The Right Time by Delaney Diamond Read Free Book Online Page A

returning my calls?
    On and on they went. The voicemails were more of the same. She was tempted to call or at least send him a text, but didn’t bother when she realized that not one of those communications wished her a happy birthday. He hadn’t remembered, and his negligence was a tart reminder of the many reasons why their relationship had so many problems.
    Sophie turned off the phone and placed it in the room safe. She would not take it with her. No distractions while touring today. If her parents needed to reach her, they knew her room number, but she doubted they’d call. They’d encouraged her to take the trip and enjoy herself for her birthday, and that was exactly what she planned to do.
    She and Ransom left the hotel, the first order of business being a tour of Nassau, which took them on a colorful journey that filled them in on the history of the islands and their pirate influences. They sampled a variety of spirits and enjoyed handmade chocolates from Graycliff Chocolatier, an interactive chocolate factory where they learned how cacao beans were processed. As part of the tour, they even created their own uniquely flavored chocolate pieces. At John Watling’s Distillery on Delancy Street, named after a pirate, they toured the facility and learned about handcrafted rum and other spirits made by the Bahamians. Sophie purchased souvenirs and bottles of pale rum and amber rum, made on the premises from local ingredients.
    They stopped to eat at a restaurant off the beaten path, but highly recommended by the guide. Tucked away behind historic buildings, the outdoor patio of Cafe Matisse provided the perfect ambiance for a late lunch. While Ransom dug into the mixed seafood platter with herb sauce, Sophie received the special treatment when the chef prepared a dish not on the menu—sautéed vegetables in a creamy cheese sauce—and personally brought it to the table to gauge her enjoyment.
    She thanked him profusely. Lucky for her, chefs often wanted the opportunity to experiment, and creating unique dishes for people with dietary restrictions was an opportunity for them to shine. She’d indulged in some tasty one-of-a-kind dishes over the years, and this one was no exception.
    Watching Ransom, she couldn’t help but notice that he ate in much the same way he approached sex—with gusto and enthusiasm. He devoured the garlic bread the same way he’d devoured her. He licked a drop of sauce from his thumb with the same tongue that had licked the tips of her breasts. She wanted to climb onto his lap watching the way he dived into the meal.
    She and Ransom chatted as they lingered over crème brûlée and coffee, and argued about politics.
    “What do you do for fun?” he asked at one point, sipping his coffee.
    “I travel.” She smirked.
    “When you’re not traveling, smart-ass.”
    His blue eyes smiled into hers, and a painful ache pierced her chest at the thought that tomorrow he’d be gone from her life for good. Sophie shifted her gaze to the glass of water on the table and corralled her emotions before answering.
    “When I’m in Atlanta, I ride my bicycle. There’s a bike shop near my mother’s juice shop in Midtown, and I’m a member of a cycle club that meets there and rides out every Saturday morning.”
    “That explains your sexy-ass legs.”
    “You’re just full of compliments,” she said, grinning across the table at him. “I don’t ride as often as I’d like. Sometimes I help my mother at the shop, but most weekends I go out with the club when I’m not traveling.”
    “I haven’t gotten as far as riding with a club yet.”
    “You ride?”
    “Like you, not as often as I’d like. Work keeps me busy.”
    “You should make time, if you enjoy it. A club is a good way to get involved, and I’m sure they have active ones in Chicago.”
    He nodded. “Maybe I will.”
    Satisfied and bellies full, they headed back to the hotel and spent the afternoon in or near the water: