The Girl Behind the Counter

Chapter 10

"How is your aunt?" Michael asked when Maxie arrived at his place. "Much the same actually. I lied so you wouldn't worry, but there was a man watching the shop all day today." Maxie confessed. "What?! A man is stalking you and you think it's a good idea to not tell me?" Michael shouted. "It wasn't me he was watching! If it was he would've had plenty of opportunities to come in the shop and attack me or whatever terrible image is popping in your mind, but he only came into the shop once and left when I asked him to. He spent the whole day across the street watching the shop, like he was waiting for someone. Now, who do I know who might potentially have enemies that would take advantage of him leaving the safety of the Shelby sphere in order to lunch with his girlfriend? Hmm?" Maxie folded her arms across her chest while posing her hypothetical questions. "A creepy man hung about your shop all day and your first thought was of me?" Michael asked. "Of course Michael. I constantly think of you. If a car back fires my first thought is that you've been shot. I know you lead the kind of life where people are always going to be after you, but they'll have to go through me first." This might have sounded comical coming from such a petite girl, but she meant it with the upmost sincerity and Michael knew it. "God help the man who makes an enemy of you." Michael leaned down to kiss her. Michael walked over to his liquor cabinet to make Maxie her usual gin and tonic. "You still should have told me though, over the phone. Me and the boys would've come down there." Michael said while handing Maxie her glass. "And ruin a perfectly peaceful day for everyone on the block? You Peaky boys tend to leave a rather violent wake behind you." She defended her actions like the good business woman she was. "I still don't like it. That guy was watching you all day. I don't like that any of Falco's boys know where to find you." Michael was pacing the room. "This might be very inappropriate to say, but Falco is a pretty badass name for a gangster. It's got a nice ring to it. If That guy comes back to my shop I might just hop in his arms and run away with him." She teased. "This isn't funny Maxamiliana. I can't have you in danger for being close to me." Michael had stopped pacing just long enough to scold her, but soon resumed. "I don't think you have much of a say in all that, seeing as it's my decision to be close to you." All of the joking tone had left Maxie's voice. "That's not what I meant, I know you realize what kind of man you've gotten involved with, but still. If they were to hurt you I'd go mad. I'd go absolutely mad. I'd burn the whole of Liverpool to the ground." Michael had knelt down next to where Maxie was sitting and taken her hand in his. What he said might have sounded like a hyperbole if it had come from anyone else, but it was Michael who threatened it. Maxie could tell by the look in his eyes just how serious he was. "Why ruin a perfectly good city for me, eh?" Maxie stroked his cheek and then leaned in to kiss him. "Because you're my whole world." Michael answered. "That's not true. You have your family and your friends, and your business. I'm just new to your world." She faintly smiled. "And you've quickly become it." Michael added. While still kneeling he unbuckled her heels and removed them as gently as if they were coming from Cinderella's own feet. He then reached up and undid the garters holding up her stockings. Slowly he slid the silky material down her legs. "Seeing you on your knees is quite a refreshing change. It's a view I wouldn't mind getting used to." Maxie cooed, causing Michael to smile. He left a trail of kisses up the inside of her leg to her thigh, pushing her dress up when it got in his way. "Do a man a favor and just throw all of these out, they just get in my way." He growled while pulling at her drawers. "Yes sir." Maxie giggled, but her giggling was cut short by a gasp as Michael placed his tongue right where he knew drove her mad. "Shit." She sighed while leaning her head back. Hearing her curse urged Michael on. Maxie bit her lip in reaction to the sensation Michael was causing her. He looking up just in time to catch this and the imagine made him turn animal. He stood up, grabbed her face and brought it to his, while sitting down on the couch next to where Maxie was. His hold on her caused Maxie to shift into Michael's lap, straddling him. This was his favorite place in the entire world for her to be. Maxie quickly undid the tie that she herself had tied earlier that morning and moved down his core, taking apart buttons as she went. Then she nimbly moved to his belt and the zipper of his trousers. "Now look at whose pants are in the way." She teased while slipping onto her knees to be in the same position Michael had just been. Satisfied groans and longing moans contradicted one another as they left Michael's mouth. They both knew the little spots that drove each other wild and Maxie was currently hitting every single one of Michael's. "Fuck I can't take it any more." Michael groaned. He stood up, pulled Maxie up off of the floor, and pushed her against the nearest wall. "Shit, don't stop darling! Don't stop!" Maxie whispered into his ear as he held her between the wall and his body. She had her legs wrapped around Michael's waist and her arms around his shoulders. The wall was nothing more than a safety net. Really it was Michael who was her full support and she trusted every inch of him.
The next morning Michael set up a meeting with Tommy. "Tommy, would you mind letting me check out the new club in London? And then maybe taking a day or two off afterwards?" Michael asked his cousin. "That's not exactly your department Michael, why are you asking?" Tommy returned Michael's question with a question. "I need to get Maxie out of town for a few days. I'm not sure she's safe." Michael lowered his voice to tell Tommy this. "Why what happened?" Tommy asked with a surprising amount of force. All of the Shelbys had grown very fond of Maxie. "Yesterday some bloke staked out her shop. She said she thinks they were looking for me. I can't have Falco knowing where to find her so I want to get her away for a bit." Michael explained. "Fine, take her to London tomorrow morning. Take her to the club and ask her what she thinks of it, I trust her opinion. And take her out someplace nice too, not just some booze den. While you're gone I'll have the shop watched and make sure there isn't any trouble there." Tommy said. "Thanks Tommy I just... I just can't have her hurt." Michael whispered. "I know lad. Trust me, I know." Tommy knew painfully well. The idea to take Maxie to London had come to Michael early in the morning when he lie awake, unable to sleep. He watched Maxie peacefully breath in and out and in again as her darkened lashes rested against her soft cheeks. Every once in awhile he could see her eyes darting to and fro under her eyelids as she lived out some dream. She was so precious sleeping there in his arms. Normally Arthur took care of business in London, but the new club Tommy was eyeing was a good excuse to get Maxie out of Birmingham. Suddenly Michael's thoughts of Maxie resting in his arms were pulled away from him and he was brought back to reality. "Oh and Michael! Alfie Solomons will want an update on Falco while you're in town." Tommy reminded him. Michael had felt awkward in the presence of Alfie ever since he had shot one of his men. Yet, it was Jewish rum the Peaky Blinders would be moving through Liverpool so Alfie needed to be involved. "Relax. Take Maxie, she'll charm the prayer shawl right off of him." Tommy gave Michael a slap on the shoulder that was meant to be encouraging, but made Michael uneasy. He had hoped to never involve Maxie in Shelby Limited Business, but he knew she'd be a magnificent asset to the company. At lunch Michael told Maxie they'd be going to London. "Well this is a bit short notice." She replied. "Truth be told I've got some business down there and I'd like to take you with me until I'm sure things are safe here. Who is that girl who works in the shop part time on the weekends? Ask her to take over for a few days!" Michael smiled like he had it all worked out. "Liyana? She's just a kid Michael, she's barely out of school!" Maxie protested. "Which is another way of saying she isn't in school and is free to watch the shop! C'mon Maxie, I'm sure the girl would appreciate the extra hours. Plus, your Aunt loves her! She can look after her and the shop!" Michael suggested. "Alright, I'll give her a call." Maxie conceded and Michael gave her a grateful kiss. "Oh! And I don't know if you have a gown or jewels or anything from the whole being an aristocrat thing, but if you do I'd pack them because I've got a surprise for you!" Michael beamed with excitement.