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eloquently. Assuming that is what you are hoping for.”
    “It
is. What about cost?”
    Jameson
took a sip of her coffee. “That depends a great deal on materials, and on what
might be discovered underneath all the
layers. I can get you a ballpark figure on the exterior and the addition.
Interior costs will depend on what you choose for materials. I’ll send you some
samples and ideas. I have the photos you sent; any photos you have through the
years will be helpful. I’ll try to find similar options wherever possible. You
see what strikes you. We can go from there. That is, assuming you think my
proposal is doable ?”
    Candace
narrowed her gaze at the architect. “Why don’t you get me that information and
I will make my assessment of its ‘doability,' shall we say?”
    “Is
that a political term?” Jameson asked. Candace’s reply was a simple wink. “This
could be very interesting,” Jameson thought silently. “Very.”

Chapter Three: Demons
Past
    “You
left a few details out,” Senator Fletcher pointed to her press secretary.
    “Mwah?”
Dana feigned her innocence. Candace arched a fair eyebrow at her friend. “What
did you think of J.D.?” Dana asked, barely concealing a sly smirk.
    “Intelligent,
charming, witty,” Candace said a bit whimsically.
    “And?”
Dana urged knowingly.
    “Oh
no, you don’t! I know where this is heading.”
    “Come
on now, Senator; admit it. She’s not hard to look at,” Dana said.
    “She’s
young enough to be my daughter,” Candace said flatly.
    “She’s
thirty-five, Candy.”
    “Are
you trying to help me remodel my home or are you trying to reconstruct my love life?” Candace asked.
    “Well,
they are both a bit dusty, so they could both use a little attention; if you
ask me.”
    “I
didn’t ask you,” Candace replied a bit harshly.
    Dana
sighed and shook her head. “Are you going to hire her?”
    Candace
sipped her coffee and took a seat across from her friend. “Yes….to work on the
house; not to remodel my love life.”
    “Mm-hm.”
    “Dana,”
Candace called in her best warning tone.
    “Why
not; b ecause she’s younger than you? Come
on, don’t tell me you don’t find her attractive.”
    Candace
kneaded her temples. She had been thinking about Jameson more frequently than
she ever planned to admit to her friend. It wasn’t J.D.’s looks that had
engaged Candace the most; not that she hadn’t noticed how attractive the
architect was. J.D. Reid possessed a quality that Candace did not often find in others. She carried herself with
a quiet confidence that enhanced her natural good looks. That was the only way
Candace could think to describe the younger woman; natural. Jameson had long,
chestnut hair that fell in natural waves just below her shoulders. If the
architect had been wearing any makeup, it had not been readily detectable. The feature that captured Candace’s attention
the most were Jameson Reid’s eyes. They were a soft brown that Candace had
noticed seemed to lighten to a faint golden tone when Jameson was amused or
intrigued; something that seemed to occur quite often in their short time
together. Candace had enjoyed Jameson’s company. Their conversation had wound
its way into late evening. Jameson had shared a bit about her family and
reluctantly admitted that she knew very little about baseball. Candace had even
found herself opening up about her life far more than was customary to a
virtual stranger.
    Dana
tried not to laugh at the expression on the senator’s face. She’d met Candace
Fletcher when she was interning for another senator during college, and
immediately decided that someday she would work for Senator Fletcher. She
admired the older woman. Dana valued the senator both as a friend and as a
mentor. Those who were closest to Candace Fletcher understood that her life had
become lonely in the last few years. A year after Candace’s divorce, the
senator had become involved with Jessica Stearns; a prominent New York