Read Online Perfect Timing by Brenda Jackson - Free Book Online Page A

sky eating pizza and sipping Cokes, he had shared a side of himself that no one else knew. He had told her how he wanted to leave town and make something of himself and would work like hell to achieve that goal. She had said something to him that night that had forever touched him. “ Anyone can say what they want, but it will take hard work and sacrifices to actually get what you want. You’ll have everything you want, Christopher, because you are strong and determined. I truly believe that because I believe in you and what you are capable of doing .”
    She never knew how much her words had touched him. Throughout most of his life his dreams had been torn away from him. As a child he’d felt ashamed of who and what he was—the son of the woman who’d been known as the town’s whore; a dirt-poor illegitimate kid that none of the other parents wanted their children to associate with. And then after the scandal involving his mother and the mayor broke out, things had gotten even worse. He would never forget reading the newspaper headlines about the sordid, sleazy affair. But with those words Maxi had spoken to him, she had given him pride. Not only pride but hope and deep determination to prove her right by becoming successful.
    Although he’d left town the day after graduation without even telling her goodbye, he’d kept her words in the back of his mind all the while he’d worked part time while attending college full time. And later when he and Gabe had taken over Regency Builders and later after changing the name to The Regency Corporation, he had worked hard day and night to make it even more successful. So in a way he owed a part of his success to her.
    But a part of him didn’t want to feel beholden to anyone in Savannah, not even to Maxi. Sharing space with her was dangerous territory. That was the main reason he wanted her out of his cabin. Around Maxi he would need every ounce of his mental faculties. She had a way of making him not think straight. She had a way of making him remember things best left forgotten.
    His thoughts were interrupted when the bartender returned with his drink. “Is there anything else I can get for you, sir?”
    â€œNo, this will be it.” Christopher rolled his shoulders, aware of his tense muscles and wondering if he would get the relaxation on this cruise that he’d been counting on. For some reason he didn’t think so.
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    Maxi groaned upon waking, accepting ruefully that she had not dreamed the entire thing and that a mix-up in the ship’s computer had her and Christopher sharing a cabin…at least for the time being. Hopefully, he was getting the matter resolved and the ship would be able to accommodate her elsewhere.
    She stretched, wondering how long she’d slept. Whatever medication the ship’s doctor had given her had certainly worked. She was feeling much better. Getting out of bed she went into the bathroom to wash out her mouth and brush her teeth, knowing doing both would make her feel even better.
    Standing in front of the mirror she caught her reflection and thought of the situation she was presently in. Christopher Chandler . She shook her head incredulously. Of all people. But what she’d told him earlier had been true. She had been glad to see him and was glad he came. She hoped and prayed that during the last ten years their fellow classmates had matured, faced a few of life’s challenges of their own, and were beyond holding anything against Christopher because of his less than humble beginnings.
    She frowned. She knew for a fact that Ronald Swindel hadn’t changed. He was still the egotistical jerk he’d been ten years ago, and even after three wives he still tried coming on to her whenever she ran into him in town. For some reason someone had fed him the lie that he was God’s gift to women and he believed it. As a police officer he made it a point whenever he was in the