Conservative Affairs by Riley Scott Read Free Book Online

Madeline’s friend? A week ago, she would have considered herself just a staff member, but something had changed between them over breakfast yesterday. Jo hoped the familiarity between them was blossoming into a friendship. Madeline Stratton was one hell of a woman, and Jo would give her left arm to be friends with someone of her caliber, intelligence and wit.
    She hoped this visit to her apartment wouldn’t ruin those chances. She pictured every nook and cranny in the place. Had she left anything out that would make Madeline view her differently? She didn’t think so—she never knew when her mom might pop by, so she was generally careful—but she couldn’t be sure. She’d just have to keep her eyes peeled.
    The mental inventory did serve to remind her that she was out of beer. Hell, she didn’t even know if Madeline drank beer.
    “What would you like to drink?” Jo asked, although she would have laid money on the table that Madeline was a whiskey drinker.
    Madeline let out a sad laugh. “Red wine, but only when the cameras are on.” She hesitated before adding, “I think I’d like to have some Jameson tonight.”
    Jo had to stifle the sound of approval rising in the back of her throat. The hot ones always drank whiskey.
    “Do you want it straight, or should I get something to mix?” Jo asked, again knowing the answer.
    “Straight.”
    The response was hotter than anything Jo could have imagined coming from the mayor’s mouth. An intense desire to kiss Madeline rose up within her. Imagining how poorly the ultraconservative woman would react to that, she fought to keep her raging hormones in check.
    She stopped at a liquor store and put the car in park. “I’ll be right back.”
    Fumbling with her wallet, Madeline pulled out a credit card. “Here, use this.”
    “I’ve got it.” Jo smiled. It was the least she could do, and it would be best to keep the liquor store from knowing that the mayor was stocking up on booze in light of her current public relations challenge.
    “Well, take it in case you change your mind.”
    “No,” Jo said firmly. “Do you want anything else?”
    “A pack of Camel Menthols?”
    Jo’s smile grew. There was definitely more to Madeline Stratton than met the eye.
    “You got it,” Jo said and headed inside.
    Scanning the shelves for the Jameson gave her the chance to clear her mind. She was going to have Madeline Stratton in her apartment this evening, and chances were she was going to get drunk. That meant that whatever salacious thoughts Jo had about Madeline were going to have to be locked away. Not that Jo would have acted upon them. Even so, they were dangerous thoughts to be having when alcohol was added to the mix.
    She grabbed a bottle of Jameson from the shelves and picked up two packs of Camel Menthols at the counter. She paid and made her way back to her car, promising herself that she wouldn’t do anything stupid tonight. She had a job to keep, a reputation to uphold, a secret to hide and a friend who needed her support—nothing more.

Chapter Six
    “She was a bitch today. That’s all I know.” Jacquelyn’s words were dripping with bitterness as she once again recounted her side of today’s events to Gabe, but all Gabe wanted was to know if Jo needed anything.
    He’d like to know if Madeline needed anything too, for that matter. He’d been on the mayor’s staff for three years now, and he’d never seen her as distraught as she had appeared during the glance he had stolen as Jo ushered her out the office. With an election coming up in just over a year, there was little doubt that her tensions would have been high anyway. But, given this added stress, Madeline was entitled to a breakdown. Jo was simply helping Madeline out. He felt his protective instincts emerge.
    “She’s not a bitch, and we can’t talk about each other that way. You know that, Jacquelyn. Jo was probably freaked out, like the rest of us are. She took the bullet for you, remember,