Free Unacceptable Behavior by Morganna Williams

said matter-of-factly, “I came back for you, Maxine, and I’m going to reclaim everything that belongs to me, baby girl. You’re just going to have to learn to forgive me.”
    Another deep shuddering sob shook her frame. “I can’t. I won’t.”
    “Yes, you will, baby girl. You don’t have a choice. You love me as much as I love you,” he said, shushing her when she would have protested.
    Max let herself relax in to him for a moment; resting her head against him felt so right, but she knew better and she wouldn’t let him do this to her a second time. Firming her resolve, she stiffened her back, pushed out of his arms, and got to her feet.
    “I want you to leave,” she said quietly but firmly.
    “Maxine…” Rafe reached to catch hold of her again.
    “No!” Max looked up and straight into his eyes. “I can’t talk about this anymore tonight. I need some space.”
    She watched him struggle with his decision, but finally he nodded and she breathed a sigh of relief.
    “I’ll go for now, Maxine, but this is far from over.”
    Max had mixed feelings when the door closed behind him. Perversely there was a part of her that wished he’d argued to stay.
    Shaking her head, she poured herself a healthy shot of vodka, ignoring the sharp pain in her stomach when it hit. Soon the blessed relief of fuzziness would fog her worry-torn mind and she’d be able to sleep.

Chapter Nine
     
     
    Maxine studied the information on the screen while worrying her lower lip with her teeth. Could she really go through with this?
    Eight hundred dollars was a lot of money and would just about completely deplete her savings account, but another man was just what she needed to make Rafe think they were done. Too bad she had to pay for him, but then again, an escort made parting again much less messy. There was no chance the guy would think she was harboring feelings and she didn’t have to put too much effort into being nice since she was paying.
    She booked Javier for the night, having already decided that hiring him for the whole night was necessary to ensure the proper message was delivered. It had been tempting to just part with four hundred for three hours but at that hourly rate the full-night fee was a steal and really what she needed. It wasn’t like she had to actually have sex with the guy, unless of course she wanted to and then she would.
    Maybe she should; a good lay by an expert would surely drive all thoughts of Rafe Jennings and his sexual prowess right out of her mind. She had a while to decide; Javier wouldn’t pick her up till seven. Hopefully he would live up to his write-up and the pictures on the Dallas Escorts site.
    He was certainly gorgeous, tall with wonderfully broad shoulders and dark Latin good looks and his photos exuded a level of experience that should definitely give Rafe pause.
    She’d given instructions to the service that Javier was to greet her like they had an ongoing relationship rather than meeting for the first time. Max just hoped he was able to be convincing.
     
    * * *
     
    Rafe pulled up in front of Maxine’s apartment building geared for battle. As far as he was concerned, their reconciliation was a done deal. The fact that she’d tried to hold herself back was irrelevant because she hadn’t been able to; she’d given herself into his keeping lock, stock, and barrel once again.
    He stopped at the sight of a strange man standing at Maxine’s door, and his jaw tightened when she opened the door and was swept into the man’s arms for a penetrating kiss.
    “I’ve missed you, Javier,” she said in a throaty voice that made his blood boil.
    “And I you, my lovely Max.” The man’s deep voice held a rhythmic accent that he obviously used in his favor when seducing women. “I’ve made a reservation for us at 560; I thought you’d enjoy the night view of the skyline while we became reacquainted.”
    Rafe frowned; 560 was the restaurant at the top of Reunion Tower that revolved in a