Tender Touch (34 page)

“Something like that.”

“Baloney. Bill and I have spent hours
together. He’s never suggested we do anything but follow the
rules.” Jade brushed back her hair. “No, Bill’s doing the right
things.”

The simple gesture of smoothing back her
hair while referring to Bill Lang set Damon’s teeth on edge. Damon
had an image of Rachelle tossing her long hair unconsciously while
she lied without batting an eye.

“Yes, but maybe he’s not telling you
everything.” Damon clutched his mug tightly. “I don’t think all
these rumors are about nothing, Jade. Are you sure there isn’t at
least some truth to them?”

Jade shrugged. “Bill is a charmer who enjoys
skirting convention. But so far it’s only been to help the poor
people who depend on us for services. We’ve come up with some
innovative approaches.”

“Yeah, he’s a real charmer.” Damon sat still
next to her. “Must have made all that overtime easier to take.”

Jade came back from her musings with a jolt.
“Say what?”

“I mean, there are questions being raised
about some of the decisions coming out of that office. And you keep
defending him,” Damon said in a taut voice.

“I’m defending him because he hasn’t done
anything improper from what I can see. And just what are you
implying?” Jade kept her voice even.

“Working long hours with the man, sometimes
at night, isn’t a good idea, Jade. In fact, it’s a real bad idea.
Those rumors you’re so ready to dismiss aren’t going away easily. I
just think—”

“You just think what, Damon?” Jade’s voice
was stretched taut. This was the man who’d laughed with and touched
his ex-wife with such intimacy. And he had the nerve to question
her behavior!

“I don’t like all the late nights you’ve
been hanging around with him,” Damon blurted out.

Jade moved an inch away from him on the
sofa. “I haven’t been hanging around with him, I’ve been working.
Or don’t you believe me?” Her brown eyes glittered with fury even
though her voice remained even.

“I do, it’s just... Look, the man isn’t
known for honesty. I just don’t want you to get caught up in nasty
talk. Bill Lang is well known for chasing women.” Damon gazed at
her. “And your decisions coming out of the department have been
mentioned in some rumors, too.”

“So I’m a slut?” Jade gave him a look that
could melt steel.

Damon put his mug down with a bang. “Honey,
of course not! I’d never say such a thing about you—”

“Oh, so you don’t think I’m a slut, just
stupid,” Jade said in a flat voice. “And possibly dishonest.” She
wanted to toss the hot contents of her cup into his lap.

“You know I don’t think you’re stupid or
dishonest.” Damon floundered for a way to untangle himself from his
own words. “But maybe you put too much trust in the man. You said
yourself he’s charming.”

“So I’m gullible enough to be taken in by
his charm, which is only one step away from being stupid as far as
I can see.” Jade turned away from him.

“Jade, listen, let’s back up. I approached
you the wrong way.” Damon rubbed his forehead in frustration. He
was digging the hole deeper by the minute.

“Now that’s the first thing you’ve gotten
right so far,” Jade retorted.

“Not only do I care for you but I have the
utmost respect for you as a professional,” Damon pressed in order
to make her see he was sincere.

“I see.” Jade was unmoved.

“It’s just that sometimes appearances give a
bad impression.”

“I know exactly what you mean,” Jade
snapped. “Who you spend time with can cause people to speculate
about your actions.”

“It’s not always fair, but you’re right. So
you understand where I’m coming from?” Damon’s handsome face
brightened, but only for a second when he saw the storm gathering
in her brown eyes.

“Oh, yes, I understand perfectly.” Jade
faced him with a sharp turn that made him jump. “For example, I
could have concluded that you were still having the occasional
fling with your ex-wife when I saw you having lunch with her.”

“Now wait—”

“Oh, you were in a public place all right.
She must have been especially amusing the way you were laughing it
up. Some might say your hands were all over her like a cop doing a
body search. But of course the fact that you didn’t think I’d see
you had nothing to do with your behavior, did it? I mean, it
wouldn’t be fair to assume because you’ll be seeing her again that
something is going on.” Jade spoke in a rapid-fire delivery.

Damon’s jaw muscles worked for several
moments before he spoke. “Rachelle’s marketing firm is doing work
to help expand our customer base. That was business.”

“So is my work with Bill Lang,” Jade
replied. She returned his gaze.

“After the times we’ve spent together, how
could you think I’d lie to you?” Damon said in a quiet voice.

“How could you believe gossip? You must have
assumed some of it was true, or you wouldn’t have asked me about
it,” Jade replied.

“Look, I’m sorry. I was out of line to bring
up those rumors.”

“Yes, you were.” Jade still wore an
unyielding expression.

“I never meant to suggest you’ve done
anything questionable.” Damon took a deep breath. “Let’s just end
this discussion right now. I don’t want an ugly argument.”

“Neither do I,” Jade said with
conviction.

She’d had too many dramatic scenes with
Nick. Once they were divorced, she vowed not to get involved in any
relationship that included shouting matches and accusations. The
arguments never solved anything anyway. Damon seemed to read her
thoughts.

“I’ve had my fill of finger-pointing in
relationships,” he said in a tired voice.

Jade could think only of how he cut off
discussion once the subject of his being with Rachelle was brought
up. It was fine to dissect her relationship with Bill, but it
seemed he was anxious to avoid a closer look at his feelings for
his ex-wife. She felt a taste of bitter loss at the notion that the
beautiful promise of love was an illusion. Wrapped in sadness, she
turned away from him. Once the seeds of suspicion were planted,
things went sour. Eventually she would find out the truth. There
was no smoke without fire. Arguing was useless. How she had wanted
this time to be different.

“I have an early day tomorrow. A lot to do.”
Jade’s voice was dead, dry of expression. A long moment of silence
stretched between them.

“Yeah, I’ve had a long day, too.” Damon
gazed at her with a look of expectation. When she did not return
his gaze or speak, he cleared his throat. “Guess I’ll let you get
some rest.” He rose from the sofa.

Jade nodded. She could not trust her voice.
A voice in her head screamed don’t let him walk out! But the image
of all the times she gave up her pride to hold on to Nick cut
through as a strong force holding her back. No, she’d had her fill
of compromising her pride for a few moments of affection. The
short-term payoff never equaled the long-term misery.

Damon did not move. He seemed poised,
waiting for something. “Good night, Jade.”

Jade stood and walked to the door. She
steeled herself not to react as he passed her. Yet the smell of his
skin, a mixture of soap and aftershave cologne, delivered a solid
blow to her resolve. His physical effect on her had not diminished.
How could she live without feeling his solid body molded to hers?
The image of them entwined in a love knot, hips moving in concert,
caused a sharp hunger to slice through her. She sensed this was an
ending. If he walks out this door, girl, you’ll lose so much. Jade
gripped the doorknob. A combination of lust and romantic illusion
would not be enough. I will not be a fool twice.

“Good night, Damon.” Jade managed to glance
into his eyes for a moment before looking away. And he was gone.
The soft sound of her front door lock clicking into place seemed to
echo through her head.

* * *

Damon sat in his car in the parking lot
outside her condo. He was in a mild state of shock. The words it’s
over played in his head like a broken record. How had this
happened? Sure, he’d avoided an ugly shouting match. But this
ending had been more painful in a way. As crazy as it seemed, he
now began to think Jade’s quiet reaction meant she did not care
enough to waste energy being outraged. Man, you’re outta your mind.
Go home. He drove away, all the while wrestling with the urge to
stay. Maybe it was better this way. No, maybe he should go back.
Maybe... The blast of a horn brought him up sharply. Damon slammed
on the brake in time to avoid ramming into a car. He’d gone through
a stop sign. Damn, get it together! Damon steadied his nerves and
drove on. To hell with this. Jade had defended Bill Lang. And she
had always said, even bragged that she was ambitious. She seemed
determined to stick by Lang. Every conversation they’d ever had
about her work and Lang took on a new meaning. Damon slapped the
steering wheel with the flat of his hand. He’d been blind once
again. Now all he had to do was forget about her. Just the thought
made his body react. Longing took hold in his groin. Her sweetness
flooded back to him. Jade had been more than a luscious body. She
was thoughtful, caring, the kind of woman he wanted to talk to at
the end of his day. Or at least he’d thought she was that woman.
Now it’s over.

* * *

“You can forget that little tryst in
Hawaii.” Kathy cackled. She waved her glass of wine in the air.
“The Senate committee isn’t cooperating these days, Billy boy?”

Kathy leaned against the open door to his
office at home. She was dressed in a pale pink satin lounge pant
set, the tunic shirt open at the throat. Bill shuffled through
papers on his desk.

“What the hell are you obsessing on now?”
Bill threw an irritated glance at her before resuming his search
for something among a stack of files.

“I wasn’t dumb enough to think you wanted to
attend another conference on the less fortunate. You don’t give a
damn about anybody else but yourself.” Kathy came into the room and
wandered around, gazing at the books in the wall-to-wall bookshelf.
“Amazing how you’ve risen to power in a state agency that has
nothing but social welfare type program,” she said as though
thinking aloud.

“I worked hard to help start the most
innovative services in this state. I’ve done volunteer work since
college to help nonprofit agencies aid disadvantaged groups.” Bill
held up a file then pushed the others aside and sat down. “Based on
my brains and hard work, I’ve advanced.”

Kathy put down her empty wineglass and
clapped her hands. “Bravo. Your delivery is perfect, Bill. As
usual.” She slid down into a chair of rich dark brown fabric.

“And your harping is getting on my nerves as
usual,” Bill retorted in a gruff voice. “Please leave. I’ve got
work to do.”

Kathy ignored his remark. She wiggled into a
more comfortable position in the stuffed chair. “That article in
the paper wouldn’t be the reason your wonderful trip is canceled,
is it?”

“What do you mean?” Bill tapped a finger on
the manila folder in front of him. His jaw clenched.

“A few not so flattering facts about you
have been uncovered.” Kathy lifted a shapely shoulder. “Some of it
could make people think you’ve been up to no good.” Her lips
twitched in an obvious expression of suppressed delight.

“Is that how you see it?” Bill said.

“Uh-huh, and apparently I’m not the only
one. Senator Murray seems to be a bit peeved about some hospital
certificate thingy.” Kathy picked up her wineglass from the table
next to the chair. She frowned at the small drop of liquid left.
“

“You seem to know quite a lot about the
details of in the article.” Bill stared down at the scatter of
sheets before him.

“All I know is what I read in the papers,”
Kathy said with a grin. She stood on unsteady legs. “I’d love to
continue this fascinating conversation, but I’ll need to get a
drink first.”

Bill crossed the room in three long strides
and grabbed her arm. “What have you been doing? Huh?” He shook her
like a rag doll. “It hadn’t occurred to me until now that you could
have been his source.”

Kathy tried to break free of his hold. “Let
go of me! I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Like hell you don’t! In the third
paragraph, he talks about my ties to Franklin and mentions a deal
that I never discussed at the office. We met here two years ago,
Kathy. Right in this office. How long have you been spying on me?”
Bill squeezed her arms.

“Leave me alone.” Kathy pushed him away. She
tugged at her clothes and brushed her hair back into place.

“I want an answer.” Bill glowered at
her.

“Oh, now you want to talk to me,” Kathy said
with a snort. “Now I’ve got your undivided attention. Lucky
me.”

His face twisted with rage, Bill raised a
fist to strike her. “I’m going to—”

“My father will see to it that you can’t get
a job selling shoes in this state. My brothers would beat you to a
pulp.” Kathy watched him with cold, fearless eyes.

The full import of her words brought him up
short. “You’re not worth dirtying my hands.” He stepped back from
her. “And your little scheme to ruin me won’t work.”

“Don’t be so sure,” she snapped. “Unless of
course you’re agreeable to renegotiating how this marriage works,
you’re going to be the subject of even more articles.”

Bill gaped at her. “You did all this because
I haven’t paid enough attention to you? I always knew you were
nuts. With the stuff they’re raking up, I could go to jail for
malfeasance in office.”

“On a good day, you ignore me. Most of the
time you treat me like nothing, less than nothing. You stopped
pretending to care about me right after the honeymoon. You married
me for my family’s money and influence.” Kathy’s angry voice sliced
through the air like a knife. “The worst part is I didn’t care. I
wanted you so much, I didn’t care.”