Pulse Points

by Mary Lynn Baxter

  Now, she knew better. The shock had long worn off and still she felt a thrill every time he came near her. Because she hadn’t expected this reaction, she’d been defenseless and still was, especially after he’d broached the subject of that fateful night.

  At least, her frigid attitude had stopped an outright discussion of the events. But the fact he’d had the nerve to mention that night had left her feeling vulnerable and upended.

  Okay, so her back was against the wall in more ways than one. She’d just have to deal with the uncomfortable circumstances. When faced with other unexpected dilemmas, she’d met the challenge head-on. She’d never been a shrinking violet and wasn’t about to become one now.

  Another thing in her favor was that she’d become a master at burying her feelings, at holding undesirable people at arm’s length. There was no reason why she couldn’t resurrect that survival technique and ride out this present storm.

  Once the campaign was over, Tanner would disappear from her life. Meanwhile, she’d have to cling to that certainty and think of him as a job and not a man.

  Releasing her pent-up breath, Kasey lifted the receiver to dial his number. A knock on the door stalled her hand. Something told her who it was, though she wasn’t alone in the office.

  “Yes?”

  She was hoping this time, when she saw him, she wouldn’t feel the impact of his presence. But she did. That jolt zinged her again as Tanner strode across the threshold, looking a tad disheveled and apologetic.

  “I bet you’d wish I’d quit just popping up,” he said with a hint of a smile.

  “Actually, I was about to call you.”

  “Oh?”

  Kasey averted her gaze, but only after she noticed everything about him—his leashed muscles, his mussed-up hair, the fatigue lines on his face, his dislodged tie. Yet he’d never been more enticing, more sexually potent. And she was never more aware of him.

  “It’s show and tell time, huh?” he asked.

  She looked back at him. But only for a second. However, that was enough to cause a tingle to shoot through her, especially when she saw heat flare in his eyes.

  Following a gust of breath, she said, “That’s one way of putting it.”

  “Have you eaten?”

  His switch in subjects took her aback. She blinked. “No.”

  “Neither have I. Want to grab a bite before we get down to business?”

  “I’m not hungry.”

  “You sure?”

  “I’m sure.”

  “Well, I am.”

  “Maybe after we go through this stuff,” she hedged, having no intention of going out to dinner with him.

  He grinned. “That’ll work.”

  Twelve

  “How much longer are you going to be here?” Don Hornsby asked, sticking his head inside her door.

  “Not much longer,” Kasey responded, looking up from her work. “I’ve about had it.”

  Don’s features bore concern as he came deeper into the workroom. “You look worn-out.”

  “I’m all right.”

  “Sure as hell could’ve fooled me,” Red exclaimed, striding through the door and giving her a pointed stare.

  “I’m going home soon, I promise.”

  “Just exactly what was it he didn’t like?” Don demanded. “You’ve never told us.”

  “Ah,” Red said, flapping his hand in the air, “he’s just your typical asshole politician. What more is there to say?”

  Kasey couldn’t help but smile, though she knew she shouldn’t let Red discuss their client in such an unprofessional manner. At the moment, she didn’t have the wherewithal to confront him.

  “So are we going back to the drawing board?” Don asked, his concern deepening.

  “No,” Kasey said, fingering her dark hair. “Actually, he didn’t want that many changes, just some tweaking here and there, which I’ve already done. If those pass muster, then the package is a definite go.”

  “I wouldn’t hold my breath,” Red muttered, his face the color of his hair. “I don’t trust politicians as far as I can throw them.”

  Don narrowed his gaze on him. “As long as he’s got money and can keep our doors open, who cares?”

  “I care,” Red shot back, “because Hart can’t do that alone. With all the hype still surrounding Shirley’s death and that Gallain fellow snooping around and bugging us, no one else is going to touch this agency with a ten-foot pole.”

  Don turned anxious eyes on Kasey. “I thought Hart would be the shot in the arm we needed to keep the paychecks coming.”

  “Give it a rest, guys, okay?” Kasey said in a tired voice. “I don’t plan to put a Closed sign on the door now or ever.” Her voice grew stronger. “Once Shirley’s killer is caught and all the publicity dies down, we will rebound. You’ll see.”

  When neither responded, she added, “I’m leaving now. Will one of you lock up?”

  A short time later, Kasey let herself into her apartment, wishing she had Brock to greet her. She missed him so much, had never stopped missing him since he went off to college. But she couldn’t cling to him forever, though at the moment she wanted to do just that. Then her sound judgment returned, and she was relieved that Brock was away at school.

  A shudder went through her. If it hadn’t been for his athletic ability, he might have chosen Rushmore Junior College. Before Baylor had come through with a partial scholarship, he had considered that, especially since it had been so much cheaper. In hindsight it would’ve been disastrous.

  She wanted him as far away from Tanner as possible.

  Shrugging that thought aside, Kasey made her way into the kitchen, poured herself a glass of iced tea, then went into the living room and sat down. As soon as she found the energy, she would take a shower, then go to bed.

  Emotionally she was a wreck.

  She had let Tanner get to her. Though it pained her to admit that, it was the truth. He had made her angry and uncertain, a lethal combination where she was concerned.

  Their conversation last evening jumped to mind and ruffled her feathers all over again. When she had seen the look on his face after reviewing the layout, her confidence suffered a major blow. Though he’d struggled to mask it, his disappointment had been obvious. But when she’d called his hand, Tanner had vehemently denied it.

  “It’s good, really good.”

  “But?” Her voice was wooden.

  He shot her a look. “How do you know there’s a but?”

  “Stop playing games with me, Tanner,” she snapped.

  He drew back, his eyes widened. “You’re really pissed, aren’t you?”

  “Yes.”

  “Come on, Kasey, you’re making something out of nothing. Overall, the package is strong, but—” He broke off and smiled, a glint in his eye. “Okay, so there is a but.” The smile expanded.

  She knew he was making an all-out effort to inject some humor into the sudden and potentially volatile situation. What it did was add tension, making her more aware of closeness and his potent charm. Both robbed her of composure and ability to think.

  Fearing he would pick up on the chaos clamoring inside her, Kasey moved away.

  That gesture was not lost on Tanner. His eyes narrowed and his lips thinned. “Look, if there is a problem, it’s with the newspaper ads, but that’s my fault and not yours. I just feel we’re not quite there yet. The words don’t seem to have enough strength or zing to them. Does that make sense?”

  “Absolutely. And that’s an easy fix. I’ll get right on it.”

  He peered at her out of unreadable eyes. “But again, the total package is a job well done.” His voice was low and husky. “I really mean that.”

  “If you’re sure,” she said.

  “Kasey.”

  Her head came up and her stark gaze met his. And held.

  “I’m sure, believe me.”

  Their eyes held a moment longer, then Tanner cleared his throat, effectively breaking the spell. But it left
her feeling weak and vulnerable.

  “I’d better go,” he said, in a low, gusty tone. “I’ll call you tomorrow.”

  So far, he hadn’t called. And now that the workday was over, Kasey knew she wouldn’t hear from him. Suddenly an acute sense of disappointment washed over her, which was ridiculous, of course. Somehow she had to find a way to smother this unwanted attraction that was undermining her good sense.

  Otherwise…

  Kasey leaped off the couch, furious at what she saw as a terrible weakness that must be overcome. Draining her glass, she went back into the kitchen to refill it. That was when she heard the noise. She froze. And listened.

  Silence.

  Moments later she released her breath, only to hear it again. She whipped around and stared through the French doors that led onto her deck. Was someone there? Had someone somehow managed to get past the detective after all?

  Her blood turned to ice. Had the killer finally come after her?

  Stop it, she told herself. Of course, he hadn’t. Her vivid imagination was her own worst enemy. With that assurance, she marched across the room and flung open the door.

  A meow greeted her.

  She clung to the door handle to keep herself upright, her insides having turned into a quivering mass of jelly. Then she laughed, satisfied her intruder was nothing but a harmless, stray cat. Still, she went back inside and latched the door.

  At that moment, the doorbell chimed. A frown marred her brow. Company was not in the offing tonight unless it was Ginger. That thought cheering her considerably, she headed to the door.

  Jack’s sigh was audible through the phone line. “I said, can we get together?”

  Tanner forced himself to pay closer attention to what Jack was saying. “Now?” He peered at his watch.

  “Yes, now. It works for me.”

  “Unfortunately it doesn’t for me.”

  “I thought maybe we might have dinner,” Jack pressed in an exasperated tone. “I have some info on Buck Butler. You need to hear it.”

  “Sorry, but I have other plans.” He didn’t, at least not confirmed ones. But he had hopes and didn’t want to make another commitment until he knew. Yet he didn’t want to appear uninterested when it came to his attention-grabbing opponent who had apparently taken his gloves off and was about to come out fighting.

  “Can’t cancel them, huh?” Jack asked.

  “What about dinner tomorrow night?”

  “I can live with that.” He paused. “Has Irene told you about Butler taking a jab at you at the Lion’s Club luncheon?”

  “Yeah, she told me.”

  “I hope you plan to respond in like fashion.”

  “We’ll talk about that, too.”

  An expletive forced Tanner to hold the receiver away from his ear.

  “That’s what I’m afraid of,” Jack expounded. “I don’t want you to talk. I want you to counterpunch, to knock his dick in the dirt, starting with the new TV ads.”

  “Later, Jack.”

  “Dammit, Tanner, don’t you hang up on me.”

  Tanner did just that and with a clear conscience, too. As much as he owed Jack and as much as he admired him, he wouldn’t be pushed into steering his campaign in a direction he didn’t feel comfortable with, even if the campaign was leaping toward the finish line.

  With his lips stretched in a thin line, he peered at his watch again. What he was about to do was a foolhardy stunt, but he was going to do it anyway. He wanted to see her. And that desire was unrelated to business. All the more reason why he should heed his gut instinct and stay there and work on his next speech.

  That was tempting, only not nearly as tempting as having dinner with Kasey. Now, all he had to do was convince her. Not an easy task, he told himself, grabbing his sports coat and walking out.

  When he stood at the door of her apartment a few minutes later, he noticed he was perspiring more than usual. Funny thing, the humidity wasn’t as high as normal. Actually the evening was quite pleasant, the sky clear and star-studded, the breeze balmy. What did that say about him?

  That he was insecure when it came to her, which made him feel like an idiot. Still, he wanted to make sure she wasn’t still pissed at him. At least that gave him some justification for being here, lame though it was.

  After running his palms down the sides of his slacks, he pressed the doorbell.

  “It’s Tanner,” he said in response to her inquiry.

  Seconds later, the door opened and he was staring at her in silence. Her cheeks seemed paler than usual, he noted, and her blue eyes darker. Also, her dainty features had a strained look like something had agitated her.

  Him probably.

  “Mind if I come in?”

  She hesitated, then stepped back. Once he was inside, he paused and looked around. The large living area was cool yet its decor had an inviting warmth that was so feminine. So her.

  “Nice place.”

  “Thanks,” she murmured.

  “Am I intruding?” he asked, noticing she still clung to the doorknob.

  “Would it matter if you were?”

  Blood rushed into his face. “I’d be lying if I said yes.”

  “Why did you come?”

  “To invite you to dinner.”

  “I’m not hungry.”

  “Why did I know you’d say that?”

  They looked at each other again, then both shifted their gazes at the same time.

  “Are you okay?”

  “Am I that transparent?” she asked on a husky note.

  Uneasiness shot through him. “Are you still pissed at me?”

  “Should I be?”

  “Absolutely not.”

  That old twinkle suddenly reappeared in her eyes. “Actually it’s my paranoia. It’s working overtime.”

  “How so?”

  She explained about her scare.

  “I bet you gave the stray some milk,” he said with a lopsided grin.

  She grinned back. “I thought about it, but I was afraid he was too wild.”

  He didn’t respond for a moment, trying to recover from the impact that grin had on him. Good thing he had his hands in his pockets and his jacket on or she would be able to see the sudden bulge in his slacks. Hoping to distract her, he rubbed the back of his neck with his hand.

  “You shouldn’t be here, you know?”

  His stomach tightened. “Then let’s go out.”

  “I don’t think that’s a good idea, either.” She paused. “Unless it pertains to business.”

  “It doesn’t,” he admitted bluntly.

  Her eyes widened.

  “Okay, I just wanted to see you away from the office. Is that honest enough?”

  It was obvious that she was at war with herself and him. Who would win was anyone’s guess.

  “I don’t want to go out,” she said, a slight quiver in her voice.

  “So what do you suggest?” He tried hard to hold his eagerness in check, fearing it was premature.

  “I’ll just make something here.”

  With that, she turned and headed toward the kitchen. Yet he was powerless to follow. His limbs wouldn’t cooperate. First, he was too weak with relief. Second, he was too mesmerized by the way her hips filled out her pants to perfection.

  He was playing a very dangerous game, yet he couldn’t seem to stop himself. For the moment, he was willing to let the chips fall where they may.

  Apparently, so was she.

  Thirteen

  So she had listened to her heart instead of her head.

  When Tanner had admitted his invitation was personal, she had been struck dumb. By the time she’d found her voice, it was too late. He had already crossed the threshold, and she’d been powerless to deny him.

  Deny herself.

  Now, as she faced him across the small breakfast room table, she looked on in amazement as he finished devouring the chicken salad sandwich, chips and pickles she’d heaped on his plate. In addition, he’d had three glas
ses of her almond tea.

  In between, he had entertained her with humorous happenings on the campaign trail. A time or two he’d even had her laughing outright. Only when she’d feel his intent gaze on her would she be on shaky ground.

  By lowering her guard around him, she was treading on the thinnest of ice. Yet she was in no hurry to boot him out.

  “Man, that was good.”

  He pushed back from the table and straightened out his long legs as though trying to get more comfortable. Settle in. God forbid. Still, she couldn’t muster the courage to demand that he leave even though the sexual aura surrounding them continued to work on her psyche. She was hard-pressed to keep her gaze off him, and that was a problem.

  “It was just plain chicken salad,” she finally responded in a weak voice.

  “Well, it hit the spot. Actually it tasted better than a filet.”

  She arched her eyebrows at that. “I doubt that, but I’m glad you enjoyed it.”

  “You happen to have a to-go box?”

  Her eyebrows went a little higher and a smile flirted with her lips. “You’re kidding, right?”

  He chuckled. “Yeah. I’m so used to eating fast food my body would probably rebel at having two decent meals in a row.”

  “Fast food is a bad habit to get into.”

  “Some days I’m lucky to get anything.”

  “That’s not good, either.”

  “Are you volunteering to feed me, by chance?” His lips twitched.

  “Not hardly,” she said tersely even though she knew he was teasing her.

  “Didn’t think so,” he drawled.

  Kasey rose. “I’ll make some coffee and bring it into the living room.” She had hopes that he would say he had to go, but he didn’t. Instead he got to his feet and began cleaning off the table.

  “That’s not necessary. I’ll do it later.”

  “Nope. You cooked, I’ll clean.”

  “I didn’t cook.”

  “Well, you know what I mean.”

  “Tanner.”

  “Kasey.”

  They stared at each other—two unmovable objects.