Beauty Queen (13 page)

When he reached the campaign offices, he strode quickly through the front door and almost collided with a desk someone had put there that all but consumed the little entry. On top of the desk were several stacks of hand-addressed envelopes, the handwriting flourished and cursive, and it struck him as a waste of free manpower a

simple keystroke would have produced labels in a fraction of someones time.

He stepped around the desk, made his way to the back, noticing the new additions to the walls (springlike things, along with some new, campaign banners Vote for Tom Masters for Lt. Governor, which, incidentally, looked like they had been finger-painted). He could hear several voices coming from the conference room it didnt sound as if anything had started up yet, save another bashing of the Republican Phil Harbaugh but somewhere, a phone was ringing. Gilbert stuck his head out the door, saw Matt. Oh hey, were getting started. Would you mind getting that? he asked, and Matt nodded, headed on back to the phone bank.

He walked into a room full of gun-metal gray desks, on top of which were legal pads and pencils, phone books, and the old-style putty-colored hard-wired phones.

The phone had stopped ringing. No one was in the room, except, surprisingly, Rebecca, who, not surprisingly, looked lovely in a dove gray sleeveless tank and skirt. Her hair was bound up at her nape; two small diamond earrings glistened from her earlobes. She hadnt yet noticed Matt; her brow was creased with concentration as she listened intently to someone on the phone.

Matt moved farther into the room; his movement startled her, and she jerked her head up, her wide blue eyes arresting him and unexpectedly pinning him to the wall with their brilliance. She lifted her hand, waved stiffly at him.

He nodded, thought he was intruding and should go back to the meeting, but couldnt quite bring himself to do it. He couldnt break free of the mesmerizing hold her eyes had on him.

Yes, I understand, its really awful, she was saying.

Matt lifted a questioning brow, but she glanced away.

I know, I cant bear to think of it, either its appalling. Oh no, I will do whatever I can, I promise. Yes, Ill do just that and call you first thing, she said, and was suddenly looking around for a pencil. I am sure Senator Masters will want to know about it.

Matt quickly moved forward, pulling a pen from his

breast pocket and holding it out to her. Rebecca glanced up with surprise, smiled as she took it. That smile trickled right down to Matts toes, and he realized, a little numbly, that he was standing there staring at the slender curve of her neck like an awestruck kid as she jotted down a number and a name. Thank you for calling, she said. Ill speak with you soon. Take care. She put the phone down and stood a moment, staring morosely at the legal pad.

Is everything all right? Matt asked.

Not really, she said sadly as an elegant hand fluttered to her collarbone. Actually, its horrible.

So what is it? Can I help? he asked, now truly concerned.

Oh Matt. . . She glanced up, smiled sadly. Theres nothing you can do. I just need to set something up with Tom as soon as possible. Hell know what to do.

What was that he detectedthe faint smell of a big fat rat? Matt slowly folded his arms across his chest. So who is it that Tom will be meeting with?

The Citizens for the Humane Dispensation of Hill Country Deer.

Matt waited for the punch line. But Rebecca just stood there, her gorgeous eyes blinking up at him. She was not kidding. Nope, there wasnt even the slightest hint of a joke on her pretty face. She really, truly was an alien. The humane dispensation of deer, he echoed aloud, just to hear that fatuous term spoken out loud.

Rebecca nodded. They are shooting them in the hill country to reduce the population. These folks would rather see them moved somewhere and they want to talk to Tom about it.

Matt could not believe what he was hearing. On a cold call, she had picked up a clan of bark-eaters who wanted to save a bunch of deer? He stared at her; but oblivious, Rebecca leaned over, picked up her briefcase, and slung it over her shoulder. I guess we should join the others. Heres your pen. She held it out to him with a sunny smile. Thanks so much.

Are you nuts? Matt asked as he took the pen and shoved it into his breast pocket.

Rebeccas thick lashes fluttered. I beg your pardon?

Nuts. Or do you just do this sort of thing for fun?

Dark, perfectly sculpted brows dipped crossly over blue eyes. Do what for fun?

Seriously, now ... all kidding aside. Did you just have an emotional conversation about deer, or are you jerking my chain?

Do you have something against deer? she asked, her voice full of a womans indignation.

As a matter of fact, I do, and heres what: They arent a problem for Texas. They are a problem in a couple of counties where big houses back up to golf courses, but they are really not a problem for Texas as a whole!

So? she demanded, her eyes flashing that demon look he had come to know quite well.

So? Matt was absolutely flabbergasted. Why should Tom waste one second of his valuable time on deer?

Because! she snapped, marching around the desk. Tom is a humanitarian. I know thats not something you aspire to be, but Tom is a nice guy, and its obvious there are a lot of people in Texas who think animal rights are important!

God no, tell me its not so! Matt groaned to the ceiling. Is this the dog thing again? Or are you seriously thinking about making a pitch to take up animal rights in this campaign?

Rebecca glared at him. FYI, Mr. Big Pants, all these people want is a resolution against killing deer and for relocating them. I dont think that is outside the realm of Toms influence! she exclaimed, and began marching from the room, the heels of her flimsy little sandals making a staccato click click click across the linoleum floor.

Yes, but is it practical? Matt asked, following close behind, even more irritated that in spite of his frustration, he could not help but watch the jiggle of her magnificent tush. You dont think that its asking a little too much to

take up Toms time with something that has absolutely no bearing on his candidacy or running this state, just because you feel sorry for a bunch of fucking deer?

That got hershe gasped, stopped in her march and whirled around so quickly to retort that Matt almost collided with her. What sort of man are you? she demanded.

The sort of man who would like to help Tom get elected and not become the poster child of Save Bambi!

Oh. My. God, she muttered, whirling about and marching again. She made it three whole steps before she stopped and pivoted again, forcing him back on his heels. You know what you are? You are ... you are ... I cant even say it! she snapped with a wave of her hand, and abruptly whirled about again with a little too much force. Matt stopped her from banging into the wall by catching her arm, but blocked her exit by planting his arm against the wall, just next to her head. Rebecca was effectively trapped. And he liked it.

She reacted by folding her arms across her middle and glaring at him. What do you think you are doing?

Matts gaze dipped to her pouty lips while his head filled with the scent of Chanel. Giving you the opportunity to say it, he said. Speak your mind, Rebecca; lets hear it.

Okay. Youre infuriating.

Me? Im infuriating? he snorted Youre playing a little fast and loose with that word, arent you, Miss Priss?

You know, youre right, Popinjay. I meant to say that you are impossibly arrogant

Thats nice, coming from someone all puffed up over a couple or flags, he interjected, smiling a little now, because the woman was really stunning when she was all charged up.

And youre overbearing.

Determined. he corrected her with a lazy grin as his gaze drifted to her lips again.

Rebecca didnt say anything for a moment, but then surprised him by laughing low and lifting up, so that her face

was just below his, so close that he could have, were he insane, kissed her without much effort. What alarmed him a little was that he was sorely tempted to do so. I know what you are doing, she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Oh, yeah?

Yeah.

So what am I doing? he asked, actually a little curious as to what he was doing, because he was feeling just on the edge of out of control.

You, she said, poking a finger at the knot of his tie, are trying to get to me. She smiled softly, inched up on her toes so that her lips were a fraction from his. One teeny-tiny millimeter away from his. You dont think I belong here, and you think you can scare me away, she murmured, her breath warm and sweet.

Those lips, those smiling, full and lush lips ... Matts smile deepened. Id be a fool to try and scare you away ... but I am trying to put a little sense in that pretty head of yours.

Well, guess what, Matt? she asked, her gaze languidly wandering his face. Its not working. And he suddenly felt a sharp pain on the top of his foot at the precise point where her heel had come down on it. Matt instantly dropped his arm and fell back, wincing. And Im not going anywhere, she added pertly, walking on.

I was afraid of that, he muttered, and still grimacing from the pain, he followed her.

They burst through the door where the others were meeting so that everyone looked up in surprise. Sorry were late, Rebecca said, marching forward, and sat down hard at the table. Matt sat down hard next to her. Both of them looked expectantly at Tom, and both of them made a concerted effort not to look at each other.

Tom looked at Pat, then at Matt and Rebecca. Okay ... well, then! Weve got a lot to cover, folks. So! Lets hear some reports! Angie? Thats some nice red hair you have today. What else have you got?

The phone bank went well today, Angie reported. We had five volunteers from the university, me, Gilbert,

and Rebecca, We made a little over one hundred calls in two hours.

Pat and Gilbert cheered and clapped. Thats great! Tom exclaimed. Gilbert? What about the yard signs?

Teams in Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio went to work this weekend and placed eighteen hundred signs. Pat and Rebecca and I split up into three sectors and placed three hundred and fifty signs just in Austin.

At least now Matt knew which Chanel-scented beauty queen had put the yard signs in West Austin.

Wow! Great work! Tom exclaimed.

Might I make a suggestion here, Tom? Matt asked. Can we all agree to put yard signs in an area of the yard where traffic might actually see them as opposed to making them into a decorative feature of the whole landscape? he asked, and felt Miss Priss go stiff next to him.

Sure! Tom said. Everyone take note of that. Okay, Rebecca, what about our Silver Panthers?

Yeah, I am dying to know about the Panthers, Matt said, turning to look at Rebecca, already imagining what he would do with the favor she owed him, and it was, after that heel to the foot thing, a deliciously nasty idea.

Rebecca sat ramrod straight on the edge of her chair, hands folded primly on the table, just like Tanya Kwitokowsky. She probably even had an apple in that bag of hers for Tom. Were on, she said proudly, and beamed a big told-you-so smile at Matt. Weve got a hall, weve got entertainment, and weve got refreshments the night before the convention kick-off. But more importantly, we have the coveted list of attendees, she said, looking at Tom again. So all I need is the word go, and Ill mail out five hundred invitations to come meet Senator Masters.

No way Matt could not believe his ears. That group was as tight as a drum, and no one certainly not a former beauty queen could break that attendance list!

Thats fantastic! Tom shouted, slapping the table. Well, now, Rebecca, arent you just the cream in our coffee? Folks, this is the kind of drive Im looking for. The desire to accomplish goals, just like that poster says. He

paused, squinted at the motivational poster on the wall. Well, I cant read it from here, but you get the gist of what Im saying. So Gilbert, work something up for me to say. Pat, will you get some campaign literature together? And Rebecca, if youve got a minute after were through here, there are some people I think Id like you to meet.

Miss Prisss spine got, impossibly, even straighter, and she gushed, Id love to help, Tom!

If this went on much longer, Matt half expected Burt Parks would pop through the window singing Here She Is... while she took a little walk around the conference room, blowing kisses to them all.

Is it Matts turn? she asked with feigned innocence, and turned in her seat to face him, a smart little smirk glittering in her eyes.

Thats right! Matt, youre on! Tom said. What did you do since our last meeting?

Matt frowned at her; she actually had the nerve to turn the smirk up a notch. Man oh man, the poor little alien had no idea what she was up against, but if thats the way she wanted to play it, hed be happy to engage. Just as long as she understood that if she played with fire, she definitely would get burned.

Talked to Doug today, he said, turning back to the group, and began to lay out the finer points of a plausible stance on health care.

It was nothing short of a miracle that Bud actually picked up Grayson in Austin that Friday, because he had dumped him the last four weekends he was supposed to have him, and because the people Tom wanted Rebecca to meet were the new media people, hired out of Los Angeles, who were going to transform Toms image into someone who looked like he owned the lieutenant governors office (Toms exact words).

After dropping Grayson off, Rebecca spent the day preparing herself for the happy hour meeting with the media people (the very term sounded exciting!) at the Four Seasons Hotel. And the best news was that HE wouldnt be there to discombobulate her as only he could do with that body and that face and that rapacious smile, for Gods sake.

I really need you to come, Tom had told her in confidence. These are media people with offices in L.A. They know what they are doing, and I mean, Pats nice and all, but shes, well... you know.