Double Down by Desiree Holt Read Free Book Online Page B

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