Double Down by Desiree Holt Page B

the situation with Lee Sullivan hadn’t taken a wildly unexpected turn. He had long ago given up finding a woman who could live comfortably in his world without being impressed by it. Or by him. A woman who was smart, sexy, funny, and could adapt to any situation. There was no artifice about Lee Sullivan. She was definitely the genuine article, and far more than his dick was involved here.
    Which was why he was uncomfortable knowing Max wanted answers to questions.
    He looked at his watch. “I’ve only got a few minutes. Lee has a meeting in this building, and I expect her to text me any minute that she’s finished so I can order lunch.”
    “This won’t take long.” His friend dropped into a chair opposite the desk. “I just want to know if I won my bet, or if I have to fork over the cash.”
    “I could say that a gentleman never tells,” Branch joked. “Maybe you were right. Maybe it was a stupid bet to make.”
    Max looked at him with a quizzical expression on his face. “Are you saying it did happen, or it didn’t? You’re being very mysterious, my friend.”
    Branch shrugged. “Maybe there’s nothing to tell yet.”
    Max threw back his head and laughed. “Nice try. You’ve been with this woman for nearly a month. I know damn well you’ve had sex and probably plenty of it. So did you get her to do it? Submit to you for one night? Don’t forget. Two hundred grand rides on your answer since you were stupid enough to double down on it.”
    “I repeat. There’s nothing to tell.” He’d already decided to just pay off the bet. Lee’s privacy had become much more important to him. Max didn’t need any of the details.
    “Come on, Branch. Did you get Mistress Star on her knees, submitting to you for one night? I’ll tell you, there are a lot of men who’ll be really envious of you. Too bad I can’t share the details.”
    “Damn it, Max. Enough. There are no details. And by the way, can you keep it down just a little here? We’re in my office.”
    Branch came out from behind the desk to make sure the door between his office and Karen’s was shut tight. When he saw that it hadn’t quite closed, he decided to check and make sure Lee wasn’t somehow on the other side. She had said she’d text him but—
    When he yanked the door all the way open, he came face to face with Karen, who was getting ready to knock. She had a strange look on her face, and his first thought was to wonder if she had heard any of their conversation.
    “Oh, Branch.” She frowned. “Did something just happen?”
    “Happen?” He lifted an eyebrow. “I have no idea what you mean.”
    “Miss Sullivan just ran out of here like a fire was chasing her. I told her you were waiting for her, but she just said to tell you she’s changed her mind. You can stop waiting. Oh, and she asked me to delete her number from your cell phone. For god’s sake, Branch, what did you do?”
    “Something incredibly stupid.”
    A knot lodged itself in Branch’s stomach. Damn Max for not shutting the door completely when he came in. And damn himself for not checking. Or telling Max to shut up. Why hadn’t Lee texted as she’d told him she would? He grabbed his cell phone and realized he’d turned it off during a Skype meeting and, ass that he was, hadn’t turned it back on.
    Fuck, fuck, fuck.
    “What’s wrong?” Max asked, rising from his chair.
    “Everything,” Branch snapped. “Every fucking thing is wrong. I’m an idiot. Damn it all to hell.” He glared at the other man. “I owe you two hundred grand. Nothing happened. You were right. And it was a stupid fucking bet. If I could, I’d kick myself in the ass.”
    Max’s jaw dropped. “So you lost? I’m stunned.”
    Branch wanted to smack him. No, he wanted to smack himself.
    “Just shut the fuck up.”
    “Wow. Lot of F-bombs today, Branch.”
    Branch stuffed his cell in his pocket and barreled out of the office, nearly knocking Karen over.
    “Will you be back?” she called