The Right Time by Delaney Diamond Page A

the jewelry, but now he hesitated.
    Shaking off the indecision, he exited the room with the box and went to the lounge. He found her sitting alone at a booth, her wavy hair up in a loose knot on her head, looking as fresh-faced as she had when she woke up in his arms this morning. But there was a shift in her demeanor. The contentment was gone and a little wrinkle in her forehead hinted at her troubling thoughts. The knot of worry settled deeper behind his abs.
    Slipping into the booth, Ransom placed the gift on the table between them. Instead of showing gratitude or excitement, she parted her lips in obvious dismay—a clear indication the conversation was on a downward spiral before it even started.
    “That’s not exactly the reaction I expected,” he said.
    She briefly closed her eyes and slowly opened them. She appeared smaller, as if curling into herself, and her eyes were a dull, muted gray. No excitement in them at all.
    Ransom steeled himself for the coming talk, one he clearly wouldn’t enjoy.
    “I had a great time with you,” she said, staring at some point behind his head. She couldn’t even look him in the face.
    “But…?”
    “You’re leaving tomorrow, and it’s best that we…say our goodbyes here and now.”
    “So it’s over?” Ransom laughed, not really finding humor in the situation. He just needed a way to get rid of the nervous energy that threatened to overtake him. “We’re just done?”
    “Ransom—”
    “We had dinner plans. At least tell me why.”
    Shifting in the chair, Sophie stared down at the table and chewed on her bottom lip. A lip he’d spent an unreasonable amount of time kissing and sucking because he enjoyed its softness so much.
    “He’s here.”
    She spoke in such a low voice he leaned in to hear.
    “Your boyfriend?”
    She nodded.
    “He surprised you?”
    “Yes.” Her eyes flicked up to him.
    Ransom fell back against the seat, shocked but also angry. He fisted a hand on the table but really wanted to slam his fist through it. “He shows up and you drop everything.”
    “That’s not exactly what’s happening.”
    “Then what exactly is happening?” he demanded, voice coarser and louder than expected.
    She swallowed. “I don’t know what to say. This is very awkward for me. I had no idea he would come.”
    “You wanted him to.”
    “I did not. I ignored all the messages he left. I wanted time alone.”
    “Then explain why you’re ready to run back into his arms after you told me what an asshole this guy is.”
    “He came all the way down here to see me, and I can’t ignore that.” Her voice pleaded with him to understand.
    “And us?” Ransom asked, hating the strangled sound of his voice. Hating to even ask the question like a needy punk.
    “We barely know each other.” Her eyes searched his.
    Ransom acknowledged the truth of her words. He couldn’t even begin to try to convince her to leave someone she had known for years when they had only known each other for the whopping grand total of twenty-four hours. And yes, the sex was great, but great sex did not mean they were compatible in other areas.
    “You’re right.” He affected a smirk, to lighten the heavy mood and make her think he didn’t give a shit, that he hadn’t been contemplating keeping in touch and trying to see if they could work—even with the distance between them. “You’re a beautiful woman, Sophie. I had a great time with you. Your boyfriend is a lucky man, and I don’t blame him for coming here to surprise you. He probably figured you might run into a guy like me and he might lose you for good.”
    “I’m not exactly sure I’ve forgiven him.”
    “You will.”
    “So that’s it, then?” Her voice shook a little.
    “That’s it. Good luck to you.” He couldn’t take sitting there in front of her anymore, knowing he could no longer touch her. Knowing that tonight she’d be in another man’s arms so soon after he’d been thrusting inside of her, so deep he