Red Rock Rises; Sexy Romantic Suspense; Book 1: The Red Rock Series (The Red Rock Seies) by Taylor Lee Page A
Authors: Taylor Lee
Tags: Red Rock Series
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extraordinary basketball players. If you and your ex-husband agree, I think it would be a great thing for Trey.”
He gave her a wry smile.
“Even though I’m a little lighter than his last coach, frankly most of the kids on the team are black or Hispanic, a couple of Indians. They are inner city kids, not white suburban. What you’d expect from kids on the edge. Trey would be the only white kid.”
Jesse’s face contorted with a mix of emotions. “Dameon, I was shocked and angry about the things that Garrett said to Trey. I’m ashamed for him. Garrett has always been class-conscious. Face it, he’s a bigot. But it kills me that he would say those things to Trey. That he would give Trey the idea that those racist remarks and beliefs are acceptable.”
They were quiet. Their silent ponderings hung heavy, palpable in the cool night air. Jesse reached for the throw on the back of the sofa and wrapped it tight around her as if warding off her troubled thoughts.
Dameon filled both of their glasses and regarded her, his eyes narrowed, his brow creased with a frown.
“I’m not going to dwell on this, Jesse, but how the hell did you end up with that asshole?”
Jesse gave a quick pained laugh and shrugged.
“I was young, sheltered… and stupid. In summary, Garrett was the first guy I’d been with. I got pregnant, we got married, and I had Trey. One, two, three.”
She was silent for a moment ruminating then her words flowed unchecked.
“Growing up, it was just my father and me. My father was gone most of the time. When he was away I lived with different relatives or with other Army families. By the time I was twelve my father and I decided we’d stop begging people to take me. Dad said I could take care of myself better than any stranger who only wanted the money he gave them. In junior high and senior high school I handled all the documents that were supposed to come from my parents. We moved so often none of the schools figured out that I was the mother and the father who signed all the required papers and notes. My father was gone two thirds of the year and from seventh grade on I pretty much stayed by myself. My father made sure I could take care of myself. He taught me how to fight, how to be brave. I was smart, painfully shy and kept to myself.”
Jesse took an absentminded swallow from her glass. Her gaze was distant, her eyes glazed.
Dameon hoped she would continue. As challenging as her story was, he needed to hear it. Perhaps it would help him understand this complicated woman who gotten under his skin. Way under.
“I met Garrett in my first year at college. He was dashing and the first guy I’d ever dated. Like I said, I got pregnant. His family hated me, they still do. They called me white trash. They thought I was a whore, that I’d gotten pregnant on purpose to snare Garrett. They were wrong, I didn’t know any better. I was only eighteen when I had Trey. I wasn’t a good mother. I just didn’t… know how.”
Dameon did his best to cover his shock. Fortunately Jesse didn’t seem to notice his dismay at her story. She was in a far-away zone, locked in her memory. She tossed out her history in a flat monotone as if she were reciting a rote lesson. Dameon tried to come to grips with the fact that Jesse began living on her own when she was only four years older than his adored and pampered daughter was now. Christ, he thought Zoey was independent.
When Jesse paused, he pushed wanting to hear more.
“You must’ve finished college.”
“Oh yes. I loved school. My father was horrified when I got pregnant. He insisted I join the Army. Said it was the best way to get my education paid for. Garrett wouldn’t pay for me to go to school and I couldn’t work. You know, with the baby. My dad was fierce. Dad thought the Army was the answer to everything. To be honest, I loved the Army. It was the kind of life I’d always known. I didn’t care how hard it was to be a woman or to have a kid.
He gave her a wry smile.
“Even though I’m a little lighter than his last coach, frankly most of the kids on the team are black or Hispanic, a couple of Indians. They are inner city kids, not white suburban. What you’d expect from kids on the edge. Trey would be the only white kid.”
Jesse’s face contorted with a mix of emotions. “Dameon, I was shocked and angry about the things that Garrett said to Trey. I’m ashamed for him. Garrett has always been class-conscious. Face it, he’s a bigot. But it kills me that he would say those things to Trey. That he would give Trey the idea that those racist remarks and beliefs are acceptable.”
They were quiet. Their silent ponderings hung heavy, palpable in the cool night air. Jesse reached for the throw on the back of the sofa and wrapped it tight around her as if warding off her troubled thoughts.
Dameon filled both of their glasses and regarded her, his eyes narrowed, his brow creased with a frown.
“I’m not going to dwell on this, Jesse, but how the hell did you end up with that asshole?”
Jesse gave a quick pained laugh and shrugged.
“I was young, sheltered… and stupid. In summary, Garrett was the first guy I’d been with. I got pregnant, we got married, and I had Trey. One, two, three.”
She was silent for a moment ruminating then her words flowed unchecked.
“Growing up, it was just my father and me. My father was gone most of the time. When he was away I lived with different relatives or with other Army families. By the time I was twelve my father and I decided we’d stop begging people to take me. Dad said I could take care of myself better than any stranger who only wanted the money he gave them. In junior high and senior high school I handled all the documents that were supposed to come from my parents. We moved so often none of the schools figured out that I was the mother and the father who signed all the required papers and notes. My father was gone two thirds of the year and from seventh grade on I pretty much stayed by myself. My father made sure I could take care of myself. He taught me how to fight, how to be brave. I was smart, painfully shy and kept to myself.”
Jesse took an absentminded swallow from her glass. Her gaze was distant, her eyes glazed.
Dameon hoped she would continue. As challenging as her story was, he needed to hear it. Perhaps it would help him understand this complicated woman who gotten under his skin. Way under.
“I met Garrett in my first year at college. He was dashing and the first guy I’d ever dated. Like I said, I got pregnant. His family hated me, they still do. They called me white trash. They thought I was a whore, that I’d gotten pregnant on purpose to snare Garrett. They were wrong, I didn’t know any better. I was only eighteen when I had Trey. I wasn’t a good mother. I just didn’t… know how.”
Dameon did his best to cover his shock. Fortunately Jesse didn’t seem to notice his dismay at her story. She was in a far-away zone, locked in her memory. She tossed out her history in a flat monotone as if she were reciting a rote lesson. Dameon tried to come to grips with the fact that Jesse began living on her own when she was only four years older than his adored and pampered daughter was now. Christ, he thought Zoey was independent.
When Jesse paused, he pushed wanting to hear more.
“You must’ve finished college.”
“Oh yes. I loved school. My father was horrified when I got pregnant. He insisted I join the Army. Said it was the best way to get my education paid for. Garrett wouldn’t pay for me to go to school and I couldn’t work. You know, with the baby. My dad was fierce. Dad thought the Army was the answer to everything. To be honest, I loved the Army. It was the kind of life I’d always known. I didn’t care how hard it was to be a woman or to have a kid.
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