Double Down (6 page)

Her nipples contracted painfully, and the pulse in her cunt set up an insistent throbbing.

Stop it!

The last person she should be entertaining erotic thoughts about was the man sitting across from her. She would bet a year’s salary there wasn’t one submissive drop in him. And, since she could say the same about herself, she could forget about any sexual overtones and get on with the business of the meeting. If only the air between them didn’t crackle with unwanted electricity.

“I thought a bottle of wine would be nice. You okay with that?”

“Yes, please. That would be nice.”

A glass of something white would probably ease her unexpected attack of nerves. She was just having dinner with him, for god’s sake. What was the matter with her?

He picked up the wine list the waiter had left.

“We should probably decide what to eat first so I’ll know whether we need a red or a white.”

“Oh. Well, you may be disappointed, but I can’t drink red wine. Gives me migraines.” She grimaced. “Annoys the hell out of people when I tell them that. I’ve heard every lecture possible about not pairing a white with any kind of meat.”

He reached across the table and took one of her hands in his. “I personally think people should drink whatever they like. The hell with what their meal is.”

“That’s certainly refreshing.” As casually as possible, she withdrew her hand from his. “I like a Riesling, but I’m open to anything.”

Wait. Maybe she shouldn’t have said that. Would he take it the wrong way? Why did she have to be so careful of everything she said to him, as if they were engaged in some kind of verbal game?

You know. Just admit it.

She shoved the devil from her shoulder.

“Riesling it is.” He closed the wine list and studied her.

The sharpness of his gaze made her acutely aware of the fit of her dress, the rise and fall of her breasts beneath the soft fabric, even the way she held her hands on the table. Although his posture appeared relaxed, he still made her think of a jungle animal, a panther perhaps, poised and ready to strike its prey. She did not intend for it to be her.

“Do I have a speck on my face?” She brushed a hand over her cheek. “Is my lipstick smudged?” She hoped not. She’d taken great care to check it before she got out of her car.

“No, not at all.” His smile could have melted butter. “I was just thinking how beautiful you are. I’ll bet a portrait painter would have a field day with you.”

Lee burst out laughing. “I’ll say this for you. Your line is a lot different from the ones I’m used to.”

His lips curved in an engaging grin. “Then you’re obviously hanging out with the wrong people.”

She took a sip of water to settle herself and picked up her menu. “Why don’t we order? Then we can get down to the discussion of the mayor’s project.”

To his credit, he nodded and picked up his own menu.

He sampled the wine when it arrived, gave it his approval, and the waiter filled their goblets. He lifted his and gestured to her.

“To a successful project.”

“Absolutely.” Only why did she get the feeling they were talking about two different things?

Dinner was actually more pleasant than she’d expected. From the little time she’d spent with him Sunday and the tone of his invitation, she’d assumed she’d be fighting off ambiguities and insinuations all night. Instead, he’d been thoughtful, charming, but not excessively so, and interested in her job, asking intelligent questions about it. She could easily see how women fell into his lap and businessmen stood in line to partner in deals with him.

“You like to solve puzzles, don’t you?” she remarked.

“Puzzles?”

“Mmm hmm. I think that’s what people are to you. Puzzles. You dissect them and put them back together.”

He chuckled. “Is that what you think I’m doing here?”

“Isn’t it?” She took a sip of her wine.

“I’m just interested in you. In what makes you tick.”

“See?” she pointed out. “Puzzles.”

Branch laughed. “Okay, maybe, but I really am interested.”

Lee wondered if he actually intended to discuss the mayor’s project or not. Over coffee and dessert, however—crème
brulee for her, French apple pie for him—he asked her for details. She had gone over it so many times from its inception that it was all etched into her brain, and she had no problem giving him the information he asked for. Her biggest problem was trying not to stare at the smooth flex of muscles in his jaw as he chewed and in his throat as he swallowed. Or his long graceful fingers as he lifted his coffee cup for intermittent sips. She could visualize them stroking a woman’s breast or her ass. See his lips placing a trail of kisses on feminine skin.

What she couldn’t see was him on his knees, which was indeed a real catch in any relationship they might have.

Relationship? Get real, Lee. You are so far out of his class. If anything, he’s toying with you for his amusement.

But she didn’t think so. She had pretty good instincts about people, and he didn’t seem that shallow, that false. Even his air of assuredness was lacking the arrogance she saw in most of the men she knew in his class. Still….

“Are you this knowledgeable about all of Vincent’s projects?”

She shrugged. “Most of them. The media wants every little detail about everything on his agenda, even what he eats for lunch. The best thing is to be fully prepared. That way you can’t say something they misunderstand.”

He took a last swallow of coffee and sat back in his chair. “Okay, I’m convinced.”

She widened her eyes. “Convinced? About the project?”

He nodded. “I have the figures in my office. I want to go over them one more time with my chief project manager, but I’d say we’re a go here.”

Wow! She had to clamp down on her excitement, although she wanted to bounce in her chair. Avery Vincent had touted this project to everyone as a cornerstone of his term in office. It would be a capstone in South San Antonio, his gift so to speak to the residents of the barrio. A park, with playground equipment and picnic facilities, a place for families to gather in the evening and on the weekend.

“Is it solid enough that I can tell my boss?” She wanted no mistakes or missteps here.

“Why don’t you wait until tomorrow afternoon? If you can get me on his schedule, I’d like to tell him myself. I kicked it around with some of my people, and we have a few ideas on how to expand on it.”

“Expand?” She tilted her head. “But that will require additional funding. I’m not sure—”

“Trust me.” He leaned forward, elbows on the table. “I’m pretty sure he’ll be pleased. Just get me on his calendar.”

“That I can promise you.”

She sat quietly while he took care of the check, and then he rose and pulled back her chair for her. As they exited the restaurant, he kept his hand at the small of her back, warm against her body, the heat traveling through her as if he’d touched her with a match. He walked her to her car in the parking lot and waited while she got out her keys and unlocked the door. When she turned to face him, he was so close she could have barely slid a sheet of paper between them. For a long moment, his gaze scorched her, amber lights shining in the darkness of his eyes.

Then he took a step back.

“Thank you for meeting me.”

How formal!

“No problem. I’ll call you in the morning with a time for the mayor.”

“Excellent. I look forward to it.” He turned to walk away.

Lee swallowed the little drop of disappointment that caught in her throat. What had she expected? A date? Why would she want one anyway? This was a situation that could go nowhere. Period.

But then he called back to her.

“Seven o’clock Saturday night? And this time I’ll pick you up. No arguments.”

She was so stunned she answered without thinking. “All right.”

“You can give me your address when I see you tomorrow.”

She might as well. A man like him would find it in a matter of minutes anyway. In fact, she wouldn’t be surprised if he already had it.

She watched him walk away with his easy, loose-hipped gait and heard the blip-blip from his vehicle as he pressed the fob to unlock it. When the headlights came on, she saw he was parked in the next row over. Sitting in her car, she waited until he had pulled out of his space. She was somewhat startled to see him in a big SUV. Was this the car he drove to his projects? She had expected him to drive something sexy like a Porsche or a sleek, high-end BMW.

So much for stereotypes, she told herself.

She realized when he didn’t move any farther that he was doing the gentlemanly thing and waiting to make sure she left the lot without a problem. As she headed toward home, she mulled the evening over in her mind, turning over and over every word he’d said, every nuance, every intimation. He had been completely circumspect. And yet she had the feeling he had an underlying agenda and, more importantly, that it concerned her. She wasn’t sure if she was anxious for the following day to get here or wishing she could push it back.

Branch Colby lit a fire under emotions she’d spent years keeping carefully banked. After so many failed relationships, she’d given up on expecting to find
the one.
She didn’t know if that person was even out there. What she did know was that, after one evening, Branch Colby had managed to reach those emotions still hidden deep inside her and that bringing them into the open with this man would be dangerous to her mental and emotional health. He wasn’t a man who was after more than just the moment. She’d do well to remember that.

What she did know was that tomorrow night she was heading for Infinity again. Before Saturday night she needed to work off this excess sexual energy that surged through her with unexpected power.

Once again Branch was prowling his office, clock-watching, trying to keep himself busy and driving Karen completely crazy.

“If you come out here one more time and ask me if I’m sure the mayor’s office hasn’t called,” she told him, “I may have to borrow one of your guns and shoot you. I can’t believe this thing with the mayor is so damn important to you.”

“I’m a good citizen who supports my community,” he growled.

“Yeah, right. So just write them a check and get back to work. Lord, you look like a caged tiger who missed his last meal.” She picked up a slim folder and handed it to him. “Here. Keep yourself occupied. This is the list of the latest files on the hospital project. There are items that need your input.”

“Fine.” He practically grabbed it from her hand. “I’ll be in my office if I get—any calls.”

She barely hid a smile. “Of course you will.”

He settled behind his desk and opened the first file on his computer. Forcing himself to focus he began to absorb the details. Discipline took over so he was astonished to note the time was ten-thirty when Karen buzzed him to tell him the mayor’s office was on the line. He hoped it was Lee and not Vincent’s secretary. He took a moment to settle himself before he answered.

“Hello.”

“Good morning.” Her voice was just as musical as he recalled from the night before. “Mayor Vincent wondered if you’re free to join him for lunch.”

“If you’re going to be there, I am.”

“Is that a condition of the meeting?” she asked.

He could hear the teasing edge to her voice.

“Let’s say it is. Would that be a problem?”

“Not at all. The mayor has already asked me to join you. I think he’s already planning what he wants in the media release.”

Branch grunted. “Sounds like him.”

They settled on the time and place, and Branch hung up. Settling back in his chair, he let the images from the previous night dance through his mind. He wished Lee Sullivan didn’t push all his buttons the way she did. Three hours with her at dinner hadn’t changed his sense of her at all. Even if Max hadn’t told him she was a Domme, he might have suspected her tendencies. She was most definitely a woman in control of her situation at all times. Getting past that would probably be more difficult than he’d first believed. He’d better be up to the task, or Max would not only be taking his money he’d also be laughing his ass off.

Four hours later he hadn’t seen anything to change his mind. The meeting with Mayor Vincent had gone off exactly as he planned. When he announced Colby, Inc. would not only pay for the project but also that it would do all the work and, additionally, construct a playing field and bleachers for games between neighborhood teams, the mayor practically kissed him, and Lee began taking notes and asking who at his company she should coordinate the media release with. He hadn’t wanted a press conference. Truth be told, he hadn’t even run it by his staff yet. Thank god they were used to him tossing stuff like this at them. He hoped no one—especially Max—could figure out that this largess had been inspired by his need to impress Lee Sullivan.

It was a lot of money to get on her good side and open a door for him, but what the hell? Money had long ago ceased to be a problem for him. He might as well use what he had. He’d woo her as he had other women, snare her in his web, and bend her to his will. Hopefully, when it was all over—as it would be; he wasn’t in the market for anything permanent—they could still be at least friendly acquaintances.

The last person he wanted to have waiting for him when he returned to his office was Max.

“Have you given up working for a living in favor of stalking me?” he grumbled.

Max chuckled. “Thanks to you I don’t have to work for a living unless I want to, but, no, I had a meeting in the building, so I thought I’d check on your progress. Which I’m going to guess isn’t much, although you may have pulled the devil’s tail.”

“Yeah?” Branch picked up the miniature football and squeezed it rhythmically. “What makes you say that?”

“Mistress Star was at Infinity last night.” He paused. “In fact she was the headliner in the performance area.”

“Performance?”

A tiny sliver of heat worked its way through Branch’s body. He had taken part in performance nights himself at Ultra and understood the extremes of play required to entertain the crowd.