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

to really lament over the coming months.
    "I'm actually not into them that much, but Sofia invited me, so I figured I could at least give it a try." He glanced down and focused on the newspaper, his expression completely blank.
    I stood up and pressed my fingers to my lips as his eyes moved to lock onto me.
    "Oh damn. I don't feel so good. Maybe eating was a bad idea." I took a shaky breath as he started to stand and reach for me. "No. I'm good. Have fun today. I'm going to nurse myself back to health."
    I turned and half ran to the bathroom before throwing up again.
    Asher knocked on the door a few times, his voice soft and caring when he finally spoke. "Lila. I can cancel with her. I'll stay here and help take care of you."
    Tears burned my gaze and I pressed a soft white towel to my eyes, speaking only when I was sure I could pull off something that sounded like I was perfectly fine.
    "No. Go and have fun. I'm in no mood for company. I hope you guys win big today. Put a couple of bucks on the least likely to win for me?" My voice started to break and I turned on the faucet in the sink and dropped down to the toilet, letting the painful cry that left me be muted in the towel in my hands.
    I was the least likely to win and I was beyond tired of betting on myself. Asher was going to spend the day with the woman that would soon take up residence in his life. I didn't have a spot anymore and honestly, it was for the better.
    The fact that my chest felt like it might split open any minute was irrelevant. This wasn't about me. It was about him.
    Gisele would be thrilled with all I had accomplished with him, though she would never know half the story. Only Jessie would be aware of the incredible mess I'd made for myself. I wiped my tears and walked into my bedroom, closing and locking the door behind me.
    Picking up my phone, I looked into the first flight back home and booked it, putting it on a credit card and not caring about the cost or implications of me running out of there like a child with my feelings hurt. I would simply make it look as if I was the heartless bitch I pretended to be.
    My lesson was learned from the situation with Asher Harrington.
    I was capable of keeping control of myself, but it required love and lust to be tucked away. I thought I could get away with pushing hard and fast into lust and leaving love out of the equation, but that just wasn't the case for me.
    A text came through from Asher, asking if I was okay. I ignored it and texted Jessie, instead, letting her know what time to pick me up from LAX. I wanted to go home, to disappear and pretend like none of this had ever happened.
    I wouldn't make such a mistake again. Not ever.

8 - Asher
    I felt like absolute shit leaving the penthouse, knowing that Lila was upset. She was hungover and in physical pain, but the sadness sitting on her was almost tangible. I wanted to pull her close and find out what had left her so broken. A million thoughts ran through my mind as I drove to the track.
    Sofia was waiting by the ticket booth as I walked up, and I couldn't help but smile. She was stunning. Her dark hair flew behind her as the wind played with it, but her elegant white hat was locked onto her head with her hand pressed to the top of it.
    Her top and pants were cream-colored and beautifully crafted to fit her lithe frame with perfection. I forced myself to remain focused on her face. I couldn't shake the feeling that I was being put to the test somehow, in a cosmic sense, perhaps. My desire to get to know the beauty in front of me was blocked only by the deep ache I felt inside for the girl back at the penthouse.
    My girl.
    Why the hell would Lila set me up with this woman? That had to be the source of her angst. She hadn't swallowed a drop of liquor once in the last week we'd been together, and last night she’d gotten shit faced drunk to the point of a hangover? On a professional business trip? Only pain could do that to someone.
    She had feelings for