Pulse Points

by Mary Lynn Baxter

“I heard,” she murmured, barely keeping her fury in check.

  “What did you have in mind, Mr. Hart?” Brock asked, excitement spilling from his voice.

  “I need someone who’s good on computers. Do you qualify?”

  “You bet,” Brock responded eagerly. “Computer Science is my major.”

  “Then you’re the man I need.”

  Kasey cut in, “Don’t I have a say in this?”

  Both men stared at her as though she’d just hailed from Mars, which heightened her fear and irritation.

  “Of course, Mom. But what is there to say but yes? I need a job and Mr. Hart just offered me one.”

  She’d had no suitable comeback for such logic. So in order not to make a complete fool out of herself, she hadn’t said anything more. But that didn’t stop her resentment from festering.

  Tanner should’ve kept his mouth shut. More to the point, he shouldn’t have invited them to dinner which would have negated this conversation altogether.

  But since that hadn’t happened, she had to try and salvage what she could out of last evening’s disaster.

  “Mom, I don’t understand what’s wrong. You’re working with Mr. Hart. Why are you suddenly acting like he’s got something contagious?”

  Kasey shook her head to clear it. “That’s ridiculous.”

  “No, it isn’t. I’m going to be making more money than on the construction site, plus gain the experience. How can that not be a deal?”

  “All right, Brock. If that’s what you want, I’ll accept it.”

  He scratched his head. “I just wish I knew why you’re so mad at me.”

  “I’m not mad at you. What do you say we don’t talk about this anymore?”

  “Okay, let’s talk about Nancy.” Brock frowned. “Or is that another sore subject?”

  Kasey forced a smile. “Of course not. I want to hear all about her.”

  “I’m in love, Mom. What do you think about that?”

  I think it’s awful and my heart is breaking in another place.

  Kasey forced a smile. “I think it’s time I met this young lady.”

  Twenty-Five

  Tanner sensed Kasey was angry. Correct that. He knew she was angry. Somehow he had to try to patch things between them. But how? He’d thought about just showing up at the agency or the apartment like he’d often done. The agency he could justify, but her apartment was a harder call.

  He let go of a deep sigh as he lay in bed and stared at the ceiling. Despite the early hour, he should be up and dressed. His agenda for the day was full and running over. In fact, he didn’t know how he was going to be in ten places at once.

  Irene kept him booked too closely. He felt like he was running nonstop on a treadmill. However, he intended to take time out of his busy schedule and work with Brock. Though he had others to whom he could delegate that chore, he wanted to do it himself. Irene could just have a hissy fit. He didn’t care.

  Kasey, however, was a different matter. It bothered him that she was miffed. But he thought he’d come up with the perfect solution to a suddenly bad situation. And while he was sincere when he’d told Brock he needed someone to manage his Web site, he would’ve never thought about the kid until the loss of his job.

  And Brock had been so excited, which had made him feel like he’d done something worthwhile. Too, he was actually looking forward to working with him. What a great kid. What a great job Kasey and Mark had done with him.

  If only he’d…

  Tanner swore, then got up and sat on the side of the bed only to have the room spin. Bending over he rubbed his head, hating himself for tying one on as he’d done last evening. But he was lonely and frustrated. For him that was a deadly combination.

  It had been two days since he’d had dinner with Kasey and Brock. When they had parted, he had told Brock he’d be in touch.

  So far, he hadn’t found the courage.

  Tanner’s lips twisted into a sneer. Since when was he afraid of anything? Not since he’d been shuffled in and out of foster care and beaten when he hadn’t towed the line. He’d learned at an early age that fear was something you never showed for it gave others power over you.

  He’d lived by that creed until now.

  How had things suddenly gotten so complicated, so out of control? He’d had his life all mapped out. He was so close to obtaining respect and status on his own merit. Not because of who he had been married to or the amount of money he had, either. Dedication and hard work had made him who he was today.

  His company was booming. And now he had a chance to become a part of the Texas senate where he could really make a difference. From there was anyone’s guess. The sky appeared to be the limit.

  He had no attachments, no one he need be overly concerned about other than himself. Simple, right?

  Yeah. Then Kasey came back into his life. That was when he began to fall apart emotionally.

  “Damn,” Tanner muttered, rubbing the back of his tight neck.

  How much longer was he going to sit there and wallow in self-pity? Maybe all day. Had he fallen in love with her? Was that why his guts were tied in knots?

  If that were the case, then he was screwed. While Kasey might have enjoyed making love to him, he could guarantee that was as far as she’d let herself go. She was a textbook case. Guilt kept her attached to the past, and unless she got past that, then a future between them was hopeless.

  Yet he ached for her. Not just for sex, either. All right, he admitted, he did crave her that way. Right now he was hard as a brick bat just thinking about her and how responsive she’d been to him, how she’d used her lips and hands to…

  “Ah, to hell with this.” Tanner bounded off the bed and traipsed naked to the shower. Even the blast of cold water failed to temper the heat roiling inside him. The only thing that would appease that was having Kasey join him.

  The erotic thought of soaping her, then backing her against the shower wall and taking her there, sent his blood pressure soaring and hardened his dick even more.

  Giving in to the weakness invading his limbs, he leaned against the stall himself, closed his eyes and let the water pound him.

  “I’m so glad to see you, Ginger. You’re like a ray of sunshine.”

  They parted after giving each other a brief hug.

  “I’m glad to see you, too, kid.” Ginger’s eyes sobered. “Though I have to say, you’re no ray of sunshine.”

  Kasey laughed and it felt good.

  “I didn’t mean that the way it sounded, of course,” Ginger clarified in a mollified tone.

  “Yes, you did, and that’s all right because it’s the truth.”

  Kasey had managed to lure Ginger away from her job long enough for them to meet for a quick cup of coffee at their favorite haunt. After the previous night’s cleansing rain, the humidity was low enough that they could sit comfortably in the courtyard.

  “I’m so glad you called,” Ginger said, after blowing on her large cup of mocha supreme covered in whipped cream. “I was about to pick up the phone and buzz you.”

  “Something must’ve been on your mind because you never call me anymore.”

  “I know, and I’m sorry. Jerk face is driving me nuts.”

  “Matt’s not willing to budge, huh?”

  “Nope. He doesn’t want a divorce and is doing everything in his power to stop it.”

  “Well, just tell me when the contested hearing date is and I’ll be there.”

  “Good. I’m going to need all the support I can get.” Ginger paused. “But what I really wanted to tell you is that Matt’s spouting off about the election. He’s claiming that Butler’s assured of a win. Does he know something on Hart that’s so damaging, it could be a knockout punch?”

  “I have no idea,” Kasey said, “though I hope not. I’ve worked too hard on Tanner’s advertising for him to get beat by that pompous you-know-what.”

  “So you’ve met the asshole?”

  “That I have.”

&nbs
p; “Now you know why Matt fits in their camp so well.” Ginger’s tone was bitter.

  “Tanner’s trying to stick to the issues.”

  “Well, he can forget that. Rest assured Butler’s peeing up one leg and down another because of the change in the polls. He’s in for a fight he hadn’t counted on. He’s not about to stand still for that.”

  “So get ready for a real mudbath, huh?”

  Ginger made a face. “More like a bloodbath, I’d say.”

  “Thanks for the warning. I’ll tell Tanner.”

  There was a short silence while they sipped on their coffee and munched on their croissants.

  “So what’s going on with you?” Ginger asked. “You look like you’re run ragged.”

  “I am, though Brock came home and lifted my spirits.”

  “You sure about that?”

  “Well, he lost his job, and he declares he’s in love.”

  “Ouch.”

  “The job problem is solved, or so I think.”

  Kasey told her about Tanner’s offer, though she was careful to keep her voice devoid of any emotion. But that was hard. When she thought about the two of them working together, even from afar, she nearly lost her mind.

  “Kudos to one and persimmons to the other.”

  Kasey laughed, then sobered. “What can I do about Brock and Nancy? I can’t bear the thought of them—”

  “Getting it on?”

  Kasey gulped. “Yes.”

  “Well face it, honey. That’s probably happening even as we speak.”

  Kasey felt the color drain from her face. “But he’s just a child. He’s my baby.”

  “Not anymore. He’s nineteen and horny.”

  “Oh, God, Ginger, I can’t stand it.”

  “Sure you can. He’s a good kid, a responsible kid, which means he’s probably taking precautions.”

  “Maybe I should find that out.”

  “If he were my kid, I know I would.”

  “I knew I needed to talk to you. I already feel better.”

  “So what’s new with the agency? Is that Parker guy still after it?”

  “As far as I know.”

  “Well fuck,” Ginger exclaimed.

  Kasey laughed.

  “And Shirley’s murder?” Ginger asked.

  “Nothing new, or at least not that I know of. I haven’t even seen or heard from Detective Gallain in several days.”

  “I wish they’d hurry up and catch that son of a bitch.”

  “I can’t bear to think about it, so I don’t.”

  “I’m glad you have Hart and his campaign to keep your mind occupied. He’s a blessing in disguise.”

  Suddenly Kasey longed to confide in her friend about her personal involvement with Tanner, how she’d lost her head and let him make love to her. But she couldn’t because she couldn’t justify to Ginger why that wasn’t smart, why she could never have a serious relationship with Tanner.

  “What’s eating you?”

  Kasey felt color sting her cheeks. “Nothing.”

  “And you’re a liar,” Ginger whispered, leaning forward. Then her eyes widened. “Have you and Hart taken a liking to each other? After all, you’re in each other’s pockets. And he’s helping out your kid. Now that I think about it, stands to reason there’s some heavy duty hanky-panky going on.”

  Kasey’s jaw went slack. Ginger was much more intuitive than she’d ever guessed.

  “Great day in the morning.” Ginger practically whooped. “Why, you’re actually getting a little.”

  “I’m going to kill you,” Kasey spat, trying desperately to cover up her stupidity.

  “Oh, give it a rest, honey. Like I’ve told you before, you’re single and over twenty-one.”

  “Do you mind if we talk about something else?”

  “You could do worse, you know? Tanner Hart’s going somewhere. There’s no reason why you can’t hitch onto that wagon and go right along with him.”

  Kasey ignored her and peered at her watch instead. “Don’t you have to go?”

  Ginger stood with a warm chuckle. “All right, I’ll let you off the hook for the sake of our friendship. But for God’s sake, lighten up.”

  Lighten up.

  If Ginger only knew how much she had lightened up, she wouldn’t have said that, Kasey told herself, fighting back the rising hysteria as she made her way into the agency.

  It was paramount she calm down. Her job with Tanner wasn’t finished yet. Until it was, she had to conduct herself with detached professionalism. Once the election was over, she wouldn’t have to deal with him again. As far as Brock was concerned… Kasey stopped her mind from going down that path. She couldn’t cope with anything else right now.

  The agency was a beehive of activity. For that she was glad. She had plenty of work to keep her busy, especially in light of the new client. Too, Don Hornsby’s aggressive sales methods had brought in more business.

  The object of her thoughts was coming out of the workroom just as she was heading towards her office. “Morning, Don. I was just thinking about you.”

  He paused midstride and stared at her. Yet he wasn’t seeing her, Kasey thought, then felt like an idiot. Of course, he was seeing her. His gaze was steady on her. Still, there was something wrong, though she couldn’t quite nail it down in her mind. He looked different. Sort of spaced out.

  She voiced her thoughts. “Are you okay?”

  “Uh, I’m fine,” he said, clearing his throat. “It’s my sister. She’s going through a tough time.”

  “Do you need some time off?”

  “No, but thanks.” He fidgeted from one foot to the other.

  “By the way, I want to thank you for getting out and pounding the pavement and bringing us those new clients. With your eye for design as well as your marketing ability, you’ve become a real asset to the firm.”

  “Thanks. I appreciate you telling me that.”

  Since he seemed in a hurry to end the conversation, Kasey told him she’d see him later and walked into her office only to pull up short.

  Irene Sullivan rose from Kasey’s visitor chair. “I hope you don’t mind the intrusion. But I thought it was past time you and I had a little talk.”

  Twenty-Six

  “Hey, Mom, you still mad at me?”

  “I was never mad at you, son, only—” Kasey’s voice faltered as she eased into her desk chair at the office. She hadn’t been at work too long when Brock called. He was back in Waco, and she missed him terribly. Would that ever change?

  “You acted mad,” Brock went on. “Real mad. And you never told me why.”

  “Maybe it’s because I don’t know,” Kasey admitted with pained reluctance.

  “Well, anyhow, what I’m doing is really neat.”

  “Ah, so you’ve already started.”

  “Yeah. Tanner—”

  “Tanner?” Kasey didn’t bother to hide her shock and dismay. “Don’t you mean Mr. Hart?”

  “He’s the one who told me to call him Tanner,” Brock said, a defensive note in his voice.

  Kasey wanted to scream. “You were saying?”

  “That we’ve talked a lot on the phone and I’ve been online since.” Brock paused. “I just hope I’m doing what he wants.”

  “I’m sure you are,” Kasey said through tight lips.

  “I guess we’ll soon see. I’m about to do a test run, so keep your fingers crossed.” He paused again. “Even though you don’t approve.”

  “You sure know how to make me feel guilty.”

  “Aw, Mom, give me a break.”

  “I’m trying really hard.”

  “You know, Tanner likes you even if you don’t like him.”

  Kasey felt her heart turn a somersault. “Have you two been discussing me?”

  “Not really. He just told me what a great job you’ve done for him.”

  “That’s good,” she responded hastily, then changed the subject. “It was so good to see you. I don’t want you to wait t
hat long to come back home.”

  “I won’t, especially since I’m working for Tanner now.”

  Although that wasn’t what she’d had in mind, Kasey didn’t say anything. The key to surviving this latest crisis was to keep her mouth shut, smile and endure. The project would probably end when the football season started. That and Brock’s studies would keep him too busy to work for Tanner. Or so she prayed.

  “Mom, you still there?”

  “Of course.”

  “Look, I gotta go and get to work. I’ll talk to you soon.”

  “You be careful and I love you.”

  “Love you, too.”

  Once the receiver was back in place, Kasey rubbed her head, refusing to acknowledge that a headache was nibbling around the edges. Before it got out of hand, she reached in her desk and removed an over-the-counter medication. Once she’d swallowed a couple of the pills, she focused her attention on the designs in front of her. For once, she wasn’t working on Tanner’s campaign. Instead she was jotting down ideas for one of the agency’s new clients.

  After concentrating undisturbed for a while, Kasey got up, stretched her back muscles, then walked to the window. Another clear, sun-filled day greeted her. But she knew the beauty was deceiving. Outside, the heat and humidity were suffocating.

  A sigh filtered through her lips as she turned and made her way back to the project. Refocusing was hard, though, once her concentration had been broken. She felt fractured, at loose ends.

  Tanner was responsible for that. Every time her mind became idle, thoughts of him filled it, especially when she thought of him in context with Irene, his campaign manager.

  Even now, several days after the fact, Kasey still wasn’t sure what had precipitated that visit. She wondered if Tanner knew about it. Next time she saw him she planned to ask.

  She had invited Irene to sit down, of course, out of courtesy more than anything else. And curiosity, too, mainly because she’d sensed the woman didn’t like her when they’d met at the rally.

  “I guess you’re wondering why I’m here,” Irene had said without preamble.

  “I’m assuming it’s about Tanner’s ads.”