Perfect Timing (3 page)

T
he hospital's elevator doors opened and Maxi stepped in and pushed the button that would take her to the fifth floor. She thought about the woman she was on her way to see.

Bessie Johnstone was someone Maxi had known all of her life; a woman who had been her grandmother's closest friend. When Maxi's grandmother had passed away fifteen years ago, Bessie had made herself Maxi's surrogate grandmother. There was nothing Bessie wouldn't do for Maxi and vice versa.

Moments later when Maxi entered Bessie's hospital room she couldn't help but smile. A broken hip had rendered Bessie immobile, and from the expression on the older woman's face as she lay in bed looking out the window, she wasn't too pleased about being forced to stay in one place. Anyone knowing Bessie knew just how much getting around meant to her.

“Okay, you can stop sulking,” Maxi said, making her presence known. “It doesn't become you. Besides, this will teach you not to be hard-headed.”

Bessie made a snorting sound as she glanced at Maxi. “There was nothing wrong with me wanting to change that light bulb.”

Maxi frowned. “Yes, there was if you had to get on a ladder to do so. You could have waited for your neighbor Mr. Ellerby to come home. He would have gladly helped you. Or you could have called me. You know that I would have come by.”

“I don't like being a bother, you know that.”

Maxi nodded. Yes, she did know it. “You deserve to be a bother, Ms. Bessie. Look at all the things you've done for so many people over the years. I don't know a soul in Savannah who would not have come to your aid had you only asked.”

Bessie shook her head, knowing that was true. She had lived a long life and at seventy-four a number of people had touched her life and she had also touched theirs. Maxi Chandler was one of them. In her book, Maxi had always been a good child. Respectful to her elders, a good student and thoughtful and giving, which was evident by the beautiful arrangement of flowers she carried in her hand.

“Maybe my being here, although it seems I'll be laid up a spell, is for a good cause. I think I found just the right man for you, Maxi.”

Maxi grinned as she placed the vase of flowers on a table near Bessie's bed. Ever since Jason's death, Bessie had tried fixing her up with a number of “right” men. There had been Charlie, the painter, Aaron, the meat cutter, Paul, the shoe salesman, and Theodore, the man who had recently moved to town and opened a slew of dry cleaners.

“I think this one is special, Maxi.”

Maxi lifted her brow as she took the chair opposite the bed. She decided not to tell Bessie that was what she'd said of the others. “And what makes this one special?”

Bessie's face lit into a smile. “He has a child. He's a divorced man with a twelve-year-old son he is raising by himself. I think that will solve all your problems.”

Maxi sighed. She didn't have to ask Bessie what problems she was referring to. There wasn't any doubt in Maxi's mind that her mother had told Bessie about her visit with the doctor, so chances were Bessie knew of her pending surgery and what it meant.

“Just think, Maxi,” Bessie continued saying. “That's a way to get the child you've always wanted but can't have after your surgery. You know I never had any children of my own but raising Dasha and Martin was the next best thing. I never regretted ever having married Solomon and raising his children. In no time at all they had become my children.”

Maxi stared into space and after a few minutes she nodded. She knew from what she'd been told that when Bessie had been in her twenties, she had married a widower with two small children. Dasha and Martin, who were both in their late forties now and living up north, considered Bessie as their mother and would do anything for her.

“And after talking to the man,” said Bessie, breaking into Maxi's thoughts, “it's apparent that he's lonely and would love to meet a decent woman. Raising a child alone isn't easy, especially for a doctor.”

“A doctor?”

“Yes, dear. He's my doctor. Although he's a little older than what I had in mind for you—he's probably in his late thirties—I think he's the answer to your prayers and there's no doubt in my mind that you're going to like him.”

“Ms. Bessie, you know how I feel about your playing cupid.”

“Yes, but then you know how I feel about your being alone. Jason's been dead for four years. You need to move on.”

“I have moved on. I'm just not ready to get seriously involved with anyone yet.”

“But life's passing you by and so are rare opportunities for you to meet someone special. Now is the time for you to start seriously thinking about finding the right man for you.”

“And Mrs. Johnstone has taken the notion that I'm him.”

Maxi's head jerked toward the husky voice and her gaze met that of the tall figure of the man casually leaning in the doorway. She lifted a brow and decided she couldn't lie. He was extremely nice looking and the slow smile that spread across his face made her feel completely at ease—given their awkward situation. From what he'd just said, Maxi knew that Bessie had been feeding him a bill-of-goods about her just like Bessie had been doing her about him.

Faced with the inevitable, Maxi stood and crossed the room, offering him her hand in a warm greeting. “Hi, I'm Maxine Chandler.”

He took her hand and she noticed how warm it felt in his. “And I'm Dr. Reginald Tanner.” He released her hand but continued to look at her. The look in his gaze indicated he liked what he saw. “I've heard a lot about you, Ms. Chandler.”

Maxi chuckled. “I'm sure you have and Bessie has been telling me about you as well, Dr. Tanner.”

Now it was his time to chuckle. “I find that Ms. Johnstone is one determined lady when she makes her mind up about something.”

“Trust me, she is.”

“And I'm sure that you are aware that she won't let the matter rest until I ask you out.”

“Probably not.”

“So, Maxine Chandler, how about going to a movie with me this weekend?”

Maxi stared up at him, immediately liking him. No doubt Bessie had already obtained all the pertinent information about him besides his name, rank, and serial number. Knowing Bessie she probably knew something about every member of his family. Although the older woman was intense about fixing her up with someone, she took time to make sure any man she sent Maxi's way was law-abiding and God-fearing.

“I'd love to go to the movies with you.”

Dr. Tanner's smile widened. “How about if I pick you up Saturday evening around six. We can do dinner first and then a movie.”

“That's fine. Do you need my address?”

He chuckled. “No, Ms. Johnstone has given it to me already. Several times in fact.” He straightened his stance from leaning in the doorway. “I have to continue making my rounds so I'll see you on Saturday.”

“All right.”

And then he was gone.

“Well, what do you think?” Bessie asked from behind Maxi.

Maxi turned around and faced the older woman. “He seems nice.”

“He is and he's also a good doctor. He's taken good care of me since I've been here but like I said earlier Maxi, he might be just what you need since he already has a child—a child who from what I gather needs a mother.”

Maxi's expression was reflective as she thought about the man she'd just been introduced to. A part of her looked forward to Saturday.

 

“This will be your first cruise?”

Maxi looked across the table at Reginald. He had taken her to a nice restaurant in Savannah that was known for its seafood. She had just finished telling him about her ten-year class reunion cruise and her plans to go. “Yes, and I'm looking forward to it,” she said smiling. “It will be so good seeing so many classmates again.”

He nodded. “How do you like being a college professor?”

Maxi took a sip of her wine before answering. “I really enjoy it. I always wanted to become a teacher but I didn't decide on a career on the college level until later.” After a few moments her expression was thoughtful when she asked. “And do you enjoy being a doctor?”

He smiled nodding. “Yes. My ex-wife Margie and I are both doctors so it made our married life kind of hectic, but being a doctor was all I ever wanted to be. I enjoy it immensely.” His smile widened. “And it affords me the opportunity to meet people like Ms. Johnstone. She's quite a character.”

Maxi couldn't help grinning. “Yes, she is.”

Dinner was good and Maxi and Reginald continued to engage in pleasant conversation. He told her about his twelve-year-old son and how he was adjusting to Savannah, after having moved from Connecticut a year ago.

Outside, as they were leaving the restaurant, the night air was kind of chilly and Reginald placed his arm around Maxi's shoulder as they walked to his car. “I'm enjoying your company, Maxine. I usually don't take time to enjoy myself like I'm doing tonight. Now I find I'm in Ms. Johnstone's debt.”

Maxi smiled thinking she was in Bessie's debt as well. Reginald truly seemed to be a nice person. He was a great conversationalist and had kept a steady flow of dialogue between them all evening. She was surprised to learn that although he appeared to be in his late thirties, in actuality he was forty-two. The only thing she'd noticed that bothered her was the number of times he mentioned his ex-wife. From what he'd said earlier, they had been divorced for two years yet Margie Tanner's name had crept into their conversation numerous times.

The movie, a new Eddie Murphy comedy, had kept them laughing. Afterwards, they decided to stop by a café for a cup of coffee before heading home. It was a little past midnight when Reginald walked Maxi to her door. Since they had just finished drinking coffee there was no reason to invite him in. Besides, although she had enjoyed his company, Maxi was tired. She had helped out at the church earlier that day in their food drive.

“Thanks, Reginald, for a delightful evening. I enjoyed myself.”

He smiled. “I enjoyed myself as well. Maybe we can get together again soon. I'm working next weekend but I'm free the following weekend. Can I call you?”

“Sure.”

“All right.” He softly seized her hand then leaned down and brushed her lips with his. His kiss was light at first then after a few moments it became hungry. Maxi quickly pulled back when he boldly deepened the kiss. She was not ready for the level of intimacy he was about to take the kiss to. “Goodnight, Reginald.”

He looked down at her and for a moment she wondered if he planned to try and kiss her again. For some reason the look in his eyes said he was thinking about it. Then after a few moments he said. “Goodnight, Maxine, and thanks for a wonderful evening.”

Maxi watched him walk back to his car before opening the door and getting inside.

 

The following week while out shopping at the mall for clothing to take on the cruise, Maxi ran into Reginald. He was with another woman and a boy who appeared to be eleven or twelve. She knew without being told that the boy was Reginald's son. The resemblance was uncanny. She found out later, after introductions were made, that the woman was his ex-wife.

“Margie decided to surprise us and come down for the weekend,” Reginald said to her in way of an explanation. The expression he wore reminded her of a boy who'd gotten caught with his hand in the cookie jar.

Maxi nodded, figuring he really didn't owe her an explanation, nor did he need to feel guilty about anything. They had dated that one time and although he'd definitely shown signs of being interested in her, she had picked up on the fact that he still had feelings for the former Mrs. Tanner. So to Maxi's way of thinking, Margie Tanner had nothing to fear and was definitely wasting her time with the icy coldness in the gaze she was giving her.

“I'll call you,” Reginald said softly breaking into Maxi's thoughts.

“Okay,” she responded, although she had a gut feeling that he wouldn't, but then she knew it would be for the best if he didn't call her. Although she had liked him, he had issues he needed to resolve before becoming involved with anyone.

Dismissing him from her thoughts, she continued her shopping. She had to believe that somehow things would eventually work out for her.

C
hristopher was on his way out of the office to join Gabe for lunch when his phone rang. “Yes, Mary?”

“You have a call from a Ms. Smithfield, sir.”

Christopher smiled as he checked his watch. “You can put her through.” He then sat back down in his chair, relaxed. Tori Smithfield was a journalist for CNN who traveled around the country quite a bit. They had met three years ago while she'd been in Detroit on business. Their one night stand had led to numerous others after that, and she made it a point to always look him up whenever she was in town. She had a body that was stacked in all the right places and knew how to use it, always giving him intense sexual pleasure. And that was just what he needed. He hadn't slept with anyone since Pamela and that was almost three weeks ago. He was beginning to get that constant ache in his lower mid-section; a sure sign that he was overdue for a tumble between the sheets.

“Christopher?”

His smile widened at the sound of the ultra sexy voice. It had been six months since he'd last heard it. “Tori, I take it that you're back in town.”

“Yes,” the sexy voice responded. “I got in yesterday. I should have all my business finalized by tonight and was wondering if I could see you. There's something I have to tell you.”

He raised a brow, curious. “All right. Are you staying at the Hilton?”

“Yes. I'm in suite 410. Can we get together about seven?”

“Yes, that won't be a problem. Do you want to go to dinner?” he asked her, then got turned on from the sound of her small, sensuous chuckle when she responded. The ache in his mid-section deepened.

“Let's decide when you get here.”

Christopher bit back another smile. Talking was the last thing on his mind. “Sounds like a winner. I'll see you later.” He leaned back in his chair after hanging up the phone. Tori was something else and no doubt she would make his evening unforgettable as usual.

 

Tori took a deep breath, ran a quick caressing hand through her short, curly hair and stepped back to let Christopher enter her hotel room. Closing the door behind him she turned and let her gaze move over him from head to toe. He was a fine specimen of a man and perfect by her and most women's standards.

She knew a man as good looking as Christopher could have any woman he wanted—and probably did. But she was of the opinion that she could compete against any of those women mainly because she wasn't a threat. What the two of them shared whenever they saw each other was hot, mind-boggling sex with no strings attached.

Although she didn't know a whole lot about Christopher's past, she knew from the one time they had spilled their guts after having too much to drink one night that like her, he had been born illegitimate and also like hers, his mother had been the town's slut. In fact it had been one of her mother's boyfriends with whom she'd had her first sexual experience at the age of sixteen. Her mother had almost flipped when she'd discovered that Rick Dover had been bedding both mother and daughter.

“You look good, Tori,” Christopher said, as he pulled her into his arms.

“And as always, so do you,” she replied as a slow smile touched her lips.

“So, what do you have to tell me?”

All thoughts of telling him anything had fled her mind the moment he had taken her into his arms. It had been six months since she had last seen him and she didn't want to waste time talking. Taking his hand she led him over to the bed. “We'll talk later.”

The smile he gave her let her know she didn't have to make the suggestion twice.

 

Christopher rode her like a madman yet she refused to put an end to such excruciating pleasure. This was high-intensity lovemaking, uncontrollable sex and her body jerked again, for the third time that night, as the pleasure inside her reached its maximum exploding point.

She screamed out with the force of her climax from a throat already raw from earlier screams, as she clawed at his shoulder, his back, and his buttocks, whatever part of him she could grab. She then felt his body reaching its own orgasm as he thrust deep into her one last time before finally collapsing on top of her.

As routine, he only lay on top of her for a few seconds before rising from the bed and going into the bathroom to discard his condom and put on a new one. She smiled. He took birth control seriously. He'd once told her that he had no intentions of ever fathering a child which was fine with her since she had no intentions of ever mothering one either.

She inhaled deeply. It had become her intention to tell Christopher that she had gotten married since the last time they'd been together. But once she had seen him and he had taken her into his arms, the only thing she could think about was making love with him. And now as she thought more about it, she decided that maybe she shouldn't tell him anything and run the risk of him ending the relationship they shared. There were some men of the mind not to be involved with a married woman and Christopher might be one of those men. He might not understand, nor even care that her husband, who was thirty years older, could not fulfill her needs in the bedroom and that the only reason she had married him was because he had money, lots of it, and being his wife afforded her the respectability she'd always wanted.

Moments later Christopher came out of the bathroom walking toward her naked with a body that was lean, sleek, and superbly toned. He was in outstanding shape, she thought, as he sat on the bed beside her. “So, what is it you have to tell me? he asked.

“Umm,” she murmured, still barely able to catch her breath as she thought of what she could tell him since she'd decided not to tell him that she had gotten married. Not when her body was primed to make love with him again. “That piece I was working on about Blacks living in Europe has gotten the attention of a major publisher.” At least that wasn't a lie.

He smiled. “Tori that's great news. I know you must be pleased about it.”

“Yes, I am.”

“I think that calls for a celebration. We'll order champagne with our dinner.”

She nodded. She had worked up an appetite. “Champagne with our dinner sounds fine.”

Tori was stretched out on the bed. Her skin was still warm, glowing and sweaty from the sex marathon they had just participated in. And just looking at her was turning him on again, which he was sure was her intention. He was tempted to give her just what she wanted again but decided they needed to eat. “I'll order room service while you shower.”

Tori nodded as she watched him cross the floor to the closet, slip into one of the hotel's courtesy bathrobes before walking out of the room into the sitting area to use the phone.

 

Christopher stared across the table at Tori and wondered what made women tick. Especially the highly independent, high-sexual-maintenance ones like she was. They were the kind who believed that they did not have to depend on a man for anything other than a good night of sex. That night when they had met at a business function, and their gazes had met across the room, he had known that she'd only wanted one thing from him like he had only wanted one thing from her. Once they had gotten to her hotel room they'd mated like two wild animals. Now three years later, nothing had changed. Between them it had all come down to sex. But then…wasn't that the same with every woman he came in contact with? Going on the class reunion cruise would do him some good since he intended to use that time to rest and relax.

“Why are you staring at me like that, Christopher? You're not thinking about taking me back to bed, are you?”

Tori's question brought Christopher out of his thoughts. A smile played at the corners of his mouth when he answered huskily. “Could you handle it if I were?”

She gave him a lazy grin. “I'd like to think that in the morning I'll be able to walk out of here to catch my plane and not have to be carried out on a stretcher.”

Christopher laughed. “Making love to you again isn't what I was thinking about although it sounds like a wonderful idea. I was thinking about the western Caribbean cruise I'll be taking.”

Tori lifted her brow and took a swallow of her champagne. “A cruise? For business again?” She remembered he had taken a business cruise to Alaska sometime last year, almost four months ago. It had been about the same time she had gotten married.

“No, this is strictly for relaxation purposes.” He saw no need to tell her that it was for his ten-year class reunion, guaranteed to give some of his former classmates the shock of their lives when they saw him.

“When is the cruise?”

“Next month.”

Tori gazed at him thoughtfully. An idea suddenly popped into her head. Umm, she wondered…It would definitely be a gamble but as far as she was concerned well worth the risk. She could tell her husband that she had to go on a cruise to cover a story. Chances were he would probably believe her since he was such a trusting man. “I haven't been on a cruise in a while. Would you like some company?”

She could tell from the look in Christopher's eyes that he'd been momentarily taken aback by her question. Their relationship had never been any other than what they spent in a hotel room.

He downed the contents of his wineglass, set it back on the table and slowly stood. “No, I don't think that would be a good idea.” He then checked his watch. “I have to go.”

Tori released a deep breath when she realized her mistake. The one reason their relationship had lasted for nearly three years was because of distance, no demands, no strings, no expectations. She'd never hinted at the possibility that she wanted anything beyond their chance meetings every four to six months.

Until tonight.

Her heart accelerated and she had a sinking feeling he intended this to be the last night they spent together. “Can I call you the next time I'm in town?” she asked as she watched him put on his jacket.

A faint smile tugged at the corners of his mouth, making him more handsome than ever. “Yes, you can do that.”

But Tori knew that didn't necessarily mean he would come and see her. She slipped out of her chair and walked across the room to stand before him. Rising on tiptoes she placed a light kiss on his lips. A hint of regret was in her smile. “Goodbye then, until the next time.”

He let his gaze linger on her for a few moments before saying, “Yes, until the next time. Come walk me to the door.”

She did and when she opened it they gave each other what she knew was a farewell kiss. She would definitely miss their quiet dinners, their intimate evenings—but more than anything, she would miss him.

She arched her body into his as he kissed her in an exchange that she would remember for a long time. Moments later when the kiss ended her hand reached up and her fingers rubbed softly against his cheek. “Take care of yourself, Christopher.”

“And you take care of yourself as well, Tori.”

He then stepped back and turned around to leave. Tossing one final glance over his shoulder, he walked down the corridor toward the elevator. Tori closed the door when she could no longer see his tall form.

Both Tori and Christopher were so caught up in their own individual thoughts that neither noticed the slow opening of another hotel room door, nor the small lens from a miniature high-powered camera that had captured their heated kiss on film.