Tender Touch Read online

  Jade tapped her long fingernails on the desk. “Me and my big mouth.”

  Shaena ignored her remark. “I knew it was the first of many. Honey, you’ll have all those other women foaming at the mouth with envy when they find out.”

  “I’m unsure about this, Shaena. I mean, it’s good between us—almost too good to be true. You know what I’m saying?” Jade struggled to describe how she felt.

  “Now there you go. Don’t start being suspicious of the man before you have reason to be.”

  “I don’t want to assume too much—” Jade looked at her friend “—and repeat the same mistake. I thought I knew Nick, too.”

  “Baby, as you know I’ve had my share of experiences with low-down men. Please don’t get me started,” Shaena said with a sigh. “But Nick is a special breed of dirty dog. Don’t use him as a guide to judge Damon.”

  “They are completely different people. I mean, Nick came on with the charm. He’d go to any lengths to impress.”

  Jade remembered the extravagant evenings Nick would plan that included roses and trips to plays in New Orleans. But for him, the chase and conquest were a thrill. He needed constant doses of such dramatic evenings with a new audience each time. But Nick was also good at deception. He enjoyed having a wife to come home to despite his craving for variety. A spike of that familiar pain went through her at the memory of finally facing the truth.

  “That kind of man can get in your blood like a drug, girl. Been there, done that, got the T-shirt,” Shaena said as she waved a hand in the air.

  “Damon is so...real. He’s charming but not like Nick.”

  Shaena grunted. “You mean he’s not flashy and superficial. When he says something, you can believe it.”

  Jade felt as though a light had come on. “That’s it. I’ve been thinking about Nick a lot. And compared to Damon, he seems so phony. Nick thinks only of himself. Damon seems like someone you can count on.”

  “Sounds like a reason to hang on to him. So why are you hiding the man like a bad habit you don’t want folks to know about?”

  “It may not lead to anything. So I don’t want to share it just yet. Especially not with Mama.” Jade shuddered at the thought of Clarice getting into her business.

  “Or Lanessa,” Shaena said with her customary shoot-from-the- hip style. “She’ll wrap herself around a fine man like a python.”

  “Don’t be so hard on her,” Jade put in weakly. In a lot of ways, Jade was closer to Shaena than she was to her older sister. Over the years they had shared long conversations about family relationships.

  “You know it’s true, Jade. Really, I don’t think she’s vicious. Lanessa just tends not to think of how going after what she wants affect other folks.”

  “But if I don’t trust him, maybe we shouldn’t even be together.” Jade frowned.

  “Quit worrying about stuff that hasn’t even happened, girl. You’ve had only one date so far. Already you’re coming up with reasons not to see the man.” Shaena handed Jade her purse. “It’s almost five o’clock. Get out of here so you can be on time. And stop making problems that don’t exist.” She pushed her out the door.

  “Maybe you’re right. Hey, we might not see each other for very long anyway,” Jade said.

  “Uh-huh.” Shaena folded her arms and stared at her hard.

  “What?”

  “The last time you dated a guy, you didn’t have that glow whenever you said his name. You’ll be seeing Damon Knight for more than a few dates. He’s hot for you and you’re hot for him.” Shaena chuckled at the blush her words caused. They got into the elevator with three other people.

  Jade considered her remark as they rode down to the first floor. “Is it that obvious?” she whispered as they passed the security guard on the way out the door.

  “Honey, y’all could set off the sprinkler system with the way you look at each other,” Shaena said.

  Jade took a deep breath. “Shaena, he is one sexy man—I have to admit.”

  “Then relax and enjoy the ride.” Shaena gave her a wink. “Pun intended.”

  “You ought to quit.” Jade tried to sound shocked but failed when she giggled.

  “Now go. Have a great time.” Shaena headed for her car. “And ask him if he’s got a friend for me.”

  Jade laughed all the way home. She dashed in for ten minutes to freshen up then headed for the restaurant, Chez Irene. They had agreed to meet there. Damon was waiting for her just inside the door when she arrived.

  “Hello there.” Damon gave her a quick kiss. “You look lovely as usual.”

  “Thanks,” Jade said. The deep satisfaction of a simple compliment from him brought was a source of amazement. Never had anyone made her feel so...wanted.

  They followed the hostess through the crowded restaurant to a table. Jade nodded to several acquaintances. Chez Irene was a hit with the up-and-coming young professionals in town. Steak and seafood were the main fare.

  “Wow, this place is packed tight. Lots of familiar faces.” Damon gazed around and waved to several men with their families.

  “You know folks in south Louisiana know good food when they find it. And Miss Irene can dish it out.” Jade giggled.

  “Cute,” Damon said with a mock groan. “Umm, wouldn’t a prime-cut steak hit the spot?”

  “Not to mention the garlic shrimp pasta dish. It’s out of this world.”

  “Yes indeed. And the seafood platter?” Damon stared at the menu with anticipation.

  “Say, why don’t we just order everything?” Jade wore the expression of a kid looking forward to being naughty.

  “Don’t tempt me. But I’ll settle for prime rib and a baked potato this time.”

  “I’ve got to go for the light entrees these days. All those fat grams and calories have a way of multiplying when they get in this body. A dirty trick my metabolism plays on me, or at least that’s my alibi.” Jade sighed and put the menu down.

  Damon took her hand. “Babe, whatever you’re doing is working. Keep it goin’ on just like that.” His dark brown eyes held a soft gleam of affection.

  “You’re going to spoil me. Two compliments in less than thirty minutes. Can I take it?” Jade was fascinated at the way his fingers curled around her hand and the feel of his warm flesh pressing hers. Her teasing tone was an attempt to maintain some kind of equilibrium in the face of such a powerful assault on her senses.

  “Spoiling you is something I very much look forward to over the next few weeks,” Damon murmured. He raised her hand and brushed his lips across her fingers.

  A tingle of fire shot up her arms and wrapped around her heart. “Oh,” Jade said with a gasp.

  “Y’all want me to come back?” The waiter raised an eyebrow at them. When Damon nodded, he gave him a thumbs-up sign. “Gotcha, brother. I’ll just fade on back to the kitchen for a few.”

  “Jade, I really like you. A lot.” Damon still held her hand.

  “Wow, Damon. I’m kind of at a loss right now.” Jade used her free hand to bring the glass of ice water to her lips. Maybe that would help her cool down enough to think straight. This man had the ability to take her from a normal temperature to a fever pitch at the speed of light.

  “Me, too. Feels nice though.”

  “Slow down,” Jade pleaded. She needed time to recover, or she’d be all over him right here and now.

  Damon released her hand. He wiped his brow with his handkerchief. “I’m sorry. You said you needed time, and I’m pushing you. Believe me I’m as stunned by this intensity I’m feeling as you.”

  Jade was touched by the sincere look of bewilderment on his handsome face. “It’s okay, really.”

  “Look, for the past two years since my divorce I’ve been dating but nothing heavy. I didn’t want another serious relationship for a long time. But now...”

  “But now?”

  “Now I feel like I’ve finally met a woman who is not only beautiful and intelligent, but...real. Someone with a sense of purpose—a
woman I could be with in every way.”

  “With all the women you’ve met, how can you be sure?” Jade traced an invisible line on the tablecloth between them. She thought of all the gorgeous women who moved in Damon’s social circle. How could he find her more attractive than them?

  “Contrary to rumor, I haven’t dated every woman in town,” he said with amusement.

  “That’s good to know,” she quipped.

  “You’re special to me, Jade. The armor I put up after my divorce was like steel, until you.”

  “I...I don’t know what to say,” Jade stammered. She felt as though they were alone in a private space.

  “Don’t respond right now. Listen, I was as hard a case about romance as you. But I’m willing to give it a try if you are.” Damon looked at her intently as he waited for her response.

  This time it was Jade who reached out to touch his hand. “I’m willing.” Still the old caution kicked in. A painful memory of just such a moment with Nick pushed through. “But still let’s take time to really know each other before we...”

  Damon squeezed her hand. “I agree. Over the next few weeks, let’s have some quality time.”

  “Yes. We’ll have time before I leave.” Jade smiled at him.

  “What do you mean?”

  “Oh, I didn’t tell you. We’re going to Washington, D.C., to a big conference. It’s going to be great.”

  “You and Lang?” Damon’s jaw muscle jumped.

  “Yes. Some of the country’s leading experts in social services will be there. There will be a special day-long seminar on community intervention in inner-city neighborhoods. You should send Eddie.”

  “Humph, guess so,” Damon said. The waiter returned and took their order. “How long is this conference?”

  “Four days. But Bill and I are going down a few days early. He’s going to introduce me to several congressmen and top Health and Human Services officials. I’m so excited,” Jade said.

  His brown eyes flashed with annoyance. “Guess Bill still has the connections to make a big impression.”

  “Hey, works for me. We got the grant because of his inside knowledge.”

  “Yeah, Bill always had a way of going around the rules.” Damon took a deep drink from his water glass.

  “What do you mean...? Oh, no,” Jade blurted out. “Please, Lord, let me be hallucinating.”

  “Alton, look. It’s our Jade. Hello, sweetie!” Clarice pulled her husband along in her powerful wake like a battleship. Alton Pellerin wore a look of apology. “Why, isn’t this something.”

  “Hello, Mama.” Jade tried not to sound as horrified as she felt. “Hi, Daddy. How’ve you been?”

  “Fine, darlin’.” Alton bent down to kiss her.

  “Who is this?” Clarice fixed Damon with an appraising gaze that took him in from head to toe. A small nod signaled her approval based on first impression.

  “Mama, Daddy, this is Damon Knight. Damon, my parents.”

  “Happy to meet you, Mr. and Mrs. Pellerin.” Damon stood up and shook hands with Jade’s father. “Please join us.”

  Jade groaned inside. She was trapped in date hell with no hope of escape. “Yes, do,” she said with a forced smile.

  For several minutes they exchanged small talk. Clarice was the picture of grace as she skillfully extracted information about how long Jade and Damon had known each other and where they’d first met. Damon seemed not to notice he was being pumped for details by a master. As she watched her mother, Jade was sure anything she ate now would sit in her stomach like a hard rock.

  The waiter came back. “What’ll you folks have?”

  “Oh, no, no, no.” Clarice waved a hand with great drama. “We wouldn’t dream of intruding on these young people. Besides we’re meeting the Monroes for dinner. There they are. Telma, over here.”

  Telma and Caspar Monroe had been friends of Jade’s parents for years. The handsome older couple played tennis with the Pellerins, and they even took short vacations together on occasion.

  “This is Jade’s... friend,” Clarice said with a significant look to Telma. “Marlene and Oliver Knight’s oldest son.”

  “My, my. How do you do.” Telma looked at him with frank interest.

  Damon seemed not to notice the stir he was causing. He even appeared to be enjoying the attention of the women as they made a fuss about his family tree. Caspar Monroe was a retired professor who knew his father quite well. He went on to tell several amusing anecdotes about Oliver’s exploits on the golf course years ago. While Clarice and Damon were distracted, Jade’s father leaned over to her.

  “I tried to talk her out of this,” he said in a low voice.

  “It’s okay, Daddy,” Jade mumbled. Her tone suggested just the opposite. “How in the world did she figure out where...?”

  “She’s better than any psychic. First place she named when Telma asked where we wanted to go.” Alton kept an eye on his wife to make sure she didn’t suspect he was talking about her. “You know how your mother is, baby.”

  “Oh, boy, do I,” Jade said. She watched her mother with a growing sense of dread. When Clarice turned to her, the feeling deepened.

  “Why have you kept this darling young man such a secret, Jade? He just has to come over for dinner.” Clarice turned back to Damon. “Of course you will.” She patted his arms as though to say that it was settled.

  “Mama, we...” Jade wanted to pull herself from this sinkhole. But how?

  “Next Wednesday?” Clarice pretended not to have heard her.

  Damon smiled at Clarice. “Sounds fine, Mrs. Pellerin. I’m looking forward to it.”

  “Excellent.” Clarice beamed back at him. “Now we’ll leave you two alone. Bye now.”

  The foursome made their farewells and swept off into another dining room. Jade began thinking of excuses to cancel the dinner within seconds of her parents’ departure.

  “Your parents seem very nice. And your mother is charming,” Damon said.

  “Yes, charming.”

  “I’m looking forward to next Wednesday already.”

  “Oh, well. If you’re busy, I’ll understand. I mean... don’t feel you have to come.” Jade took a deep breath.

  “You scared I’m going to do something awful and embarrass you? I promise not to lick my fingers,” he teased.

  “No, that’s not it.” Jade moved her dinner fork around on the tablecloth. “I just don’t want you to think I’m pushing you to something more serious. Meeting parents takes things to a whole new level.”

  Damon put an arm around the back of her chair and spoke close to her ear. “Sweetheart, I don’t think you’re rushing me into anything. I want to go.”

  “Really?” Jade looked up into eyes that reminded her of warm summer nights and soft music.

  “Really.” He grinned at her. “Things are right on time.”

  Jade was afraid to put too much into his statement. Such enticing words could turn out to be lies. The pain of another letdown would be unbearable.

  “Then let’s agree that this dinner has no significance attached to it. It’s only dinner.” Jade made herself pull back from him.

  “Fine. Now do you feel safe?”

  “I didn’t feel threatened,” Jade blurted out in a defensive tone then blushed.

  “I understand,” he whispered low. “I’ve felt the same. Getting your heart stepped on will do that to you.”

  “Oh, Damon.” Jade wanted to grab this man and drag him home to her bed. He was everything she wanted: sensitive, sexy and kind. Those three attributes were like a powerful aphrodisiac, working on her body with the force of a nuclear blast.

  “Like we said before, let’s take our time. I’m looking forward to going slow with you,” he said, his voice deep and sensuous.

  “Yes—me, too.” Jade rested her temple against his. The need to be hear him was so strong it pulled her to him like a magnet.

  He rested a hand on her thigh and caressed it underneath the long, white
tablecloth so no one else could see. “But I’ve got to be honest, Jade. I’ve never wanted a woman the way I want you. From the first day, I’ve thought about all the ways I’m going to please you. You know what I mean?”

  A little voice way down inside told Jade she should be offended and slap his hand away. But that voice was soon shouted down by the desire coursing through her. Another voice said, “I felt it, too.” Jade was startled to hear the words come out of her mouth. But the dark desire in his eyes made her glad she’d said it.

  The rest of the evening was more relaxed. Jade marveled at how they could talk with ease about everything. There were no awkward silences, no desperate search to fill in with mindless chatter. Damon talked about his business with a sense of pride in his father’s accomplishments. But his enthusiasm really showed when he spoke of the Gracie Street Center. His commitment to making life better for the residents of that neighborhood was genuine. They talked at great length about the hopes and dreams he wanted to come true for them, especially the children. Jade wanted to do everything she could to help him. She now looked forward to working on the grant like never before.

  “I can’t wait to learn more in Washington. People like Karl Dennis will be there. He’s got a fantastic program that’s built on unconditional care and wrap-around services,” she said.

  “Tell me about it.”

  “Unconditional care means they don’t discharge people from their programs. In other words, some agencies draw the line—say, if kids get arrested or pregnant—and stop serving them. His agency makes a commitment to stick with that child no matter what.”

  Damon sat back and folded his arms. “That’s an awesome concept. What’s wrap-around services?”

  “It means you design the services to meet around child or the family. If they need better housing, child care, whatever, you get it. You don’t just focus on changing the child’s behavior or the parents’, too, for that matter,” Jade said.

  “That sounds like something we’d want to get into.”

  “Then send Eddie. Like I said, this is a tremendous opportunity for him. He could learn about other agencies and network with experts.” Jade munched on the remains of her French bread.