Three Wishes by Stephanie Bond

Author:Stephanie Bond [Bond, Stephanie]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: NeedtoRead Books
Published: 2011-11-07T07:00:00+00:00

Chapter 9

Jasmine took a deep breath as she stepped from her car. After handing her key to the parking valet, she smoothed a hand over the skirt of the red crepe dress. Her nerves had been jangled all day, set on edge by her morning conversation with Ladden and frazzled further from ducking phone calls and checking her rearview mirror for reporters.

She'd managed to shake a news van that followed her when she left a deli at lunch. Her new client had hinted at the billboard controversy all day, but Jasmine had simply provided polite, evasive answers. Thankfully, when she drove home she noticed the billboards had been restored to their previous advertisements, predominantly Trey's. And when she arrived at her condo, there were no cameras in sight.

Still, she felt skittish as she entered the grand lobby of the Shoalt Hotel. She told herself that, under the circumstances, it was perfectly natural that Ladden Sanderson had been on her mind all day... perfectly natural that she could recall how well he filled his soft work shirt... or how his eyes lit up when he smiled....

"Good evening, Ms. Crowne." Joseph Elam, administrative assistant to the governor, surveyed her from head to toe and pursed his thin lips in what appeared to be resignation.

"Hello, Mr. Elam."

He briefly indicated a large man standing a step behind him. "This is Duncan."

She started to greet Duncan, but Mr. Elam cut her off, sweeping his arm to the right. "Governor McDonald will be glad to know you've arrived," he said in a voice that indicated he and the governor were not of a like mind on the issue.

She realized with a sinking heart that after the day's events, Elam had labeled her a liability to the governor at this critical point in his campaign... a distressing thought since she was so eager for Trey to achieve his dreams. Another term as governor, then on to the Senate, then who only knew? And although Trey hadn't proposed, he'd hinted often enough that if she were so inclined, she would be an asset to his political career. But now...

Jasmine allowed herself to be steered through the milling crowd, nodding to familiar faces, fairly trotting to keep up with Mr. Elam's pace. His eyes darted in all directions and he kept one arm half-curled a few inches from her waist, as if he intended to keep everyone away from her—or keep her away from everyone.

They moved past a ballroom where a jazz band played, and threaded their way through several smaller rooms, each of which boasted a different theme with corresponding decorations and food. Heads turned her way and she noticed lingering glances and knowing smirks. She lifted her chin a little higher and painted on a bright smile, but inside she trembled—not out of fear of what people might be saying about her and Ladden Sanderson, but because of the guilt niggling her stomach.

No matter how much she wanted it not to be true, even here in the

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.