By Design by J. A. Armstrong Page B

Rachel asked. Candace just smiled. “Oh, so there is someone,” Rachel
teased. Candace lifted both brows and shrugged. “Well, now that you’ve broken
my heart….”
    “Didn’t
you sell that old thing years ago?” Candace poked.
    “Some
of us do have sense; you know?” Rachel returned.
    “Come
on, I’ll buy you a free drink,” Candace offered.
    “Chivalrous
to the end,” Rachel said.
    “Always,”
Candace winked.
    ***
    “J.D.
just stay,” Dana said.
    “No,
I have a lot to do. I’m just going to rent a car and drive home.”
    “What
happened last night?” Dana asked.
    “Nothing
happened, Dana. There are a lot of new projects I need to look over at the
firm; that’s all.”
    The
change in Jameson’s mood from reflective to sullen was evident. Dana wondered
if Candy had said something to upset Jameson. That seemed unlikely. She
couldn’t imagine what had caused Jameson’s apparent need to get away. “J.D.,
Christmas is Thursday. Why don’t…”
    Jameson
set her bag on the bed and faced Dana. “I just need to go.”
    “Call
her,” Dana implored her friend. “Whatever happened, and J.D., I know something
happened; just call her.”
    Jameson’s
downcast glance nearly broke Dana’s heart. “I’m not sure that’s such a good
idea right now,” she said softly. “Thanks for everything,” Jameson said,
reaching to hug her friend. “The drive will be good for me,” she promised.
    Dana
watched as Jameson retrieved her bag and started to leave the room. She sighed
dramatically, wondering if she should intervene somehow. Steven caught her in
the hallway and knew immediately what she was thinking. “Dana, whatever it is;
you have to let them work this one out.”
    “I’ve
never seen J.D. like that.”
    Steven
agreed. “She loves your boss,” he tried to relieve the tension.
    “Yeah.”
    “Maybe
Candy just doesn’t feel…”
    Dana
shook her head. “Steve….I’ve never seen Candy the way she is with J.D.”
    “Jessica?”
he asked.
    “No.”
    “So,
maybe she just…”
    “Is
terrified?” Dana suggested.
    “Candy;
terrified?” he scoffed at his wife’s idea.
    Dana
turned and looked at him. “Yes, terrified. You know what that whole thing did
to her.”
      “Of J.D.?” he asked in disbelief.
    “No,
of what she feels for J.D. and what that means. Maybe I should call…”
    “No.
This is between the two of them, Dana. It’s not a story you need to spin. It’s
their story to write. Have a little faith in them. They’ll figure it out.”
    “What
makes you so sure?” she asked doubtfully.
    “I’ve
never known either of them to back down from a challenge,” he said.
    Dana
snickered at the observation. “Well, that’s true,” she said.
    “Come
on, we’ve got some alone time now before the kids come home.”
    “Looking
to take advantage of your best friend’s misfortune?” she asked.
    “No,
just looking to take advantage of my wife.”
    Dana
laughed and gave into her husband’s kiss. “Remind me to thank, J.D.”

Chapter Nine: What I
Should Have Said
    Candace
set her phone on the table and put her face in her hands. “Mom?” Michelle
called to her quietly. Candace did not move. Michelle sat down beside her
mother and put a hand on her back. “What’s wrong?” she asked. When Candace
looked up, Michelle was startled by the tears in her mother’s eyes. “Mom?”
Candace just closed her eyes and shook her head. Michelle sighed. “What
happened?”
    “I
really don’t know,” Candace finally answered.
    “J.D.?”
Michelle guessed. Candace nodded. “Did you have an argument over something?”
    Candace
laughed nervously. “Not exactly.”
    “Okay?”
    “She
kissed me.”
    Michelle
was puzzled. “And, that is a bad thing?”
    “I
don’t know,” Candace answered truthfully.
    “Did
you kiss her back?” Michelle asked curiously. Candace looked at her daughter
indignantly. “Okay….Well, what then? She’s a bad kisser?” Michelle was