Tender Touch

by Emery, Lynn

  “I hear ya. I got dumped on before I had sense enough to get with Carliss. Maybe not as bad as you, but it hurt.” Trent sighed. “But you can’t live in the past. Get on with life. Besides, Jade sounds like a very different kind of woman.”

  Damon thought of the lilt of laughter that came from smooth brown lips. Jade’s warm brown eyes the color of pecan pie lit up when she talked about helping poor people realize their dreams. Not once had she ever talked about shopping or going on expensive trips, subjects that usually came up with other women he’d known. Damon was well used to having such hints dropped, sometimes on the first date.

  “She’s one extraordinary lady. In fact, I was beginning to think women like her didn’t exist. Except for Carliss, of course.”

  “You got that right. Bet they’d hit it off. Why don’t we get together soon?” Trent said.

  “Maybe when we get back.” Damon wore a shy grin at the reaction to his words.

  Trent’s eyebrows arched. “Things are really moving ahead. Get back from where?”

  “There’s a conference in Washington, D.C., on serving at-risk populations. Since Eddie can’t go, I’ll be there to get information for the center.” Damon’s grin became a wide smile. “It just so happens Jade will be going. She works for the Department of Health and Hospitals.”

  “What did you use to bribe Eddie into not going, man?” Trent let out a guffaw.

  “It was his decision. But I have to say it gave me the perfect excuse. Especially since I was trying to think up a halfway plausible explanation for going anyway.” Damon joined in laughter.

  “That’s great, man. And I can’t wait to meet the lady who got to you.” Trent’s eyes twinkled.

  Only a month ago, Damon would have been adamant that no woman would get to him. He was convinced that the intense romantic in him had been killed off, a suicide of sorts. Damon worked hard at ridding himself of all such notions. Jade Pellerin had revived that part of him that wanted long walks, evenings of soft music and words of love. The cynical survivor of a painful relationship went down in the first round. Not to mention the way he wanted her. His need to feel that satin milk chocolate skin pressed against his bare chest, to caress the full breasts that seemed to call out for his touch left him dazed at times. The wonderful sensation of how they filled his mouth like ripe fruit was a sweet memory. Though his want of her was much more than on a physical level, his desire of her was a quiet storm that never subsided.

  “I have a feeling this trip is going to be the best one of my life.”

  “From the look on your face, I’d say you already have some sweet memories.” Trent clapped his hands with delight when his older brother wore the guilty smile of a kid caught in mischief. “Bull’s-eye. Now how about it? When can I meet her?” He got up to leave.

  Damon walked with him to the lobby. “I’ll ask her tonight. Maybe this weekend?”

  “Sounds good. Bye, big bro.” Trent winked at him and ambled off chuckling.

  “What’s so funny?” Damon called after him with mock irritation.

  “You, Mr. Cool. All it takes is a mighty good woman.” Trent turned around to face him, wearing a big grin.

  “Out.” Damon started toward him with a frown then laughed when Trent hastened his steps as if frightened.

  Damon sang a soft tune the rest of the day. He was amused at the way his employees kept watching him with puzzled looks. At one point he even nodded his head in time to a jazzy beat on the FM station that played music in the lobby.

  “You okay, Mr. Knight?” Helen, his office manager, stared at him hard as though trying to recognize this new person. Ten years his senior, she had been with the company twenty years. She was a valued confidant.

  “Simply wonderful,” Damon said, waving his hands with a flourish. “The end of a great day, the beginning of a great evening.”

  He went back into his office and left behind several astonished folks. Like a successful practical joker, he laughed at the effect of his intentional dramatic exit. Damon was not surprised at their reaction. The boss they knew was all business and stem. Since meeting Jade, the world did not seem the same hard place at all. After being hurt by Rachelle, he believed romance was the road to being used, and love was for fools. He’d known her for years, and look how much good that had done. So he vowed never again—never again would he be stupid enough to think all those pretty words of affection meant everlasting love. Now he realized he was wrong. Well, Jade made him realize it. Jade. The way their bodies connected with the same precision as their personalities was nothing short of beautiful.

  “Bye, Mr. Knight. I was determined not to leave until I entered that last set of figures into the database.” Helen came in and placed a stack of papers on his desk. “You workin’ late like me?”

  “No, I’m leaving right on time.” Damon took a deep breath. He thought of his evening ahead.

  Helen glanced at the pendant watch that hung from a chain around her neck. “No, you’re not, it’s already a quarter to six. This office closes at five last time I checked.” Her plump face dimpled with mirth at the way her boss jumped up. “You late for an appointment?”

  Damon scrambled to straighten his desk and check to make sure no task had been left undone. “Uh, yes—no, I mean not yet if I move fast.”

  Damon was the picture of a frustrated man trying to hurry. He was dismayed to realize there were important documents on his desk that had to be locked up. Helen clucked in soothing tones. She helped him put the most sensitive files away.

  “No, that goes in this file cabinet. Here, let me,” Helen said. “Okay, but just let me—”

  Damon opened an envelope. A cascade of paper slid from his fingers onto the floor, then scattered as he tried to catch them. “Man!”

  “Stay cool now. We gonna take care of it.” Helen gave him a big-sister pat on the shoulder.

  Damon paused. “You’re right. This is nothing to get upset about. I’ll just make a quick phone call so Jade will know I’m running late.”

  Helen did a double take. “You sure got mellow lately. Time was you’d be stomping ’round here mad at the least little thing. Here we had a delivery van in an accident, prices go up on some products we ordered without the vendor telling us, and you’re still smiling.”

  “Yep.” Damon shrugged as if to say it was no big deal.

  “Well, I haven’t met this lady. But, sugar, I like her already.” Helen laughed. Damon threw back his head and joined her.

  “Knock, knock. Hello there.” A high singsong female voice stopped them short.

  Rachelle Balleaux Knight swept into the room without waiting for an acknowledgment. She stood still in a pose. Wearing a taupe jacket with a silk scarf draped over one shoulder, few would deny she was beautiful. The hem of her navy skirt was well above her knees to show off her shapely legs. Gold button earrings shone bright against her caramel skin. Rachelle flashed her signature alluring smile.

  “Cat woman rides again,” Helen muttered with a deep grimace.

  Rachelle’s bright smile dimmed a bit when she noticed Damon was not alone in his office. “Hi, Helen. Working late as usual—such dedication. Hello, Damon.” She recovered and moved in to stand close to him.

  “We were just leaving. Finished up for the day.” Helen gave her a pointed look. Rachelle ignored it.

  “Damon, you work much too hard. You should learn to take it easy sometimes.” Rachelle put a hand on his arm.

  Helen pursed her lips and glared at Rachelle. “You ready, Mr. Knight? Remember that appointment.”

  “Thanks, Helen. I’ll see you tomorrow,” Damon said. He tried not to smile at the way she was giving him eye signals.

  “You sure? I can finish up those last invoices.” Helen looked like a mama tigress prepared to protect her young.

  “I’m sure. I’ll be leaving in a few minutes.” Damon raised an eyebrow at Rachelle when Helen left. He waited to speak when he heard Helen’s retreating footsteps down the hall. “So you’r
e obviously doing well.”

  Rachelle stepped back and did a half turn. “Glad you noticed. After the divorce I went back into marketing. I’ve gotten a top position with my cousin’s firm.”

  “I know.” Damon gazed at her with an impassive expression. “I saw Edward at the last Chamber of Commerce meeting. He told me what a fantastic job you’re doing.”

  Edward Balleaux had actually spent most of the time complaining about having been strong-armed by his father and aunt, Rachelle’s mother, into hiring her. While Rachelle was intelligent in her profession, she also had a knack for antagonizing people with whom she worked. In the last year, two of his best staff had quit.

  “I’ve gotten him three big accounts in the last nine months alone.” Rachelle lifted a shoulder. “All in a day’s work as they say. You’re doing very well yourself.” She waved a hand at plaques decorating his wall given in recognition for his success in business.

  “We’ve had a good couple of years.” Damon stared at her with mild interest, like a scientist examining a minor curiosity.

  The long brown hair was just as perfectly styled. It was pinned up in a French roll. Her perfect size seven figure was just the same. And she still moved with the grace of a woman secure in her attractiveness and abilities, a woman accustomed to privilege. This was the same woman who had kept his emotions on a roller coaster since the day they’d met as juniors in college. Yet here she was, as stunning as ever, and he felt nothing. Not quite true, he confessed to himself, he was impatient for her to leave.

  Rachelle watched his expression. “Well, it’s been a long time. Maybe we could go out to dinner. No reason we can’t be on good terms.”

  “I have plans,” Damon said. He looked at his watch. “And I’m late now. Was there something specific you wanted to see me about?”

  “My goodness. I was on my way back from a meeting and decided to drop in to say hello. I didn’t think I’d be pushed out on the sidewalk so fast.” Rachelle affected the pout that in the past had crumpled his resolve to be firm.

  “Sorry, I don’t mean to seem rude. But I really do have to go. It was nice of you to stop by.” Damon picked up his briefcase and jacket.

  Rachelle walked up close to him. “Maybe we can get together when you’re not in such a hurry. I really need to talk to you, Damon,” she said in a voice filled with meaning.

  “Rachelle, we’ve been all through this.”

  “All through what? I need to tell you how I feel. After the years we spent together, you could at least agree to have dinner with me.”

  Damon looked into her eyes. “Rachelle, we don’t need to keep going over the same old battles. I don’t want to talk about what happened between us anymore. Okay?” he said in a clipped tone.

  “Okay. Then I’ll say it right now. I’m sorry for the selfish way I behaved. I should have been honest with you. By the time I had sense enough to realize what I’d lost when we broke up, it was too late. I only hope you can forgive me one day.” Rachelle spoke in a quiet, earnest voice. “I’ll go now.” She turned to leave.

  Damon had never seen Rachelle act so subdued. In fact, she had never apologized for anything in the time he’d known her. Maybe she had finally grown up.

  “Wait. Look, I’m sorry for being so cold-blooded. I’m sorry for all the angry words we both said in the past.” Damon felt a burden lift. Now he could go forward to a new life with Jade without bitterness from the past weighing him down. He could close this chapter and go on.

  Rachelle turned back and hugged him. “Thank you, darling,” she murmured. “I’m so happy to hear you say that.” She stepped back. “Now how about lunch Wednesday?”

  “Well...” Damon frowned, still unsure of her motives.

  “We can do good things for Knight and Sons. I’ve got a dynamite plan to show you—and you know I’m familiar with your business.” Rachelle spoke up quickly.

  Damon laughed at the smooth shift to business. Rachelle gloried in her ability to influence people. “All right then. And according to my calendar, I’m free.”

  “Excellent. See you then.” Rachelle’s expression softened. “And Damon, thanks again.” She put a hand on his arm for a few seconds then left.

  * * *

  Jade bustled around nervously, determined to make the first dinner she cooked for Damon go well. She fussed at herself for letting the chicken get too brown.

  “I hope it doesn’t taste burnt,” Jade mumbled. She gazed at the roasted meat in dismay.

  “Jade, honey, relax. It looks just great to me.” Damon joined her at the toaster oven. “Smells great, too.”

  “Oh, I forgot to put in the rolls!” Jade fumbled with the package.

  “Here, let me.” Damon sliced the rolls down the middle and spread a dab of butter inside. “Now, we pop them in the toaster over for seven minutes like so, put the oven on warm for the meat and...” He took her by the hand and led her to the bar stools set at her breakfast counter near the kitchen. “We take it easy with a glass of wine.”

  “When did you do this?” Jade said. Two wineglasses were set up and between them lay a beautiful red rose with a gold ribbon tied around the stem. Beside the rose was a gift-wrapped box.

  “You were so busy fretting about the food, you didn’t notice. Besides, I kept talking while I worked. Now hush and open your present.” Damon gazed at her with fondness.

  “A gift? But it’s not my birthday.” Jade enjoyed the anticipation of holding the box. She shook it.

  “I know that.” Damon shrugged.

  “And Christmas is long gone.” She shook the box again and then sniffed it.

  “Open it and you won’t have to keep guessing,” Damon said.

  Jade un-wrapped the box. “Have mercy.” She held up a twenty- four-inch gold chain. It held a gold pendant in the shape of a key. “It’s beautiful. Oh, Damon.”

  “When I saw this necklace, it seemed perfect for you.” Damon stroked her long black hair. “You are the key to my happiness.” He gazed at her with eyes filled with desire.

  “I love it.” Jade gave him a kiss. “Thank you, babe.”

  “You’re welcome. Now one more thing,” Damon murmured with his lips pressed to her neck.

  “Yes?” Jade closed her eyes at the blissful sensation of his caresses.

  “The rolls are ready,” he whispered close to her ear.

  “So am I,” she replied. Jade guided his hands to her breasts and ran her tongue around his mouth, causing him to groan. “If you didn’t want them to burn, you shouldn’t have turned up the heat in here.”

  “I’m not all that hungry anyway.” Damon pulled her closer to him.

  Jade slipped out of his grasp. “Oh, no, you don’t. I’ve been slaving away in the kitchen, and you’re going to eat this food.” She wagged a forefinger in front of his nose.

  Damon grabbed for her. “Come back here, woman.”

  “No way.” Jade eluded him and went to the oven. “Dinner is served.” She laughed at the theatrical moan of frustration he let out.

  All through the meal, they played a sensual game of double entendres. Damon commented on the firm breasts and how tasty they were, while Jade commented how much she preferred hard rolls. By the time they finished, both were weak from giggling at the outrageous puns they’d made up.

  “We won’t get the dishes done, if you keep being such a tease,” Jade said. She stood at the kitchen sink. Damon followed her and put his arms around her waist.

  “Me? You bring me to a boil then calmly insist we have dinner. And you’ve got the nerve to call me a tease?” He made a pretense of being indignant.

  “Help me load the dishwasher, and then I’ll give you a special treat.” Jade batted her eyelashes at him.

  Damon cleared the counter in record time. Jade had tears in her eyes at the comical sight of his rushing about. Soon the kitchen was tidy.

  “Now I want dessert.” Damon flung the dishcloth he held aside. He stared at her with fire in his eyes.

&nb
sp; Without speaking, Jade began to undress to the beat of a blues tune playing on the stereo system. She started by slowly unbuttoning the blue cashmere sweater she wore. The matching skirt was pulled off and thrown aside.

  “It landed on top of the refrigerator,” Damon said in a strangled voice. He stood riveted by her performance.

  “I’ll get it later.” Jade stood before him in nothing but a bra and sheer pantyhose. “Now it’s your turn.”

  Damon gasped when she opened his shirt and began to nibble at the smooth brown flesh. He began to help her by unbuckling his belt. Soon clothes were scattered from the kitchen down the hall. By the time they were in the bedroom, nothing was between them as they embraced. A slow dance of passion began. First Damon held still while Jade caressed him until he was dazed. Then Jade closed her eyes as he used his hands and mouth to bring her to the edge of ecstasy only to pull back. Damon stood up to kiss her face. Jade moved toward the bed, but he stopped her. He kneeled, lifted her and held her against the wall.

  “I want you like this,” Damon whispered.

  Jade let out a shuddering moan as he entered her. With each powerful stroke, a bolt of sexual excitement coursed through him. When she wrapped her legs around him, Damon let himself go beyond consciousness to where there were no boundaries between them. There was nothing else in the world, no one else in the world, but the two of them. They joined in a magical world of pleasure and love. Damon felt a frantic need to be inside her more deeply than he had ever dreamed possible. He was suspended for a luscious eternity in the sensation of velvet heat. As their matched rhythmic motion reached a crescendo, they seemed to lose all reason. They gripped each other, crying out for more. Jade climaxed first, and the force of it left her panting. She clutched him. Damon moaned her name over and over with each thrust. Somehow they stumbled to the bed and collapsed, still holding each other. Jade rested her head on his shoulder with a contented sigh.

  “Just a few months ago, I’d have sworn this kind of happiness was found only in fairy tales,” Jade said in a voice soft with emotion. She looked up at Damon. “Is this a dream?”