The Way You Make Me Feel by Francine Craft

October. The prosecutor has sworn to send him up for a very long time and Jake isn’t a man who would thrive in prison.”
    Stevie’s breath came faster then and images crowded her as small chills ran the length of her body. Why? Damien looked at her closely. “Are you okay?” he asked.
    She nodded. “I’m fine.” She turned to Detective Rollins. “I met Jake McGowan at Club Insomnia yesterday. I don’t like him. I think he’s a cruel man.”
    Detective Rollins nodded. “That’s putting it mildly. I’m thinking about how he roughed you up a few times and you had him arrested and I talked with you…”
    â€œI wouldn’t remember.” She thought she did seem close to memories of people she liked.
    â€œAnd it wasn’t too long before you left him,” Detective Rollins said. “As I look back, you had to fight him for your divorce, but you got it. Now, you got your hands full with him and Muncy. Let me know whatever happens and I’m on top of it. I came to admire you a whole lot for the way you stood up to both those clowns and I’ll help you in any way I can. You’re lucky, too, to have a man like Damien on your side.”
    Stevie glanced at Damien. “I know I am, but we go back a long way.” She knocked on the wooden table edge. “Thank God for that.”
    Detective Rollins didn’t stay long and when he’d left, Stevie asked Damien, “Could we leave a bit early for my appointment with Dr. Winslow? I want to stop by a drugstore and pick up some things. Makeup. Cologne. Stuff like that.”
    Damien smiled. “Sure, but you don’t…”
    She waited for him to finish and when he didn’t she asked, “What were you going to say?”
    He shook his head. “One day I’ll tell you.” He’d been going to say that she didn’t need cologne because she smelled so good naturally. Like her, he thought about the kiss and his eyes narrowed. He wanted it to happen again.
    His face got somber then. “That’s bad news about Muncy being out. I was at his trial. He and McGowan are two of a kind.”
    Stevie’s shoulders stiffened. “I may not remember my past just now,” she said, “but I know this about myself—I’m not running scared. I do remember something about my parents and the kind of folks they were. They taught me to stand up for myself and I’ve got people like you to stand up for me. And Detective Rollins…”
    â€œAnd a lot of others,” Damien said. “Now let’s get a move on. We’ve got mucho ground to cover. After the doctor checks on your head and you see Dr. Winslow, I have to meet with a young guy I want to record with us. I’ll treat you to a fabulous late lunch.”
    Upstairs, as Stevie dressed she thought about Jessi, Nick and the children coming by unexpectedly the night before. Rip had been overjoyed when she’d said she did remember him after all. He had hugged her for a long time. Holding the precious two-year-old, her heart had filled with wonder. When she had asked Damien if she had children, there had been something in his eyes when he’d answered—compassion, but something else she couldn’t fathom.
    The Coltons hadn’t stayed long and they had made plans to see each other again soon. As they were leaving, Jessi said, “You seem relaxed here with Damien. He’s a great guy and I’m glad you’re here.”
    â€œI’m glad, too. He’s one of the best.”
    Jessi hadn’t mentioned Jake and maybe she didn’t know about Keith Muncy.
    Â 
    Dr. Winslow was all smiles as he looked at Stevie. “Lord, you’re recuperating from your physical injuries with the speed of light,” he told her. “Let’s hope the mental and emotional side goes as swiftly. Do you still think you need Damien in here with you? You were really shaken