me!* she thought sarcasticly.

She was so caught up in her thoughts that she didn't hear Max's question. "Liz? Did you hear me?"

"Ooh...yeah. Sorry, were you saying something?" she asked, now she didn't only looked horrible but was also acting like an idiot.

"I told you to come this way, my car is parked overhere." he said with a smile. She smiled back.

He opened the car and helped her to sit down. "I hope that you're not some kind of serial killer!" she said laughing.

"I knew that I had forgot to mention that detail when we met this morning!" he replied, bursting out laughing.

Liz felt safe in his company, she didn't know why. "Did you eat something?" he asked her.

"Huh....actually no. I was planning to get me something on my way home."

"Where?" he asked again.

"There is a take out on your left."

He drove to the restaurant. "I'll get something for myself too." he said and ordered 2 hamburgers with fries and 2 cokes. Of course he had to fight her when he wanted to pay for the both of them.

They got back in the car and he drove away. "You know, I can't believe that one of the most famous restaurant owners of Denver eats in a fast food restaurant." she said surprised.

"Don't forget that I own some fast food restaurants myself!" he replied.

"Yeah, I know."

They drove in silence, and then Max asked. "By the way, where are we going?"

"What? You said that you were going in the same direction as I was!"

"I just want to know if I'm going in the right direction. Where do I have to make a turn?"

Smiling and relaxed, Liz told him the direction to her house. She was leaning against the window and couldn't help herself and studied him.
* He is really gorgeous......sexy, smart and funny too. I hope that you're wife knows how lucky she is to be married to you, Max Evans!* she thought.

When she saw her house she told Max to stop. "This place is made to raise children!" he said thoughtful. He shook his head trying to get rid of those thoughts. "Are you feeling better?" he asked.

"Yes, thank you. And thanks for buying me dinner!" she said with a bright smile.

"Your friend at the druggstore said that you shouldn't have any problems getting some sleep!" he said and then asked.

"Is he a really good friend of yours?"

"Who? Colin? I have known him for years!" she said casually.

"And he knows where you live?" he retorted.

"We are here in Roswell, a small town. Everybody knows where the others live......Max, I'm a little tired. I think I better go. Thank you for everything..."she started.

He got out of the car and walked to her side to open the door. "I will walk you to your front door." he said and took her hand to help her.

"I left my keys with Colin, so we have to get to the kitchendoor, it's open." she told him.

"Funny, you let your door open!"

"I have nothing that's worth stealing and Sean is always looking after my house."

"Sean? Another friend of yours?" he asked upset.

"Sort of..."

She started to climb the stairs to reach the kitchendoor, when she heard him call her name softly. "Liz."

She turned and looked at him. She was now on the same level as he was. "Liz, ever since I left the company this morning I can't stop thinking about you.... and now I desperately want to kiss you."

She didn't answer. "Liz? Did you hear me?" he asked worried.

"Mr. Evans, there is nothing wrong with my ears, I heard you perfectly."

"Sorry."

Their eyes locked and they couldn't help but stare at each other.

"LIZ! LIZ! ARE YOU OKAY?" she heard Sean yell through the fog of her brain.

"I'm fine Sean. Switch off the light, please!" she yelled back.

She looked at Max and smiled, he returned the smile. Then his face got serious. He pulled her into his arms and kissed her fiercely. Liz was so surprised that she didn't react at first, but then gave into the sensations that kiss was provoking in her.

Max felt her surrender, he thightened his grip and deepened the kiss. They couldn't stop, their passion was consumming them and they bumped against the doorframe but didn't care. They were so caught up in that kiss that they looked like two explorers who found a fountain to drink from.

Max couln't get enough of her. His lips left her mouth and started a trail down her neck to the hollow of her throat. His hands were stroking her lower back and he pressed her hips against his heated body. Liz felt the desire that was burning in his body.

She was burning too, it was not only because of her allergie and that's what made her stop. "Maax! You better go. I'm sorry, I lost my mind!" she said sadly.

"Liz, I want you, more then I ever wanted a woman in my life!" he said ferventlly.

"I've alreaady told you Max, that I'm not that kind of woman. I'm sorry. Can you please go now, I think that would be better..." she said as she pushed him away.

He didn't resist and let her go. She stayed there in the dooropening looking at him sadly. "I know that you're not that kind of woman, Liz. But why are you fighting what is so obvious? You and I are meant to be together!" he cried.

Without a word she stept inside and turned around to face him. "Max, I'm not going to date a married man. I'm sorry." she said and stepped further into her house and closed the door.

He stood there stunned, then her words entered his mind. "I'm not married." he said sadly, but he knew that she couldn't hear him, maybe she didn't want to hear him, so he walked back to his car.


TBC...........IF YOU WANT IT..................

[martine]

Chapter 7

Lesson 5: If you forgive him, do it like a lady. If he asks you to forget, you have to have an elephant memory.

"You know Liz, any man deserves that" Serena stated when she saw Liz's skin, red and swollen, "Nice underwear, by the way. Let me tell you something, young girl, if you continue to taste this damned chocolate cakes, The man wouldn't like to see them. I mean your underwear!"

Liz buttonned her blouse up "I need a treatment for my allergy not a therapy." she retorted as she finished to dress.
"Don't worry" Serena said shrugging "The reddness will disappear, continue to use the lotion and don't scratch yourself....There is nothing less sexy than a woman who scratches herself" she said laughing

"Stop that!"
"Oh come on, you can tell me!....did he make advances?" Serena whispered lower.

Liz had spent all the night reflecting about Max, his hot kisses and the fact that he was a married man, she was exhausted. Her heart, her mind were aching more than her burning skin. She looked at Serena and replied with a low tone too "He's married Serena. M.A.R.R.I.E.D. do you understand what that means? And tonight I've a date" she added mysterious.

Serena's eyes widened "WITH HIM??"
"NOOO! You didn't listen a word of what I've said. He's married!!!"
"Ok, so who? Nick?"
"No"
"Damned, who is the guy?" Serena cried out
"Kyle Valenti."
"NOOOO! Liz, are you so desperate to date that Cazanova? Don't you know his reputation? He only wants to sleep with you. Please, if you're sure to date that man, be careful. He could try to..."

"At least, he's single!" Liz cut her off. "I don't understand you, you push me in a married man's arms, and you scared me about a single man, nice state of mind!" she laughed.
"A single man, maybe, but the kind of Cazanova! At least your Evans is a gentleman!"

"He's not Mine Evans! Anyway, Cazanova didn't try to put his victims in his bed the first time, does he?"
"If his victim takes a Bible with her..."
"Why a Bible?" Liz asked dumbfounded.
".....And she holds it tight between her knees all night long." she finished bursting out laughing.

Liz frowned "What are you talking about? The Bible! I better go rather than stay here and hear you joking about it.Anyway, I've someone to see." she said sternly and walked out the sick bay.
"Hey! Where are you going like this? Someone to see? Any chance that it could be our gorgeous gentleman?" Serena asked winking
"No comment." Liz said refraining herself to smile.
"Okaay! Take a look at your face, my girl, and go and put some makeup, that would be better for you!" she said and turning to face the mirror she smiled at her reflect."By the way, if you're not interested in Mr Gorgeous, maybe I could tempt to date him. I'm not embarrassed by the fact that he's married."

Liz gasped and walked out of the sick bay without answering, it wasn't worth to do it, Serena was very stubborn and it was impossible to make her understand that Max Evans was only her client....a gorgeous client, but just a client....and MARRIED! But to tell the truth, she would be upset if Serena was dating him.

Feeling depressed, Liz arrived at her laboratory, Nick was already here waiting for her. When he saw her, he came beside and pulled her in his embrace "What's going on Baby?" he said softly and kissed her temple.
Liz looked up at him, surprised "Nick!...." but before she could say anything, she heard someone clearing his throat *MAX EVANS!*

She closed her eyes trying to keep control and breath deeply, then she pulled away from Nick and held out her hand to Max "Mr Evans, you fell down from your bed this morning or what?" she asked coldly.

"Whaou, it's Mr Evans now? Maybe you're embarrassed in front of Nick but you agree to call me Max, did you forget it, Liz?" he asked staring at her.

"Max, what are you doing here so early?" she asked again
"I didn't fall down from my bed, Liz, I came earlier to talk to you.....Hum, Nick, could you let us for a while?" he asked still staring at Liz.

Nick looked at her but it seems that their eyes were locked and with a heavy sigh, he walked out of the laboratory. They were alone now.

"Liz, we need to talk....about last night." Max began.
"There is nothing to say about last night, Max. We kissed, for the second time by the way, that's all." she said flatly.
"That's all? How could you say that? I couldn't sleep because of you last night. I kept thinking about you." he said passionately.

"I'm sorry to have disturbed your sleep, I didn't mean to do it." she sighed "Max, I can't..I can't be with you the way you wish. I'm sure it's not me who disturbed your sleep, I'm sure you're feeling guilty. You're married and...."

"I'M NOT!...I'm not married!" he cried out.

"You're going to tell me that you have problems with your wife or that you're like the modern couples, living together seperated lives, or...."

Liz looked at him, dumbfounded, then his words entered her mind "What did you say?" she asked
"I'm not married Liz. If you allow me, I'd like to tell you all the story about that ring and Tess." he pleaded

"YOU'RE... NOT... MAR..RIED?" she repeated again, unable to believe it.
"No..I'm not. Liz, come on and sit down, I'd like to tell you the story." he said again.
"That's not my business, Max. I've heard that you're not married."

Completely amazed, Max sees Liz walk to the fridge and go out some plates and bowls. "What are doing Liz?" he asked.
"You asked me to prepare some cakes for you to taste, you're going to taste them. Sit down please."

Still dumbfounded, Max did as it was telling him. He waited for her to talk and she seemed to interested only by her cakes and if he was going to like them or not. Not a word about him NOT MARRIED! *OK, Miss Parker, I'm going to play your game and we'll see." he thought. But he changed his mind as he sat down.

"Liz, I didn't want to compromise you when I kissed you. Actually, I like you." he said softly. He waited for her to tell him that she liked him too, but she didn't reply. And all what Max had to do was to tell her the speech he had prepared in his head over and over the last night "Liz, I'm sorry. I've told you, I didn't want to put you in a compromising situation..If you think that someone else should work with me, I'd understand...." he said sadly.

"NO. I've told you that I'll do it, I'll hold my word till the end."
"If you prefer, I could return at home and send you an expert from my marketing staff in a week or two." he added still sad.

"NO. I've already prepared some cakes for you to taste them. I think that you'll be able to choose soon, maybe tomorrow or the day after the later." she said flatly.

He was staring at her, she seemed to be uncomfortable and he would have comfort her if he was not obssessed by the kisses they shared and the last one more than ever. He only wanted to kiss her again, but he knew that she wouldn't let him.
"Ok, let's taste your cakes, I wouldn't want you to work so hard for nothing." he said with a forced smile "And I'm hungry!"

She smiled back but it didn't reach her beautiful eyes, though he thought that that was a good sign.
"Am I forgiven?" he asked huskily.
"Forgiven? It's an important word. After all you didn't commit any sin."
"But it's important for me to know that I didn't offend you" he insisted
"Ok then, you're forgiven. Are you happy now?" she asked
"Yes." he replied relieved.

"I hope I'll be able to make you taste some chocolat cakes tomorrow." she said as she pulled 4 plates in front of him. He saw a selection of desserts and Liz named them "1. Meringue with a lemon mousse. 2. Cake with cherries with cream. 3. Freezed cake with cinnamon and chocolate and 4. Pastry filled with toffee cream and pekan nuts.

Max looked at the desserts with envy "I'm very impressed"
"I'm happy that you are." she said with a smile.

She brought 3 spoons and a fork and she handed him a napkin. When their fingers brushed, Max felt like an electrical jolt and his heart raced in his chest. Liz should have felt the same cause she jumped and ran to the fridge. "Here a sorbet to rinse your mouth between each dessert" she said quietly.

Max looked at the cakes and sighed "I won't be able to choose" he said but he regretted his words meaning so much his state of mind.
As Liz was busy beside the fridge, he didn't see how she reacted at his words. She turned around and came beside him with a smile "Life will choose for you."

*Ok, she had understand everything.* he thought. He looked at her seeing her when she sat as far as she could from him with her notebook and pencil. Max was excited to taste those succulent desserts under the gaze of a woman...a succulent woman.

He took a spoon and tasted a bit of meringue. Slowly he put it into his mouth, he kept it a while, sucking it with his tongue then swallowed it with a satisfied sigh.

Seated in front of him, Liz was staring at him, waiting for his reaction. She couldn't help but mimicing him, when he was chewing, she was chewing, when he swallowed, she swallowed.
"Very good!" he said. a

He took a pen and wrote *dessert n°1 - sweet, creamy and sensual*

He took a spoon of sorbet and pulled the second plate. With his spoon he tried to take the cherry but failed, so he decided to take a big bit of the cake and swallowed it all, his eyes locked with Liz's eyes. But the cherry was jammed in his throat, he tried to cough to help it to go out and Liz gave him a glass of cold water.

When he swallowed, he took his pen and wrote *dessert n°2 - to savour without hurry*

Once again, he took a spoon of sorbet and then the 3rd plate "Ahh, the chocolate now!" he said.

He took his fork and cut a bit of the cake. He swallowed it and sucked it with his tongue slowly, his eyes always locked with Liz's eyes. She seemed captived and licked her lips with her tongue. Max followed her little tongue and forgot what he was going to write, he was like hypnotised and felt his body react to her sensuality. He was consumed with desire, desire that any sorbet could sooth.

But soon, he realized that he misunderstood what she was doing cause she was showing with her finger his upper lip. She was trying to tell him that he had his mouth was smeared with chocolate, he understood it all of sudden.
He wiped his mouth with the napkin but she shook her head, he did it again higher but she kept shaking her head and laughed "Wait, I'm helping you."

She stood up, took the napkin and wiped the corner of his lips, he was unable to make a move. He stared at her, he had the fierce yearning to catch her and to have his way with her, here in her laboratory. Without knowing he caught her wrist.

She straightened and tried to step back, she was panting "Please let me." she pleaded.

He let her go reluctantly.

"Some water?" she asked with a trembling voice.
"Oh yes" he said "the coldest you can give me." he added with passion in his eyes.

Since she was filling his glass, he took his pen and wrote *dessert n°3 - sweet outside, burning inside."

Liz put the glass of water on the table and walked to her booth. Then, there was only one dessert left. Max didn't use anything to taste it, he took it in his hand and bit it. The cream leaked on his finger, the pastry melted in his mouth and the toffee ran in his throat. He let escape a moan of pleasure. He ate all the dessert and began to lick his finger when he caught her look.

Her eyes were dark with desire as she stared at him licking his finger and once again his body reacted. He wondered if he would spend all the week like this, his body aching to possess her. He was lost in his thoughts when she talked.
"I bet that it's the dessert you prefered." she said with a bright smile.
"Ye..yes" he said and went to wash his hands.

"But it's the most expensive."
"Oh"
"We could ask to the Toffee Co to sponsor the dessert, but even if they agreed, you couldn't make any profit with this one." she said

"I'm disappointed but that's true." he said sadly. He took for the last time his pen and wrote *dessert n°4 - desirable but unreachable.*

"Tomorrow, you'll taste some cakes with chocolate." she said as she scratched herself discreetly.

"Do you always have allergies?" he asked and she nodded.

"I'm the best scratcher of the world" he offered.

"I'm sure." she replied shyly. "We're done for today.If you have something to do, you're free."

He put his hand on his stomach laughing "I'd like to burn all the food I've eaten. If you know how...." he stopped talking when he saw Liz frown. He should have shut his mouth, in this hot atmosphere, every word could be understood other wise than what they really mean.

"I better go before I said something I could regret." he said looking at his paper. He took a look at what he wrote since he tasted the desserts " sweet, creamy and sensual....to savour without hurry....sweet outside, burning inside....desirable but unreachable" he didn't need a psychiatrist to guess where was his head at that moment.

He looked up at Liz, she was staring at him and their eyes locked. Unable to resist, he made a step toward her.......

TBC..IF YOU WANT IT.......................................................

[martine]

Chapter 8

"Maax!" she moaned

Poor Max, he didn't know if she wanted him to kiss her or if she was upset by his behavior. He chose the first, and before she could flee, he grabbed her and pulled her against his chest. Then he swooped down on her lips and devoured them, the same way he devoured the pastry earlier.

Liz was too surprised and as her lips were parted, Max slid his tongue into her mouth and tasted every recess of it. He couldn't get enough of her, he couldn't stop kissing her, his hands were stroking her sides.

Without doing anything, Liz was driving him nuts. He grabbed her ass and pulled her against his erection, rubbing himself against her heat. If Liz had doubts about the effect she had on Max, she hadn't anymore.

She was on fire, wrapping her hands around his neck, sliding her fingers into his hair, she pulled him closer and let her tongue invade his mouth to duel with his. He groaned "Liiz!...I want you Baby!"

But his words made Liz come back to earth, she realized where she was, what she was doing! Geez, Max began the game, and he was too gorgeous...too sexy...for her to resist.

When she pulled away, Max groaned again "LIIIZZZZZZZZ! NO, Not again!" he pleaded. But Liz continued to push him and walked out to her chair and fell down on it, panting. Max came beside her, he couldn't let her go, he wanted her like he never wanted a woman before.

He took her chin in his fingers, tenderly "Liz, why? You know that I want you, and I'm sure you feel the same.." he began.
"I'm sorry, Max, but I can't..."
"It's not because you still believe that I'm married! you know now that I'm not..." he cut her off. He was angry with her, she couldn't continue to push him away this way, that was a torture for him.

"I know that you're not married Max, at least, you told me that...No, no...I believe you" she said when Max opened his mouth to argue. "Max, even if you're not married, you have someone in your life. My life is messing and I can't be with you that way..at least not yet..." she tried to explain to him.

Max looked at her, if she couldn't be with him, it would have something to do with a boyfriend...maybe that assistant of her...What other reason she could have to push him away. He saw the desire in her eyes, he felt her body shivering in his arms "Liz, may I ask you a question? Your assistant..." Unable to restrain himself, he had to know if she didn't want to be with him because of that man, in the same time he couldn't admit that another man could touch her or kiss her the way he was doing.

"Nick?" she cut him off surprised to hear Max mention her assistant.

"Yeah...He's from Roswell too?" he asked.

She shook her head "No, he's from Ohio. Why that question?"

Ignoring her question, he continued "It's far from Roswell, no?"

"We met at college Nick and I" she explained.

"Oh...." he whispered "And who followed the other? If I'm not indiscreet..."

"No, you're not." she said as she began to clean the table "When Simon offered me that job, he told me that I could hire an assistant. As I kept in touch with Nick, I told him about the job and he came here." she said finishing to clean that table. She needed to do something with her hands if she didn't want to jump on Max.

*I can't be disappointed* Max thought *I can't blame him to have a good taste either!* after all the single men he saw around Liz, she had made the best choice with Nick.
"There is..humm...it seems to me that there is not a lot of men as...how to say it?....interesting as Nick, is it?" after the way he behaved earlier, he owed him that compliment.

The noise of a ironplate falling down on the floor made him startle and when he looked into Liz's eyes, he saw lightnings blazing in her gaze "Mr Evans, I have any intention to talk about Nick with you!" she replied roughly.

Max kept silent. The relationship between the burning Liz Parker and her assistant should have some problems. That was certainly the reason why Liz responded so fiercely to his kisses.

The plate in her hands, Liz walked out toward the door. When she opened it, she turned around and looked at him ironicaly "Good bye Mr Evans, I hope you'll sleep better."

And she stepped out without another word. Max cursed himself, once again he behaved like a stupid man, but he had some excuses. He came here in Roswell without knowing that he would fall for that petite brunette who drives him crazy.

In the afternoon, Liz went to visit her grandma, maybe the old woman would help her to see clearer in her heart. But she found her grandma sitting on a chair, sad "I don't know what to do about the sale Liz" she said sadly.

"You have time Grandma to reflect about that sale" Liz said with a bright smile trying to hide her anxiety.

"I'll be less sensitive when I'll be gone." she added

"Certainely" Liz said flatly.

"My friend Charlotte pretends that, yesterday, you were at the druggstore. She said that you were talking with a weird man." she said trying to wake up her granddaughter.

"A weird man? She was definetly referring to her son Colin"

Claudia burst out laughing "I don't think so....Ok, spill.."

"I've nothing to say" she said pretending to be serene, but her grandma was not a kind of women you could trap, she raised her eyebrow and stared at her sharply.

"Ok, it's nothing but I know that you want to know everything. His name is Max Evans. He's our client I've told you about the last time. I have to create for him...for his coffee shops a cake. That's all." she said avoiding her gaze.

"Ooooh! And you know him since long?" Claudia asked, she was aware that her granddaughter was hiding something from her, she didn't want to push but Liz deserved to be happy. If that man.....

Liz couldn't help but blushed "He almost crashed into my car, yesterday morning, in the parking lot of the company. After that, I ridiculized myself falling down and straining my ankle, he carried me away inside of the building and...."

"He ...carried you!" Claudia cut her off.

"Yes." she said softly and her heart skipped a beat when she remembered what happened. "That's the way I found out who he was. The famous restaurants's owner I was supposed to impress with my cakes."

"WHAT A NEWS! For someone which had nothing to say...Forgive my curiosity, Honey, but did you impress him with you delicious cake with that banana cream?" she asked

"He hates bananas"
"Oooh"
"Yeah, but he's fond of chocolate."
"Oh, that's why you're scratching yourself!" she said sorry for her granddaughter.

"He's a very exacting client, and I'm not really well inspired to create the dessert of his dreams."

"Don't worry, you'll be"
"I hope."

"So your meeting at the druggstore was pure chance!" Claudia asked again
"Absolutely! I was talking with Colin about my allergy since Mr Evans was buying a toothpaste. As my ankle was hurting, Colin's father gave something for the pain and Colin said that I couldn't drive because of the treatment. It makes you sleep." she explained.

"Let me guess what happened next...." Claudia said excited "Colin asked you for a ride"
"Exactly."

"Whaou, maybe he's smarter than I thought."
"However, giving that Colin had not finished to work, Mr Evans took me back home."

"Is Mr Evans a single man?"
Liz sighed deeply "Sort of.."
"Separated?"

"No, he is reflecting about a proposal."
"Oh yes? Are the women taking the men's role, now? I know that things changed but I didn't know that things could change talking about men and women's relationship." she said. She was scrutinizing her granddaughter

"So now you're friends since you told each other your private life." she asked pretending to be innocent.

Liz swallowed and coughed, she blushed again and cleared her throat before she could answer "Friends is a big word, we just talked casually"

"Before or after he began to woo?"
"I don't think..."

"Honey, I'm not an idiot! You know that you can tell me everything."
Liz sighed "After."

"Liz, do you have an affair with him?" Claudia asked seriously
"No."
"But would you like to have an affair with him?"

Liz contemplate the idea, she was hesitating and her silent made her grandma understand that there was something between Liz and that Mr Evans.

All of sudden, Liz sat on the floor. She was exhausted to fight, she was tired of the mess her life was. Tears flowed from her eyes and she was unable to stop them.
"I don't know" she whispered "I don't know where I'm anymore."

Claudia sat beside her and pulled her into her embrace "Shhh, Sweetheart. I've never seen you cry for a man before, at least not for a man you just met."

"That's the problem, Grandma" she mumbled "We're attracted one to the other. And yet, I'm convinced that he's not the good one for me, even if he was not engaged...I mean he's too arrogant...too sure of himself....he has a incredible charm...he's too gorgeous. But the most important is that he's too arrogant." she said

"And Kyle Valenti, no? You don't think that he's arrogant."

Liz sighed angry."Ah bravo! That Charlotte is a gossip, she hasn't spare any details I see."

Claudia nodded "Absolutely any details! Honey, I don't want to interfere in your private life, but Valenti is a player, he only used women for his pleasure." she said worried

"No Grandma, Kyle is not that bad guy."
"Sorry Liz, but you can't go out with a man only because he's not that bad guy!"
"At least, Kyle is living here, in Roswell."

Claudia put a finger under her chin, lifting her face "You're not destined to live in Roswell all your life!"
"I've no intention to leave Roswell, Grandma" she retorted angry to see that Claudia could think that she could leave her alone.

"I know that you're thinking about me, Liz, but you have a life to live, you have a future..." she said kissing her tenderly.
"I can't stop thinking about that future, and I'm sure that I have any future with Max Evans!" she said sadly

"Don't be so sure, Liz, nobody knows his future"
"He's going to get married Grandma." she insisted

"He is not in love with that woman, Liz. Maybe he don't know it, but he don't love her."
"How do you know that?" she asked

"If he was in love with her, he wouldn't need to reflect about her proposal. She wouldn't need to propose, he would have already married her. He just want to waste some time before he says her no." she explained quietly.

But Liz refused to let Claudia convince her "We're not meant to be together" she said stubbornly.

Her grandma wiped her cheek "So why do you cry?"

Liz refused to admit that she had feelings for Max, she was too scared to see in the bottom of her heart, mostly because she was certain that Max would leave Roswell and break her heart in the same time, if she let him do it.

She left her grandma's house and drove to her place. She was just opening the door that she heard the phone ring, she ran to pick it up....
"HE....LLLO?" she said panting

"Liz? I want to know your measurements" Maria asked without wasting time to welcome her.
"At once?"

"Yeah, my milliner is on the other line and she needed them at once."
"Okaayy, wait a second I have to look for..."
"Hurry up Liz, all those long distance calls are expensive!" she cut her off

*And your wedding it doesn't cost anything?* she talked to herself as she switched on the light to take the tape measure.
"Are you ready to write?" she asked to Maria
"Ready"

She pulled up her top and slid the tape measure around her breasts, as she didn't wear a bra she was almost sure to have the good measurement "eighty five" she announced
She lowered the tape measure to her waist "fifty two"

"THAT DISGUSTING!" she heard her best friend yelling on the other side

Liz unfastened the button of her short and twisted to pull it down to her ankles, then she slid the tape measure around her hips "eighty" she said
"I HATE YOU!" Maria yelled again.

Liz laughed "Is that all what you want?"
"Yes...NO! Try to not come to late to the repeat."
"No problem. Is it still salmon for the dresses?" she asked

"Of course! You'll be gorgeous most of all the the ribbon in your hair!"
"NOOO! I won't come if I have to put a ribbon on my head." Liz protested

"Don't worry, you'll be beautiful. Ok, I'm leaving now, I've a ton of things to do. By the way, did you find your hero?" she asked

Liz was putting the phone between her ear and her shoulder to pull up her short when she suddenly stiffened like a statue: Max Evans was standing at her front door and his amber eyes were locked on her. She knew that he was there during all her conversation with Maria, he had seen everything.

She felt like if blood had left her face, she was going to faint "Good bye, Maria." she whispered "I hang up and I kill myself"...

TBC..IF YOU WANT IT....................................

[martine]

Chapter 9

Lesson 6: Jealousy is the shorter path to reach a man's heart.

Liz hung up the phone and straightened her short, she was so eager to fasten it that her fingers were trembling and it was quite impossible to do it, she gave up and pulled her shirt down.

Thinking that she was more or less suitable, she breathed deeply before she looked up, praying that Max would have disappeared...but he was still there.

She straightened herself, put a fake smile on her face and walked toward to open the door "Good evening." she said as if nothing happened.

Max was staring at her, unable to erase from his memory the image of the half naked goddess waddling in her kitchen. He had looked at her for a very long time and his desire was overwhelming him.

"I understand now why your neighbour is always looking after you." he said with a smile.

"Do you want something Max?" she asked biting her tongue when she realized her choice of words.

*Yes, of course I want something...at least I want someone. YOU, Miss Parker.* he thought.

"I was passing by and I saw your car. I thought that maybe I could help you."

Liz crossed her arms on her chest "You were passing by? Really?"

"You won't make things easy for me, will you?"

"You're used to get everything you want and without any problem, Mr Evans, aren't you?"

"Not always, but it happens." he admitted frankly. "Actually, I didn't want to wait until tomorrow to apologize for the things I said about your assistant. I had no right to talk like that and you're completely right, it's none of my business."

She leaned against the doorframe, a smile on her lips "At last, we agree on one thing!"

"Liz, if you don't want me to come in, at least let me help you to carry those big boxes I saw in your car. I'll let it on your balcony."

If he could, he would have stepped in without waiting for her to invite him, to take her in his arms and kiss her breathless. He would like to do more if she let him, and picturing in his mind Liz with him naked in a bed made him growing hard.

He was lucky that she didn't pay attention to his lower regions. Actually, Liz didn't know why Max came to see her, he said that he passed by, but she knew he was lying, she wondered what was behind all of this. For now, she had to let him in, if he wanted to help her carrying those big boxes, so why not?

"Max, you can carry those boxes inside. I won't let you go without an ice cold drink after that."

He went to her car and took one box out, and stepped into the house. "Where do you want me to put it?"

"I have a second room that I've emptied for that. I'll appreciate if you can carry the box overthere."

Max did as she told him, but the box was very heavy and he felt the sweat flowing between his shoulders. He crossed the house and reached a beautiful room with yellow curtains and a match blanket *Liz's room!* he thought dreamingly.

Then he stepped in the second room, empty as she had said. "Put it anywhere along the wall." she said. There were 3 other boxes under the window. "What do those boxes contain, if it's not indiscreet to ask?"

"My grandma is moving away and she gave me all that she hasn't have the strength to throw out." she said as she showed him some of those souvenirs.

He was thinking about his own parents, he hasn't had enough time to visit them and he realized that time was passing by and that he was to busy to spend time with them.. *They would be fond of Liz...* he thought, but he pushed that thought away quickly.

*NO...Tess knew me, she understood me, she loved me...* he thought again but he couldn't help but stare at Liz, the petite brunette he couldn't get out off his mind. *A fragile beauty.* his father would have said.

He was loosing his mind because of Liz and yet she didn't do anything. That was his problem, she didn't flirt with him, she didn't cling at him or even try to turn him on...she didn't do anything and jet she drove him crazy with desire and more.

They continued to carry the boxes inside the house, then she invited him to sit down in the kitchen. "Ice tea?" she asked.

He nodded wiping his forehead with a tissue. "It's hot today."

He couldn't turn his ring around, his finger was swollen because of the heat. *If I don't marry Tess, I have to saw it off.* But he didn't want to think about that, he couldn't have a normal thought since he had met that tempting goddess.

"It's summer, of course it's hot. Please sit down." she said as she poured the tea in the glasses "Sugar?"

He shook his head no and drunk the tea trying to avoid to look at Liz's shirt. It was wet from the sweat and he could see her brown nipples right through the cotton, he felt his jeans get tighter.

She opened a window to let the air in and he saw her hair flowing around her, she was divine like this. Then she came to sit beside him, and her knees brushed against his involontary, she straightened herself abruptly making her breasts dancing under her shirt.

Max tightened his grip around his glass, then like in a slow motion he saw her push her hair, wet from the sweat, away from the nape of her neck. Her beauty was driving him nuts, he was staring at her with a dumb _expression on his face, unable to take his eyes off of her.

After that, she put some sugar in her glass and used her finger like a spoon then sucked it and drunk the tea. Fascinated, Max was following her every move. His heart was racing and he felt his jeans getting tighter if that was possible.

"Humm!" she moaned "That was good. I needed a cold drink." she finally said. "Max, I have to thank you for your help, without you I would have spend my night carrying those boxes."

Max was trying to move his fingers, they were paralysed by the tension. And as he was doing it, he could pretend that he didn't hear her moan. "Did you hurt yourself carrying those boxes, Max?" she asked softly with concern in her voice.

"Huh?..Oh, no! No, I was just trying to make them move, you know the heat....And I'm happy to have helped you. You have a beautiful house." he said.

"Yeah? I like it. Do you live alone? hum...I mean, do you live in an appartment?" she asked.

He was staring at her, he noticed the slip of the tongue and he was amused. "Yes I'm living ........alone..in an appartment." he said huskily.

"You travel a lot. A house would be a problem..I mean, you couldn't take care of a garden if you had a house." she was rambling under his stare.

He took a sip of his tea. "Tell me Liz...."

They were talking in a low voice, creating a soft and hot atmosphere.

"Yeah?"

He let his eyes roam her face, her figure and swallowed hard. "What were you doing when I arrived? A striptease?" he asked scrutinizing her.

"I....I was taking my measurements." she replied blushing. "My best friend is getting married in August."

She was uncomfortable under his gaze, once again their knees brushed and she straightened herself again.

"I've attended some weddings myself... Have you ever been the bride?" he asked interested.

"No..Always the bridesmaid. For me, a wedding should be in a total intimacy. If it happened to me, I would flee somewhere with my fiancee and come back married. And you?" she inquired wiping slowly the edge of the glass with her finger.

"No." he replied and he felt his heart racing "Not yet."

Liz nodded. "It's a big decision."

"Oh yeah!" he nodded too.

"A decision which changes your life."

"Yes..till death will part you." he said seriously.

"I'm sure that she's great."

"She is." he said looking at her.

"Beautiful?"

"Yes". Their eyes locked.

She drunk a sip of her tea "How long do you have known her?" she continued softly.

"Six years..."

She took an icecube from the glass and made it slide along her wrist. "It's good..........humm.... to know the person you want to get married too for a long time." she stated. "You see what I mean?"

Max felt his throat drying with desire *It is obvious that she doesn't know the effect she had on me, she's driving me crazy, she's killing me!* he thought. "Sure I see." he said but he wasn't sure to really see it. "You don't take a decision which will change your life thoughlessly." he added.

"The life of the other too." she said.

"Yes. You can't make a bad choice....you can't rush either, that could be the begining of a lot of problems."

"I completely agree with you." she nodded.

"You have to be careful and not follow your impulse....Like my fierce yearning to kiss you, for example." he said leaning to her.

"Good example..Yes, you're right, that could be the begining of a lot of problems like you said."

He put his hand behind her neck and pulled her slowly but surely into his arms. Her big doe eyes were full of surprise and uncertainity. He felt passion rumbling in his trembling body. Liz sighed and closed her eyes.

Then, he bent and took her lips like a thristy man who had found a fountain in the middle of the desert. She kissed him back, and tilted her head to give him better access.

He felt her surrender and lost his control, he wanted this woman more than he ever wanted anyone else, more than anything else in his life. He tightened his grip and deepened the kiss. He was ravishing her mouth with his tongue, pulling her lower lip with his teeth.

His hand came up and cupped one of her breast and he caressed her nipple through the shirt. Liz moaned, she slid her arms around his neck and pressed her body against his. She felt his erection against her belly.

Max was unable to restrain himself, he wanted to dive into her heat, he wanted to lose himself inside of her body.

But a ring tore in the air. Liz stiffened, he tried to kiss her again but she pushed him away. She jumped to her feet and ran to answer the phone. "He..hello?"

Max felt frustrated, he followed her and tried to pull her back into his arms, but she moved away. "I'm fine Kyle! No...no, I'm not out of breath."

He wondered who that Kyle person was? Another suitor certainly. He sighed. *How many men are after her? He's the fourth since we met, and she's not married yet?* he said more frustrated. She was lost for him.

"I was....doing my exercises!" she lied "Yeah, ok seven. I'll be ready. See you tomorrow Kyle." she said hanging up the phone.

"That was not Nick." he said rising his eyesbrow.

She looked at him irritated "NO. That's someone whom I have a date with tomorrow night."

He had heard that, and brushed his fingers through his hair. "I think I better go."

"I think so"

"I have to taste your pastry tomorrow morning, still ok for that?" he inquired.

"Of course. I....I hope that what happened here won't change your judgment. Our company is the only one able to satisfy you."

He was scrutinizing her, she didn't trust him. And yet, he hoped that she would find the perfect dessert, he wanted to give her all the chances to find it.

They were staring at each other. "I'm sure. I'm not too hard to satisfy Liz. If you wanted to try...." he said knowing that he wasn't talking about the same thing.

She stood in front of him, looking straight in his eyes with pride....her nipples pointing under his nose with the same pride, he was unable to move. He streched his hand out to her breasts, his eyes locked with her. His hand was mere inches from her nipple, but the challenge he read in her eyes stopped him.

He saw her smiling. He smiled too, turned back and stepped out the house......

TBC...IF YOU WANT IT...................................................................

[martine]

Chapter 10
Lesson 7: For the first date, give them a grade from 0 to 20 and the best will be your husband.

The next day, at the company, Liz understood that she didn't found the perfect dessert when she saw Max's disappointment on his face.

She made him taste 3 desserts with chocolate like he wanted, he liked them but...."Listen Liz, I see that the situation between us is not easy..I'd like to prove you _and to myself too_ that my feelings were not influencing my judgment. Look take your time, one week or a month if you need it...and bring me the perfect dessert, give it a name to attract the client and I give you my word that I'll sign the contract immediately with your company." he said looking her in the eyes.

Liz sighed heavily, she didn't know she was holding her breath..."Your offer is generous Max, but if you had told me that you wanted a chocolate cake, I wouldn't have wasted my time.

He bent his head, smiling uncomfortably. "Yeah...that's true..I like to try fancy goods, but...when I have to choose...."

"You return to your old goods" she finished for him.

Max's smile faded "Are we talking about the same thing?"

Liz didn't want to continue on the subject, she held her hand out to say good bye "Mr Evans, you're very kind to give me a second chance. I'll do my best."

They shook hands but something pricked her hand and she released his hand. "What happened?" he inquired worried.

"Your ring...it pricked me.." she said uneasy.

He looked at his ring and pulled at it with all his strength to get it off, but it didn't move an inch. His face turned red from the effort and he sighed frustrated. "Damn heat!" he mumbled.

"At least, you're sure that you will never loose it." she said ironically. "Look, it's like a tatoo with your skin" she added and walked out of the room.

She stepped out of the room, Max behind her. She met Nick in the hallway and sent him a smile. The 2 men shook hands and Nick turned around toward Liz "I hope that you'll have a great time with Kyle!" he said

"Thank you Nick." Liz said frowning. *Why in the hell, did he say that?*

"You didn't tell me what that Kyle guy was doing for a living." Max said when he stood behind her.

Liz tried to remember what Kyle did. "No, I didn't." she said to buy some time.

"So?"

"So what?"

"What does he do for a living?" Max insisted.

Not knowing really what he was doing, Liz blurted. "Business."

"Yeah? What kind of business?" he inquired again.

"Movies...He's in the movie business."

"In Roswell?" he asked dumbfounded.

"Humm.....No exactly, he goes here and there for his business."

Max looked at her, then shrugged. "Liz, I'm here for one week, and I want you to take your time to think about the dessert of the century." he said with a soft smile "I really hope that you'll surprise me and the market is yours, I'll meet your marketing director to sign the contract....I'll wait for you." he said locking his eyes with hers.

"You won't have any reason to come back after that..." she said in a neutral tone.

"No....any reason." he replied in the same tone but there was something in his eyes......

He walked out of the room but before he left, he turned around to look at her one last time. He shook his head and left.

*It's over. I won't see him again after he leaves Roswell.* she thought sadly. *He'll be a sweet memory to tell to my granddaughter later.* she said sighing.

A while later, she was on her way home. When she arrived there, she heard Sean yelling. "Is everything ok Liz?" and when he tried to get out of the hamac he fell down.

"Oh my G-d!" Liz started running trying to help him. "Sean...Sean! are you ok?" she asked shaking his shoulder, but he didn't answer. "SEAN! Can you hear me?" she asked again a little louder.

At last, he moved his head with a moan "Sean, it's me Liz? How do you feel?"

He had some grass on his face and seemed confused. "Where am I?" he asked.

Liz shrugged *What a question! Where could he be if he was in his mother's house?* "You're at home Sean, you fell down from the hamac...Can you move?" she inquired.

"I think so..."

She helped him to stand up, he turned his head to the right and to the left, moved his arms and his legs "Nothing's broken" he said relieved.

"I'm glad to hear.........AAHHHHHHHHHH!"

Before she could react, he had pulled her into his arms and put his mouth on hers. He smelt like beer and sweat..Liz pulled out of his embrace and wiped her mouth with her hand. "Are you crazy?" she yelled at him, hitting him with her bag.

He lifted his arms to protect himself. "Sorry Liz, I'm sorry!" he begged.

She stopped hitting him and put her hands on her hips. "Don't ever try that again Sean, I won't be only hitting you the next time." she threatened.

"I saw you last night kissing that man in your kitchen and I thought that I could try that too."

"What?? Are you spying on me?" she asked infuriated.

"NO...No, Liz, I swear!"

"You better stop lying Sean!"

"Liz, you window was opened and you switched on the light, I thought that you did it on purpose! To make me jealous!"

"Jealous??" She breathed deeply before she answered. She didn't want to hurt him. "I didn't want to make you jealous, Sean. You and me, we're friends. I haven't any romantic feelings for you."

"NO?"

She shook her head softly. "But I'm sure that there are a lot of women who would like to go out with you. I'm sure that if you worked and tried to take care of yourself you would find a nice girl to go out with you." she said.

"Are you sure?"

"I'm sure Sean." she stated.

He smiled. "You're right. I'm gonna take care of myself and I think I know a place where I might find work. Thank you Liz and I hope you'll forgive me."

"Of course, good luck Sean." she said as she stepped in her house.

There, she walked into her kitchen and sat down. She realized that she was seated on the chair where Max was seated last night. Thinking about Max made her remember how he had kissed her, he was like a starved man, he had held her tight against his chest and....no, she didn't want to give in to the strong feelings she felt when he helt her in his arms.*Anyways, I have a date with Kyle tonight and I have to forget Max Evans, he's not for me.* she thought when she opened the box she brought home from grandma last night.

She found a lot of cans, some sugar and chocolate and a bottle of malted milk. She put them in the cupboard and she when she wanted to get the others things she froze. *Malted milk? chocolate? maybe that's what I need to create the dessert for Max* she thought cursing herself for thinking about him again.*But it's not only about him. I might use this for a cake.*
She ran to her desk to look for the recipes she had kept for years. *I'm sure I have something with malted milk* she thought her hands were trembling when she was searching.

When she found it, she wore her grandma's apron .*Grandma, think about me and wish me luck!* she thought. Then she put everything on the table and prepared the cake feverishly.

She worked like for hours, mixing and tasting, when she was sure that that cake would be the "cake of the century" she put it in the oven. *Your dreams are coming true Mr Evans!*

TBC..IF YOU WANT IT........................

Chapter 11

Lesson 8: When the wine is pulled out, you have to drink it...

"It's me again.. Tell her that I've called...." Max said and hung up.

He had tried to call Tess every day, but her assistant kept saying that she was always busy, and that was getting his on nerves.

He admitted that he needed to hear Tess's voice to get out of Liz's spell, to stop all those nights without sleeping because of the petite brunette. He felt like he was helpless in front of her, he couldn't help but want her with all the fibers of his being, but it was not only about sex with Liz, his heart was always skipping a beat when he saw her.

*That's it..I'm going out if I don't want to go crazy because of that goddess. She didn't want me, she has lots of men who ran after her...and tonight....tonight....it's Kyle."

He opened the dresser and started to dress. The ring tore the tie a little his. *Damn ring!* he cursed and took the tie off. *I have to wear it, Tess is the best choice...* he said to himself, but he shook his head confused.

Looking into the mirror, he saw a smirk on his face. *Well, it's not in the pocket!*. He took his jacket and stepped out of his room. He climbed into his car and drove in Roswell through the streets.

Without knowing it, he returned to the house he already knew. He stopped the car and looked at the house, trying to picture Tess in the garden playing with their children. *Tess playing with children, search for the mistake!* he thought.

But instead of Tess, it was Liz's figure which came first in his mind. But this time it didn't feel wrong, it was easy to figure Liz playing with her children in the garden.

He climbed out the car and got close to the house, then he saw her, the owner he was sure. She was an old and pretty woman. "Hello!" he said.

She greeted him with a smile. "Hello". He thought that he had already seen her somewhere...*.Nah! Impossible, this the first time I am in Roswell!*
"Nice day! Can I help you?" she asked kindly.

"Yes, Ma'am. My name is Max Evans. One of my friends, Alex Whitmann, made an offer on the house, I wonder if I could see it."

The old lady looked at him and tilted her head. "You said Evans?"

"Yes Ma'am, Max Evans."

A bright smile came over her face. "With pleasure Mr Evans. Do you like a drink?"

AT LIZ' HOUSE

"Whoo hoo!" Kyle whistled when he saw Liz. He stared at her figure without shame. She was dressed in a black short dress with a row of little buttons that he was eager to open.

For a second, Liz regretted that it wasn't Max instead of Kyle she was dating, but she pushed the thought away.

Leaning against the doorframe Kyle continued to undress her with his eyes. "You know Liz, we can order a pizza and spend the night here..."

He winked at his car. "I have some good video tapes in my car, you'll like them. One of them is a.............you know what I mean." he said lowering his voice.

"I...see...Kyle....but no. Another time maybe, but tonight I'd like to go out." she said fastening another button of her dress.

"Ok, let's go." he said with a pout.

But when she stood infront of the big 4x4, she wondered how she could climb into this car without tearing her dress. She was pondering when she felt Kyle's hands on her waist, he lifted her and put her in the car, then he climbed in the car with a devilish smile.

Liz thought about Serena's warnings for a while then pushed them away. *He might have a bad reputation but he's an handsome guy* she thought.

"We're going to The Steak House, I hope you like this restaurant. Tonight, you can eat all that you want at the buffet for 7 dollars 95 cents only." he declared.

"Oh yeaahhh!" she pretended to be happy.

The restaurant was 5 miles from Roswell on the motorway. That was one of the best restaurant in the area. "I have not eaten a steak for years" she added, decided to enjoy the evening.

When they left, on their way to the restaurant, Kyle was singing loud and Liz sighed heavily when they reached it. He stopped the car in the parking lot, then came to open her door. He lifted her in his arms and let her slid slowly against his stoned body. Liz thanked him with a nervous smile and walked towards the restaurant.

The restaurant was crowded, the country music was very loud and Kyle was humming while the waitress led them to their table. He winked at the waitress while Liz was reading the menu then put his elbows on the table and looked around to see if he could find someone more interesting than his date.

"Have you already made your choice?" she asked.

"Yep! Rare steak and the buffet." he said fidgeting at the table.

She looked at him dumbfounded, maybe she should have chosen for a pizza at home. There, she could meet lots of people, her boss..Nick...her grandma....

"Miss Parker!! What a surprise!!"

*Shit..* she thought. Max Evans stood in front of their table and she wished that the earth would open and swallow her whole. But she had no other choice than talk to him

"Mr Evans.."

"Do you know him?" Kyle asked.

"Liz and I, we work together." Max explained for her

He held his hand out to Kyle. "Max Evans."

"Kyle Valenti."

"The same Kyle Valenti Liz talked about so much, I guess."

Kyle raised his eyebrows "Is that true?"

"Of course, it is." Max said with a bright smile.

Liz glared at him and he pretended that he didn't see it as Kyle continued."What did she say?"

"Mr Evans, if you don't mind, Kyle and I would like to be alone!"

"I'm sorry! I forgot my good manners. Mr Valenti, nice to meet you. Maybe we could talk about your business another time."

"Yeahhh! Of course!" Kyle said handing his card.

"A video tapes club! Congratulations Mr Valenti."

Liz glared at him. "See you soon Liz."

Then he sat down, at a table that was behind their table.

"He's cool." Kyle said.

"No as much as you think." she said infuriated.

"Sooo...You talked about me?" he began.

Fortunately, the waitress came with their orders and Kyle swooped down on his steak, but Liz's appetite was gone. She tried her best to forget that Max was sitting just behind them, but when Kyle went to the buffet, she saw that Max was staring at her, a small smile on his lips.

Kyle came back with a plate full of goods. He began to eat like a wolf and talk his mouth full. Liz was desperate, hoping that the sooner she finished that meal, the sooner she'll be at home.

Obviously, Kyle went for a second time to the buffet before he decided that it was time to leave the restaurant.

They left the restaurant at the same time as Max. "Did you enjoy your meal?" he asked polite.

Kyle nodded and Liz without answering headed to the parking lot. She only wanted to get back home.

Once again, she couldn't climb in the car and Kyle came behind her and lifted her slowly....very slowly....enjoying the view of her bare thighs. Liz realized that he didn't intend to leave her with a kiss on his cheek. "Cute!" he said.

"Very cute!" he repeated as he slid his hand under Liz's dress. She clenched her knees together and pushed his hand away. "Don't touch me!"

Kyle laughed. "Come on Baby! This seat is perfect for you to show me what I want to see. You'll enjoy it."

He put his hand on her bare thighs pushing the dress higher. Infuriated and desperate, she kicked him and he fell down. She pondered to jump out of the car but with her ankle it was hasardous.

"Kyle, I want to go home. Right now!" she said clenching her teeth.

Kyle jumped up and walked slowly towards her. He was certain that he would have her tonight, his smile was nasty. "Come here little tiger....OUCH!"

Dumbfounded, Liz saw Max. His face looked like a stone mask. He was holding Kyle's arms and was twisting it to his back. Kyle was trying to lessen his grip wiggling.

"Let me go!" he yelled at Max.

Max stared at Liz "Go to my car. I'm driving you home."

"But..."

"GO!"

She climbed out of Kyle's car and headed to Max's. When she turned around, she saw that Kyle was on the ground and Max was above him. She couldn't hear what he was saying, but Kyle's kept silent.

Then Max came to his car. He opened Liz's door and climbed in the car.

"Max..I............."

"Keep quiet Liz."

"I just wanted to thank you.."

His face softened. "You don't have to thank me." he said as he started the car. The drive was silent for 2 miles. Liz has been humilated and she was hurt, and yet she talked the first. "I'm happy to have met you at the restaurant." she whispered.

"So am I."

"You won't believe me, but I wanted to make a pause today.....And I created the chocolate cake of your dreams." she blurted

"Did you cook it at your home?"

"Yeah!" she replied looking out the window. "You would have tasted it tomorrow in the laboratory."

"But as I'm driving you home...."

"You could taste a little tonight."

He kept silent for so long that Liz thought about to repeat her invitation, she didn't have time to open her mouth. "Great idea...The funniest thing it's that I'm still hungry."

Their looks locked for a while in the dark and Liz shivered. When they would reach her house, she would close the curtains, put the phone of the hook.. Cause nothing or nobody should interrupt....their tasting.

TBC...IF YOU WANT IT.......................................................