Tender Touch (23 page)

“You see, baby,” Damon said, his fingers
laced through the tangle of her hair. They lay quietly holding each
other. “It’s you, just you.”

“But what about in the cold light of day,
Damon? What happens when your parents, and mine, start to press in,
dragging all that old baggage back with them?” Jade wanted to
believe, but they could not live isolated from their families. She
knew how important family was to Damon. It was one thing she knew
he would always have in common with the Knight-Cormier dynasty.
Could he resist the pull of tradition?

“We’ll stand together and face them all. It
won’t be pleasant at times, but I’ll never let them drive a wedge
between us.” He gazed into her eyes. “Never.”

* * *

Marlene stretched and enjoyed the feel of
satin on her skin. The antique gold sheets had been a gift. She got
up from the bed. The master bedroom had a beautiful view of the
Mississippi River in downtown New Orleans. Tourists with cameras
slung around their necks, some with children in tow, strolled
toward the Riverwalk to gaze at the new trendy shops. With a
contented sigh, she pulled on the black silk robe that matched the
teddy and black lace panties she wore. A glance in the wide mirror
set on the teakwood dresser pleased her. For a woman of fifty-four,
she could easily pass for forty-four, or younger. Her body was
fuller, true, but the generous hips curved out from a still
relatively small waist and she was firm. Brisk walks and swimming
at the club assured that.

“Where are you going, sweet thing? Get back
in this bed,” a voice rumbled from beneath the fabric.

“I didn’t tell him I’d be here all night.”
Marlene belted the robe and gazed back at the bed. “I really should
be going. It’s almost five now.”

“Okay.” A muscular brown arm pulled back the
fabric to reveal a body to match of flawless bronze. His lips
curled up at the way she stopped in the act of picking up her dress
to stare at him. “Guess you should leave. Since it’s still early,
I’ll hang out and see what’s up at the House of Blues tonight.”

“Do you have friends here?” Marlene said
with a slight crease in her forehead. She tried to sound casual.
The difference in their ages mattered to her, especially when she
saw good-looking younger women watch him with hungry eyes.

“Sure, you know I do. I went to Dillard
University, remember?”

“Of course. I just meant—never mind. I’ve
got things to do anyway,” Marlene said in a voice that sounded like
a child pouting. “I don’t exactly sit around waiting to breathe,
until I can see you, Tavis.”

“I didn’t say you did.” Tavis rose from the
bed without one bit of self-consciousness that he was naked. “Now
let’s not argue. No strings, no questions. That’s what we agreed.”
He ran his long fingers down her arms.

“Yes.” Marlene sagged against him with her
eyes closed. “I’m sorry, darling. Our time together is too
precious. You make me feel so alive, so...” She shivered when his
hand rubbed her buttocks.

“Oliver must be more attentive now that his
retirement has forced you two to be together.” Tavis wore a sly
look that Marlene did not see; even when her eyes were open.

Marlene pressed up against him. “What do I
care?” Her voice was too sharp.

“Sure, baby.” Tavis suppressed a laugh at
her expense.

He knew quite well that Oliver Knight, even
stricken with a mild stroke and eighteen years older than he,
occupied her every waking thought. Each lover she’d taken in the
last twenty years had been with an eye to getting revenge against
him. Tavis had a grudging respect for the distinguished old man who
still looked good despite his ill health. Oliver Knight could hold
a woman in a viselike grip. All without the use of physical force,
but with the mind. He was better at it than most men. Except Tavis
of course.

“Besides, I want to talk to Damon sometime
this weekend before he runs off to be with that girl.” Marlene
allowed herself another few minutes of luxury against his hard
torso before she began to dress.

Tavis drew on his bikini briefs then the
jeans that hugged his narrow hips so well. “Damon and Bill seem to
hit it off very well. Damon has gained a lot of respect for his
work at the center, too.” He spoke with studied nonchalance.

Marlene let out a puff of air between her
plum-colored lips. “Wasting his time away from the business with
that silliness.”

“Has he mentioned anything to you about the
grant?” Tavis ignored her reference to head off a tirade.

“He mentioned something about how much more
could be done in that neighborhood.” Marlene tossed off the comment
in a distracted manner.

“Did he say anything about Bill? I mean,
they didn’t exactly admire each other in school from what I
understand.”

“He said something about maybe Lang had
changed. Frankly I didn’t pay much attention. I couldn’t think of
much else once it was clear how that little hussy has him
fooled.”

Tavis chuckled. “Some fine young thing had
my boy’s nose open, eh? Well, let him have his fun.”

“If he was only having fun, I wouldn’t care
one bit about her. But he’s stupid enough to think he’s in love.
With Jade Pellerin of all people.”

“What did you just say?” Tavis looked up
with a jerk of his head.

“Jade Pellerin has her hooks in my son—but
not for long.”

“Damn! Jade is doing Damon Knight,” he
murmured low. Tavis rubbed his jaw. A wide smile stretched his face
as the implication of this bit of news hit him.

“Something’s got to be done about her.”
Marlene pursed her lips. “Damon can’t see past his hormones, like
most men.”

“Man, oh, man. Life is about to get real
interesting.” Tavis nodded.

“What does that mean?” Marlene noticed his
expression for the first time.

“Nothing. I was just thinking about
department business.”

Marlene studied him for several minutes out
of the comer of her eye. “You’re buddies with Bill Lang,
right?”

“We’ve known each other for a while, sure.
He’s helped me a great deal since we hung out together in grad
school. I was the older student who’d worked before I could go
back.” Tavis grunted.

She winced at the reference to the years
between them. Tavis was forty-one, only a few years older than
Damon. And he was ambitious. Marlene knew her connections had been
as attractive as her experience and skill in bed. A suspicion
formed in her mind.

“Damon is working with Lang on this grant
thing. And this isn’t the first time you’ve asked me questions.”
Marlene walked over to stand in front of him. “Don’t get any ideas
about using my son, Tavis. You’re not that good, and I’m not that
stupid.”

“Hey, baby, I’m just curious is all.” Tavis
put his arms around her waist. “Lang and I don’t have anything
going.”

“Oh, really?”

“I’m in the policy and planning office,
babe. I write those dull manuals stuffed with rules for the civil
service worker bees to follow.” He slid a hand up her thigh. “I
rarely even see Bill these days.”

Marlene gasped at the touch of his fingers
on her. She shook her head to clear it. “I knew that,” she said in
a husky voice. “Just don’t get any ideas.”

“Oh, I’ve got ideas all right.” He pulled
her down onto his lap.

* * *

Kathy crossed her arms. A fierce look made
her girlish features look menacing. Bill was seemingly intent on
packing. Expensive folded shirts fresh from the laundry were lined
up in the deep suitcase as were several silk ties. A garment bag
held three suits.

“You could help. But I guess that would be
asking too much.” Bill did not look at her.

“So you can conserve your energy for that
assistant of yours?” Kathy spat out the words.

“This trip is all business.” Bill pressed
his lips together. His expression was one of amused contempt.

“I’m glad you’re enjoying yourself.” Kathy
threw the clothes brush she was about to hand him down to the
floor. She stomped out of the combination dressing room and walk-in
closet into the huge master bedroom.

Several minutes passed while Bill completed
his preparations with unhurried motions. He followed her but only
to retrieve more items to pack. “Kathy, don’t be such a pain. Give
it a rest.”

“You’d like me to be a smiling doormat,”
Kathy spat out. “I’d have to be blind not to see what’s going
on.”

“This is getting so tedious.” Bill brushed
past her but stopped when she grabbed his arm.

“Tell me it’s all lies then. The whispers
and rumors about you two.” Kathy’s voice was like a rubber band
pulled too tight.

“There’s talk about Jade and I?” Bill seemed
more intrigued than upset. “Wonder who...?”

“Nina says—”

“Good old Nina. Your best friend with too
much time on her hands. I should have known. Instead of occupying
herself in some useful way, she floats from one luncheon to the
next, scooping up more garbage than the city trash collectors,”
Bill said with disdain.

“And she’s rarely wrong.” Kathy stared at
him. “Take that last little escapade of yours.”

“How Nina keeps a top job at the legislature
is a mystery to me. When does she work?” Bill ignored Kathy’s
attempt to delve into past affairs.

“Her job is to archive and do research.
Gathering information is her business, Bill. You’d do well to
remember that.” Kathy spoke in a level tone, her eyes narrowed.

Bill froze in the act of splashing on Calvin
Klein cologne. “What was that?” He held the opened bottle in one
hand, the top of it in the other.

“Nina knows quite a lot about the goings on
in state government. In fact the Department of Health and Hospitals
is a major topic of discussion down at the capitol these days.”

“Let me tell you something, Kathy.” Bill
crossed the room in one long stride and jerked her to him. His face
was only inches from hers. “Don’t ever threaten me again.
I’ll—”

“You’ll what, Bill?” Kathy stiffened in the
face of his wrath. She swallowed hard. “Hit me if that will make
you feel like a man.” Seconds passed as no words were spoken.

“When I get back, I’ll be talking to my
lawyer.” Bill let go of her. “I’m sick of putting up with your
tantrums.” He turned his back on her and picked up a tortoiseshell
hair brush.

“You wouldn’t dare!” Kathy blinked as though
he had hit her with a stinging blow.

“Don’t be so sure.” He brushed his glossy
dark brown hair with long strokes. “You’ve spoiled my last Saturday
afternoon.”

“What about our assets? The family real
estate? I’ll take you for all you’re worth.”

Bill sneered at her in the mirror. “Take it.
It’ll be worth every penny.”

“You can’t mean it.” Kathy’s defiant stance
crumpled. “We’re talking about more than ten million dollars
in—”

“You’re forgetting something, babe. Most of
my inheritance is in a family trust. You can’t touch it.” Bill
chuckled. “My grandfather had a shrewd lawyer, don’t forget.”

Kathy glared at him. “But my money has made
you even richer. Not to mention how your family benefited from my
brother’s investment advice. All that will dry up the instant you
walk out on me.”

“You overestimate your value, as usual. I
don’t need your brother, or you.”

“You slimy b—” Kathy raised a hand to slap
him. He caught it in midair.

“Tsk, tsk. You better learn to control your
temper.” Bill squeezed her small hand tight.

“Let go,” Kathy gasped. A frown of pain
twisted her face.

“Now that we understand each other...” He
released her and then straightened the collar of his shirt.

Kathy spoke in a quiet voice, her expression
unreadable. “I won’t give you up, Bill. Understand? I’ll do
whatever it takes to keep you.”

“Drama was always your best subject in
college, Kathy. You really should have gone on the stage.” Bill
laughed at her.

“Don’t you dare leave. I’m not through
talking!”

“I’ll be at the club, playing golf. I might
even stay there for dinner. Have a nice day.” He sauntered out
without looking back. Kathy went into the den and sat fuming for
several minutes.

She picked up the telephone. “Yes, this is
Kathy. About that information your friend is interested in...”

* * *

Jade felt cramped and tense after the
flight. The ride to the hotel was even more unpleasant because she
was wedged between Damon and Bill. Bill’s good humor vanished when
Damon arrived with her at the airport in Baton Rouge. The
displeasure stamped on his face was clearly directed at Damon. But
why? Jade had never mentioned Damon would attend the conference,
but then there was no reason for it to come up. She was certain the
look Bill had given her was one of censure. It was as though she’d
offended him in some way. Damon noticed something was wrong. By the
time they arrived at Hotel One Washington Circle, Bill was barely
speaking to them. Damon adopted a “What’s-his-problem?” attitude
that did not help matters. Thankfully there was no mix-up with
their hotel reservations.

“I’m going to take a rest before the keynote
speech.” Jade was eager to escape them both for now.

“Sure, honey.” Damon placed an arm around
her shoulders. “We’ll take a stroll around later. I want to show
you Washington in all its springtime glory.” He pecked her on the
cheek.

“Don’t forget to fit this conference into
your schedule,” Bill said with a tight expression that tried to be
a smile.

“Oh, we’ve got it all planned—right, babe?”
Damon pulled Jade closer to him. “We’ll soak up lots of knowledge
from the workshops and have a good time. I know all the things Jade
would enjoy.”

Bill stared at him for several seconds. His
face relaxed. “I’ve got a killer headache. The meeting with Chester
Howard Friday afternoon was not good. I’ll tell you about it later,
Jade.”