Tender Touch (31 page)

“Easy for you to say. Two other reporters
have called my office for quotes,” Franklin blurted out.

“You did well saying you would work to
correct any problems. Mike, set up a meeting with Errol for this
afternoon.” Bill opened the door as an obvious invitation for the
two men to leave.

“Sure.” Mike walked slowly past Tavis. He
raised an eyebrow at him then glanced at Bill. “You need me to come
back?”

“No, I’ll see you later.” Bill shut the door
on them and turned to Tavis. “Well?”

“Oliver Knight has very good friends in high
places.” Tavis examined his designer tie. “The bid process was
suspended quite a few times. He’s installed carpet in over fifteen
state offices in the last twenty years at considerable profit.”

“Tsk, tsk. Damon won’t be so quick to join
the chorus of criticism when we let him know his father could get
burned. But...” Bill formed a steeple with his long fingers.

Tavis studied him for several seconds. “What
are you up to now?”

Bill leaned forward. “Jade might find it
interesting. Let her see that Damon Knight isn’t Mr. Clean.”

“Remember, he has influence independent of
his father. Damon Knight is no pushover, Bill. Neither is his
family.”

“You should know about the Knight family.”
Bill’s lips curved up.

Tavis assumed a blank look. “Should I?”

“Don’t bother with the innocent act, Tavis.
You’ve been doing Marlene Knight for the last nine months at
least.”

“Eleven, but who’s counting.”

“Talk about living dangerously. Oliver
Knight may be sick, but he’s no fool. And he most certainly does
have powerful buddies.” Bill rocked back in his chair to gaze at
Tavis. “Hope you know what you’re doing.”

“I never start anything without knowing
exactly what I’m doing, brother.” Tavis stood up. “Someone I know
will make sure the press finds out about the old man Knight’s sweet
deals.”

Bill looked satisfied. “Just make sure the
article is published in the next few days.”

* * *

“Impressive, Rachelle.” Damon looked at the
colorful sketches in the presentation folder. “And with our
expansion, we really do need to update our marketing strategy.” He
had barely touched the plate of broiled fish in front of him.

“Of course, sugar. Knight and Sons has to
establish its own niche in the marketplace. These figures show just
where your customers are and how we can best appeal to them.”
Rachelle moved closer to him. “Look on page eleven.”

“Yes, that sounds like a great idea.”
Damon’s thoughts raced ahead to the wider implications. “Bereniece
Howard could do interior decorating consultations. I’ve done a
little work with her before.”

“The number of upper-class folks, especially
African-American, is on the increase in Baton Rouge. They have
disposable income to spend on their homes. Especially all those
aspiring society women who host club meetings in their homes.”
Rachelle winked at him.

Damon put down the proposal and started on
his lunch. “Rachelle, I have a confession. I didn’t take you
seriously about doing market research and a plan for Knight and
Sons.”

“I’m always serious about making money,
sugar. Always.” Rachelle took a sip of diet cola.

“No need to remind me. I went through a
divorce settlement with you, remember?” Damon said, one dark
eyebrow raised.

“Now, now. Let’s not go there.” Rachelle
chuckled. “Truth is, my uncle saw the possibilities, but he was
afraid to approach you.”

“I don’t have any reason to be angry at
him.”

“Exactly what I told him. Anyway, I’m going
to start on the campaign right away.” Rachelle lifted her hands in
the air.

“Perfect. This lunch didn’t turn out at all
the way I expected.” Damon looked at her with an amused gleam in
his eye. “This has been a surprising afternoon.”

Rachelle dabbed the comers of her mouth with
a cloth napkin. Her lips were painted with a creamy red lipstick
that perfectly matched her outfit. “You have no idea how
surprising, sugar. No idea.”

* * *

“Jade, sweetheart.” Nick tried to kiss her
cheek. He beamed a forgiving smile when Jade put a restraining hand
on his chest.

“Make this fast, Nick.” Jade sat down at the
table. The lunchtime crowd in LeBlanc’s downtown was thick as
usual. She’d agreed to see Nick only because the restaurant was
near her office, he’d said something about needing her signature on
some papers. “What about the duplex apartments?”

“Well, you know my lawyer says after sorting
through the tangle... By the way your lady lawyer is one clever
legal detective.” Nick did not seem at all angry.

“I’ll tell her of your deep admiration,”
Jade retorted. . She gave him a sour look. “Why couldn’t I just
sign the papers at Bevry’s office? We didn’t need to meet.”

“I asked Kevin not to mail them.” Nick
stopped while they ordered lunch from the young waitress. “I wanted
to see you.”

“I can’t imagine why, Nick.” Jade was on
guard. “If you think I’m going to take less money for the
sale—”

“No, no. I have no intention of fighting you
on money.” Nick smiled at her again.

“Then why are we here?”

Nick grew serious. “Seeing you the other
night made me realize how much I’ve missed you.”

Jade’s sharp laugh cut him off. She crossed
her arms. “You’ve got to be kidding. After all this time, you can’t
really believe your boyish charm will work on me. You haven’t
exactly been lonesome from what I could see.”

“Sure, I’ve been dating, but nothing
serious. Not since you.” Nick assumed a sincere look.

Jade picked up her purse from the empty
chair next to her. “I’m going to do you one last favor. I’m not
going to let you waste your valuable time on a lost cause.”

He rested a hand on her arm. “Wait, don’t
go. We’ve known each other since we were little kids. We were best
pals long before we got married. We could be again.”

“How long have you been having these
hallucinations, dear?” Jade used two fingers to lift his hand from
her arm.

“Look, I made a terrible mistake, but do you
really hate me so much?” Nick started to touch her again then
thought better of it after the look she gave him.

“Nick, I don’t hate you. Matter of fact I’m
not even angry anymore. I was as much at fault. I jumped into
marrying you as a way to feel good about myself. You only let me
believe the fantasy I wanted to believe.”

Jade knew it was true. Nick was there to
give her all the attention she’d missed at home. He said what she
needed to hear. Because of her hunger for affection, she had closed
her eyes to his true nature.

“I guess we’ve both grown over the years. To
tell you the truth, I’m burned out on all those empty
relationships. A warm body next to me isn’t enough anymore.”

“What bolt of lightning completely changed
your personality?” Jade shot him a cynical look.

“My mother’s death last year changed me.”
Nick stared off with a thoughtful expression.

“I was really sorry about Miss Telma. She
was a sweet lady.” Jade now felt like a heel for being so flip with
him. Though she thought Nick walked on water, his mother had always
been kind to Jade. Jade had gone to the wake services but stayed in
the background. “

“She really liked you, too.” Nick gazed at
her with fondness. “So can’t we let all that old history go and
learn how to be buddies again?” Nick put a hand on the back of her
chair. “Come on.”

Jade did find that Nick seemed different
somehow. Losing his mother could well have forced him to look at
his life. But still his treatment of her could not be so easily
forgotten.

“Nick, I have no animosity toward you, but
we can’t go back.”

“That’s a given, Jade. Time has changed us
both. But we can be friends on a whole new basis of mutual respect
for who we are now.”

“I guess so.” Jade could see no reason not
to be cordial to him.

“Well, just think about it.” Nick seemed
relaxed already in his new role as friend. “Besides, we’ll see each
other again.”

“Uh, don’t jump to conclusions.” Jade
scowled at him.

“We’ll be business partners so to speak. We
could make a good deal of money on the sale of this property to an
industrial complex.” Nick took an envelope out of this inside
pocket.

“I’ll get my check and that will be the end
of it, Nick. No more business.” Jade was curious despite her
distrust of Nick’s motives.

“My uncle and I want to lease part of the
property at a greater profit. And we can have an interest in the
other businesses who want to locate on it.”

Nick launched into a description of the
possibilities. Jade listened carefully, interrupting often to ask
questions. She was definitely more impressed with the
proposition.

“Okay, get the legal documents to Bevry, and
I’ll get back to you after talking to her.” Jade took a final bite
of her shrimp remoulade.

“Good.” Nick watched her for a few seconds,
a smile on his face. “Unfortunately I’ve got to leave for a charity
committee meeting... Say, isn’t there’s your friend Damon Knight
with his ex-wife Rachelle. She’s still a knockout.”

Jade followed his gaze to see Damon throw
back his head to laugh at something Rachelle said. “Yes, she
is.”

Rachelle was dressed in a brick red power
suit trimmed in navy and a crisp white shirt underneath. Her brown
hair was twisted up in a French roll. Jade compared herself to the
elegant woman standing next to Damon. If Rachelle was back in
Damon’s life, Jade would be no match for her. That little green-
eyed monster called jealousy pounced at the sight of his arm on
Rachelle’s.

“They were a hot couple at one time. Man, he
was crazy about her.” Nick cleared his throat. He put just a touch
of doubt in his tone as he darted a glance at Jade then back at the
laughing pair. They’d paused to talk to a group of businessmen
eating lunch. “Aren’t you seeing him... socially?”

“Yes, I am.” Jade tried to sound casual.
“He’s probably just being nice. I mean, you and I are having
lunch.”

“I’m sure you’re right. Gossip doesn’t mean
a thing. What’s that old saying? ‘Believe half of what you see and
none of what you hear.’” Nick went back to eating his pasta with
crabmeat.

“What gossip?” Jade said sharply.

“Well, they’ve been seen together a couple
of times. People are saying maybe they plan to reconcile. Now I
know better since you two are still together, right?” Nick
shrugged. “Obviously my sister and her friends are dead wrong.”

“Obviously.”

Jade’s lunch seemed to be congealing in the
pit of her stomach. She struggled to conceal her shock at seeing
Damon with Rachelle. Nick’s comment about the gossip was too
perfectly timed. Yet even as she felt sure Nick was manipulating
the situation to his advantage, Jade could not help but wonder how
much was true.

“I don’t mean to sound sexist, but women
talk too much. Felicia said—”

Jade stood up. She did not care to hear what
his sister had to say. “I’ve need to get back to the office.”

“Sure, babe. I’ll get the check. You go on.”
Nick took his napkin from his lap then stood also. “Let’s get
together again. I enjoyed myself very much.”

“Thank you, Nick. Goodbye.” Jade left
without meeting his gaze.

“Goodbye, Jade. I’ll be seeing you.” Nick
sat back down with a smug expression. “Real soon.”

Chapter 13

“Hey, what’s the emergency?” Shaena hurried
inside Jade’s apartment and looked around. “You sick?”

“No emergency. I’ve got some herbal tea
brewing.” Jade went into the kitchen.

“Say what? You called in the middle of one
of my favorite Girlfriends reruns, say you really need to talk, and
then offer me a cup of herbal tea.” Shaena put both hands on her
hips. “Girl, please. I’m going to have to hurt you.”

“And I baked some angel food cake muffins. A
perfect low-fat, low-calorie treat.” Jade did not seem to hear her.
She was too busy darting around gathering cups, saucers and
napkins. “Go sit down.”

“Oh-oh, you’ve been baking. This is an
emergency. Who died?” Shaena said in a hushed voice.

“Nobody has died. I just wanted to
talk.”

Shaena snatched a stack of napkins Jade was
about to stuff into a holder on her counter. She sat down on one of
her breakfast stools and pulled Jade down on the one next to her.
“Quit stalling and give it up.”

“Our tea is getting cold.” Jade reached for
the steaming cups.

“No, it’s not.” Shaena slapped her hand.
“Start talking.”

“Damon’s leaving me,” Jade blurted out.
“It’s over.”

“Oh, honey, I’m so sorry. When did he tell
you?” Shaena shoved a muffin in front of Jade then patted her
back.

“Well, he hasn’t. Not directly.” Jade drew
in a ragged breath.

“Damon is leaving you,” Shaena said.

“Yes.” Jade bit her lip.

“But he hasn’t told you yet.”

“Right.”

“I’m missing something here.” Shaena blinked
rapidly. “Let’s start again.”

“I saw Damon with his ex-wife. They were
having lunch. More than that, they were having a good time.” Jade
could see Damon’s hand on Rachelle’s back. “A real good time.”

“Well, that might not mean a thing. Maybe
they had some kind of business,” Shaena offered.

“The thing is, now I’m beginning to think
I’ve seen only what I wanted to see in him. No man has made me feel
as special as Damon.” Jade knew this was an understatement. Damon
touched her like no one else.

“Damon made you glow all over, honey. See?
Just staying his name has you lit up.”

“Maybe he’s just a better class of player
than the rest.”