Tender Touch (18 page)

“Get real, Damon. They think we’re better
than other folks because of our family and money. Like I said,
snobs.” Trent was not going to budge on this issue. It was one
they’d debated before.

“Well, that’s one area where you’re on safe
ground. Carliss is more than acceptable to Mama.” Damon thought of
the quiet young woman who seemed to balance his brother’s brazen
flair. She was a center of calm for Trent.

“I don’t date Carliss because it suits Mama
or Dad,” Trent snarled. “She’s not poured from the same mold as the
rest of those privileged, spoiled-rotten African princesses we hung
around with from Hampton Heights.”

“True. It’s just your good luck she’s from
one of the oldest families in St. Landry Parish,” Damon replied.
Carliss Mouton’s family could be traced to France and West Africa.
“Mama won’t question your being with her.”

“Don’t tell me you’re going to let them
dictate who you date?” Trent folded his arms.

Damon’s eyes flashed with anger at the
suggestion. “Definitely not. I let them know it, too.”

“Good. Hang tough, big brother.”

“But it’s not an issue. Really,” Damon put
in when Trent gave him a look of skepticism. “We had a little talk,
and Mother seems to understand.”

“Seems strange she gave up so soon.” Trent
shook his head to indicate he did not believe it.

“I’m not ten years old anymore. Mother knows
better than to meddle in my private life. No, interference from
them is not what worries me.”

“Then what is it?”

“For a long time, I was so in love with
Rachelle—or thought I was—that I just didn’t see her for who she
really was. She played so many games on me, man.” Damon remembered
the honeyed lies he believed for years. Rachelle had wanted him for
money and prestige. She manipulated to get her own way and made
life miserable when he resisted. “I don’t want to be caught up like
that again.”

“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’re 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.