By Design by J. A. Armstrong Page B

on
a….”
    Jameson
stopped Candace’s rant with a quick kiss. “Jinx.”
    “Jinx?”
    “Yeah,
I guess he wanted to help me with the wallpaper.”
    “Explain.”
    “I
was hanging wallpaper. I was on the ladder and he jumped off of a shelf onto my
shoulder. I fell, the ladder fell on top of me; knocked me out cold,” Jameson
explained in one long breath.
    “I
told you! No black cat should be named Jinx! Why doesn’t anyone ever listen to me?”
Candace said in exasperation.
    “I’ll
change his name, just take me home,” Jameson implored the senator.
    Candace
shook her head. “Is this what I have to look forward to?” she asked.
    Jameson
smiled. “I’ll try not to get a concussion too often….Does that mean you’ll keep
me?” she joked.
    “You,
yes; the cat….”
    “Aw,
it was just an accident,” Jameson said. “I survived.”
    “We’ll
talk,” Candace said, knowing that Jameson could likely convince her of
anything. “Keep an eye on her,” she instructed Pearl. “I’ll see about taking
you home,” she promised. She leaned in and kissed Jameson’s forehead before
leaving.
    “That
went well,” Jameson said to Pearl.
    “Don’t
be surprised if she sells that cat to the Chinese restaurant,” Pearl laughed.
“And, next time you want her to kiss you, do me a favor and just ask; okay? I
almost ended up in the bed next to you with a heart attack.”
    “Sorry,”
Jameson apologized.
    “Kids,”
Pearl groaned.

Chapter Ten: A New
Design
    Candace
felt Jameson’s arms around her waist. She snuggled back into the architect’s
embrace. They had spent a quiet couple of days together. Jameson had slept on
and off, and Candace was content to lie beside the woman she loved. She had
crept into bed a few hours earlier when Jameson was sleeping. She felt
Jameson’s lips on the back of her neck. “You’re awake,” Candace observed
softly. Jameson’s answer came in the form of more insistent kisses down
Candace’s neck. Her hands began mapping out Candace’s hips and abdomen. Candace
closed her eyes and reveled in the feel of Jameson against her. “Sweetheart,
what are you doing?” she began to protest. She turned in Jameson’s arms.
    Jameson’s
hands continued their methodical exploration, tracing patterns on Candace’s
back. “I love you,” Jameson said.
    Candace
took Jameson’s face in her hands. “We have plenty of time, Jameson. I’m not
that old,” she tried to joked. Jameson answered with a tender kiss that began
to deepen steadily. Her hands began moving up and down Candace’s back with more
urgency and intention. “Jameson,” Candace sighed. “You need to rest.”
    Jameson
kissed Candace and moved her onto her back. She hovered over the senator and
shook her head. “I need to make love to you,” she said. Candace fought to
breathe. Jameson’s directness was accompanied by a passionate gaze. She lifted
her hands to Jameson’s face and held it tenderly. Jameson felt the trembling in
Candace’s touch. “What are you afraid of?” she asked the older woman.
    “Losing
you,” Candace confessed her heart.
    Jameson
smiled. “Candace,” she said. “I have waited my entire life for you.” Candace
closed her eyes at Jameson’s admission. “I am in love with you. Completely in
love with you.” Candace opened her eyes and traced over Jameson’s eyebrows and
cheeks with her fingers. Jameson kissed Candace’s forehead tenderly. “The only
way you will ever lose me is if you send me away.”
    “Jameson….when
I am seventy-five you will be my age now.”
    “And,
I will make love to you just as slowly and passionately as I am about to now.”
Candace sighed as Jameson’s hands traveled gently over her body. “Do you love
me?” Jameson asked directly.
    Candace
smiled at the woman above her. “You might not believe this, but I love you more
than I ever thought possible.”
    Jameson
kissed Candace and felt Candace’s hands drop to her back, searching and
exploring. She