By Design (7 page)

“Huh? Yeah, I guess I
drifted off.”

“You look a little
flushed,” Susan observed.

“I’m fine. When did
you get here?”

“Just now. George let
me in.” Candace nodded. ”Are you sure you are feeling okay?’

“I’m fine,” Candace
reassured her assistant. “But, I’d better get myself together before the
caterers get here and the masses arrive.”

Susan smiled. “I’ll
see you downstairs. Anything you need me to handle?”

“Just the usual,”
Candace said. Susan nodded and left the room. Candace took a deep breath and
made her way into the bathroom. She looked in the mirror and shook her head.
“Oh, Jameson,” she mumbled. “What have I gotten myself into?”

Candace
made her way through the house taking a moment to greet each guest and engage
in the required pleasantries. Her mind was a million miles away from every
conversation she found herself
drawn into
.
If anyone had bothered to ask her what she had been discussing just a moment
before, she would have been stumped to give a recounting. The house was full,
her glass had run dry, and she had yet to catch a glimpse of Jameson. She
offered the congressman that she had been chatting with her best smile when a
face in the distance captured her attention.

Jameson
stopped a few yards away from where Candace was standing. She stopped so
abruptly that Dana failed to realize she was walking alone. She turned
to her left
to say something to the architect.
Realizing she was alone she glanced behind her to see Jameson smiling stupidly
at something in the distance. She followed Jameson’s line of sight and shook
her head when she caught sight of the subject of her friend’s attention sporting
the
same
expression.

Candace
was fairly
sure
that if anyone had been
paying attention, they would have noticed the ridiculous smile on her face. “If
you’ll excuse me,” she made her apology to Congressman Stanley.

“Of
course,” he said.

Candace
smiled and slowly turned her attention toward Jameson. Jameson wasn’t sure that
her feet were moving. She couldn’t take her eyes off of Candace. Candace was
wearing a dark green dress that hung slightly off of her shoulders. It sported
a plunging neckline that Jameson forced herself to lift her
eyes from
. When she did, she was met with a
pair of blue eyes that sparkled in amusement. The next few moments felt like
hours to Jameson as one person after another attempted to command Candace’s attention.
When she finally came face to face with the senator, her words were simple,
honest, and unapologetic. “You look beautiful,” she said.

Candace
smiled. Jameson made a stunning impression. Her black
pantsuit
was tapered
in all
the appropriate places. The heels she wore
placed
her about an inch higher than Candace. Her make-up was subtle as it always was,
but her hair was curled and framed her face perfectly, bringing out the
bright
golden-brown eyes that Candace loved.
“Loved,” Candace thought silently. “My God,” she realized. That was
exactly
what she felt looking at Jameson
standing before her. “You clean up quite nicely yourself,” Candace winked.

“I
lost you,” Dana said, coming even with the pair. “But, I see that you are in
capable hands,” she commented to Jameson.

“I
do know where the bar
is located
,”
Candace said without removing her gaze from Jameson.

“You
sure you remember?” Dana chuckled.

“What?”
Candace finally looked at her friend.

“Oh,
nothing,” Dana feigned innocence. “I am going to go find that man I call my
husband.
 
I’m sure the senator can lead
you to whatever you require,” Dana smirked.

Candace
raised her brow at Dana and then looked
at
Jameson,
who was blushing furiously.
“Ignore her,” Candace instructed the architect. “Wine?” Jameson nodded
appreciatively. Candace stopped and whispered in Dana’s ear. “Stop scaring
her,” she said.

Dana
rolled her eyes as the pair walked away. “Is J.D. okay?” Steven sidled up to
his wife.

“No.”

“No?
What’s wrong?” he asked.

“Love.”

“Huh?”

Dana
turned to her husband and patted his chest. “Your best friend,” she began. He
looked at her in bewilderment as she continued. “Is in love with my boss.”

“What?
J.D….Wait, J.D. is in love with Candy?” Dana gave her husband a silly grin.
“Are you sure?” Dana nodded. “
Oh,
shit.”

“It gets worse,” Dana told her husband.

“Candy
knows?” he guessed.

Dana
tipped her head. “Pretty sure; yeah.”

“Oh
no.” He looked at Dana’s sheepish grin. “What aren’t you telling me?”

“Pretty
sure my boss is in love with your best friend.”

Steven
looked off in the distance to where Candace was handing Jameson a glass of
wine. “Oh boy. Maybe you
are just imagining
it.”

Dana
looked at the scene across the room and shook her head. “You think
I’m imagining
that?” she pointed.

Steve
took a large sip from the drink in his hand. “Can’t say I saw that coming. What
do you think she’ll do?”

“Which
one?” Dana giggled. Steve looked at her and smiled. “I hope she just kisses
her,” Dana said, taking the glass from her husband’s hand and downing a large
swig.

“Which
one?”

Dana
laughed. “Want to place bets?” she asked.

“I
bet on Candy.”

Dana
handed the glass back to her husband. “You bet on my boss and I bet on your
best friend? That’s just wrong. What are we betting?”

“Okay…if
J.D. kisses Candy
first,
I will take you
for drinks at Red Derby.”

“You
in a dive bar?” Dana laughed.

“Yeah;
so what do I get if I am right and Candy makes the first move?”

“She
won’t,” Dana said flatly. Steve
pouted
.
“Fine, I will take you to dinner at whatever politico hot spot you choose.”

“You
hate those places,” he reminded her.

“You
seem confident, so
am
I.”

“Wait?
How are we going to know?” he asked.

“I
have my sources,” Dana assured him.

“I
hope J.D. doesn’t get crushed,” he said quietly.

Dana
sighed. “Me too.”

***

Jameson
recognized many of the faces in the room. Candace had tried to keep her company
and introduce her to the crowd, but the senator’s attention was in constant
demand and Jameson inevitably lost track of Candace in the crowd. “
Kind of
boring, isn’t it?” Dana said.

Jameson
shrugged. “It’s fine.”

“She’s
in her study,” Dana said softly. Jameson looked at her friend in confusion.
“Sometimes she needs a minute to regroup. She finds her way there every year
about this time.” Jameson nodded. “Come on,” Dana grabbed Jameson’s hand.

“Where
are you taking me?”

Dana
nodded toward a door. “Go on.”

“Dana,
you just said she needed to step away.”

“Yes,
I did,” Dana admitted. “I’m not sure you are in that equation.” Jameson looked
skeptical. “Trust me, J.D. Go on,” Dana encouraged. Jameson sucked in a nervous
breath and walked a few steps to the door. She turned back to Dana for
encouragement and received a nod.

Steven
found his wife watching as Jameson entered Candace’s study and closed the door.
“Stacking the odds in your favor, huh?”

Dana
shook her head. “I honestly don’t care who wins. I just hope someone does,” she
said.

Steve
sighed. “It’s up to them. Come on.”

***

“Candace?”
Jameson called across the room. Candace turned and smiled. “You all right?”

“I’m
fine. Just needed to catch my breath,” Candace said. “Sorry, I left you to fend
for yourself with the wolves.”

Jameson
laughed. “I’m was out in college. I’ve experienced the pack mentality a few
times,” she joked. “You certainly are popular.”

“That’s
a relative term,” Candace said. “Anyone who offers free booze, the ability to
network, and decent food can be the star of an evening in this town.”

Jameson
had made her way to Candace and was standing in front of her. “I think you sell
yourself short on that one,” she said sincerely.

“Maybe
you give me too much credit,” Candace replied. “Believe me when I tell you, I
would just as soon eat chicken wings with you and Pearl.”

“Mmm,”
Jameson pursed her lips.

“What?”

“You
love this too,” Jameson commented.

“You
think so?”

“I
do. I watched you work that room,” Jameson said affectionately.

“You
watched me?” Candace lifted an eyebrow. Jameson nodded. “Really?” Candace tried
to joke.

“People
are drawn
to you,” Jameson commented.

“Because
they think I can do something for them.” Jameson shook her head ‘no’. “Yes,
Jameson. They are good people, but they are always working; looking for an
opening
….
”

“They
look to you,” Jameson said.

“I’ve
been doing this a while,” Candace replied.

“Maybe.
That’s not the only reason,” Jameson said. Candace struggled to catch her
breath as Jameson moved closer. “It’s not just what you do,” she said. “It’s
who you are,” Jameson complimented. She looked in Candace’s eyes and instantly
lost her heart. “Maybe you just can’t see what they see,” Jameson suggested.
“What I see.” Jameson closed the short remaining distance and took Candace’s
face in her hands. She could see a hint of apprehension mingling closely with
anticipation in the senator’s eyes. She closed the rest of the distance and
placed her lips on Candace’s.

Candace
felt Jameson’s lips on hers and closed her eyes in surrender. She wrapped her
arms around Jameson’s waist and allowed Jameson to pull her closer. Jameson
coaxed Candace’s lips to part and Candace answered the request. Jameson’s kiss
was so tender that Candace thought
for a moment
her heart might break
from
the connection
between them. The kiss continued, softly exploring, unhurried and searching. It
was as if Jameson were attempting to speak some truth without any words. When
Jameson began
to pull back slowly
,
Candace kept her eyes closed. She felt Jameson’s hands caress her cheeks.

Candace
opened her eyes slowly and looked at Jameson. “Jameson,” she said
softly
.

Jameson
smiled. “I just wanted you to know,” she said.

Candace
was about to respond when the door opened. “Hey,” Dana called to the pair. She
took note of Jameson’s hands as they dropped from Candace’s face. “I’m sorry.”

Candace
moved in front of Jameson. “It’s all right, Dana.”

“Vice
President Miller just arrived,” Dana explained.

Candace
nodded. She looked back at Jameson apologetically. Jameson offered her an
understanding smile. “Go.”

 
“I
…
”

“I’ll
see you later,” Jameson promised.

Candace
nodded again and walked past Dana in the doorway. Jameson closed her eyes,
already missing the older woman’s presence. “I’m sorry,” Dana said sincerely.

Jameson
opened her eyes and smiled. “It’s okay. I just needed her to know.”

***

“Hey,”
Candace caught up to Jameson. Jameson smiled. “
You
are
leaving with the lovebirds?” she asked kiddingly.

“Looks
like it,” Jameson said.

Candace
tried unsuccessfully to smile. She desperately wanted to say something
meaningful to Jameson. Emotions and questions were running through her at such
an overwhelming
pace;
she thought that
she might drown in them. She looked up at Jameson helplessly. “When are you
headed home?” she finally asked.

“Monday,”
Jameson answered. “When are you leaving for Marianne’s?”

“Monday
morning.”

Jameson
forced a small smile. She looked ahead to Steven as he opened the car door for
Dana. “Looks like my chariot is waiting.” Candace smiled weakly. “Merry
Christmas, Candace,” Jameson said with a quick kiss
to
the senator’s cheek.

“Jameson?”
Candace reached out for the younger woman’s arm. Jameson stopped. Candace lost
her courage. “Merry Christmas.” Jameson winked and headed for the car. Candace
watched her climb into the backseat and waved to the threesome as Steven hopped
into the driver’s seat and shut the door. She watched from the doorway for a
moment, wishing she could follow rather than return to the guests that waited
for her inside. Why didn’t she say something; anything? Candace wrapped her
arms around herself to stave off the December chill. She walked back
to
the door with one final glance down the
street. With a deep sigh, she returned
to the
world
she knew best.

***

Candace
mingled for a few minutes. She found herself wandering back toward her study.
She walked into the room and covered her face
with
her hands. She should call Jameson and say something. “What are you going to
say, Candy?” she chuckled to herself. “You know this is a bad idea.”

“Now,
what on earth is the host hiding from?”
a low
voice beckoned.