Road Blocks (By Design Book 8) Read online

  ROAD BLOCKS

  J.A. Armstrong

  Text © Copyright 2017 J.A. Armstrong Books

  All Rights Reserved. This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced without permission.

  CHAPTER ONE

  CHAPTER TWO

  CHAPTER THREE

  CHAPTER FOUR

  CHAPTER FIVE

  CHAPTER SIX

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  EPILOGUE

  CHAPTER ONE

  FRIDAY

  “This isn’t going to work,” Governor Candace Reid told the group seated before her.

  “It will,” Senator Stephen Shore disagreed.

  Candace held his gaze firmly. “How do you expect to elevate test scores by eliminating funding for before and after school programs?”

  “We have to cut somewhere,” he said.

  “Yes, we do.”

  “What do you want us to cut? The teacher’s union will never agree to towns reducing pay or benefits. The money has to come from somewhere.”

  “I agree,” Candace said.

  “Good.”

  “I agree that the money has to come from somewhere. It can’t come from the places you are suggesting.”

  “Then suggest another,” he challenged her.

  Michelle Fletcher groaned. She whispered to her mother’s chief of staff. “Now, he pissed her off.”

  Candace stared at the senator for a long moment. She offered him a sickly sweet smile and then addressed him calmly. “Your plan places undue hardship on the poorest communities in the state.”

  “Like I said, the money has to come from somewhere. If we want better classroom resources, then we have to pay for them from extraneous programs. We can’t fund programs at the state level. The money granted to municipalities needs to be utilized correctly.”

  “I see. So, from certain extraneous programs, say before and after school care,” Candace commented. He nodded. She smiled again. “And, let me see here,” she looked down at some papers in front of her. “How is it that you think a city like Albany can accept less state assistance and survive, while a city like Scarsdale should receive an extra two percent?”

  “Governor Reid, we have to use the models that are working.”

  Candace nodded. She pushed the papers in front of her away, let her eyes meet with each individual at the table and smiled again. “Fix it.”

  “We can pass it.”

  “And, I can veto it,” Candace said. She raised a brow at the senator, stood, and headed for the door. She stopped and turned back. “And, despite your current majority, Senator, I can promise you; you will not meet the two-thirds needed to overturn my veto. Get me a sensible piece of legislation.”

  “You want a miracle,” one of the state congressmen muttered.

  Candace smiled. “I’d welcome one,” she said. “I will settle for a little common sense. I look forward to your revisions,” she told the room and promptly took her leave. “Ridiculous.”

  “Mom,” Michelle caught up with her mother. Candace shook her head. “Mom, they might have the votes to overturn your veto.”

  “Then make sure they don’t,” Candace said.

  ***

  “Cooper,” Jameson called to her son. Cooper ran as fast as his legs could carry him into her. “Hey,” Jameson chuckled. “I wasn’t gone that long.”

  “Momma,” Cooper looked up at her.

  “Yes?”

  “We can go see Mommy now?”

  Jameson smiled. Candace had been working long hours for the last week. Jameson had been forced to travel for a few days at the same time. That had left Cooper in the care of his older sister, Marianne. While Cooper adored Marianne, he had missed his parents. Jameson scooped him up, hugged him tightly, and kissed his cheek.

  “Yes, we can,” she promised him. Cooper wiggled in her grasp excitedly. Jameson set him down and laughed when he took off running. “Where are you going?” she called after him.

  “Say goodbye to Spen!”

  Marianne came through the screen door just as Cooper was about to reach it. “Where are you off to?”

  Cooper stopped and looked at his big sister with a bright smile.

  “Oh, off to see Mom, huh?” she guessed. Cooper nodded. Marianne winked at him. “Spencer is in his room.” She chuckled at Cooper as he hurried through the door. “Not too excited,” she observed as she made her way to Jameson.

  “Not at all.”

  “How was your trip?” Marianne asked.

  “Remarkably uneventful.”

  “JD, is everything okay?”

  Jameson nodded.

  “No offense, you are a worse liar than Cooper or Spencer.”

  Jameson chuckled. “I just wish your mom would talk to me.”

  “What do you mean?” Marianne asked. She gauged Jameson crestfallen expression and sighed. “She’s getting pressure,” Marianne surmised.

  Jameson nodded. “She is. She doesn’t want to talk about it—at all.”

  “What do you think?” Marianne asked. “Do you think she wants to run?”

  “Well, I think it’d be a lie to say it isn’t something she has to consider. But, you know her,” Jameson said. “She’s worried about everyone else—Cooper and Laura most of all.”

  “I understand, I think,” Marianne said. “But, JD, things have been pretty quiet the last year. Her popularity is soaring, and we both know people are desperate for a change.”

  “She knows that,” Jameson said. “Sometimes, she just has to work things out on her own.”

  “Are you two okay?” Marianne asked with concern.

  “I love your Mom,” Jameson replied.

  “That’s not what I asked.”

  “It’s been a rough couple of months,” Jameson confessed. “We’ll get through it. We always do.”

  “You know, maybe it’s time you pushed her a little.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I mean, don’t let her shut down, JD.”

  “I’m not sure I know how. Usually, your Mom tells me everything.”

  Marianne smiled. “Tell her you love her.”

  “I tell her all the time.”

  “Tell her, JD,” Marianne said. “Really tell her.”

  Jameson took a deep breath and let it out slowly. Really tell her. Have you lately? She kissed Marianne on the cheek. “I’ll try.”

  ***

  Jameson walked into Cooper’s bedroom and stepped up behind Candace. She put her arms around Candace’s waist and felt Candace shudder slightly. She sighed and pulled Candace a bit closer. “Candace…”

  “He’s been away from us too much.”

  “Candace,” Jameson spun Candace to face her. She looked into a pair of tired, worried eyes. “Come to bed,” Jameson said.

  “Jameson, I have a million…”

  Jameson leaned in and kissed Candace tenderly. “Please?”

  Candace nodded and followed Jameson to their room. Jameson shut the door and made her way back to her wife.

  “I know we need to talk,” Candace said.

  Jameson shook her head. “No, we don’t.”

  “Jameson?”

  “I need you to listen to me.”

  Candace’s heart leapt into her throat. Her relationship with Jameson had been strained the last few months. As pressure on Candace to form an exploratory committee and consider a run for the White House had increased, Candace had become more withdrawn at home. She hadn’t intended to. There were a million things to consider. There were a million reasons she should move forward, and a million more why she felt it would be a mistake. On top of it, she had been haggling with budget concerns and trying to help reestablish a Dem
ocratic majority in the New York House. The needs of four children and three grandchildren put additional demands on her time. Jameson had been forced to travel several times in the last two months, which was rare. Bad timing had conspired to frustrate Candace, and for the first time in their marriage, she knew she had pulled away from Jameson slightly. Ironically, what she desired most was to hold Jameson close. Now, she feared she had pushed too far.

  Jameson caught the glint of fear in her wife’s eyes. She smiled and closed the distance between them completely, taking Candace’s face in her hands. “I love you.”

  Candace’s gaze narrowed in confusion.

  “I guess I haven’t done the best job of letting you know that lately.”

  “Jameson, I…”

  “Stop,” Jameson kissed Candace’s lips. “Please, let me say this.”

  Candace nodded.

  “I don’t know everything that’s going on. I know you’re frustrated. I can tell you are tired. And, I know that my being away hasn’t helped.”

  “It’s not your fault,” Candace said.

  Jameson smirked. Candace was already trying to fix things. It was funny to Jameson; Candace was a terrific listener, but she also was a problem solver. It was Candace’s inclination to fix things.

  “I’m sorry,” Candace apologized. “I’m listening.”

  “I love you more than anything or anyone, and I do mean anything or anyone in the world. I need you to know that I am here for you no matter what. I’m sorry if I haven’t been there the way you’ve needed me to.

  Candace sighed. “Oh, Jameson, it’s me who should be apologizing.”

  “No.”

  “Yes, it is. I love you too.”

  “I know. I just want to help.”

  “You do help.”

  “Well, I have to be honest; I’ve felt pretty helpless these last couple of months.”

  “I’m sorry,” Candace repeated her apology.

  “I just wish you would talk to me.”

  Candace sighed again. “Sometimes, I don’t know what to say.”

  “I know,” Jameson admitted. “But, no matter what you say; I’m not going anywhere.”

  “I’m not either.”

  “We both know that is not entirely true.”

  “Jameson, I haven’t made any decisions…”

  “No, but you will have to, and no matter what you choose, we both know that will change things in our future. Even if you stay here.”

  “I don’t want to think about that right now,” Candace said. “I just want to be with you.”

  “I’m right here.”

  Candace brought their lips together in a passionate kiss. “I missed you.”

  “I missed you too,” Jameson promised. “Right now, I think I want to show you how much.”

  Candace’s eyelids fluttered and closed against the feel of Jameson’s hands caressing her. She had missed Jameson sorely. She had even cried herself to sleep the night before. They hadn’t fought. In fact, they seldom argued. In some ways, arguing would have been preferable to Candace. She hated keeping anything from her wife. From time to time, her job demanded that she remain silent—even at home. That frustrated her. She needed Jameson. She relied on Jameson’s support to keep her steady. Feeling Jameson close now, Candace was reminded that sometimes words were unnecessary. She loved Jameson. Jameson loved her. More than love, Jameson accepted all of Candace’s pieces.

  “Jameson,” Candace whispered.

  Jameson’s fingers addressed the buttons on Candace’s blouse one by one until it fell open. She shook her head. No matter how many years passed, Jameson always stood in awe of her wife—all of Candace. Candace could leave Jameson breathless with a mere glance. Jameson was positive she could never tire of making love to the woman standing before her. Her eyes followed her fingertips as they ran lightly over Candace’s chest to the swell of her breasts.

  Candace noted the tears that were gathering in Jameson’s eyes and lifted her face. She smiled lovingly at her wife. Tension in relationships was inevitable. Sometimes, life could get in the way of intimacy. Candace cupped Jameson’s cheek with her palm and felt Jameson lean into her touch. “I love you,” she assured Jameson.

  Jameson closed her eyes and let Candace pull her close. Candace pulled Jameson’s T-shirt over her head, and threw it aside. She took Jameson’s hand and led her the short distance to their bed. Jameson looked up at Candace looking at her. She sucked in a ragged breath. In her past, Jameson had been inclined to think that anticipation would dwindle in a relationship. No matter how many times she and Candace made love, Jameson felt the heat of anticipation as if it were their first time. Candace’s eyes twinkled with affection and amusement. Jameson smiled at her. Without words, Candace claimed Jameson’s lips in a tender kiss that swelled with passion.

  Jameson’s hands held onto Candace’s hips as Candace’s kisses fell softly over her throat, the sensation faint yet warm. “Candace,” Jameson called to her wife as her eyes closed again in surrender.

  Candace smiled. She lifted her hand to Jameson’s face and brushed across Jameson’s eyelids. “Look at me,” she requested. Jameson took a deep breath and opened her eyes. Candace was still smiling. “Stay with me.”

  Jameson watched in rapt fascination as Candace began to remove any barriers between them. Her hands found the smooth expanse of Candace’s back and delighted in the softness there. Candace’s hands found Jameson’s breasts, playfully exploring until Jameson’s breath escaped in a desperate sigh.

  “Candace,” Jameson pleaded.

  “Shhh,” Candace tried to quiet her wife.

  Jameson struggled to keep her eyes open. The sensations erupting in her body were deliciously torturous. Candace was straddling her hips, gliding against her, her fingers exploring Jameson’s body as they moved together sensually. Jameson reached out and cupped Candace’s breasts. She watched as Candace’s eyes closed and her head fell forward for a moment. The sight sent a wave of excitement through Jameson’s entire body. In another instant, Candace had opened her eyes, holding Jameson’s gaze firmly.

  Candace loved watching Jameson watching her. It was both erotic and loving. Jameson’s eyes searched Candace’s endlessly, begging for release and pleading for connection. Candace felt no need to fill up the moment with words. She could say, “I love you” a million times, and as much as the statement was true, it felt hollow in this place. She leaned closer to Jameson, kissed her neck and moved intentionally upward until their eyes met again. She felt Jameson’s hands tighten on her hips and pull her closer. Jameson’s hips rose to bring them together.

  “Let go,” Candace whispered. Jameson began to quiver beneath her. Candace’s heart thundered in her chest. Her head began to spin pleasantly as Jameson swiftly reversed their positions.

  Jameson wasted no time in journeying to where she longed to travel. She slid gracefully down Candace’s body, delighting in the feel of Candace beneath her. Her lips tasted Candace’s flesh with abandon, following her hands on a familiar journey that somehow always seemed new. Making love to Candace was filled with endless discoveries. She found it exhilarating. Jameson’s hand slid up Candace’s body and held her steady as her lips descended lower, finally tasting the sweetness of the woman she loved.

  Candace let herself fall willingly. Jameson’s touch was reverent, as if she were seeking to unearth some long-hidden truth. “Jameson,” Candace barely managed to speak her wife’s name.

  Jameson’s fingertips brushed across Candace’s nipple. She circled Candace’s need repeatedly until Candace’s hips rose in an urgent plea. Jameson answered the request with the tender caress of her tongue again.

  “Oh, God!” Candace finally cried out.

  Jameson refused to relent. She felt Candace’s hands reach for her and grabbed hold of them with hers, grounding Candace even as she sought to lift Candace even higher.

  “Jesus!” Candace tried to pull away. Jameson held her steady. Her head was spinning, her heart
thrumming, her body tingled and burned with desire. Jameson gripped Candace’s hands and brought her over the threshold of pleasure one more time.

  Candace’s body shook violently. “Jameson!”

  Jameson slowly crawled up Candace’s body, taking the time to place a trail of light kisses along the way until their lips met once again. She smiled at Candace.

  “I did miss you,” Candace said.

  “I love you,” Jameson promised.

  Candace pulled Jameson into her arms. “I’m sorry, Jameson.”

  “For?”

  “For being so distant lately.”

  “You don’t need to be sorry. I just hate feeling helpless.”

  Candace scooted lower and looked at Jameson. “Helpless? Is that what you think?”

  “I can’t fix it,” Jameson said. “I know that. I hate it.”

  Candace grinned. At times, she could forget how alike she and Jameson could be. They both felt a need to make things better. And, sometimes they each forgot that just being there made the most trying moments bearable, and the happiest celebrations infinitely more rewarding.

  “Why are you smiling?” Jameson inquired.

  “Just thinking how much we are alike.”

  “Oh?”

  “You do make things better,” Candace assured Jameson. “Just by being here. Just by loving me.”

  “I hate seeing you upset. I hate not knowing what is bothering you.”

  Candace sighed, kissed Jameson on the forehead, and made the decision that it was time to share some of what had been plaguing her thoughts.

  “What is it?” Jameson asked, sensing that Candace had something she wanted to share.

  “You won’t like it.”

  “Just tell me.”

  “Lawson Klein.”

  Jameson bristled. Lawson Klein was their daughter-in-law’s estranged father. He had worked for years with a group called Family Values International, and while Candace had never discovered his reasons; he had a personal vendetta against the governor.

  “See? All I did was mention his name, and I can feel how angry you are.”