Pulse Points

by Mary Lynn Baxter

  This morning in her office those thoughts were still with her. She had made love to him. Again. As an adult. But she had known what she was doing. She’d had a choice and she’d made it. And she had given back as good as she’d gotten, she reminded herself, feeling her body suffuse with heat.

  So what now? She had to see him, and she couldn’t pretend they hadn’t made love. She just hoped she had enough willpower not to let her guard down again, not to fall susceptible to his lethal brand of charm.

  He was not for her. She had to keep telling herself that. Tanner was a problem she didn’t need. Already she felt overwhelmed by the load she was carrying. Dealing with her own financial woes and struggling to make the agency solvent in the face of a threatened lawsuit should have been more than enough to keep her mind occupied.

  If not, there was Shirley’s unsolved murder which left a killer running the streets scot-free. Despite her brave facade, the episode in the grocery had proven how vulnerable she was.

  And Brock. She couldn’t forget about her son. She was determined to see to his physical and emotional needs. He was the love of her life and her top priority.

  Thinking about her son and what was at stake brought Kasey sharply back to reality and back on target.

  Her cell phone rang. Glad of the interruption, Kasey reached in her purse, sure her caller would be Brock. Without bothering to check caller ID, she answered it.

  “Morning.”

  Her breath faltered. “Good morning to you.”

  “Two things,” Tanner said.

  “All right.” Kasey sat down, fighting off the weakness invading her system.

  “Any more scares from strangers stalking you?”

  “No, but then I haven’t been back to the store.”

  He chuckled, which served to lighten the building tension. “Good.” Then his voice sobered. “I don’t think it’s a good idea for you to be alone.”

  “Thanks for your concern,” she responded in a light tone, “but I’m okay. My imagination is my own worst enemy, I’m sure.”

  “I hope you’re right. But I still worry.”

  “Don’t,” she said, clearing her voice.

  There was a long silence.

  “By the way, thanks,” she finally managed to say.

  “For what?”

  She figured he was being deliberately obtuse, but she indulged him nonetheless. “Recommending the agency to your friend.”

  “Ah, so Bob made it by.”

  “And hired us.”

  “He won’t be sorry.”

  That compliment pleased her. “We’ll do our best.”

  “So where are you?”

  “At the office.”

  “On Saturday?”

  “Where are you?” she asked pointedly.

  “At the campaign office.”

  This time she laughed. “So—”

  “So all work and no play makes us dull.”

  “Dull works for me,” Kasey responded a trifle breathlessly while trying to heed the warning bells going off in her head.

  “I don’t believe that for a second.”

  “You said there were two things.” She purposely changed the subject.

  “Right. I have to go to a carnival. I want you to go with me.”

  Kasey was glad she was already sitting down. “No can do. I have to work.”

  “Come on, surely you can take a little time off.”

  “I’m in the middle of designing your billboards.”

  “We’ll work on them together. Later.”

  Kasey stalled. “Why are you going to a carnival?”

  “Actually, it’s a fair. I’m one of the featured speakers at a rally there.”

  “I see.”

  “So is that a yes?”

  “You drive a hard bargain.”

  “I’ll pick you up shortly.”

  “Tanner, I didn’t say I’d go.” Kasey didn’t bother to curb her frustration.

  “Sure you did.”

  With that he hung up, leaving her staring at the phone.

  Despite the pressing heat, it was a gorgeous day. It had rained last evening which seemed to have cleansed the earth. Everything looked fresh and smelled clean. The sun, in all its glory, had obliterated the clouds. Trying not to frown against the strong rays through her shades, Kasey fanned herself and looked around.

  The fairgrounds were teeming with people scurrying about. Children were having a ball, especially on the rides. A whiff of tantalizing popcorn drifted past Kasey’s nose. She inhaled, then focused her attention back on the podium where Tanner was finishing his short speech.

  He’d told her that his scheduled appearance was supposed to be short and to the point and promised she wouldn’t be bored. She had almost laughed. Bored was something she wasn’t with Tanner. He was much too dynamic and controversial for that.

  And much too attractive.

  Just looking at him was a treat. He was dressed in a short-sleeved sport shirt and casual slacks. His bronzed skin glistened with sweat under the boiling sun adding to that attractiveness. The wind had played havoc with his hair, which also worked in his favor.

  Like the first rally Kasey had attended, the boisterous crowd gathered in front of him was eating out of his hand. But then she was guilty of the same thing, much to her shame and chagrin. Still, she wasn’t sorry she’d given in and come with him. Surprisingly, the tension had been bearable even in the close confines of the car.

  For the most part, they had kept the conversation on an impersonal level. They had talked at length about the potentially damaging news article about the incident at the building site and how it might affect his campaign.

  “Surely you don’t hold yourself responsible,” she said early on in the discussion.

  “You’re damn right I do.”

  “That’s crazy. Even if you had been there, the same thing would’ve happened.”

  “You’re wrong. They know better than to pull that kind of shit with me.”

  “But you can’t be in two places at one time.”

  “And that’s my problem. I need to be on the job site and I need to be on the campaign trail.” He shrugged. “So what do you do?”

  “That’s where choices come in.”

  He took his eyes off the road and gave her a look that upped her heart rate. “Like the one you made this morning.”

  She swallowed, then nodded.

  “I’m glad.” His tone was low and husky. “I’ve missed you these past few days.”

  “I’ve missed you, too,” she said, folding her hands tightly in her lap. “But that doesn’t mean I’m going to do anything about it.”

  He blew out a harsh breath, focusing once more on the road ahead. “I’m not going to stop trying to change your mind.”

  “You’re wasting your time.”

  “No commitments, huh?” She heard the bitter edge in his voice.

  “That’s right. That’s the way I like it.” Her tone sounded almost flippant, but that was the only way she could cope, especially since she was trapped in the vehicle with him and could think only of touching him.

  “You drive a hard bargain, Kasey Ellis.”

  “So I’m told.”

  Tanner laughed, which once again snapped the tension crackling between them. “So are you game to ride any rides?”

  “You’ve got to be kidding.”

  “Which means no.”

  “I’m a ’fraidy cat. I’ll admit it.”

  “I don’t believe that for a minute.”

  “Okay, it turns my tummy upside down.”

  “That I believe.”

  She shuddered. “I wouldn’t even ride those creaky things with Brock.”

  Mentioning her son made her realize how off track the conversation had veered. She had stiffened visibly, a gesture he’d apparently picked up on because he hadn’t said anything else the rest of the way.

  Now, as she watched him step off the podium and make his way toward her, she tried not
to react. But she couldn’t help herself. Passion raged inside her. The thought of making love to him was uppermost in her mind, and no matter how hard she tried to delete that image, she couldn’t.

  Would she ever regain peace of mind as she once knew it?

  “A penny.”

  At the sound of his rich voice, she whirled around, thinking she probably looked like a deer caught in headlights.

  If he thought so, he didn’t react. Instead he asked, “Are you sweltering?”

  “Pretty much.”

  Tanner’s eyes perused her. “You don’t look like it.”

  She turned away, not trusting herself to meet his gaze for fear it would mirror her own. “I sweat quietly,” she told him inanely.

  He pitched his head back and laughed. “I’ll have to remember that.”

  “The truth is I’m dressed for the occasion, which is dumb luck since I didn’t know I would be going to a carnival.”

  Thinking she would be working in the empty office all day, she had put on a pair of capri pants, matching knit top and sandals. The one thing she hadn’t done was apply sunblock to her sensitive skin. She crossed her fingers she wouldn’t burn.

  “I hope you weren’t too bored.”

  “With all these weird people to watch, no way.”

  “So you weren’t listening to my speech.”

  “Sort of.”

  His lips twitched. “Well at least you’re honest.”

  “You asked.”

  They had walked several yards when a man’s booming voice called out, “Hey, Hart, wait up.”

  Tanner froze visibly then muttered a curse. They swung around and faced a short, stout man with beady eyes. “Hello, Butler.”

  Now she knew why Tanner’s reaction had been so negative. Still, it was Tanner who first extended his hand.

  “Who’s your friend?”

  “Kasey Ellis meet Buck Butler,” Tanner said in a polite but cool tone.

  She didn’t blame Tanner for his reaction. In her estimation, when it came to sizing up character he was on target. She didn’t like the man, either, especially after he held her hand a tad longer than necessary, a move that didn’t escape Tanner, not if his grimace was anything to judge by.

  “Heard your speech,” Butler said.

  “I saw you in the crowd.”

  Butler wiped his brow. “Not bad.”

  “I’m glad you approved.”

  Kasey noticed Tanner made no effort to hide his sarcasm which wasn’t lost on Butler.

  His large features tightened. “Too bad about the article in the morning paper.”

  Tanner didn’t bother to reply, which Kasey thought was rather wise on his part. Butler smelled blood and was out for more.

  “No comment, huh?” Butler had a smirk on his lips.

  “No comment.”

  “Maybe you’ll comment on this,” Butler hammered. “I was wondering if you’re up to debating me.”

  Tanner snorted. “Now why would I want to do that? You’re the one who’s sputtering at the finish line.”

  Butler’s features twisted. “You’ll pay for that remark, Hart, at the polls.”

  “Good luck, Butler.”

  Kasey felt Tanner’s hand surround her elbow, urging her past his opponent. Once they were out of earshot, she turned toward him. “Nice fellow.”

  “If I had a choice between picking shit with chickens and being around Butler, I’d choose the chickens.”

  Twenty-Three

  “You’re really not going to debate him?”

  “Not on your life.”

  Kasey didn’t say anything.

  “I take it you don’t approve?”

  They had returned to her office and his latest ads were strewn about the worktable. For a while now they had been discussing the pluses and the minuses, though Tanner found it hard to concentrate on anything other than Kasey who was much too close for comfort.

  “I didn’t say that,” she replied, crossing to the fridge on the other side of the room. “Would you care for something to drink? I’m sorry I didn’t offer sooner.”

  “Only if it’s beer.”

  She cocked her head. “No beer, not here at the office.”

  “I knew better.” He smiled with a shrug. “Thought I’d ask, anyway.”

  “How ’bout a Coke?”

  He made a face. “Do I have to?”

  “Not if it’s that painful. But it won’t rust your pipes or anything as serious as that.”

  His smile widened. “You sure about that?”

  Becoming flushed at his teasing, she turned her back, exposing her delectable derriere.

  It was all he could do not to grab her from behind, whirl her around and kiss her. She looked too damn sassy and adorable for him to keep his hands to himself, though he sensed she had no clue how she affected him. The fact that she didn’t realize just how sexy she was made for a real turn-on.

  What she had on didn’t help any. Her outfit was designed to tease a man, especially the pink top that molded her tiny waist and hugged her breasts so that her nipples were visible even through her bra.

  All afternoon those nipples tantalized him, made his mouth water to put his lips on them and suck them, something he’d taken delight in doing during their marathon night of lovemaking.

  So far he’d managed to keep his lascivious thoughts and libido in check. His instincts told him that while she might not be sorry they had made love, she wasn’t ready for a repeat performance. Hell, she’d said as much. Since he’d been given the unexpected gift of her company the entire afternoon, he wasn’t about to blow it now.

  He would just bide his time and slowly chip away at her armor. He didn’t know how he felt about her—hadn’t looked that deeply inside himself—but what he did know was that he wanted to be with her, didn’t like it when she was out of his sight.

  “You don’t like the billboard ideas, do you?”

  Realizing she had taken his silence as criticism, he jerked his head up. “What makes you think that?”

  “Because you’re so quiet.”

  “I was giving them the once-over,” he said in a lame tone, uncomfortable that his mind was on her rather than on business.

  She gave him a disbelieving look, then held out a can to him. “Here’s your drink.”

  He took it and guzzled some of it down. Then he looked at her with his features contorted. “God, this stuff is worse than I remembered.”

  “It’s much better for you than beer,” she said primly, though her eyes were twinkling.

  “You love punishing me, don’t you?”

  Their eyes met for a long second. Sexual tension leaped between them, heating his blood. As if sensing their teasing was getting out of hand, she looked down and concentrated on the layouts.

  “What you and your staff have done with the billboards is really good.”

  He watched her visibly sag with relief before she raised her head. “Thanks. We’ve been working hard.”

  “It shows. Now we have to get them up.”

  “That’s taken care of. The company’s coming Monday. Your face and platform will be splattered all over your district.”

  “Can’t get too much of a good thing,” he said in a glib tone, hoping to relieve some of the tension inside him. Man, but he was uptight. No, he was damn horny and couldn’t do anything about it.

  “After meeting your opponent today, I’m convinced you’ll unseat him.”

  Tanner raised his eyebrows. “While that’s music to my ears, he’s not going to lay down and die.”

  “You’re right about that. When he looked at you, his eyes were shooting daggers.”

  “I’m sure I returned the favor. When he held on to your hand longer than necessary, he came close to landing on his ass.”

  Kasey’s lips parted, and her eyes widened in surprise. “That wouldn’t have been smart,” she said huskily.

  “I know, but sometimes I don’t do smart.”

  “He’s a jerk.
I sensed that right off.”

  “A jerk who could kick my butt in the polls, especially after that article hit the paper.”

  “I’ve always heard that bad publicity is better than no publicity at all.”

  “That’s a dicey call. All it takes is one fluky thing and your constituents can turn on you. For some unknown reason, that Greer woman is determined to go for my jugular and feed the fire.”

  Kasey’s features grew pensive. “Maybe she and Butler are in bed together.”

  He narrowed his eyes on her. “Literally or figuratively?”

  “Maybe both.” Kasey lifted her slender shoulders. “It happens, right?”

  “Every day. But don’t worry. What he does has no bearing on me. I’m not about to give in or give up. I’m in this for the long haul and determined to win.”

  “Then I hope you do,” she said, shuffling through some papers.

  He watched her dainty hands for a long moment, then turned the subject off him. “What about your situation?”

  Kasey’s hands stilled. “Which one are you referring to?”

  “The cousin who wants the agency?”

  A shadow fell across her face. “As far as I know, he still plans to take me to court.”

  “If I can help—”

  She cut him off. “Thanks, but no thanks.”

  Her abrupt brush-off rankled. Maybe it was because he wanted to be more to her than a great one-night stand. If her strained features were anything to go by, he wasn’t.

  “You’re much too hardheaded for your own good.”

  Kasey stiffened. “How would you know?”

  “You’re right, I don’t.” His reply was short.

  A heavy silence fell over the room during which he finished his Coke, more for something to occupy his hands than anything else. Again, it was all he could do not to grab her and kiss her until she melted against him.

  Get a grip, Hart. She was right to keep him at arm’s length. The last thing he needed was a serious affair. The timing was poor and the priority not there. She apparently had enough sense to figure that out. But then, he was thinking with his dick and not his head.

  “If there are no changes in the billboards, then—” Kasey’s voice trailed off, adding to the awkwardness of the moment.