The Candidate's Wife by Isabella Ashe

stood as Adam unclipped the microphone on his lapel and stepped down from the stage. He nodded and smiled as members of his campaign staff clapped him on the back, but he didn't stop until he reached the row of folding chairs where Julia waited. He wound his arm around her shoulders and grinned down on her. "So? What did you think? Did I hold my own?"
    She laughed up at him as flashbulbs popped around them. "Are you fishing for compliments, Adam? Your staff's about to break out the champagne. Even Phil thought you did well, and you know he's not easy to please."
    He searched her eyes. "Yes, but they all work for me," he said, in a low voice. "You don't, not anymore. You also never hesitate to say what you really think, so go ahead."
    Julia nodded slowly. "You did well, Adam. But you almost lost your temper several times, didn't you? Especially when Norris questioned your record on the environment."
    "Hell, yes, I got mad. How dare he --"
    Julia raised her eyebrows. "Exactly. You can't afford to let him get under your skin, Adam. You're less effective when you're angry."
    "But I --" He broke off, laughed sheepishly, and pulled her tight against him. "All right, all right. But how did you know? That I almost lost it with Norris, I mean?"
    A tiny smile quirked her lips. She glanced up at him through her lashes. "Well, Adam, I've been on the receiving end of that temper of yours, remember? As it happens, there's a little muscle in your cheek that starts to twitch right before you go off the deep end. That one right there."
    Without thinking, she reached out and touched his cheek. His skin felt baby-soft, shaved close. The moment she realized what she'd done, she jerked her fingers away. Adam looked startled, then threw back his head and laughed. All around them, shutters clicked and flashbulbs exploded. Adam leaned down and pretended to nuzzle Julia's ear. "You win, sweetheart," he whispered. "I'll keep my cool next time, I promise."
    "I know you will." The masculine scent of him made her dizzy with happiness. Warmth flooded her cheeks as she struggled to rein in her joy. It was all for show, of course. Adam's solicitude meant nothing. She pulled away from him, reluctantly. "What now?" she asked, in a voice that trembled a little.
    "Now we head for the party back at headquarters." He grinned. "We'll let Tom and his people take care of the spin doctoring. If they declare victory on enough news shows, maybe someone will believe them."
    Back at campaign headquarters, Julia clapped her hands over her ears to block out the racket. News reports about the debate played on every TV monitor, and the celebration was already in full swing.
    "Hey, stranger. You've been busy lately."
    Julia turned to find Valerie watching her curiously. The college intern wore a too-tight black spandex tube dress. Valerie teetered on her six-inch heels, having apparently already drunk several glasses of champagne.
    "So, what do you think, Julia?" the girl asked, brushing her red curls from her face. "Will this put our favorite guy over the top, or are all these folks getting carried away?" A flip of her hand indicated the cheering crowd of staffers and volunteers.
    "I don't know, Valerie," Julia said warily. "I certainly hope the debate helps Adam catch up." Privately, she wasn't sure it would. Few of the state's voters were undecided, and committed voters were rarely swayed by debate performances. It would take something more to push Adam ahead of the incumbent governor, something dramatic. Still, out of loyalty, she kept her doubts to herself. "Anyway, there's one more debate, and a lot can happen in the last two weeks of a campaign."
    At that moment, a campaign staffer appeared bearing a tray of hors d'oeuvres and drinks. Julia chose a glass of tropical punch and paused to exchange pleasantries with the woman. When she moved on, Julia was relieved to see that Valerie had disappeared.
    As she stood alone and sipped her punch, Julia took a moment to watch