Kiss me if you dare: Alpha Billionaire Romance (The Secret Matchmaker Book 3) by L.N. Pearl, S.K. Lee Read Free Book Online

as I began working on making a cup of coffee.
    "Making new friends? Like who?" His voice was tight and less than happy.
    I assumed it was because he didn't want another man in his penthouse. His things were important to him and we were on a business trip. Apparently he was the only one able to experience pleasure on the trip.
    "No one really. Just talking to the locals. I feel great. Just need to get over the age old issue of the hangover." I lifted the coffee cup to my lips and turned to watch him.
    He stood a few feet in front of me, a spatula in his hand and his face filled with question or concern. I couldn't make out which.
    "Right." He turned back to the stove, obviously not happy with me. "You hungry?"
    "I am. Thanks for making breakfast. I could have taken care of it for you. I'm the help, remember?" I let out a friendly chuckle and walked to the table.
    He didn't respond and I couldn't blame him.
    Stop being catty. He'll know you're hurt, and then he wins.
    "I like cooking actually. I made bacon and sausage. I wasn't sure which one you liked." There was no inflection to his voice, which hurt.
    The fact that he wasn't talking to me about dinner stung, too. Something had gone right or he would have told me how ridiculous Sofia was, how pissed he was at me for hooking him up with a woman that was a complete waste of time. I couldn't ask about the night, but I sure as fuck wanted him to tell me how horrible it had been.
    "I like both. You're in luck, mister." I tried to keep my voice light, but it failed miserably.
    He glanced over his shoulder and pinned me with a stare, but didn't say anything.
    I picked up the newspaper in front of me and started flipping through it as I worked through my exit plan in my head. He and Sofia most likely had hit it off, and my job was done. I was getting on a plane as soon as it was feasible to do so.
    I would go home, drown myself in liquor, ice cream and old movies until Jessie pulled me out of the dark hole I planned to climb into. If I thought last time with James was bad, this next time was gearing up to pull out all the stops.
    Anger burned through me at the way everything had spun so violently out of my control. I paused to catch my breath. I'd done everything right. Not giving him my number. Being aloof and cocky. Turning him away more than once that night, and yet... here I was again.
    Not good enough and empty handed.
    "How do you want your eggs?"
    I looked up from the paper and shook my head. "No eggs for me. My stomach is a little sensitive."
    "Shit, Lila. How much did you drink?" His voice held a hint of anger that he seemed to be suppressing.
    "Too much, for sure." I shrugged and laid the paper down.
    "I don't like it. You could have been taken advantage of. Someone could have hurt you." He pulled the pan from the stove and brought over a plate of breakfast meats, setting them down in front of me.
    Someone already has. You, you asshole.
    "I'm a tough cookie, Asher. I was fine. I stayed here and drank at the bar downstairs. When I was tipsy, I came up here and enjoyed a long, hot bath and then crashed. It was a perfect evening." I forced a smile and picked up a piece of bacon. "So, what's on your agenda for today?"
    "I'm going to take a quick shower and then I’m headed out to the horse track this morning. The weather is going to be beautiful. You should come with me." He picked up his coffee and took a sip. "We could get you something pretty to wear and then head that way."
    "Sounds fun. You like the tracks? I didn't peg you as that type of guy." I forced myself to relax. I could spend the day with him, pretending like everything was fine between us before heading back to L.A. He had to know that I was going home soon. Maybe a parting day with him would be good for us both.
    I was a glutton for punishment, as made apparent by looking at Sofia's pictures a thousand times the day before. Why not spend one more day living someone else's life? It would give me proper ammunition