Free Sexual Politics by Tara Mills Page A

necessary now?
    She didn’t have any answers to these questions. Right or wrong, like it or not, her marriage helped make her the woman she was. If she’d had an attentive husband and a family of her own to care for she wouldn’t have felt compelled to create Open Arms, Warm Hearts. Her foundation was making a difference in more lives every day. Without her disappointments she wouldn’t have had the incentive to forge ahead in other directions. It was those personal setbacks that placed her on this new and rewarding path. That was how she’d discovered she had ambition.
    Hopefully Open Arms, Warm Hearts wouldn’t be affected by this ridiculous scandal. She should probably call Lise as soon as she got off the phone with Gary, and her assistant Lois. Carter Douglass could talk to Gary. She didn’t want to deal with him.
    What was her husband going to say?
     

Chapter 5
     
    Justine put off lunch until after she made her phone calls. Even empty, her stomach was churning. Stress will do that. She decided to call Gary first.
    “Justine, where the hell are you and what the hell is going on?” he asked as soon as he answered.
    She took a deep breath and let it out, willing herself to calm down. “Nothing is going on.”
    “That’s not what it looks like. Hang on.” She heard him ask someone to give him some privacy. “And close the door,” he added then returned to her. “I don’t care what you do when I’m gone, but damn it, be discreet.”
    Now her blood was boiling. “I’m innocent—unlike you !”
    “I remember him. You introduced us. Were you sleeping with him then?”
    “No! You’re not listening to me.”
    “I don’t know what to believe. I saw the pictures. Something’s going on. Maybe you haven’t had sex yet, but you’re having an affair.”
    Groaning, she spun in frustration. “You’re insane.”
    “And you’re in love.”
    Justine felt the blood drain from her face. “What did you say?”
    “It’s a love affair.” There was a quiet pause on the other end. “Admit it. You love him.”
    Swallowing and sniffling, she began to cry. “Yes,” she said softly then fell back against the wall behind her and crumpled to the floor.
    “I’m sorry, Justine, for everything. But this is for your own good. And mine. Talk to Carter.”
    “No! Gary…” What? For her own good? That sounded ominous. Unfortunately he’d already cut her off to transfer the call. The impulse to hang up immediately was almost irresistible. She wanted to fly away, out of this cold city to somewhere warm where she could be anonymous.
    Her head shot up when she heard her name in her ear. “Mrs. Hubbard?”
    Damn. Too late. She cringed. “Yes.”
    “The senator will be making a statement to the media in an hour. We’re finishing the draft now. I suggest you watch it. Or listen to it. Local stations will carry it as well. Goodbye.”
    Before she could ask what they were going to say, the bastard ended the call.
    “Oh no.”
    She dialed Gary’s number again. He didn’t pick up. When she tried his office she couldn’t get past his secretary.
    Shaken and afraid, she returned to Jeannie’s guestroom and searched through her purse for the slip of paper Sean gave her. Luckily, he answered right away.
    “Justine? What’s wrong? Are you okay?”
    “I don’t think so. Something is about to happen. I’m scared.”
    She told him about the phone calls, what they’d said. Sean didn’t like how it sounded either.
    “If they hang you out to dry, I’ll go on the record and clear your name. I won’t let your reputation suffer for something you didn’t do.”
    “I hope it doesn’t come to that.”
    “Me too. But if it does, you won’t have to face it alone.”
    She swiped at a fresh tear under her eye. “Thank you.”
    “Should I come over? Listen to it with you?”
    “Would you mind?”
    “Not at all. On my way. See you soon.”
    “Okay. Thank you.”
    “We’re in this together, right?”
    She laughed and