Perfect Timing by Brenda Jackson Page B

when she would ask her questions. Her mouth had the most delectable set of lips that he had ever seen on a woman. They were full, luscious, and soft and he’d always imagined, kissable. Even now the sight of them was holding his gaze captive.
    â€œChristopher? What if no one does?” Maxi repeated, reclaiming his attention.
    Then I guess we’re stuck with each other for the next seven days . He felt a sense of panic surge through him as soon as that thought popped into his head. He didn’t want to be stuck with Maxi or any woman for seven days. That fact had become crystal clear in his mind when Tori had made the suggestion to join him on the cruise. He didn’t want any woman to invade his personal space and especially not the one lying on his bed watching him with those same gorgeous brown eyes he used to drool over in school. He needed to distance himself from Maxine Chandler and fast. Step away. Regroup. Get the hell out of there.
    â€œI’m sure they’ll find you adequate accommodations for the duration of the cruise,” he heard himself say as he slowly began walking backward to the door. “I wouldn’t worry about it. They should have at least one cancellation.” He opened the cabin door. “I’m going to go personally talk to the ship’s director. I’ll take it to the captain if I have to. Don’t worry about a thing. I’ll be back later.”
    He then quickly left the room.

CHAPTER EIGHT
    M axi released a deep breath, unaware she’d been holding it until the door had closed shut behind Christopher. A part of her wondered if she had just dreamed the whole thing. Was bad boy Christopher Chandler actually here for their high school class reunion?
    Although he’d always been nice to her in school, she had seen him in action with other students several times to know that he could be hell on a stick when he wanted to be. He’d carried a chip on his shoulder, a rather big chip; one placed there because of circumstances beyond his control and he had fought back the only way he’d known how. He had trusted no one and believed in nothing. And he had fought with a society that had scorned him. When he’d left Savannah a number of the locals had said “good riddance,” but she had sadly thought, “what a loss,” because during those six weeks they had spent working on their science project, she had gotten to know another side of him. It had been a side that had wanted to belong although he’d tried hard not to show it. And because of the time they had spent together and becoming what she thought of as friends, it had hurt when he’d left without saying goodbye.
    She couldn’t help wondering what he was doing after ten years. Was he still fighting society or had he gone on to make something out of his life regardless of his less-than-desirable childhood?
    Closing her eyes she began feeling drowsy again. She would let Christopher deal with getting them separate cabins since he didn’t seem too pleased with their predicament. Right now all she wanted to do was sleep. She would deal with Christopher Chandler when she woke up.
    Â 
    Nancy Watson, the cruise ship director, thought that even her worst days hadn’t prepared her for the likes of the man whose brooding dark eyes were boring into her. She held his gaze unswervingly, determined not to let him intimidate her any more than he already had. She had apologized for the computer mix-up at least a half dozen times but he still wasn’t satisfied. And telling him that there were no vacant cabins had only fuelled his anger.
    â€œMr. Chandler,” she said with smooth politeness, hiding with a plastic smile the aggravation that was eating her up. She refused to lose her cool, which could possibly mean losing her job as well. “I understand what happened has placed both you and Ms. Chandler in a very awkward situation. However, at the moment there is