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

vicinity of the university just to drop by and flirt with her when he could catch her in between classes. It had gotten to the point where she would dodge him whenever she saw him coming. He was intent on being the man to replace Jason in her life and had told her so on more than one occasion. What he refused to accept was that even if she was ready for anyone to replace Jason he would not be her top pick. The one thing she dreaded about this cruise was the fact that Ronald was somewhere on board. She knew it was highly unlikely their paths would not cross since they were scheduled to attend the same functions.
    Maxi’s current avenue of thoughts was interrupted with the ringing of the phone. Leaving the bathroom she moved across the cabin to answer it. “Yes?”
    â€œMaxi, hi, this is Mya.”
    Maxi’s face broke into a wide smile. “Mya, hey girl. It’s good hearing your voice. It’s been too long. How have you been?”
    â€œI’ve been doing fine.”
    â€œAnd how are Garrett and the boys?”
    â€œThey’re fine, too.”
    â€œAre you and Garrett all settled into your cabin?”
    â€œYeah, just about. What about you?”
    â€œThere’s been a mix-up with my roommate assignment but I’m hoping the matter is cleared up soon.” She decided not to tell Mya that she and Christopher Chandler had been assigned the same cabin by mistake. Being her best friend in high school, Mya had known about her infatuation with him during their senior year.
    â€œIf things aren’t cleared up you can always stay here in the cabin with me and Garrett. We have a suite so it’s plenty big enough.”
    â€œThanks but I refuse to impose on the two of you. Things will work themselves out. Are you and Garrett going to the welcome reception tonight?”
    â€œYes, you?”
    â€œYes, now that my bout with motion sickness has passed.”
    â€œGarrett and I have decided to stay in and order dinner in our cabin. How about if the three of us meet on the upper deck to chat before the reception starts? Let’s say thirty minutes before.”
    â€œSounds like a wonderful idea. I’ll see you then.”
    â€œAll right. I’m looking forward to it.”
    â€œSame here.”
    As soon as Maxi hung up the phone there was a soft knock on the cabin door just seconds before it opened and Christopher walked in. Her breath caught in her throat. Now that she was feeling better and could see more clearly, the hard jolt of seeing him hit her. He was an imposing figure, but not an intimidating one and was even more handsome than she’d thought earlier. She actually felt herself feeling weak in the knees and her jaw went slack. His sable brown coloring brought everything about him into focus. His cheekbones were sharply defined and made his mouth all the more fascinating and provocative. His eyes were deep, dark, riveting. And his nose was decisively masculine and blended well with the strength of his jawbone. The combination of all his features reflected his African-American heritage and was totally male. She tried to downplay the quivering tension that began coiling in her stomach.
    For years after he had left town she’d fantasized about him returning and how she would react if she were to accidentally bump into him one day on the streets of Savannah. But as time went by she knew he would never return and had accepted as much. She’d often wondered if he had remembered anything about the six weeks that they had spent working close together, sharing dreams and becoming what she had considered as friends. But when he’d left town without saying goodbye and never hearing from him again, she had accepted that the brief friendship they’d shared had meant everything to her but nothing to him.
    Christopher paused as he stood in the doorway, studying Maxi as intently as she was studying him. Again he wasn’t prepared for the sight of her.