due
to go there next week,” Oliver called after him.
“Sure, Pops.” Damon did not bother to argue
with his stubborn father.
On the drive to his apartment, Damon mulled
over his father’s words. Settling down was something he had been
sure he could live without for the foreseeable future. Yet a pair
of big brown eyes framed by black hair parted in the middle to
frame a lovely face had changed all that in a heartbeat. Jade
Pellerin inspired a physical reaction so strong Damon could feel it
even now. His breath caught just at the tilt of her head in his
direction. He wanted to be the one to make her smile. What would it
take? Damon imagined the taste of her skin, rich and sweet like
expensive chocolate.
Whoa, brother. This is how you got taken out
last time, remember? But even as the thought pushed through the
heated fantasy, something told him that Jade was so much more than
a fine body. Damon shook his head as though trying to clear the
confusion filling it. His head told him not to risk the hurt again.
His body and heart said go for it! With a sigh, he determined to
steer clear of Ms. Jade Pellerin. That seemed the best plan all
around. He would concentrate on his business, making sure his
father followed his physician’s orders and expanding his
philanthropic interests. Let Eddie meet with her. Damon would make
it a point to be too busy.
“Yeah, I’ll let Eddie keep me informed.
Besides, I really should spend time at the store in Thibodaux.
Might as well be Thursday night, right?” Damon spoke out loud.
But as the sound of his voice died in the
car, doubt tugged at him. Damon let out a loud groan of
exasperation at his own uncontrolled emotions. Jade Pellerin had no
idea what trouble she was causing.
Chapter 3
Jade watched her sister pace the floor in
front of her. They were in Jade’s condo on a Saturday night.
Lanessa alternated between being outraged at Alex and blaming their
mother for pushing them together.
“Calm down, Nessa. You’re not making any
sense. Now what did Alex do?” Jade was used to her sister’s mood
swings, but she’d never seen her this agitated. Something about the
way she was behaving caused a small tickle of worry.
“Said maybe we shouldn’t see each other for
a while. Can you believe the nerve of that punk? I’m doing him a
favor and he dumps me!” Lanessa pulled out a cigarette and lit
it.
“Uh-huh, not in here you won’t.” Jade
snatched it from her hand and went into the powder room. She
flushed it down the toilet. “I thought you’d stopped smoking,
Nessa.”
“I’m under stress here. Come on. Just one.”
Lanessa fumbled in her purse for the pack again.
“There are no ashtrays in my house for a
reason.” Jade crossed her arms. But she felt a shiver of concern at
the way Lanessa’s hands were shaking. “Come over here and sit
down.”
“I need a drink.” Lanessa went to the
kitchen and poured herself two fingers of scotch straight up. She
downed it in two quick gulps then poured more.
Jade watched her take a tiny step. “Lanessa,
you’ve got to drive home, so slow down.”
Lanessa smiled at her. She seemed more
relaxed. “Hey, I’m steady as a rock.”
“Lanessa, I’m going to drive you home if you
keep this up.”
“Relax,” Lanessa said with a laugh. “I’m
doing okay. And to hell with old Alex.” Her voice shook despite the
bold words as a dark look shadowed her features.
“Did you two have a fight or something?”
Men had always been a means to an end with
her sister. Lanessa got men she wanted and those she did not care
about. While Jade felt unattractive and awkward around handsome
men, Lanessa was in her element. Lanessa accepted men chasing her
as a given. Jade felt a knot of anxiety now, seeing her like this,
yet she could not put her finger on what was wrong. Maybe it was
just that she’d never seen her beautiful older sister rattled by
the rejection of a man. In fact, Jade could think of only a few
to go there next week,” Oliver called after him.
“Sure, Pops.” Damon did not bother to argue
with his stubborn father.
On the drive to his apartment, Damon mulled
over his father’s words. Settling down was something he had been
sure he could live without for the foreseeable future. Yet a pair
of big brown eyes framed by black hair parted in the middle to
frame a lovely face had changed all that in a heartbeat. Jade
Pellerin inspired a physical reaction so strong Damon could feel it
even now. His breath caught just at the tilt of her head in his
direction. He wanted to be the one to make her smile. What would it
take? Damon imagined the taste of her skin, rich and sweet like
expensive chocolate.
Whoa, brother. This is how you got taken out
last time, remember? But even as the thought pushed through the
heated fantasy, something told him that Jade was so much more than
a fine body. Damon shook his head as though trying to clear the
confusion filling it. His head told him not to risk the hurt again.
His body and heart said go for it! With a sigh, he determined to
steer clear of Ms. Jade Pellerin. That seemed the best plan all
around. He would concentrate on his business, making sure his
father followed his physician’s orders and expanding his
philanthropic interests. Let Eddie meet with her. Damon would make
it a point to be too busy.
“Yeah, I’ll let Eddie keep me informed.
Besides, I really should spend time at the store in Thibodaux.
Might as well be Thursday night, right?” Damon spoke out loud.
But as the sound of his voice died in the
car, doubt tugged at him. Damon let out a loud groan of
exasperation at his own uncontrolled emotions. Jade Pellerin had no
idea what trouble she was causing.
Chapter 3
Jade watched her sister pace the floor in
front of her. They were in Jade’s condo on a Saturday night.
Lanessa alternated between being outraged at Alex and blaming their
mother for pushing them together.
“Calm down, Nessa. You’re not making any
sense. Now what did Alex do?” Jade was used to her sister’s mood
swings, but she’d never seen her this agitated. Something about the
way she was behaving caused a small tickle of worry.
“Said maybe we shouldn’t see each other for
a while. Can you believe the nerve of that punk? I’m doing him a
favor and he dumps me!” Lanessa pulled out a cigarette and lit
it.
“Uh-huh, not in here you won’t.” Jade
snatched it from her hand and went into the powder room. She
flushed it down the toilet. “I thought you’d stopped smoking,
Nessa.”
“I’m under stress here. Come on. Just one.”
Lanessa fumbled in her purse for the pack again.
“There are no ashtrays in my house for a
reason.” Jade crossed her arms. But she felt a shiver of concern at
the way Lanessa’s hands were shaking. “Come over here and sit
down.”
“I need a drink.” Lanessa went to the
kitchen and poured herself two fingers of scotch straight up. She
downed it in two quick gulps then poured more.
Jade watched her take a tiny step. “Lanessa,
you’ve got to drive home, so slow down.”
Lanessa smiled at her. She seemed more
relaxed. “Hey, I’m steady as a rock.”
“Lanessa, I’m going to drive you home if you
keep this up.”
“Relax,” Lanessa said with a laugh. “I’m
doing okay. And to hell with old Alex.” Her voice shook despite the
bold words as a dark look shadowed her features.
“Did you two have a fight or something?”
Men had always been a means to an end with
her sister. Lanessa got men she wanted and those she did not care
about. While Jade felt unattractive and awkward around handsome
men, Lanessa was in her element. Lanessa accepted men chasing her
as a given. Jade felt a knot of anxiety now, seeing her like this,
yet she could not put her finger on what was wrong. Maybe it was
just that she’d never seen her beautiful older sister rattled by
the rejection of a man. In fact, Jade could think of only a few
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