Tender Touch

by Emery, Lynn

  “And are you seeing Rachelle?” Marlene gazed at him.

  “Only for business. I hope she has a good life, but not with me. It’s over,” Damon said with a shake of his head. He remembered the look of chagrin on Rachelle’s face as she stood with her jacket open.

  “I see.” Marlene bit her bottom lip. “I have another admission.”

  “What?”

  Marlene heaved a deep sigh. “Rachelle chased you down with my encouragement; another misguided attempt to control your life. I seem to make of mess of things for the people I love most.”

  “It’s okay, Mother.”

  Damon knew Rachelle hadn’t needed much prodding to manipulate her way into his life again. Rachelle had overestimated her allure. Jade filled up his mind, heart and senses so completely there was no room for another woman. Jade. How he missed her. He wanted to savor the rich sweet taste of her on his tongue.

  “No, it’s not okay. I cost you the woman you love.” Marlene put her head to one side. “But that can be remedied.”

  “I’m sorry, Mother. What did you say?” Damon was awash in memories of being wrapped up in Jade’s silken arms and legs. He blinked with embarrassment, sure that his mother could tell what he was daydreaming by his face.

  “I said, get off your butt and go find Jade. Tell her you were wrong. Tell her she’s the air you breathe, she’s what makes getting up each morning a joy, tell her—”

  “I get the message, Mother. But what if she won’t see me?” Damon wavered in the face of rejection. Jade could well be angry or worse, indifferent and in love with another man.

  “Oh, she’ll see you. Of that I’m sure.” Marlene smiled with the supreme confidence of a woman used to getting her way. “Now get out of my house.”

  “What?” Damon stared at her bewildered. “I thought we could spend a little time together.”

  “Don’t think you’re going to hide out over here to avoid facing her. Get out and don’t come back without Jade on your arm.” Marlene tugged him to his feet and shoved him toward the door. “I mean it, Damon.”

  Damon laughed “Okay, okay. You have a unique approach to matchmaking.”

  “And don’t it screw up.” Marlene shook a finger under his nose. Her expression softened. “I love you, my baby.”

  Damon hugged her to him. “I love you, too.”

  * * *

  “As your best friend I have to tell you this. You’re nuts.” Shaena stood in Jade’s living room with her fists on her hips.

  “Thanks for the pep talk,” Jade retorted. “Now sit down and eat. Shoot, they didn’t put in the egg rolls.” She pointed to the cartons of take-out Chinese food.

  Shaena did not move. “So she was at his office yesterday. So what?”

  “So they’re seeing each other.” Jade gazed up at her. “Now will you sit down? I’m getting a pain in the neck looking up at you.”

  “Umph! You’re giving me a pain in the ass by being so hardheaded.” Shaena plopped down on the chair that matched Jade’s sofa. “She was at his office conducting business, which is what he told you. Hel-lo?”

  “Maybe but...” Jade wanted to believe that more than anything. But uncertainty kept rearing its ugly head.

  “No maybe, no but. Grr...” Shaena dug into her lemon chicken. “For a smart woman you can be so dense sometimes.” A glob of sauce plopped on her blouse. “Oh, no, not my new outfit!” She dabbed at it.

  Jade got up. “You need a bib. I’ll get more napkins.

  “Don’t change the subject,” Shaena yelled. She started at the sound of the doorbell.

  “That must be the delivery guy with our egg rolls. At least I don’t have to call them. Get the door,” Jade called from the kitchen. “Great, the napkins wanna play hide and seek. Dang, girl, I need to clean out some of this crap,” she complained.

  Jade stretched to reach the top of her pantry shelf for the package of napkins. She pushed aside glasses and other items, mumbling with annoyance at her lack of organization. A solid feeling of warmth was suddenly at her back.

  “Let me help,” Damon said. He moved his body close to hers and reached up to easily retrieve the napkins. “Here you go.”

  “How...?” Jade turned to find herself within inches of his broad chest. She stood immobilized by the sensation of being near him. His ebony eyes were the most beautiful and welcome sight she’d seen in weeks.

  “Shaena says she’ll see you at work tomorrow.” Damon gazed at her.

  “She’s gone?” Jade murmured.

  “Yes. We’re alone. Jade, I’m sorry.” Damon put his arms around her.

  “Sorry?”

  Jade tried to focus. Feeling the hard muscles of his biceps pressed to her was wonderful. She had sorely missed his touch. Yet the thought that he had something to be sorry about brought a stab of anxiety. He had a reason to apologize which could mean only one thing.

  “You and Rachelle.” She looked away from his gaze.

  Damon put a finger under her chin to lift her head back up.

  “No way,” he said in a firm voice. “I’m sorry tracking you down sooner to make you believe me. The only reason I met with my ex-wife was because of business. My father has done business with her family for years.”

  “I see.” Jade did see. She saw the truth in his eyes and heard it in his voice.

  “You’re the woman I want, Jade. Forever,” Damon whispered as he lowered his mouth to hers. He ran his tongue along her lips. His hands pulled her to him in a tight embrace. “Say you believe. Please.”

  “I do, Damon. I do.” Jade gave herself surrendered to the yearning to feel his kiss. She melted inside when he pressed against her, his erection fanning a flame that spread through her. “Let’s get out of this closet before we have all my dry goods on the floor,” she said with soft giggle.

  “Good idea.” Damon grinned at her. Still he pulled back from her with great reluctance. “As long as you promise to save my place.”

  “It’s a deal.” Jade led him by the hand to her living room. Once they were seated on the sofa, she snuggled against him. “I’m sorry, too, Damon. I shouldn’t have been so quick to assume the worst about you.”

  “Well, aren’t we something? So worried about getting hurt again, we backed away from each other.” Damon rested his chin on the top of her head.

  “Is that what we did?”

  “At the first sign of trouble, we let the past influence how we reacted.” Damon caressed her arms with tenderness. “At least that’s what I did. Men always complain about women treating them like all the men who mistreated before. Well I did the same thing. I judged you based on Rachelle.”

  “Sometimes it’s hard to forget the past. But things aren’t always what they seem.” Jade was thinking not only of her failed marriage, but her family. “I’m learning that more and more.”

  Damon held her for a few moments in deep thought. “I know what you mean.”

  “Damon, so much has happened in the last three weeks or so. It’s made me realize how important it is to hold on to those we love.”

  Jade told him about Lanessa. Fears and guilt she had held in, even from herself, flowed out. Yet with his strong arms around her, she knew it would be all right. She could face all the problems with hope.

  “I’m so sorry, Jade. I should have been here for you.” Damon cradled her gently in his embrace.

  “You couldn’t have known. Thank goodness it wasn’t in the papers. We’ve been trying to pick up the pieces. Now I know how Humpty-Dumpty felt.” Jade rested her cheek against his chest. The hard muscles were reassuring.

  “You can do it, baby. And I’ll be right there by your side.” Damon trailed kisses down the side of her face until their lips met.

  Without another word, only sighs and moans, they undressed each other slowly. They paused only to explore each area of newly exposed flesh with their hands and tongues. And for hours their bodies moved in perfect harmony. Long languorous moments of teasing each other to new heights of
pleasure were interspersed with bone-shaking ecstasy that left them both breathless. They moved from the living room sofa to Jade’s bed somewhere in-between.

  “Umm, that feels wonderful,” Jade said in a husky voice.

  Damon was on top once again, his turn in a delicious game of tit for tat. She arched beneath him. The feeling of him inside her was too delicious.

  “More, faster.” Jade clung to him.

  His hardness thrust deep inside, causing ripples of delight that spread with mind-bending intensity through the rest of her. She let out a long shuddering sigh. Damon cried out her name in response as his own orgasm took control of him. He kept calling her between ragged breaths. After an eternity, they sagged together still clutching each other tightly. Damon shifted his weight, and then rolled off her.

  “Woman, you’re going to kill me. But if I’m going to die young, this is how I want to go.” Damon lay flat on his back and pulled her to him.

  “Like I told you before, I’m going to see to it that you stay nice and healthy,” Jade murmured. “Now get some rest. You’ve got a big morning ahead of you.”

  “Yeah, I have a meeting. But how did you know?” Damon was enjoying the way her hair fell between his fingers. He closed his eyes and drifted into sleep.

  “I’m talking about before you leave here.” Jade chuckled softly. She placed her thigh across his legs.

  “Have mercy,” he murmured.

  Chapter 17

  “Sit down, Jade.” Bill gestured to one of the two leather chairs facing his desk.

  Jade stood with a pad in her hand. Most of the staff had left after a hectic eight hours of ringing phones. Everyone walked around on edge, not knowing when the next bomb would drop. She was about to leave when Bill called her. It was a struggle not to betray her feelings of suspicion and distrust when they worked so closely. Jade had been sure she was successful. Until now. This request to see her without a reason made her uneasy.

  “Did you go over my summary of the reports sent in by the regional managers?” Jade sat down and crossed her legs. “I tried to include all the key points you might want to know.”

  “Yes, yes. I’ve glanced through it.” Bill sat against the cushioned back of his chair, one elbow propped on its arm. His gaze drifted down to her legs.

  “And the reports on new beds and rate changes?” Jade uncrossed her legs but resisted the temptation to tug her skirt hem down.

  “They look complete so far. Listen, I thought we should talk about the current situation.” Bill shifted in his seat. “With all these allegations being made, I want to make sure you’re okay. I mean, a lot of unfavorable things are being said about us.”

  “True.” Jade did not trust herself to say more.

  Unfavorable was an understatement that would have been funny if the accusations were not so serious. In recent weeks the newspaper accounts had carefully outlined a trail through a maze of incorporation papers and ownership disclosures; a trail that led to several former top state government officials. Although Bill’s name was never found on any of the documents, his connections to those involved were exposed. The report was clever in comparing agency decisions to the impact they had on certain healthcare firms owned by these same politically connected former officials. These firms had benefited to the tune of millions of dollars in the last five years. Their top executives made exorbitant salaries.

  Worse still, Jade’s name had appeared in the latest article. Memos with her signature authorized the increase of rates for two nursing homes. The implication was clear. Her actions were one example of questionable activities going on in the department. Bill’s quoted response, that he would look into it, angered her. Since he had initiated both memos, why should he have to look into it? References to malfeasance charges kept popping up with her name not far away.

  “I don’t want us to get a siege mentality around. We’ve should support each other.” He affected a solemn expression. “Because we know the allegations are false, don’t we?”

  For a few seconds of heavy silence, they gazed at each other. Jade wore a slight smile. She could play this game, too. “To the best of my recollection n rules were broken”

  A trace of surprise and then amusement flashed across his face. Bill stood up. “Smart and gorgeous. We make a good team.”

  Jade stood to face him. “Thanks. Is there anything else?”

  Bill took her hand. “For the past few months, you’ve made having this position bearable.”

  “I’ve just tried to do my job, Bill. But I appreciate the compliment.” Jade tried to move away but he still held her hand.

  “Wait. No matter how bad things seem to be, I won’t let your career suffer. Do you understand what I’m saying?”

  He stood so close she could feel his breath on her face. Jade stared into his light brown eyes. She read the unspoken message. He would pretend to abandon her but make sure she continued to have a top job in state government—a common practice. Once the controversy died down, none but a few would know that the players still held positions of authority, high-paying positions. Jade resisted the urge to jerk back her hand.

  “Yes, I understand exactly what you’re saying,” Jade said in a neutral tone. She wanted to slap the sly smile that tugged his lips up.

  “We’re a magnificent team. I’m about to separate from my wife.” He stroked the palm of her hand.

  Jade was fascinated with the way the man operated. Gone was the sincere, conscientious public servant. “Sorry you’re going through a hard time.”

  “I’ve tried to ignore her jealous outbursts, almost to the point of violence. But I need a different kind of relationship, a different kind of woman,” he murmured.

  The door to his office swung open. Kathy sneered as Bill jumped back from Jade. “Late meeting on vital issues, I presume?”

  “Eavesdropping is beneath you.” Bill was quick to regain composure.

  “Excuse me.” Jade started past her. She wanted no part of a nasty scene.

  Kathy came into the office and slammed the door shut. “Don’t leave, Ms. Pellerin. I have something to tell my husband that I want you to hear.”

  “Mrs. Lang, I really don’t think—”

  “No, sweetie, screwing around with my husband means you definitely have not been thinking,” Kathy snapped. “His used the ‘I’m leaving my wife’ line a dozen times at least. It won’t happen, not in this life. Got it?”

  “I’ve already moved out most of my things.” Bill laughed at the look of shock in Kathy’s eyes. “That’s right. I don’t need your money.”

  “I’ll make sure those investments dry up. A certain reporter will be very interested to hear how you’ve met with Steve Franklin and those other crooks to feather your nest,” Kathy shot back.

  “You can’t do a thing, and we both know it.”

  Kathy spun to face Jade. “He’ll let you take all the blame if things get too hot, you know.”

  “Oh really?” Jade said as she looked at Bill.

  “Baby, she’s lying. She’ll say anything to come between us.” Bill lifted both hands.

  “Bill, please don’t do this.” Kathy’s tough facade crumpled. “I need you, honey. I’ll do anything you want.” She wrapped her arms around him in a tight grasp. “Listen, I didn’t tell those reporters about Senator Ortego. What they have so far won’t seriously hurt you unless they find out about that.”

  Jade was appalled. The poor woman would go to any lengths to hold on to a cold, self-centered man who cared only for himself. Kathy only wanted him to love her, but she’d settle for blackmailing him into staying. Jade turned away from the pitiful sight of her begging him not to leave her.

  “Kathy, take your hands off me.” Bill held himself rigid, not returning her embrace.

  “This is all your fault, bitch,” Kathy screamed at Jade.

  “I’ve had enough.” Jade threw the pad and pen down on the floor. “Bill and I have never even come close to having an affair. It’s true!” she said
at the contemptuous look of disbelief on Kathy’s face. “But I really don’t care what you think.”

  Bill gave a repellant laugh. “Tell her, Jade.”

  “You’re welcome to him.” Jade jerked a thumb at Bill.

  “Take it easy, baby.” Bill lost his amused expression.

  “And you,” Jade said as she jabbed a forefinger at him. “I’m not stupid or blind. I’ll take care of myself.”

  Kathy stared at Jade for a few seconds with a thoughtful expression. “Good for you.”

  “Jade, what are you talking about?” Bill did not like this turn of events. He glanced from his wife to Jade.

  “Just what I said.”

  “I expect an answer right now.” Bill glared at her. “I’m still your boss.”

  “I’m going to do my job as usual, Bill. Don’t ever touch me again, or I’ll add a sexual harassment charge to all the other problems you have. Don’t test me.” Jade marched out of the office.

  Once alone, she took a deep breath. She had come close to the serious mistake of tipping her hand. If Bill realized how much she knew he could still take steps to damage her career before she could defend herself. Better to let him think she was enraged about the clumsy advances he’d made. Jade headed out of the building, hoping Bill would not think too hard on their exchange. With her mind in a whirl, she went to the in-patient clinic where Lanessa was being treated. At least tonight there would be no emotion-packed therapy session to face. Lanessa was in her room, sitting on the bed, when Jade arrived.

  “Hello, Nessa.” Jade kissed her forehead.

  “Hi.” Lanessa twisted the hem of her shirt. She was thinner and there were circles under her eyes. “What are you doing here? We don’t have a session tonight.”

  “I came by to visit. I can see you outside of therapy, you know.” Jade sat next to her on the bed.

  “Oh, goody, a private session. Number one hundred and two at last count,” Lanessa said with resentment.

  “No sermon, Nessa. I just wanted to see how you’re doing,” Jade said in her most patient voice. After the scene with Bill and more drama was the last thing she needed.