The Candidate (Romantic Suspense) (The Candidate Series) by Josie Brown Page A

that’s the way we both want it.” She busied herself with the puzzle’s 42 Down. “What brought this on, all of a sudden?”
    “Just something Andy said. I guess that...Well, sometimes I wouldn’t mind having what Andy and Abby have.”
    Her sly smile hardened into a grimace. “Oh yeah? And what is that, pray tell?”
    He swallowed hard. Obviously he’d hit a nerve. “They’re—or at least they seem to be soul mates.”
    “Looks can be deceiving.”
    “It’s not just how they look, or act, together. It’s the way he talks about her.” 
    Nonchalantly she wrote in 14 Across. “Oh yeah? What exactly does he say?”
    Fuck it. In for a dime, in for a dollar . “That she keeps him on the straight and narrow. That he’s running because of her. That she’s his angel.”
    “His angel, eh? How very sweet.” 
    There was edge to her voice, but he didn’t care. In fact, it egged him on, to make his case. “It’s not just that. Look at all she’s going through for him—”
    “What exactly do you mean by that?”
    “All the infertility shots! You know...” But it was obvious by the look on her face that she didn’t. “Shit! I just assumed that she and you—well, never mind. Damn. She certainly knows how to keep a secret.”
    “I’m glad one of you does.” The topic must have been boring her, because she went back to her puzzle. “I wonder what Andy thinks of all that.”
    “He doesn’t know. She hasn’t told him.” Ben wanted to add, Those are the kind of sacrifices you make when you’re in love. Instead, he kept his mouth shut. “But if he found out, I imagine he’d be ecstatic.” 
    Personally, and politically. A pregnancy would be another plus for the campaign. Besides making for great press, it would reaffirm the senator’s youthfulness, as opposed to Talbot’s. Hey, it worked for John and Jackie, right?
    She shrugged. “Well Ben, I won’t tell him, if you don’t. Out of respect for my sister. But as to whether or not I’ll be your Abby, forget about it. I’m no angel. And whatever you presume they have isn’t what I want to have with you. I like things just the way they are.” She turned back to her puzzle. “But I’ll tell you what: I’ll give serious consideration about taking our relationship public.”
    “Sounds good to me. But why the change of heart?”
    “I guess I’m tired of the way things are. It’s time to shake things up.”
    I hear you. 

Chapter 23
     
    A week later Maddy showed up at a Mansfield campaign rally, in Annapolis. “To support Abby” is how she put it, but in fact, Abby had been detained at a radio interview in Baltimore. That was okay. Mansfield was on fire, the crowd was stoked, and both Maddy and Ben were high on the vibe. So high that when Mansfield finished his speech and the crowd gave him a standing ovation, Ben absently kissed Maddy—
    And she didn’t pull away.
    Until they both realized that Abby was staring at them. 
    Slowly she started toward them. But then something, or someone, caught her attention. She looked as if she’d seen a ghost standing behind them. 
    Ben turned around to see Andy glad-handing his way through the dense mob that enveloped him. The senator hadn’t seen them yet. Abby must’ve realized that too. Stiffly she nodded, but turned and threaded her way through the crowd until she was at her husband’s side, nudging him, oh so subtly, in the opposite direction. 
    Ben looked at Maddy. “What the hell just happened?”
    Maddy didn’t seem at all shocked by Abby’s reaction. “Poor Ben! I guess our little family reunion didn’t go exactly the way you pictured it...Hey, don’t be so sad! Wow, I do believe you’ll truly miss me.” 
     

     
    Abby’s summons came the next day: a handwritten invitation for brunch the following Sunday. 
    Quite pointedly, she requested that he come alone.
    He would not have shown it to Maddy, but she’d arrived at his apartment before him. Having scooped up the mail that