Perfect Timing

by Brenda Jackson

  “What Garrett did was wrong,” his mother continued as she took Mya by the shoulders. “But as painful as it is, you and Garrett have too much history, too many years behind you, to let something like this come in and destroy such a beautiful relationship. And I know in my heart the two of you will work this out. It will take giving on both your parts.”

  The two women embraced then looked up a few moments later when they heard a sound behind them. It was Garrett. He looked at Mya, unsure of himself. He then spoke. “I was about to go over to Ben and Nina’s house to get the boys and was wondering if you wanted to ride over there with me?”

  Mya inhaled deeply, not sure she was ready to be alone with Garrett just yet. But then she knew they had to start somewhere. Things couldn’t continue like this. She couldn’t have his family feeling uncomfortable around them because of their situation. She nodded slowly. “Yes, I’ll go. Just give me a second to grab my purse.”

  At first, they rode the first couple of miles and didn’t say anything to each other. Then Garrett spoke. “Mark called last night. He’s been picked up by the Jacksonville Jaguars and he’s excited about it.”

  Mya nodded. “I’m glad. I know how much he wanted to continue playing football.” After a few moments she then said. “Thanks for the flowers, Garrett. They’ve been beautiful.” He had been sending her a beautiful arrangement of flowers every week for the past month.

  “You’re welcome, and I mean everything I write on those cards.”

  She glanced over at him but didn’t say anything. When she looked at him, the person she saw was the man who had always had her heart. The man who had given her two beautiful sons and the man who had always loved her. He was also the man who was romancing her by sending her beautiful arrangements of flowers. But….

  She turned away and looked out the window. There was that “but” lurking in the back of her mind. Reminding her.

  “What do you have planned for the rest of the day?” Garrett asked her moments later.

  “I told Maxi that she could use me in whatever capacity that she needed to. I think I’m the one who’s going to pick up the flowers from the florist to save Mrs. Chandler a trip. I think Maxi thought this would be just a small affair but it seems her mother had other ideas.”

  Garrett nodded. “I told Christopher I would help him do some things today as well.”

  Mya nodded. The car then became silent for the rest of the way to Garrett’s brother’s home.

  CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR

  Everything was beautiful, Maxi thought, as she glanced around her mother’s living room. Because of all the extravagance that had gone into her and Jason’s planned wedding, she hadn’t wanted anything elaborate. All she wanted was a small wedding in her mother’s home with just family and friends. And she’d gotten just what she’d wanted.

  Her mother, Ms. Bessie, and some of the other ladies from the church had gone out of their way to make her and Christopher’s wedding one they would remember for a long time.

  She knew Christopher had been filled with emotion when a number of people had hugged him and told him how glad they were to see him again. She also knew he had become even more emotional when the Blackwells had arrived and Joella Blackwell, being the very friendly person that she was, had gone around the room introducing herself as the proud mother of the groom. Maxi had met the woman last month when Christopher had taken her home to meet the couple that he considered as his adopted parents. She knew the Joella was a jewel and was glad she had been the mother Christopher never had.

  Maxi also had a another reason to be happy. Her mother had confided to her earlier that she and Jim planned to marry over the Christmas holidays.

  Maxi glanced across the room at her husband talking to Gabe and Garrett. Every so often she would notice how Garrett’s attention would shift from the conversation and move around the room, no doubt looking for Mya. Maxi smiled. She had an idea just where her best friend was.

  Leaving the living room she walked through the open french doors that led to her mother’s beautiful flower garden. And there, like she knew she would, she saw Mya sitting on a bench underneath a magnolia tree.

  Maxi couldn’t help but remember the many summer afternoons she and Mya had spent sitting on that bench under that same tree sharing secrets like only two best friends could. She couldn’t help but smile at the memories as she walked slowly toward her.

  “Why are you so sad?” She asked the same question she had asked Mya that day in the schoolyard twenty-one years ago.

  Mya looked up when she saw her. “I want my husband,” she replied in a voice that sounded very much like the one she had used that day, just like she was about to cry.

  “Where is he?” Maxi asked, pretending not to know the answer.

  “Inside.”

  “Then why don’t you go to him?”

  “Because I still hurt,” Mya replied softly.

  “Then let him take the hurt away.”

  Mya met Maxi’s gaze as she tossed her words around in her mind. She blinked back tears. During the wedding when Maxi and Christopher were exchanging vows, her gaze had found Garrett’s across the room and held. The force of his gaze had been like a soft caress, and she had read profound love in his eyes.

  “Can we be friends?” Maxi asked in that same serious voice that she had that day.

  Mya smiled. “Yes, we can be friends.”

  “Best friends?”

  Mya’s smile widened. “Yes, the very best. For the rest of our lives.”

  The two women embraced, knowing that they would indeed be best friends forever.

  Maxi felt the presence of someone behind them and turned around. It was Garrett. She had wondered how long it would take before he came looking for his wife. She smiled at him. “Hi, Garrett. I think I’ll go back inside and ask that husband of mine to dance with me. I’ll see you two later.” She then turned and walked away, leaving Garrett and Mya alone.

  For the longest time Garrett and Mya didn’t say anything to each other. Then Garrett reached out and touched the wetness he saw forming around her eyes. “You’re crying,” he said softly.

  Mya couldn’t do anything but nod. She held his eyes then suddenly saw the mistiness that appeared there. She reached up and her fingers slowly traced the lines around his eyes. “So are you.”

  He breathed deeply. “Yes, because I know how much I hurt you and I never wanted to hurt you, Mya. I love you so much and you mean everything to me. You always have. Please believe that.”

  He took a step closer to her and then with unsure movements, he reached his hand out to her. Mya looked at it for the longest time before placing her hand in his. He then took another step to stand directly in front of her. He leaned forward to capture her lips with his, but she pulled back. After a few hesitant moments she brought her hands to his face. And then she leaned in closer, slowly bringing her lips to his.

  It was at that moment Garrett understood what she was doing as her tongue entered his mouth and instantly did a thorough sweep of the insides as if removing any trace of the other woman. He fought to hold himself in check while Mya plundered his mouth, doing what she felt she needed to do to erase what still held them apart.

  Moments later when he felt the intensity of the kiss change, he joined his tongue to hers. He felt her shudder in his arms and heard the moan that sounded from low within her throat as he took charge, repairing what he had damaged. He kissed her with all the love he had in his heart. He kissed her with all the need in his soul, silently conveying to her just how much she meant to him.

  She broke off the kiss and leaned back in his arms and gazed up at him. “I liked that,” she said conversationally.

  He held her gaze when he said. “So did I.”

  Mya drew a deep breath. She knew that under the circumstances Garrett wouldn’t suggest anything to her so she decided to take the initiative and make the suggestion to him. “Are you going to continue to kiss me out here or are you going to take me som
e place private?”

  She watched his eyes darken, and saw the slow, shallow breath that eased from between his lips. “I would love to take you some place private. Would you go with me?” he asked huskily.

  Her lips curved into a smile. “Yes, I’d go.”

  He smiled. It was irresistible, seductive. “Will you leave now?”

  “Yes.”

  He took her hand in his. “Let’s go.”

  He thought about taking her to Lover’s Cove, where they had made out the very first time, to relive the memories of that beautiful night. Then he decided this night deserved its own memories. So he headed for the Bowman Hotel, which was one of the most elegant hotels in the historic section of Savannah.

  He had told himself not to pounce on her the moment they were alone in the room, but he couldn’t help it. The instant the door closed behind them, he pulled her into his arms and kissed her like a starving man who was getting his first real meal in a long time. He feasted on her mouth and his hands were everywhere on her, as if verifying that she was real and there with him. Evidently she also felt the same need because her hands were all over him as well, and within minutes both of them were completely undressed.

  He reached out and his hand slowly slid up her body, touching her everywhere as he realized just how close he had come to losing her, and thanking God he had not. “I love you,” he whispered as he picked her up in his arms and carried her over to the bed.

  After placing her there, settling her head on the pillow, he began brushing kisses all over her body, nibbling gently, tasting, and teasing. He was desperate to show her how much he loved her, needed her, and wanted her. Only her.

  He slid his hands between her thighs and discovered she was ready for him and the thought of that made his breath quicken and his body ache. “I love you,” he whispered again, thinking he could never tell her enough, intent on showing her just how much.

  The mattress dipped under his weight when he joined her, placing his body over her, settling between her legs. He kissed her as his hands continued to skim over her, eliciting soft moans from deep within her throat.

  He broke off the kiss when he began easing into her, wanting to see her, wanting her to look into his eyes to see just what she meant to him. He knew it was there in his face. Emotions he refused to hide.

  Mya let out her breath in a rush when she gazed into Garrett’s eyes, reveling in the knowledge that he wanted her and most of all that he loved her. His eyes told her everything. Their separation had been hard on him. She looped her arms around his neck wanting to feel connected to him in every way she could. Slowly, gently, he continued to ease into her and she raised her hips to take him in. And when he reached a point where he couldn’t go anymore, he stopped.

  A long moment passed and still he didn’t move. He just looked at her. It was as if he wanted to always remember this time, tonight, when they had recaptured what they had almost lost. His eyes were locked on hers as if mesmerized. Her body quivered with need. She craved his mating. Wanted it with a passion.

  And then he began moving. His strokes into her body were complete, hard, all consuming and she willingly surrendered to him as their passion for each other escalated. She cried out softly when the rhythm he’d set sent shudders of pure pleasure through her. This, she thought, was the kind of love they had always shared. Total, complete, fulfilling, and no one could ever take that away from them. She was his and he was hers. Always had been and always would be. He had branded her, claimed her long ago, just like she had him and tonight both of them were affirming what they had together. A special love that had survived high school, college, and beyond that—against all odds.

  “I love you, Garrett,” she whispered to him softly.

  It was as if her words were just what he had needed to hear. He leaned down and kissed her long, hard, and deep and his body continued to make love to her, sliding in and out of her body. Rocking her. Pleasing her. Loving her.

  They came. Together. Their orgasm flooding through both of their bodies simultaneously, emptying their minds, filling their hearts and beckoning them to partake in such beautiful and powerful passion shared by a man and woman who love each other deeply. The pleasure was heightened by the sounds of their satisfied sighs as they reached the highest peak of total ecstasy.

  Later when both of their breathing was under control, Garrett managed to reach for the telephone to make a call.

  “Mom? Hi, this is Garrett. Are the boys okay? Oh, they did? All right.” He reached out and pulled Mya closer into his arms. “Mya and I have decided to stay out tonight. We won’t be back until morning.” He smiled. “Maybe even lunch time.” He then glanced down at Mya who was watching him. “Yes, Mom, she’s okay. We’re both okay. Everything is fine. Yes, Mom, I’ll tell her. Bye.” He then hung up the phone.

  He turned and slipped his hands under Mya’s hips, lifted her and placed her atop him. “Mom said Terry and Dawn came by and got the boys to spend the night at their place.”

  Mya nodded. Terry was Garrett’s thirty-year-old brother and Dawn was his wife. They were expecting their first child in a few months. His other brother Daryl, who was thirty-four, and his wife Tonya were also expecting in a few months. Christmas this year in Savannah with the Rivers would be pretty joyous with new babies to spoil.

  “Mom also said to tell you,” Garrett continued, “that she loves you and is happy for us.”

  Mya smiled. “She’s been worried.”

  “Yeah, the entire family has. They all love you, Mya.”

  She smiled. “And I love all of them. I was very lucky when you came into my life, Garrett.”

  “No, I’m the one who was lucky. But then I never believed it was luck that brought us together. It was our destiny.” He slipped his hand behind her head and brought her mouth down to him. He wanted to kiss her, to mate his mouth with hers and to make love to her all over again.

  So he did.

  EPILOGUE

  Maxi and Christopher

  Maxi watched Christopher’s reaction as she slowly slipped the buttons from out of his shirt one by one. She felt blessed.

  “I think tonight calls for a celebration,” she said when the last button had been undone. She then went for the belt on his pants.

  “And just what are we celebrating?” he asked huskily. Not that he thought they needed a reason to get naked.

  “Christopher Max is eight-months-old today.”

  “Oh, I thought we were celebrating something else.”

  She lifted a brow. “Something else like what?”

  He smiled. “Like last night. You broke a record.”

  She blushed as she remembered. While making love last night she’d had so many orgasms she had stopped counting. “You did that on purpose.”

  “Yeah, I did. I like watching you come. It does something to me.”

  She laughed. “Oh, it does something to you all right. I believe it increases your sex drive,” she said slipping the belt from his jeans. She then went for his zipper.

  “Possibly,” he murmured huskily. “Probably,” he further added on a deep sigh when he felt her hand reach inside his pants to free him. “Don’t you want me to take off my jeans?”

  She looked up at him. “No need. I got just what I want in my hands.” And then she slowly eased it into her already naked, hot, wet, body. “Ahh,” she moaned softly. “Perfect.” She then spread her legs more.

  “Perfect timing,” Christopher said, enjoying the feel of being so deeply embedded within her.

  “Do it, Christopher. On the wall.”

  He took her spread legs and wrapped them around his waist. Keeping their bodies joined he carried her across the room and pressed her back up against the wall. And then he made love to her, the way she liked. Wall style.

  He liked doing it this way, too.

  While standing he could go deep inside her, pushing in and pulling out, over and over again in a way and at an angle that could drive him over the edge. He watched
her eyes close as she savored the sensations and the feeling of him inside her and the friction of her thighs as they rubbed against the denim of his jeans.

  “Open your eyes, Maxi. I want to see you come.”

  She opened them and locked with his when he gave one final thrust into her body. She screamed out his name when he climaxed, flooding her with the thick, hot essence of his fluid. The feel of him shooting off inside her always made her climax as well. She tightened her legs around him, clenching her muscles, milking him for all it was worth. For all she could get. She wanted everything.

  Moments later when there was nothing left to give—a least for the moment—Christopher eased her body down his. “Now I take off my pants and we continue this in bed like normal people.”

  She nodded, too weak to respond.

  “Do you think Christopher Max will sleep for a while?” he asked as he gently placed her on the bed.

  She smiled up at him when she thought of their son. “He’ll sleep long enough.”

  When he had removed his pants and joined her in bed, he smiled and said. “Damn, I hope so.”

  Garrett and Mya

  From his position on the field, Garrett could see it was a packed stadium but he had expected no less. Whenever the Cowboys played it was football at its best. He had taken a few hard knocks already but then, that was all part of the game. A game he loved.

  Thinking about something else he loved, he looked over his shoulder into the stands, to a certain area to find a particular woman who was sitting where she normally sat. During this time last year they were having major problems in their marriage but they had worked through them and now once again their marriage was solid as a rock.

  His gaze found Mya, along with his sons who were sitting next to her. And in her arms she held the newest member of their family, their three-month-old daughter whom they had named Destiny.

  They had decided to have another baby after Mya had brought her career in the financial arena to an end. The boys, she had told him, were getting older and they needed her at home. The decision had been totally hers and he had been happy with it because so was she.