Free Tender Touch by Lynn Emery Page B

her mind. Jade
began to think Shaena was right.
    “I must say, the people in this area are
fortunate that you made your vision a reality.” Jade turned to
him.
    Damon blushed. “It was a shared vision. I
couldn’t have done it alone.”
    “But you were the guiding force. And you put
your money where your mouth was, exact quote from Eddie.” Jade
matched his slow pace as they walked back toward the administrative
offices. She followed him into the conference room.
    “They’re both special people. In fact,
everyone from the janitor up to the president of the board put
their heart and soul into this place. It’s not just me.” Damon
pulled out a chair for her to sit down. When she was seated, he
poured them both a cup of coffee.
    “Come on, Mr. Knight—”
    Damon waved a finger at her. “Now, you heard
Eddie give specific instructions before he left. Call me
Damon.”
    Jade’s professional demeanor slipped just a
notch. He looked adorable with that teasing glint in his eyes.
“Damon, accept the accolades. You have reason to be proud. You’ve
shown leader-ship, a valuable commodity in the face of the kind of
obstacles this area of town faces.”
    “Thank you, Jade,” Damon said. He looked at
her for a long moment with a thoughtful expression.
    His voice saying her name was like a hot
brand against her skin. She watched his mouth in fascination. Her
whole being longed to make him call her name but for a very
different reason. She imagined guiding those wonderful, long hands
toward her.
    “Ms. Pellerin, I have a call for you on line
two. Ms. Pellerin?” Tisha looked at her then at Damon.
    Jade blinked and came back to her
surroundings with reluctance. “What?”
    “You can take it in here.” Tisha pointed to
a phone on the credenza along the wall behind the large table.
“That is if y’all aren’t too involved to be disturbed.”
    “No, no.” Jade went to the phone on legs
that felt like cotton.
    Damon coughed and stood up. “I’ll give you
some privacy. Let me know when you’re through.” He passed Tisha
without returning her gaze.
    Jade punched the button. “Yes. Oh, hi.
Aline. Yeah, tell him they’re in that blue binder on the second
bookcase of the library. I see.” She found great difficulty paying
attention to the clerk’s message from Bill. The woman seemed to
drone on forever, asking questions so Bill could find a policy he
needed urgently.
    Something important had happened in the last
few minutes, a sort of culmination of what meeting Damon Knight for
the first time had set in motion. In one moment, with one simple
phrase, a certainty that she could be close to this man took hold
deep inside her. Now she was anxious to be with him again. If only
this phone call would end! Damon came back into the room and
started to leave when he saw her still talking on the phone.
    “Wait, I’m almost through,” Jade called out
and cut off the clerk on the other end of the line in midsentence.
“I’ll see you in a little while and take care of it. Bye.” She hung
up before the long-winded staff person could start talking
again.
    “Well it’s eleven thirty already. You, uh,
probably have plans for lunch.” Damon cleared his throat and
glanced out the window.
    “I need to grab something at a drive-through
and get back to the office. A minor crisis is brewing,” Jade said.
She picked up her purse and leather portfolio.
    “Sure. I understand. That’s a busy place
these days.” Damon stood next to the door but did not open it. “Bet
you’ll be working late, too.”
    “Not tonight,” Jade said with great vigor.
Take is easy, girl. But her heartbeat was like a small drum going
double-time.
    “There’s a reception for a new faculty
exhibit at the Frank Hayden Gallery at Southern University. I have
an invitation. Would you care to join me? If you’re into art, that
is.”
    “I love going to art galleries. In fact,
I’ve started my own modest private collection.”
    “Really? Then I’ll