Free IMPULSE: Companion to The PULSE Series by Deborah Bladon Page A

me the knowledge that she was talking to a man she once shared a bed with. "That's why you should have told me right away," I press. "I could have blown my lid back in Connecticut. I would have helped you when he showed up here."
    "I didn't need help." She stares at my lips. "I needed to handle it myself."
    I nod in understanding. I want to press her about why she skipped work and what was so important that he had to travel all the way from Connecticut to see her. The questions are all sitting there, in queue, waiting for me to ask them. I can't right now. All I can do is accept what she's told me. Pushing her more now won't get me any closer to what I want. I want this woman to be my wife and if that means accepting that she has a few skeletons in her closet, I'll do it. I have to. I can't live without her.
     

Chapter 13
     
    "Mr. Moore, unless you get me some results soon, I'm going to have to find another attorney."
    Threats aren't my thing. Correction. They are my thing if I'm threatening Jessica with the promise of a mind blowing orgasm. Technically, you might argue that it's not a threat at all. I know, for certain, she'd argue that it's not a threat. I need to make her come. I'm going to stop by the restaurant tonight to whisper sweet nothings all about fucking in her ear.
    "Are you even listening to me, Mr. Moore?" His voice breaks through my fantasy of licking Jessica's beautiful, round tits.
    "Mr. Wilkinson." I try to focus on his face. It's jarring after the gorgeous images that were just dancing in my head.
    He taps his cane against the carpeted floor and it does little for effect. The sound is muffled. "I can find someone else to help me if you aren't willing."
    He can't. He may think he can but the contract I had him sign is air tight. He's not going anywhere whether he realizes it or not. "There's no need for that," I offer in a half ass genuine tone. The man had been chasing me down almost every hour upon the hour for the last two days. I've had my secretary soak up much of his ill placed attitude. He's frustrated with the limited progress I've been making on his case. I can't blame him. It's slow going but I'm getting somewhere and with a little patience, he may just see at least some of his money back in his hands within the next year or two.
    "I'll have more to report at the end of the week." I stand, indicating that the meeting is now adjourned.
    Mr. Wilkinson doesn't move at all. "We're not done."
    "We're done." I nod. "The more time we spend chatting, sir, the less time I have to work on your case." I just pulled that out of thin air. I'm impressed.
    "Good point." He teeters helplessly in the air for a brief moment as he pulls himself to his feet.
    I walk around my desk to offer a hand but he swats it away. I don’t take offense. The man is proud. I've sensed that the first moment he walked into my office. "I'll call you on Thursday," I say as I open the door and watch him walk through.
    "You're Moore?" An unfamiliar voice from the left pulls my gaze away from Mr. Wilkinson at the bank of elevators.
    I tilt my head to the left. My hands immediately jump into the pockets of my pants. If I let them roam free one of them is going to connect with his face. It's him. Governor Thomas Lane is standing less than two feet away from me.
     
    ***
     
    "I thought you left town." I don't motion for him to sit. I don't care if he stands. I just want the bastard out of my office and my girlfriend's life as soon as possible.
    "Jessie told you that?" The name is remote and ill-suited to her. I've never viewed her as anyone but Jessica. Jessie is the person she was back in Connecticut. I've heard countless other people call her Jess or Jessie. I've always struggled to connect with that.
    "Jessica told me she asked you to leave her alone," I say in an even tone. "Why the fuck are you still here?"
    He chuckles. I stare at him as he finally lowers himself into the chair Mr. Wilkinson was just sitting in. I can see why