Party Lines Read Online Free Page A

happiness to help others. Don’t tell me as a caretaker that I
cannot relate to what families need, Mr. Sharp. I see it every day.”
    Several
men called in too, most hardened conservatives who eagerly sided with Sharp.
When the show ended half an hour later it was clear that Hopkins’ strategy had
backfired entirely. Once more, the political newcomers had prevailed.
    Then
the program ended with a special weather alert warning residents and commuters
to exercise caution amid a series of powerful thunderstorms that were moving
into the area.
    Lindsay
could hear the thunder from outside the building when she left the studio
booth, but she imagine the sky was nothing compare to the dark look Ron Sharp
was shooting her as he walked up briskly behind her in the hallway. He looked
even angrier than he had after the interview on Touchpoint, and she clutched
her briefcase tighter as she made for the elevator.
    Relief
flooded her when the doors slid open, but dispated when – just as they
were about to close – a large hand wedged itself between them and slid
them open.
    Ron
Sharp said nothing as the elavator began to lift but then, when it was between
floors he hit the emergency stop button.
    “Just
what do you think you’re doing?” she asked and reached for the control panel,
only to have him block it with her body.
    “Having
a private word with you,” he said, crossing his arms. “You want to tell me why
you felt it necessary to pull that amateurish stunt by injecting my personal
life into a debate?”
    Lindsay
looked at him, shocked, and when she recovered shook her head in disbelief.
    “You
really take the cake,” she said. “I was simply following your lead, but it’s
kind of nice to see you finally admit that it’s amateurish to cloud the real
issues by making other people’s marital status the topic.”
    “What
I did was different,” he said. “I was talking about feminists in general.””
    “You’re
a liar,” she said coolly. “The voters aren’t stupid. They know the difference
between a general reference and a direct slap at your opponent and the people
who run it. And I stand by my position. How dare you bring into play our
marital status when you couldn’t even hold yours together.”
    “You
don’t know anything about my situation,” he said, raising his voice.
    “And
you don’t know anything about mine,” she shouted back. “So we’re even. Now get
out of the way.”
    Ron
had not meant to grab her hand when she reached for the button on the panel,
and when she’d struck him she’d not meant to do it, either. The tension and
anger were just so high between them at that moment. But it happened, and Ron
Sharp experienced a jolt of surprise at the force of the blow.
    “How
dare you!” he said, and grabbed her again, shaking his head. “Another of your
typical amateurish overreactions.”
    “Yes,
and I suppose a seasoned campaigner would just love to teach me a lesson,
wouldn’t you?” She was mocking him now, testing him. But she didn’t know why.
And neither did he, but he didn’t care. He’d had enough of this presumptive
upstart. Sure Lindsay Martin may have been besting him on the campaign trail,
but if she thought she could best him in the age-old match between man and
woman she had another think coming.
    “That’s
actually a good idea,” he said, and jerked her forward. Before Lindsay could
comprehend what was happening, Ron Sharp had wrapped one long arm around her
waist and was spanking her – hard with his hand.
    Lindsay
didn’t have time to process the indignity of the situation. The building pain
in her bottom as he applied his punishing hand over and over on the seat of her
blue skirt. The fabric was pulled tight against her backside, but it was little
protection against the volley of smacks that had her first crying out in pain.
And no matter how hard she struggled, Lindsay could not escape, and would not
until finally after what seemed like an eternity he let