Secrets

(yeah)

Riley had fully intended on just sleeping with Max being the end of her yen for him. She was a healthy woman, with healthy appetites, and he was a good looking guy, despite the dismal air. It had been that way plenty of times before. It even started that way. The first time she left, she was certain it had worked, like always. Until a few days later when she caught herself musing about him while waiting for a mark. She had been surprised to find herself back at his door. Again. And again, and again. Until she wasn't surprised and actually started to plan it. She didn't know why, tried not to question it, would just show up when she started aching to be around him, and leave again when she felt somewhat restored. She took great pains to keep her other lives, the real and the fakes, secret and separate. She also tried to lie to him as little as possible, meaning that she did tell the truth most of the time and only changed a few key details. It worked so far.

It was about time for her to make an appearance again, not that they could be predicted since they were truly random: sometimes close together sometimes farther apart, thought never more than a few weeks. Riley checked in her rear view mirror for followers and, finding none, did another roundabout trail just in case before reaching the docks and one boat in particular.

Max had just returned from selling his fish. He was perched at the front dock of his house boat, smoking on a cigar. His old dog was sun bathing in the back and got up,excited, tail wagging to greet their unexpected but welcome visitor.

When he heard his dog barking it brought Max back. He went to see what she was so worked up about, probably just a stray cat.

As his gaze settled upon her he felt himself close to smiling, not something he did. Max still wasn't use to being called babe, but from her he liked it. "Well well, welcome back."