Diamond by Sharon Sala Page B

lied and women cried. She was falling in love with a man who was already a legend in country music. It was probably the stupidest, most futile thing she’d ever done.
    “Diamond, honey…are you all right?”
    The concern in Jesse’s voice was unmistakable. So was the icy look she gave him when she turned and answered.
    “I’m not your honey. I’m just tired and hungry. And I’m sorry I ruined whatever was going on.”
    Jesse reacted to her anger, but not as she’d expected.
    “I’m sorry, Diamond,” he said quietly. “It’s just a habit I have, calling women ‘honey.’”
    “Figures.”
    She was sick inside. She’d just come to the conclusion that she was falling in love with Jesse, and the first thing she did was lash out at his kindness. But she couldn’t stop it from happening. It was the only form of self-protection she had. If he never knew how she felt, he could never use it against her.
    Jesse sighed and ran his fingers through his hair, shuffling it into disarray. He didn’t know what had prompted this latest outburst, but he knew what he wanted to do. He wanted to put his arms around her and hug away the pain he saw in those wide, green eyes. Instead, he dug a wad of bills from his pocket, stuffed them into her hand and pointed toward the small sandwich shop across the street.
    “Food’s good. The roast beef sandwiches are the best. Take your time, eat all you want. But when you’re through, would you mind bringing back a dozen burgers? I’d really appreciate it, hon—”
    Jesse sighed with frustration. He’d done it again. Honey! How had such a sweet word gotten him into so much trouble so quickly?
    Diamond looked down at the wad of money in her hand and resisted the urge to throw it in his face. Her lips thinned as she bit the inside of her cheek to keep from shouting.
    “My pleasure,” she drawled, as she turned and walked away.
    Jesse watched her until she entered the sandwich shop and knew that he’d taken two steps backward in an already tenuous relationship.
    “Well goddammit it all to hell,” he muttered, and stomped back into the studio.

    The drive home that evening was long and uncomfortable, the conversation stilted. Diamond refused to look at Jesse when she spoke. She was afraid to. What was in her heart was too obvious to hide from his all-seeing gaze.
    Jesse didn’t force the issue. He wasn’t certain what had prompted her reticence, but he knew enough about women to leave them alone sometimes, especially when one balled up like a fighting cat. He’d seen what she could do with a right hook and had no intention of starting something he didn’t want to finish.
    “Good,” Jesse said as he pulled into the garage and parked. “Henley’s back.”
    It was the first thing he’d said that had gotten her attention. Henley? This was something…and someone new. She was out of the car before Jesse had unbuckled his seat belt.
    Diamond’s mouth watered as the smell of chicken and dumplings drifted from the open kitchen window. An unladylike growl rumbled around her midsection. She frowned as Jesse’s mouth twitched with suppressed mirth.
    “Who’s Henley?” she asked, determined not to respond to his teasing grin.
    “That would be me, miss,” a man answered, his deep voice echoing within the garage walls. “And you’re just in time. Supper is served,” he announced before disappearing back into the house.
    “Supper?…is served?” she echoed.
    Jesse grinned. “Henley is big on ceremony. But the evening meal has been supper all my life. Just because I can pay all my bills on time doesn’t mean I’m all of a sudden eating ‘dinner.’ However, Henley insists on announcing something, so ‘supper’ is served.”
    “Good,” Diamond said as she headed toward the door. “I’m starved.”
    “I heard,” Jesse said.
    Diamond stuck out her tongue and then beat him to the door. “A gentleman wouldn’t have called attention to the fact that my stomach