The Candidate's Affair Read Online Free Page A

about anything like that. We’re going to grow old together and die in our sleep like in that movie. You know which one I’m talking about?”
    “How do you know, Audrey? We take too many things for granted sometimes. This isn’t a movie. And that was The Notebook .”
    I pivoted, making little ruts in the flowerbed with my sneakers. “Spence, cut it out. You’re sounding morbid.”
    “Do we even know what happened to her husband?”
    I folded my gloves and tossed them in the bucket with the clippers. “He died before we moved in. I have no idea. I think someone said heart attack.” I stopped to think for a minute. Had anyone actually told me how Mr. Ellerby died, or was I guessing?
    The room grew quiet and I noticed all heads had turned.
    “Excuse me, ladies. Am I in the right place? Tina Lyons?”
    Tina knocked over her wineglass. “Good lord, I’m a klutz.” She hopped from her seat. “I’m sorry. I’m Tina. Are you looking for someone?” Her head pivoted around the circle like a water sprinkler.
    I stood. “Tina, I’m sorry. I forgot to mention I invited my new neighbor to book club. I meant to say something.” I walked toward Paxton. “This is Paxton Tanner. He just moved in next door to us.”
    He held up a copy of The Goldfinch . “Hope it’s ok if I join your discussion tonight. I came armed with the book. Took me a little while to find it. I’m still unpacking the house.”
    The hushed murmurs circled the room. I couldn’t hear a single comment. They were all at once.
    Tina’s hand rested on his arm. “Of course. You will be the first man we’ve ever had at book club. Are you subbing for you wife, Mr. Tanner? We would love to meet her too. Maybe she can make the next one.”
    I noticed how he covered Tina’s hand with his palm and gave it a gentle squeeze. “Actually, my wife passed away a few years ago. I’m here on my own.”
    “Oh my. How awful.” Tina looked as if she could spout tears.
    “Thank you.” Paxton was good at this. I could tell he had been used to women reacting this way. I didn’t catch it on his front porch.
    Cricket shoved a glass of wine in his hand. “Hi, I’m Cricket. I live right down the street from you. I can’t believe I haven’t been down to see you yet.” She looked as astonished as she sounded.
    “Thank you. How did you know I was a white wine drinker?”
    “Instinct, I guess.” Cricket brushed her bangs from her eyes, making the bangles on her wrist jingle. I wondered what Johnny would think if he saw her flirting openly in front of the entire group.
    “Why don’t you sit over there since you and Audrey are already acquainted?” Tina pointed to the seat next to me.
    Paxton smiled and took a seat. “Looks good to me.”
    I shot him half a grin. When we were standing on his porch and I mentioned book club, it didn’t seem like a monumental event, but now sitting next to him with all eyes gawking at his chiseled and foreign physique, I disagreed. This was huge. I had created a moment in our book club’s history.
    “All right.” Tina waited for the excitement to settle. “Let’s welcome Paxton here. Wouldn’t it be a hoot if we had name tags tonight?” Tina was the type who wasn’t embarrassed about laughing at her own jokes.
    “Don’t let me change up what you do here. I’m really here to say hello. I don’t have much of a social life outside of work,” Paxton added.
    “Wait. I know who you are,” Lindsey Miller blurted out. “You’re running for the state senate.” She said it with authority, as if she had cracked a case.
    Paxton took the accusation calmly. “You caught me.”
    “I knew you looked familiar.” Lindsey couldn’t stop. “I read a piece on your family and how they’ve put millions into your campaign.”
    “Lindsey, I don’t think this is the place—” Tina looked embarrassed.
    He held up a hand, to relax the hostess. “I get that a lot, Tina. It’s fine. I’m open to questions anytime. But, maybe we