Tender Touch (7 page)

But as the sound of his voice died in the
car, doubt tugged at him. Damon let out a loud groan of
exasperation at his own uncontrolled emotions. Jade Pellerin had no
idea what trouble she was causing.

Chapter 3

Jade watched her sister pace the floor in
front of her. They were in Jade’s condo on a Saturday night.
Lanessa alternated between being outraged at Alex and blaming their
mother for pushing them together.

“Calm down, Nessa. You’re not making any
sense. Now what did Alex do?” Jade was used to her sister’s mood
swings, but she’d never seen her this agitated. Something about the
way she was behaving caused a small tickle of worry.

“Said maybe we shouldn’t see each other for
a while. Can you believe the nerve of that punk? I’m doing him a
favor and he dumps me!” Lanessa pulled out a cigarette and lit
it.

“Uh-huh, not in here you won’t.” Jade
snatched it from her hand and went into the powder room. She
flushed it down the toilet. “I thought you’d stopped smoking,
Nessa.”

“I’m under stress here. Come on. Just one.”
Lanessa fumbled in her purse for the pack again.

“There are no ashtrays in my house for a
reason.” Jade crossed her arms. But she felt a shiver of concern at
the way Lanessa’s hands were shaking. “Come over here and sit
down.”

“I need a drink.” Lanessa went to the
kitchen and poured herself two fingers of scotch straight up. She
downed it in two quick gulps then poured more.

Jade watched her take a tiny step. “Lanessa,
you’ve got to drive home, so slow down.”

Lanessa smiled at her. She seemed more
relaxed. “Hey, I’m steady as a rock.”

“Lanessa, I’m going to drive you home if you
keep this up.”

“Relax,” Lanessa said with a laugh. “I’m
doing okay. And to hell with old Alex.” Her voice shook despite the
bold words as a dark look shadowed her features.

“Did you two have a fight or something?”

Men had always been a means to an end with
her sister. Lanessa got men she wanted and those she did not care
about. While Jade felt unattractive and awkward around handsome
men, Lanessa was in her element. Lanessa accepted men chasing her
as a given. Jade felt a knot of anxiety now, seeing her like this,
yet she could not put her finger on what was wrong. Maybe it was
just that she’d never seen her beautiful older sister rattled by
the rejection of a man. In fact, Jade could think of only a few men
who had been unaffected by Lanessa’s beauty, and Nessa had
dismissed them anyway since she had so many devoted admirers.

“No, I mean we disagreed a couple of times.”
Lanessa shrugged. She did not offer any more information but looked
away from Jade’s questioning gaze.

“Was the disagreement over something
serious?”

Lanessa stared at her glass and took another
sip. “I don’t really remember. Anyway it doesn’t matter now.”

“You don’t remember? Oh, come on, Nessa.
What did you do? I know you have a sharp tongue. Tell me—”

“Look, forget it, okay?” Lanessa cut her off
and started pacing again. “It’s over so it’s pointless to rake up
history now. Besides, Keith Darensbourg has been flirting with me
for months now. He’s got more money than Alex— the nerd.”

“Lanessa...” Jade did not like the direction
she was headed. “Don’t you think you’re a little old for this wild
girl, let’s par- tee act? Not to mention how dangerous jumping from
one man to another is these days.”

This seemed to touch a nerve. “I’m only
thirty-four! I’m not old. Look at this body. There are
eighteen-year-olds who work out every day to look like this,”
Lanessa said, her voice rising with each word.

“I didn’t say you were old—”

“There are men younger than me who have
thrown platinum credit cards down to get my attention. I am not
old.” Lanessa stood with her feet apart in front of Jade.

Jade stood to face her. She was annoyed and
troubled at the same time by her reaction. “Get a grip, sister.
You’ve still got men breaking out in a sweat just by walking by.
I’m talking about maturity up here—” Jade tapped her forehead “—not
chronological age.”

Lanessa glared at her for a few moments, and
then slumped down into the chair opposite the sofa. “Don’t pay
attention to my ranting, Jade-girl. I’m just stressed out with
work. Not only is this thing with Alex getting on my nerves, but my
boss is on my case now.”

“Listen to me; it’s just your pride that’s
hurt. You didn’t even care for Alex that much. You said so yourself
only a few days ago.”

“You’re right.” Lanessa chewed on a
fingernail for a few seconds before realizing she would ruin her
expensive silk wrap. “Let me pull it together, acting stupid over
Alex of all men.” She gave a brittle laugh.

“Tell you what; let’s go get something to
eat. I’ll drive.” Jade got up and gave her a pat on the
shoulder.

“I guess, but I’m not that hungry.”

“You will be when we get to Bamboo Gardens.
They’ve got a shrimp and snow peas entree that is fantastic.” Jade
got her purse and car keys.

“Chinese would be good. I don’t want
anything heavy. Gotta keep this fine frame for Keith.” Lanessa
stood and pulled at her form-fitting dress.

“Lanessa, what did I just say about that?”
Jade put both hands on her hips.

Lanessa laughed. “I know, I know. But I can
still let him savor what he might get in the future. You know he’s
on the board of Louisiana National Bank?”

“Oh Lanessa!” Jade shook her head with a
chuckle.

For the rest of the evening, Lanessa seemed
her old self again. Jade began to think she had been imagining
things. Her sister was fine. They talked on about a variety of
subjects since Lanessa knew all the gossip about the prominent
families around town.

“And Mrs. Louvillier was bragging on her
daughter. You know how she is, ‘Queisah did this and Queisah did
that.’” Lanessa spoke in an exaggerated imitation of a patrician
accent.

Jade rolled her eyes. “She is sickening with
that snob act.” “Well, finally Mama looked at her and said, ‘I’m so
glad to hear Quiesah’s doing better after that unfortunate library
incident. So they let her return this semester?”

“No—she didn’t!” Jade sat forward.

“She did. Mama smiled at her in that way she
has, and Mrs. Louvillier kept her mouth shut for the rest of the
luncheon.” Lanessa sat back with a grin. “Of course then everybody
started whispering about how the librarian caught Queisah with some
guy, panties down around her ankles, back in the history stacks.
She got kicked out of school.”

Jade wiped her tears from her eyes. “Stop,
please.” She gasped for air in-between giggles.

“And then there’s—”

“You are too much. Now hush before I choke.”
Jade took a long drink of water to recover. “Is there anything you
don’t know?”

“Sure. I don’t know why it’s Saturday night
and a fine lady like you is out with her sister.” Lanessa looked at
her.

“You don’t have a date, either. So
there.”

“I have an excuse. Don’t try to change the
subject back to me. Why are you making yourself suffer?”

Jade let out a sigh. “I’m not suffering. I’m
taking time to get myself together is all.”

“Almost two years without a man? Please!
That’s some kind of self-penance.”

“A year and a half. And not everyone thinks
grabbing the next available man is the way to recover from a failed
relationship,” Jade retorted.

“I know you, sister. You’re scared of
choosing the wrong man again. Nick was a self-centered
you-know-what who made himself feel big by putting you down. But
you can do better.”

“Yeah, right.” Jade pushed her teaspoon
around in a circle. “I don’t think I’ll get serious about anyone
else anytime soon.”

“Are you telling me there isn’t one man in
this town worth having? No way.”

“Why do women always end up talking about
men whenever they get together?” Jade said.

“Because as much as we complain about them,
they are endlessly fascinating. Face it; there are some brothers
that leave a mighty big impression.” Lanessa picked up her menu.
“We even love sitting around fussing about them.”

Jade could not block the image of Damon
Knight that flashed in her mind. His strong jaw, the way his eyes
brightened when he smiled came back to her with a vividness that
made her heart speed up. This was not the first time she’d thought
of him in the past few days since their first meeting. She would
see him in a few short days. Her lips curved up as she remembered
something funny he’d said the other evening at Uncle Joe’s.

“Hel-loo,” Lanessa said as she waved her
hand in front of Jade’s face. “The waitress is ready for your
order.”

Jade blinked up at the woman standing with
pen poised over her pad. “Uh, I’ll take a number sixteen.”

Lanessa was quiet until the waitress left.
“My oh my, little sister. Whoever he is, go for it if he sends you
into a daze like that.” She leaned across the table.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Jade sniffed.

“Like hell you don’t.” Lanessa spoke with
confidence. “Remember what you said a little while ago— very little
gets by me. I’ll find out eventually.”

“Take a sniff of reality, sugar. There is no
‘him’ to hear about.” Jade steered her to another subject.

Jade made a silent vow to get this
adolescent fog she seemed to keep slipping into under rein. Damon
Knight was not in her personal future. Period.

* * *

“Got that last set of figures for me, Jade?”
Lang beckoned to her as he came back from a big meeting with the
other top cabinet officials. He used her first name with ease.

“Sure do. Looks like the cost of Medicaid
billings have gone down at about six percent in the last three
months.” Jade handed him a green folder.

“Good. Every little bit helps.” He
unbuttoned his jacket and slumped into his chair. “Sitting in there
with Howard is like being put through a wringer.”

“He’s determined to make every dollar count.
Mr. Howard has been talking about the problems with the state
budgets for years, but no one listened.” Jade could picture the
dark, bushy brows made even more prominent against his pale skin.
Chester Howard had a reputation for being honest and not willing to
say what politicians wanted to hear. “Too bad or we wouldn’t be in
this fix.”

“Well, we are. And some of the cuts will
hurt, no way around it. Speaking of which, set up a meeting with
the four assistant secretaries. We need to give them the bad news
on how much of a hit their programs will take.”

“Yes, sir. By the way, I’ll be at the Gracie
Street Center tomorrow.”

Lang frowned. “Hmm, I’d forgotten about
that. Look, if you really don’t want to be bothered, send someone
from the planning section.”

“No, no—I’m looking forward to it,” Jade
blurted out. A tickle of embarrassment went up her back at his
questioning glance. “I mean, it will give me a chance to see
firsthand what I’ll be writing about in the grant revisions.”

“I see.” Lang gazed at her for a moment.
“Damon and I were in school together. He’s a very impressive
guy.”

“Oh? I don’t know much about him. Anyway,
Mr. Simon sent over a brochure they just had done describing the
center. I left a copy on your desk.” Jade avoided making eye
contact with him. “These are for your signature, and these are
copies of memos sent out by the assistant secretaries.”

“Thank you, Jade.”

Something about the way he said her name
made Jade pause. When she looked up, he smiled at her briefly and
then began scanning the spreadsheets on home health billing of
Medicaid and state funds. She gave a slight shake of her head. Her
imagination was running wild these days.

* * *

The phone on her desk was ringing when she
got to her office. She snatched it up. “Yes, I’ll hold.” Shaena
came in and leaned against her door.

“I’ll come back,” Shaena whispered.

“No, this won’t take long, just someone
confirming an appointment.” Jade placed a palm over the mouthpiece.
A male voice sounded, causing her to jump. “Oh, hello, Mr. Simon.
Yes, we’re on for tomorrow at ten o’clock in the morning. I look
forward to seeing Gracie Street Center. I see. All right then,
goodbye.”

“What’s wrong?” Shaena crossed her legs.
“You look like the wind got taken out of your sails.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Jade forced a nonchalant tone to her voice.

“Eddie Simon is the director at Gracie
Street. You’re going over there, right?” Shaena looked the part of
an attorney questioning a reluctant witness.

“Yes.”

“Damon Knight going to be there?”

Jade waited a few seconds before answering.
“No.”

“Oh?”

“He has some business to take care of and
won’t be there. But Eddie Simon has all the information,” Jade put
in quickly.

“Umm.” Shaena kept her face blank.

“Simon is the director. Actually there was
no need for Damon Knight to be there at all. I’ll get the
information we need.” Jade fidgeted with items on her desk. What
was this? First Lang and now Shaena making her feel like a
schoolgirl caught passing notes to a boy.

“You’re disappointed. Admit it, girl.”

“Shaena, will you give it a rest?”

Jade wanted to protest she felt no such
thing. But the truth was she’d felt a marked lack of enthusiasm
about her visit when Simon broke the news that Damon would not be
at the center. This was getting out of hand.

“Jade, why don’t you give the strong
independent don’t-need- a-man act a rest. I love you like the
sister I never had. Let it happen and be happy.”

“He has so many good-looking women throwing
themselves at him; he hasn’t given me more than a glance.” Jade
felt the familiar hollow feeling of being not quite good enough
gnawing at her.