Red Rock Rises; Sexy Romantic Suspense; Book 1: The Red Rock Series (The Red Rock Seies) (12 page)

Chapter 14

Jesse waited for Trey in the school parking lot. Her heart skipped a beat when she saw him coming toward her. He was looking at the ground, his rigid shoulders belying his casual stride. She reached over to open the passenger door and touched his shoulder briefly as he climbed in. Jesse ached for him, but like her son, she assumed a casual tone.

“How did it go?”

He shrugged and batted at the messy curls hanging low over his forehead. He’d let his hair grow to chin length this summer. Jesse thought Trey did it to annoy his father and to make himself look older, cooler. Jesse choked back a pained laugh. More than anything he looked like he did as a young boy: outrageously beautiful with a shocking mass of reddish blond curls. Like her, he’d avoided the redhead’s usual scourge of sandy lashes and brows. Like hers, dark eyelashes and eyebrows set off his bright green eyes.

“A lot of the kids knew about it. They wanted to know why the other guys were in jail and I wasn’t.”

“What did you tell them?”

He shrugged again. “That I helped the guy Peter shot, and called 911. And that I have to go to a place for kids in trouble. That shut them up.”

Jesse’s heart tugged at his feigned nonchalance.

He took a deep breath.

“The principal called me down. I guess the police called him to let the school know what had happened.”

Jesse had talked at length with Principal Rodriguez. He’d told her that he’d been disappointed in Trey to date—that he wasn’t the kid that he had expected from his previous school’s records. He was cautious but encouraged that Trey had shown a different side of himself last night, a more admirable side.

“I also talked with your principal, Trey. He was impressed with what you did last night.”

“Yeah. He said he hoped I’d be different from now on. Get better grades and stuff. Said he was going to be watching me closely.”

Jesse nodded. “A lot of people are going to be watching you, Trey. And most of them are pulling for you. They want you to succeed.”

Trey muttered an unintelligible response.

“I didn’t hear what you said, Trey.”

“Dad doesn’t.”

Jesse forced herself to hide her true feelings.

“He’s angry now, Trey, and upset.”

In a surprising turn, Trey blurted, “I wish Dad was more like Chief Macarios. Even though he’s a police chief, he understands kids. More than Principal Rodriquez or most of my teachers do.”

Jesse didn’t trust herself to respond. She just nodded and focused on driving. Dwelling on last night wouldn’t help. She’d barely slept. Unlike the other nights when she’d been upset and angry, last night her erotic dreams interrupted her sleep. She’d fall asleep then wake from another turbulent dream with her body on fire, aching to be touched. Nothing she did could sate the hunger raging inside of her.

She’d spent at least two hours this morning deciding what to wear. Having lived most of her adult life in required uniforms, choosing a daily wardrobe was a new ordeal. When she arrived in Albuquerque, she’d hit the high-end department stores determined to change her image. She soon discovered her usual sweats and t-shirts and unisex Army uniforms had masked her body more than she’d realized. Everything she chose made her look sexy, inviting. At first she was horrified at her reflection in the mirror, wondering if she should take back all the new clothes. Remembering the gleam in Dameon’s eyes when he looked at her she was glad she’d resisted. But that didn’t make it any easier to decide what to wear to the police station.

Jesse tried on one outfit after another. She finally picked a black pencil skirt and a cropped short sleeved sweater that flared at her waist to hide her back holster. Adding thigh high stockings and three inch heels made her feel professional,
and
sexy.

She saw Trey studying her as they walked into the station.

She was surprised and gratified when he complimented her.

“You look pretty, Mom. I like that sweater. It’s the same color as your eyes.”

She had desperately wanted to see Dameon and just as desperately didn’t. But after three hours of grueling sessions with the team of juvenile counselors—some of them with her alone, others with her and Trey together—she still hadn’t seen Dameon. She’d hoped that he would be in some of the sessions.

As they prepared to leave, she swallowed her disappointment, determined to focus on Trey who looked understandably shaken. The sessions Jesse had been in were tough. She could only imagine what Trey’s had been like. The counselors were courteous but didn’t pull any punches. Trey was in serious trouble and he was going to have to work hard to pull himself out.

As they walked by his office, Dameon came to the door and called out after them. Jesse was startled at the rush of heat surging over her. She prayed to God that her face didn’t look as hot as it felt.

Dameon edged up close to her but focused on Trey.

“I’ve been watching for you. How did it go, Trey?”

Trey shrugged. “Okay, I guess.”

Dameon explained. “I was in some of the conversations with Trey, but I had a meeting and couldn’t stay for them all.”

He turned back to Trey who was shuffling his feet, staring at the ground, his hands shoved in his pockets.

Dameon persisted. “Did you think about our offer, Trey?”

Trey mumbled what sounded like a qualified affirmative.

In explanation to Jesse, Dameon noted. “As part of his probation, we offered Trey the opportunity to join my basketball team.”

He looked back at Trey who had his eyes locked on the ground.

“What did you decide to do, Trey?”

Trey looked up at him then flushed and looked back down.

“I… I think I’d like to do it.”

Dameon was curt.

“Good. I’ll talk to your principal and have my secretary arrange a bus from your school. We practice on the NMU courts at Isotopes Park. Our practice lasts for a solid two and a half to three hours. Come prepared to play ball, Trey.”

Trey swallowed hard and nodded.

While he talked to Trey, Dameon had moved over beside Jesse. He’d clamped his hand around her arm—like a vise. Not hard, but he held her in place. She was trapped, she couldn’t leave if she wanted to. Luckily, she didn’t want to.

Dameon waited until Trey had moved down the hallway, then murmured in her ear.

“Got a question for you.”

She managed to conjure up enough spit in her desert dry mouth to croak out an answer.

“What kind of question?”

His eyes were dancing and a sexy smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.

“Do you have a permit for that?”

She frowned, flustered. “I already told you that I did.”

His smile widened to a grin. Leaning down, he murmured, “I wasn’t talking about the gun. I was talking about your mouth.”

~~~

The next day, Jesse drove over to Isotopes Park. She’d asked Trey if he minded if she came and watched him practice. She was surprised by his quick affirmative.

“Please, Mom. I want you to come.” He’d hesitated, and then appealed to her. “If… I don’t feel like I’m doing very good, can I go home?”

Jesse’s breath hitched, aching for him. He was such a serious kid, tall, gangly and shy. His question underscored how young he was, something she sometimes forgot.

“Yes, you can. But let’s see how it goes first.”

Jesse got to the park early and went for a grueling ten mile run on the trail she’d found on the internet. When she was finished, she walked over to where a group of parents were watching the basketball practice. She stood at a distance, her heart in her throat watching them play.

She was astonished at Dameon. He was active, involved, shouting out one play after another. He frequently pulled one of the players aside and worked with him on a move or a pass. She swallowed hard. In addition to being accomplished, he was gorgeous. Tall and muscular, his lean body was lithe, powerful. Jesse’s stomach pitched remembering his hands roaming over her eager body, then stopping to touch and torment her most sensitive places. Watching him engage the group of supposedly ‘bad’ kids, she saw a man thoroughly in control and enjoying every moment. Most compelling was his engaging grin. From the reaction of the players and the comments she overheard from the cluster of parents, she wasn’t the only one impressed by the dark-haired, blue-eyed coach.

Jesse’s heart tugged watching Trey. All of the basketball players were big. A couple of them towered over Trey. He was almost as tall as most of them, only skinnier and younger. They were all accomplished players but Trey looked like he was holding his own. At least his ball handling was as good as any of them. If he took a chance and shot, he seemed to sink a decent percentage. When Trey stayed with her, he spent most of his free time at a neighborhood park shooting baskets. She’d been encouraged hoping he’d find friends, but when she asked, he’d said no. He’d rather play by himself. Watching the level of play, Jesse was glad that Trey had practiced as much as he had or he would have been swamped by the level of ball these young men were playing.

A buxom black woman came over to her.

“Hi. I’m Shaunda Williams, DaShon’s mother.” She pointed to the player who was obviously the star on the team. Shaunda continued. “Your son is the new kid, the one with the strawberry blond hair?”

Jesse swallowed and forced herself to speak, a reminder where Trey got his shyness.

“Yes. My name is Jesse O’Donnell. My son’s name is Trey Chambers.”

The woman studied her thoughtfully. “What happened? Whaddid he do?”

Jesse cringed, shocked at the blunt question. She’d forgotten for a moment that all these kids were here because like Trey they were in trouble. She steeled her voice.

“Honestly, I would rather not talk about it. I’m just starting to get my head around it.”

The woman nodded, then spoke matter-of-factly.

“You don’t know it yet but you have an angel on your shoulder.”

Jesse gasped in surprise. “I do?”

“Yes, you do, and I do too.” A sunny smile split the woman’s face, causing her eyes to twinkle. Pointing to Dameon, she said, “An angel brought that man to me and now he’s brought him to you.”

Jesse could only stare at her. Any response she might have made was stuck in her throat.

Shaunda continued as if she hadn’t struck Jesse dumb. “My son idolizes him. So does my husband. We’re hardcore Wolf fans.”

Jesse found her voice. “Why do you call him ‘Wolf’?”

Shaunda looked surprised. “You don’t know the Chief?”

“I… I guess not. Not really, not… well.”

If Shaunda saw Jesse’s confusion she ignored it.

“
Everyone
calls him Wolf. It’s his nickname. All the men at the station call him that. Something from his military days. Some venture he was on. The kids picked up on it. Now
we
all call him Wolf.”

Jesse forced herself to speak. “I’ve watched a lot of basketball. My father loved the game. Your son is extraordinary. I’ve never seen a player his age play like that. He’s remarkable.”

Shaunda flushed with obvious pride. “Yes he is. Thank you. Wolf has been working with him for two years now. Even I can’t believe the difference. How old is your boy?”

“Trey just turned fifteen two weeks ago.”

Shaunda blew out an impressed breath, her ample chest heaving. “Phew, he’s got a lot of talent for a kid that young. Even in this two hour practice he started out tentative, but has gotten more assertive. Wait until Wolf works with him. You won’t believe the difference. That man could draw talent from a stump. In a couple of months, your boy will be playing like a pro, Jesse.”

The practice ended and all the players and parents clustered around Dameon. Jesse faded back, feeling uneasy, shy. Trey spotted her and headed toward her. If he hadn’t looked so young, so pale, she would have laughed. He looked like she did when she was a girl. Her hair was a darker red, his was more blood. But other than that they could have been twins. With his emerald green eyes and dark brows he was a stunningly handsome young man. Jesse knew how much Garrett hated Trey’s hair although he’d said he liked hers—in the beginning.

Jesse smiled at her son.

“You looked good out there, Trey. I was proud of you.”

He shook his head. “Yeah, but, Mom, did you see those other guys?”

“Yes I did. They’re amazing.”

Trey hung his head. Jesse thought she saw tears caught in his lashes. He swept a hand over his eyes and muttered, “I don’t know, Mom. I don’t know if I can do it. They are so much better than I am. I… I barely know any of the plays. Most of them I’ve never seen. I feel like an idiot.” When she started to protest, he shook his head. “No, Mom, I’m telling you. I really don’t know if I can do this.”

Jesse rubbed his shoulder. “Honey, I can understand. This is a lot harder game than you’ve played. It’s a different level of ball. But don’t make a decision now. Wait and talk to the coach.”

She looked up and was relieved to see Dameon coming toward them.

“Hi, Jesse. I thought that was you flying around the park. I didn’t know you were a runner.” He pointed to her legs. “That must be where those come from.”

Jesse smiled. “I don’t know about that, but I’ve always run. Put it this way. I’ve done a lot of running in my life—mostly away from things.”

She stopped surprised feeling her cheeks heat. “I don’t know what made me say that….”

Dameon raised an eyebrow. “You’re full of surprises, aren’t you Jesse? You even surprise yourself.”

He turned to Trey. “What did you think, Trey?’

Trey flushed and looked down, not meeting Dameon’s eyes.

“It was good, Coach. They’re good.” He hesitated and took a deep breath. “But… I… I … don’t know if… I don’t know if I’m really up to it.”

Dameon held his gaze. “Why not?”

“I… I don’t know….” The rest of Trey’s sentence was lost in a helpless shrug.

Dameon nodded his understanding. “Well, Trey, you’re the one who’s going to make that decision, aren’t you? When
you know
you’re up to it, then you’re up to it. Right?”

Trey swallowed and looked up at Dameon.

Dameon raised a questioning brow. “How are you going to find out?”