Page 50 of Coveted Justice

Amanda laughed and shook her head.

“I get antsy sitting too long. I don’t know how you have the patience. I need to move a bit every hour.”

“I guess I just get in the zone but thank you for going.”

It was warm and sunny outside and Amanda quickly walked to the corner shop, ordered their coffees and snacks, and headed back. She was a responsible young woman, the type that always did the right thing, but on a day like today she wanted to throw caution to the wind and forget all about stuffing envelopes. She wanted to ride in a convertible with the wind in her hair, feeling the sun on her skin. She wanted to listen to the radio too loud and maybe drive a bit too fast. She wanted to have some fun and pretend that she wasn’t a young adult with responsibilities. She wouldn’t ever want to go back to being a child, but maybe for one measly afternoon it would be okay.

Except that she wasn’t going to do that. She’d volunteered to help her dad’s campaign and she wasn’t going to go back on that promise. Besides, this was what adults did, right? They go to work every day and do things that they didn’t necessarily want to do. How many times had her mother climbed out of a warm bed to see a patient in the middle of the night? Too many times to count. Someone might have hit their head or needed stitches. Maybe a toddler was coughing all night and the parent was worried.

As far as Amanda was concerned, her mother was an amazing role model.

I want to be a doctor like her someday. I want to help people like she does.

Juggling the food and drink, Amanda pulled open the door, stopping abruptly when she realized that Josh wasn’t alone. He had a visitor that had arrived in the fifteen minutes she’d been gone.

Tall and blonde, with long tan legs peeking out of white shorts, the girl had her hand on Josh’s shoulder, laughing at something he’d said. She tossed her hair and smiled, gazing up at him as if he was a movie star.

Josh’s head swiveled toward her, and he stepped back when he saw Amanda in the doorway.

“Hey, you’re back.”

“Yes, I am.”

She placed the coffee and snacks on the table, placing her purse on the back credenza.

“Is this your coworker?” the blonde asked. “I’m Chloe.”

“This is Amanda Marks,” Josh said. “It’s her dad that is running for governor.”

Chloe’s brows rose and her gaze seemed to run from Amanda’s toes to the top of her head, taking in every detail of her appearance. Amanda was dressed casually today in pink capris and a white blouse, her hair pulled up into a ponytail because the curls were out of control with the humidity. She hadn’t bothered with makeup today either, having slept in an extra fifteen minutes. Compared to Chloe, she looked like something the cat had thrown up on the carpet.

I could never tan like that either. I’d just freckle.

Apparently, Chloe had decided that Amanda wasn’t anyone she needed to talk to. The young woman had turned her back and given all her attention to Josh.

“So will you? Come on and say yes. It will be fun,” Chloe said in a cajoling tone. “You know you want to.”

What did she want Josh to say yes to? And who was she anyway? Amanda hadn’t heard anything about a Chloe and she had talked to Josh every day for the last ten days.

“I don’t know,” Josh replied, looking a tad uncomfortable. “I’m really busy here. Amanda and I have a lot of responsibilities.”

As if just remembering that Amanda was in the room, Chloe gave her a huge smile.

“I bet she can handle things for a little while without you. Can’t you, Amelia? You don’t mind if I steal Josh away for a few hours, do you? You look capable of holding down the fort while he’s gone.”

Josh wasn’t looking Amanda in the eye and Chloe had an expectant expression on her face. If Amanda made a fuss, she was going to look like a spoilsport. Or jealous. And she wasn’t that.

“I’m sure that I can,” she finally replied. “If you want to go, it’s fine with me.”

For a moment, she thought he was going to say yes to Chloe but then he shook his head.

“No, we have work to do here. I can’t just run off whenever I like. This is a job. Sorry, Chloe, but I have to stay here.”

The blonde was definitely eyeing Amanda now, her gaze darting back and forth between her and Josh.

“Okay, I know when I’m beat. We can go get some dinner or maybe go for a drive later.” Chloe reached up and placed her hand behind Josh’s neck, pulling him down for a kiss. Amanda could do nothing but stand there and watch. “Text me.”

The last two words came out soft and husky, the blonde running her hand down Josh’s arm. She’d seen many women flirt in the past but this one took the cake. She was far too…aggressive.

---