by Nina Bruhns
“People like you, doc?”
Garrett sneered. “Upper-class, educated people. The kind of people cops like you don’t know.”
Dameon smiled. He knew that he had as many advanced degrees as this asshole did in addition to speaking five languages, but that was beside the point.
“You’re correct. We don’t use ‘class’ as a criterion when we develop programs for at risk kids. We design them to meet their needs.”
Garrett leapt to his feet. Placing his hands on the front of the Dameon’s desk, he leaned forward. Dameon spotted the red streaks in his eyes, a sure sign of heavy alcohol consumption. The doctor’s twisted expression was as ugly as his words.
“So that’s why you’ve got my son playing ghetto ball with a bunch of niggers and beaners?”
Dameon sat up straight in his chair.
“Garrett? Is that your name? I’m gonna tell you. I have one nerve left and you’re riding it hard. If you have something constructive you want to say, I’m pleased to listen. In the meantime, I’ll tell you what my goals are for Trey and why we put him on this basketball team as part of his probation program. If you’re willing to listen, sit down. If you’re not, leave now.”
Dameon watched the war of emotions play out on the angry man’s face. If he had seen or heard one iota of concern about Trey, he might have given the prick room. But he saw nothing but self-righteous anger. Just when he was preparing to stand and bodily throw the asshole out, Garrett sat down, glowering at him.
Dameon held his gaze, and kept his voice low and controlled. At least he could show the pompous jerk how gentlemen conduct a serious discussion.
“I’ll put it this way. I’m not sure your son will be able to make it on our team. The young men on the team are four to five levels above him. They’re bigger, stronger. Even playing up it will be hard for Trey to keep pace. That doesn’t mean he’s not a talented player. He is a very talented guy and smart as hell. He’s had some good coaching but he’s a sophomore in high school playing with men who would be getting college scholarships anywhere in the country if not for their backgrounds. If Trey sticks with it, he can be good. Really good. We made basketball part of his probation program for several reasons. One, because he loves it. Trey told the counselors if he could do anything he wanted all day long it would be basketball. Two, because he’s talented. And three, because he’s never been pushed to excel. We wanted to give Trey a chance to succeed at something he loves but that he will have to work like crazy to achieve. If he does, it’ll be a huge boost to his confidence.”
For Trey’s sake, Dameon decided to go the extra mile and see if he could actually reach the pretentious son of a bitch. Try to break through Garrett’s ingrained self-absorption and sense of superiority and get him to think about his son, not himself.
“If I were Trey’s father or if someone was telling me this about my daughter, I would listen. Trey is riding a thin rail. He could go either way. The animosity between you and his mother is a decided strike against him. He needs strong positive adults around him. That’s a role I can play. I do it with other kids like him. I’m committed to kids like Trey. I was one. A good man took me in hand and I became a better person because of it.”
Dameon rose from his chair. He reached in the top drawer and took out his Glock and slid it into his back holster. He took his suit coat off the padded clothes rack and shrugged it on completing the appearance of the polished professional leader that he was.
“That’s my sermon, Doctor Chambers. You get to decide how you handle this. Whether or not you will support Trey in achieving his goals is your decision.”
Garrett stood up and glared--blatant hatred radiating from him. Apparently, Dameon’s impassioned appeal had about as little affect as Dameon had suspected it would.
“So you’re telling me I need to go over your head to your superiors to get you to rescind your misguided plan for my son?”
Dameon slowly shook his head.
“One more time, doc. This is my house. There isn’t a second floor. You’re looking at my superiors.”
He tapped the intercom on his desk.
“Angela, will you please show Dr. Chambers out? Thank you.”
“I hate to preach and run. I have a City Council meeting to attend. Given that I’m the featured speaker, I best be on my way. Good day.”
He nodded to the stony-faced man as he strode by. Neither of them spoke.
Red Rock Rises: Chapter Seventeen
Dameon had Zoey for the next week. Knowing that Trey was with his father, Dameon called Jesse but got her voice mail and left a message.
“This is going to sound like a strange invitation, Jesse. I have my daughter with me this week.” He chuckled. “She gives me a curfew so I can’t ‘stay out late.’ I have a special event tomorrow night, one of those dammed command appearance events. I was hoping you would go with me; be my guest.”
Several minutes later, he saw her number on his caller ID. He answered with a question.
“How about it, Jesse? Will you give the condemned man a reprieve? Turn a tedious evening into a memorable one?”
He heard the hesitation in her voice.
“Thank you, Dameon. But I can’t. If it is the event at the Mayor’s house, I… I’m already going.”
Dameon huffed in surprise. “Well I’ll be damned. Who--”
She spoke quickly. “It’s nothing, no one. It’s… he’s one of Raoul’s cousins, part of his family. Raoul thinks he needs protection. I think he just wants me to babysit him.”
“Damn, Jesse. I’ve warned you about the Morales family. Are you sure you want to do this?”
“Do what?” Jesse’s voice was sharp. “Act like a professional woman who’s working hard to start a new business? Are you going to tell me how to run my business, Dameon? How to manage my clients? Actually, in point of fact, my one client?” Before he could answer, she added, “Yes, Dameon, I do want to do this. Thank you for the invitation. Perhaps I’ll see you at the Mayor’s house.”
The dial tone indicated that she’d hung up.
“Fuck.” Dameon hated that he’d upset her. That she was angry. But hell, so was he. That fucking Raoul…. Christ, he could only imagine which one of the Morales clan he was foisting off on Jesse. They were all dangerous. The ones who were proudly cartel and the ones like Raoul who were supposedly going straight. Dameon had warned Raoul. But the son of a bitch told him to mind his own business. The prick didn’t seem to understand that Jesse was his business.
* * *
Jesse regretted hanging up on Dameon. It was childish. Damn, what was wrong with her? At base, she knew. The sexual tension between them was hot, disconcerting. Ever since the night on her porch she was on edge, jumpy and racked with uncertainty. She didn’t know if she could handle a relationship as fraught with danger as one with Dameon would be. She was almost certain she couldn’t, but she was torn. Not only was he the sexiest man alive, but she liked him. The minute he left, she was eagerly waiting to see him again. She missed him when he wasn’t there and was afraid of what might happen when he was. She groaned. Given her need to control and tightly manage her emotions, none of these things boded well. They were a recipe for a broken heart or worse. But, god, he was sexy….
* * *
The melodic sounds of a jazz quartet in the background combined with the starlit night made the party seem unreal. It resembled a carefully crafted scene out of a Hollywood movie. Movers and shakers all, women in beautiful dresses and men in formal evening wear underscored the importance of the evening. As always in affairs like these the conversation revolved around money. Recognizing the familiar elements, Jesse grinned to herself thinking about the missions she’d been involved in the last ten years. At least here on the Mayor’s veranda, the exchange being discussed didn’t include illegal weapons sales, or potential international incidents. Rather in this mix of politicians and businessmen the currency being discussed was access and power in exchange for cold cash.
Jesse saw
the woman before she saw Dameon. She had long dark hair. It hung in a shiny curtain down her back. Her perfect features and pale skin highlighted her velvety upturned black eyes. She looked like an exotic flower; delicate, fragile. She wore what had to be a one of a kind gown. It was a beautifully brocaded silk dress. The elegant sheath hugged her slender frame. Jesse would have noticed her even if she wasn’t clinging possessively to Dameon’s arm.
The two extraordinarily handsome people were engaged in a lively conversation with the Mayor. Jesse couldn’t believe what a stunning couple they made. Dameon was a star in his own right and standing next to this exquisite woman, they were a sensation. Guests hovered around them. Some were snapping pictures.
Finding her courage, Jesse turned to Emilio Morales, praying for nonchalance.
“Who is that with Chief Macarios?”
Emilio looked surprised. “You know the Chief, Jesse?”
“Yes. My son ran into some problems. Chief Macarios put him on his basketball team.”
Clearly impressed the young man whistled. “Wow, your kid must be good. The Chief plans on taking those kids all around the country.”
Feeling protective of her son, Jesse downplayed the connection. “Trey is young; not nearly as experienced as the others. We’re not sure what will happen, but Chief Macarios is giving him a chance.”
“Well, take it from one who’s known him all my life. If you’ve got the Wolf on your side, Jesse, you’ve got the world on your side.”
Jesse forced herself to repeat the difficult question. “Um… who’s the woman with him?”
Emilio stretched up to peer over the taller guests. “Oh, her. That’s his wife.”
A shower of ice water froze Jesse’s heart in her chest. Breathing was a challenge. After a hard moment she managed to squeeze out the words. “I didn’t know he was married.”
Emilio frowned, puzzled. “Oh, sorry, I meant his ex-wife. Let me put it this way. All the babes tell me, once you’ve sampled the Wolf, everything else is third-rate. From what I hear, Nita is determined to get him back. She may look like a China doll, but don’t let appearances fool you. She’s a frothing piranha at heart--so to speak. And like every man here, I speak from experience.”
Jesse was thunderstruck. Until that toxic jealous moment she hadn’t known how much Dameon meant to her. Now she knew and the knowledge terrified her.
Dameon spotted her from across the room and quickly left the group surrounding the Mayor. She didn’t miss the way his eyes lit with pleasure as he strode toward her. His devastating grin turned her knees to rubber. His tailored suit was made for his lean muscular body. The grey silk shirt open at the neck added a casual panache to his sartorial elegance. For one intoxicating moment, Jesse forgot the stunning woman and saw only the extraordinary man eagerly approaching her.
Her relief was short lived. Seeing his eyes settle on her breasts then work their way down her body stopping at critical points along the way, she froze. His overt inventory confirmed what she looked like. A tall, gangly sexpot. Her boobs were too big and her dress was ridiculously short. The beautiful red sandals that she loved now only served to make her look taller, more awkward. She’d felt gorgeous when she left home but now she felt cheap, ugly, compared to the elegant woman who had been at Dameon’s side. The woman was everything Jesse wasn’t. The only place where Jesse had her beat was in cup size.
Dameon’s eyes were gleaming. His voice was low, full of promise. “Good evening, Jesse. You, um… you look absolutely beautiful.”
Jesse was taken back and could only mumble. “Really?”
He laughed and shook his head. “Yes, really. As in stunning. ‘Take my breath away’ gorgeous.”
For a brief moment Jesse saw herself as he saw her and breathed a sigh of relief. At that moment Nita joined them.
Moving between her and Dameon, the lovely woman focused on Jesse.
“And who is this? I don’t believe we’ve met.” Gazing at her body from head to toe, she landed on her shoes. “What great shoes. Jimmy Choo? Or are they Manolo? And what an interesting dress. I don’t recognize the designer.” Her pursed lips insinuated that she didn’t want to.
Jesse didn’t answer. The best she could do was curve her lips in what she hoped was the semblance of a smile.
Nita looked from Jesse to Dameon and understanding flickered across her flawless face. Jesse stepped back startled at the open hostility in the woman’s eyes. It was quickly lost in the sweet smile Nita turned on Dameon.
“Oh, is this a friend of yours, Dameon?”
Dameon moved next to Jesse and glared at Nita. “Yes, she is. Jesse, this is my daughter’s mother. Nita, this is Jesse O’Donnell. She is--”
Before he could reveal anything personal about her, Jesse broke in. “Chief Macarios is working with my son….”
A knowing light flashed in Nita’s eyes. “Ahhh yes… one of Dameon’s projects.” She gave Jesse a sugary smile. “And how nice for you.”
Thinking she might throw up, Jesse could only stare at her.
Forcing herself to be calm, she stepped back grateful to find her voice. “I really must go. It was a pleasure meeting you and--”
Dameon held up his hand. His expression was stern, his voice harsh. “Hold on a minute, Jesse. You’ll have to excuse Nita. She sees a beautiful woman and her claws come out. First, Nita, I don’t have projects. Jesse’s son, Trey, is one of the more talented young men I’ve worked with. Moreover, Jesse is--”
Jesse touched his arm, stopping him. “Please, Dameon, it’s fine. I really must be going. What did you say your name was? Nita? It was nice meeting you, Nita.”
Jesse turned and fled in the direction of the bathroom. Feeling like a total idiot, she headed to one of the enclosed stalls. In a rush of self-loathing she berated herself. This was why she could never fit in, do things like this. Why relationships like normal adult women had were beyond her. Tears burned the backs of her eyelids but she held them at bay.
What hurt her as much as what the nasty woman said about Trey--and that sliced across her heart like a knife, was what Emilio said about Dameon. If anything, it hurt worse. Of course it was true. She was insane to have thought otherwise. Every woman in this city was after the eligible bachelor--apparently even his former wife. It was not a surprise. What was surprising was her hopes and expectations. How could she have been so stupid? To think that Dameon felt something special about her. That she was more than a sexy fling. Oh god, she sunk down on the toilet seat and laid her head against the door taking deep breaths to quell her nausea. As if the gods wanted to drive home the point, she heard voices. She recognized Nita’s insinuating tones but didn’t know the other woman’s voice.
“Who’s the redhead with Dameon? I haven’t met her. She must be new.”
Nita’s voice dripped with scorn. “She’s not with him.”
“Hmm. That’s not what I heard.”
Jesse closed her eyes and prayed they’d leave. She didn’t want to hear any more. But the angels—such as they were—had more acid to pour over her pounding heart.
Nita scoffed, “You know what he’s like. One after another. A redhead one night, a blonde the next. You’d think they’d learn.”
“Like you did, Nita?”
“Humph! Don’t forget: I’m the only one he married.”
“And… the one he divorced?”
Nita’s angry retort sliced through the stall door.
“It may look like that to those who don’t know me and don’t know Dameon. Men don’t drop me, Emily. I drop them. Dameon will always want me.”
After they left, to her surprise, Jesse did throw up. When she’d gotten herself under control, she went out to find Emilio. He met her with a concerned frown.
“I was looking for you, Jesse. Are you okay? You look a little green.”
Jesse gave him a weak smile. “I’m sorry, Emilio. This is horrible. I am a terrible body guard. But I don’t feel well. I’m afraid I’m sick.”
&n
bsp; Emilio took her hand. “No, no. I’m sorry you are ill. Can I take you home?”
“What would be wonderful, Emilio, is if you would let me follow you home in my car so that I can tell Raoul that I took good care of you. That I don’t suck as a bodyguard.”
Emilio laughed his infectious laugh, reminding her of Raoul.
“Any chance we could stop at a bar on the way home? Maybe you’ll let me buy you a drink so we can get to know each other better.”
Jesse touched Emilio’s arm and smiled up at him. “I really am not feeling well.” She hesitated, reminding herself that Dameon was no longer a possibility. She forced herself to sound interested. “But, yes, at some later time, when I’m not working with you, I would like to have a drink with you and get to know you better.”
Red Rock Rises: Chapter Eighteen
After Dameon sent Nita away with a stern warning, he went hunting for Jesse. He knew Emilio Morales. He was one of the Raoul’s younger cousins and oozed with the debonair Morales charm. Dameon knew his anger was irrational but Emilio was too damned good–looking, and of course Jesse looked stunning with him. Seeing Emilio guiding her across the floor, his hand on her lower back, Dameon fought back a growl.
Putting aside his jealousy, Dameon allowed himself to remember the pained look on Jesse’s face when she ran from him. She looked like someone had physically hit her. He was furious with his catty ex-wife. If anyone knew how vicious Nita could be, it was him. That her malice came in such a delicate package made her all the more dangerous. Dameon was sure most of Jesse’s hurt was due to what Nita had said about Trey. It upset him that he had contributed, unintentionally, to the hurt on her face.
Dameon was struck again by how fragile, how vulnerable, Jesse was. Her insecurity always caught him off guard. Dammit, he had to get to the bottom of it. When he told her how beautiful she was, she seemed genuinely surprised. It was as though this astonishingly beautiful, competent woman had no idea of how gorgeous she was.