mean you haven’t been following my campaign?”
A glint in his eye had joined that grin, and she knew he was teasing her. Possibly even flirting. For a moment, she dropped her guard and took the bait, grinning back. She heard him release a gust of air when their gazes held for several beats.
“So are you interested in hearing what I’m about as a politician?”
Kasey spoke around her desert-dry mouth. “Now?”
“Why not?”
“Fine.”
“Are you going to ask me if I’m a Democrat or a Republican? Or is that something you happen to know?”
“Actually, I don’t.”
“I sure haven’t made an impression on you, have I?”
“Politics and politicians haven’t been high on my priority list.”
Tanner’s lethal grin appeared again, crinkling the skin at the corners of his intense brown eyes. “Please assure me that’s about to change.”
“Absolutely.”
He wiped his brow in a mocking gesture. “Whew, my faith is restored.”
Allowing this light banter to continue between them wasn’t wise. As it was, Kasey had already let it go too far. She was no match for him. In her vulnerable state she had to be careful, or she’d be snared again into that web of charm and self-assurance that was so him.
“So what made you decide to run for office?”
“In other words, why would I want to jump in a fishbowl?”
“Exactly. I can’t imagine living that kind of life.”
Tanner was quiet for a moment. “After the fact, I really think I can make a difference. But I never even thought about running for office until a friend, Jack Milstead, pitched the idea to me.” He paused with a shrug. “He was persuasive, and I needed a new challenge. The rest is history, as they say.”
“Rich and bored, huh?”
It was obvious she struck a nerve, for he stiffened visibly. “Is that your opinion of me?”
“I don’t have an opinion one way or the other.”
His lips relaxed and he cocked his head. “If you’re trying to piss me off because of another attack of cold feet, it won’t work. I’m not letting you off the hook.”
Kasey felt heat steal into her face. “So what are you passionate about? Those passions will determine how I map out the strategy.”
Tanner yanked at the knot on his tie until he worked it loose. “Ah, much better. Now we can get down to business.”
Kasey reached for a tablet, a pen poised above it. “I’m ready.”
“Here goes. I want higher pay for teachers—Texas ranks far too low on the pay scale to suit me. I’ve also devised a more efficient highway system for Texas that will alleviate the traffic problems in and around the major cities. I’m for tightening our borders in order to curb the drug traffic. And last but certainly not least, I intend to put an end to abuse of the elderly, especially in nursing homes. That gets my blood boiling like nothing else.”
“That’s quite an impressive list.”
“So you approve?”
“What’s not to approve, though it will take Super-man to accomplish them.”
He stared at her another long moment. “Maybe you should keep that thought in mind when you map out my advertising.”
In spite of herself, her lips twitched. “I might just do that.”
“Have any ideas jumped to mind?” he asked, grinning.
“Maybe.”
Her hedging wasn’t lost on him. “You’re not prepared to share, huh?”
“Not at this point. You’ll just have to trust me.”
“I do, or I wouldn’t have hired you. I think we’re going to make a good team.”
The room suddenly seemed too warm. Or was it the heat that infused her body under his intent gaze that seemed to peruse her body at leisure? Or was it that she was simply overreacting, reading much more into that look than was there? Regardless, she had to stop thinking about him in any way except that of a client.
Tanner, as a good-looking, available man, was off-limits.
“What about your opponent? I suspect as an incumbent, he’s formidable.”
“You got it,” Tanner countered, his jaws set.
For a few minutes Kasey listened and took notes on Tanner’s assessment of Butler, from his successes to his shortfalls.
“When do you think you’ll have some layouts ready?” he asked, changing the subject.
“Give me a few days. The staff will have returned, and maybe Detective Gallain will have come and gone.”
The mention of the detective’s name drew a frown from Tanner. “You won’t get rid of him that easy. Count on him being a pain in the ass. But that’s not a bad thing until Shirley’s murderer is in custody.”
Kasey rubbed her temple, then crossed her arms over her chest as if for protection. “I still can’t believe Shirley’s dead. It’s still like a bad dream.”
“I’m sure,” Tanner responded with grim under-tones. “Promise you won’t let it get you down.”
“I can’t. I have Brock and this agency to think about. They both need me.”
“And so do I. Don’t forget that.”
Kasey didn’t dare look at him for fear of what she’d see in his eyes. Even so, she was aware of him with every nerve—his big powerful body, how sharp he looked in his sports coat and slacks, the fresh smell of his cologne, the leashed passion in his every move.
“How ’bout I take you to dinner?”
Kasey jerked her head up, then licked her lips. “Uh, no, thanks. I need to get home.”
He looked like he wanted to argue, but didn’t. “No problem. Maybe another time.”
“Maybe,” she said in a hesitant voice.
His eyes swept over her once again before he turned and headed to the door. “I’ll be in touch,” he tossed over his shoulder.
Sweat saturated her body and her breathing was labored.
Kasey felt her heartbeat with every bounce of her running shoes as they slammed against the rubber on the treadmill. Once she and Tanner had concluded their business, she’d been a ball of nerves and her head ached.
Consequently she’d come straight home, changed into her workout clothes and climbed on the machine. She had considered running outside, but the churning clouds had looked so dark and stormy she opted to remain inside.
This grueling exercise session was a good thing. Both her mind and body needed relief. And exercising hard was soul-cleansing.
Even so, Kasey hadn’t completely rid herself of the demons raging inside her, most of which centered around Tanner Hart. She wasn’t sorry she’d taken him on as a client. She had come to terms with that. But she was nervous from both a professional and emotional standpoint.
She dreaded working in such close quarters with him. But in order to do the job and please him, she had no choice. However, she mustn’t treat him any different than she had countless others in his stead.
Only Tanner was different. He wasn’t just any client, and she’d best remember that. She couldn’t ever let her guard down around him. Cool