Kiss me if you dare: Alpha Billionaire Romance (The Secret Matchmaker Book 3) (3 page)

I wrapped up the last business meeting an hour later than I’d hoped. By the time I made it back to the room, I was antsy to see Lila. She was most likely still pissed, but some good food, an open conversation and a hot bath together would change everything.

My body ached to be next to hers, to tell her a million ways with my hands and soft sensual words just how much I wanted her. I was falling fast for the little spitfire and had been having a hard time concentrating on anything else since she came into my life.

Unlocking the door, I walked in and made a quick assessment of the place to see where she was.

"Lila? You here?" I walked through the large floor plan as worry crept into my chest. Had she gone? Did she go home and leave me there without even so much as a call?

No. She wouldn't do that. She’s far too professional to let whatever happened between us affect her job.

I walked to the kitchen and picked up the white note with my name on it sitting beside the large spray of roses I'd sent for her.

Asher,

I'll be at Pierchic at seven for dinner. Dress to impress and come join me. Hope your day was great. Sorry for the blow up. Lack of sleep and almost dying must have gotten to me.

~ Lila

"What the fuck?" I shook my head and read the note ten more times. The woman had just been in my face, angrier than a hornet over the situation between us. I had no control over the real estate market, and I didn't know what she expected of me. I had planned to spend the evening reassuring her of my commitment to helping her with it before putting in a few calls to get some other friends to assist in the search.

Dinner at Pierchic was a little more than I wanted to deal with, but if she wanted something romantic and fancy, I would relent.

I took a quick shower and got dressed in a black silk shirt and slacks. I checked my hair in the mirror and scoffed since the number of gray hairs seemed to have doubled since meeting my latest obsession.

I'd never met a woman like her. She captivated me and left me dizzy for more. I have never offered comfort to a woman like I did with her. And it had only been a damn week, too. I couldn't fathom how much worse it would be after knowing her for a month or a year.

"I'm going to have to get her to open up to me. I need to know what she's thinking, where her heart is." I looked at myself once more in the mirror, wishing I had darker hair or a more mysterious persona. She looked like the kind of girl who would be on the arm of a tall, dark and handsome stranger.

I turned and walked from the large bathroom, my thoughts of running a hot bath and pulling her into it with me put on hold for the time being. We could have a good dinner, talk things through and then come back for a long night. I didn't have to tell her how quickly I was falling for her. I would just take my time making love to her again. She could feel the desire inside me. She had the night before, I had no doubt.

Glancing at the roses, I let out a snort and shook my head before leaving. "Women. Crazy bitches that I'll never understand."

And yet... I'd found the one that I wasn't so sure I was willing to live without. Too bad she seemed hell bent on pushing me away. But I wasn't planning on moving. Not unless she found another woman that was better suited for me, but that wasn't going to happen anytime soon, if ever, so I put the thought out of my head.

She was the only girl I wanted sporting my last name. The sooner she figured that shit out, the better.

***

I arrived shortly before seven and walked out the long dock to the beautifully crafted wooden restaurant. The place was located in the middle of the Persian Gulf, the waves gentle and relaxing as I walked toward the building. I greeted the host politely before giving my name and being taken out to a private table in the back.

A beautiful Middle Eastern woman stood and smiled at me, extending her hand and captivating me for a moment.

"Hi. You must be Asher Harrington. I am Sofia Khaled."

"Nice to meet you." I shook her hand and tried hard not to let the confusion show on my face. I had no clue as to what was going on, but I was going to roll with it until I could get ahold of Lila. Maybe she was in the restroom or something.

"The pleasure is all mine." She took her seat and lifted her hand, calling the waiter over.

He took my drink order and I waited for him to go before turning my attention back to the exotic beauty. I tugged my napkin into my lap and sat back, taking her in. "Forgive me, but I'm a bit confused. I thought I was meeting an associate here tonight. You're quite a pleasant surprise."

She laughed and the sound was feminine and engaging. "They are quite tricky with these things."

"They?" I let my eyes move around her elegant features. Her lips were full and incredibly kissable, and her eyes were dark and filled with a light that drew me in. She was quite possibly one of the most beautiful women I'd ever seen. Her dark hair was down and her slender shoulders were on display for all to see. Her violet dress hugged her full breasts and disappeared under the table.

"Gisele and Lila. I'm one of the matches they have discovered for you through their agency. I think because I'm from Dubai, and you are here, they decided to move quickly." She smiled and glanced up as the server sat my drink down.

The woman was breathtaking, but my heart ached at the thought of Lila setting me up without a word to me. Was she so desperate to get rid of me that she would move forward with step two in the process without ever asking my opinion?

I couldn't deny the attraction I felt to the pretty girl across from me, but it wasn't anything more than a man being capable of recognizing beauty.

"Tell me about yourself then, Sofia." I smiled and reached for my drink, taking my time to sip at it as I forced myself to stay focused. If Lila wanted to get rid of me, and felt that Sofia would be a perfect match for me, then I had no choice but to give it a chance.

I didn't want to end up like Geoff. A woman in my life would change that for me, I was without question over that point. Somehow, I had figured that woman to be Lila, but apparently she hadn't felt the same. That was more obvious at this moment than ever before.

"Well, my father is a real estate mogul. I've tried a few things over the last few years, but am ready to settle down now I think. I'm twenty-eight and ready to plunge into my career and a relationship. I've modeled for the last few years, but having people poke and prod you gets old after a while." She smiled and I couldn't help but return the gesture.

"I bet. I'm in real estate. We're always poking and prodding people, too."

"My father says the same thing." She chuckled.

We ordered and I spent the next hour listening to the soft tone of her voice, and despite my misgivings, found myself being lulled into a comfortable place by it. She was intelligent, funny and quite goal driven. The fact that she wanted to learn more about the real estate market spoke to my soul. Sharing what I did with someone every day would be incredible, though it wasn’t a necessary expectation.

Over the meal we discussed our various desires for children and our reasons for not being married yet. She was too focused on her future and trying to ensure that all the proper pieces were in place to create her desired outcome. I liked her a lot. Physically, she was off the charts. The fact that she could hold my attention and keep me engaged was astounding as well, especially under the circumstances.

"Tell me more about why you're still single, Asher. You're incredibly handsome, driven and seem to have a fantastic personality. What skeletons are hidden in your closet? Something must be driving the other girls away?" The smile that played on her lips was sexy and fun.

"I honestly just haven't found the right woman. I move at two hundred miles an hour and just haven't found someone that kept my attention in conversation, the office and the bedroom all at the same time."

"Sounds like a tall order." She lifted her drink to her lips and let the glass linger, the slight narrowing of her eyes telling me that she liked what she saw.

All of the sudden, guilt rolled over me and I felt dirty. I wanted to reach over and touch her face, to see if her skin was as soft as Lila’s.

Lila brushed by my thoughts and I lost the desire to do anything with Sofia. What was I even doing there? I wasn't a cheater.

It's not cheating, you idiot. You're just associates in a business arrangement. She doesn't want you, remember? She set you up on this date. She's your matchmaker and while you are interested in her, the feeling isn't mutual. Obviously.

"Asher? Did I lose you?" Sofia laughed softly, catching my attention.

A smile lifted my lips. "No, sorry. Just thinking through whether I agreed with you."

"About a woman being able to truly keep up with you?"

"Yes. I believe it's possible. She's out there. Or maybe she's right here."

Her cheeks colored a light pink, making her even more beautiful. If Lila had wanted anything to do with me, she would have been sitting across from me, but she wasn't.

My perfect match was.

If I thought Sofia was gorgeous in the picture, I hadn't seen anything yet. Meeting with her in person left me wanting to tie a rock to my ankle and dive off the nearest pier. I shouldn't have made such a quick decision to set her and Asher up on a dinner date, but I knew if I didn't move fast, I would lose my nerve.

She had been more than willing to meet up with me and to have dinner with him. Her dress fit beautifully, as if it was made specifically for her. And it probably was. She screamed elegance and wealth. She had been beyond excited, but where I would have been bouncing all over the place, she simply smiled and laughed a few times as if she was just a bit nervous. Asher was going to be drawn to her like a moth to a flame.

The thought left my heart feeling as if it were in a vice grip. I'd done all of this in the name of professionalism and pride. Now that I'd made the bed, I would have to lie in it. Too bad it was filled with more pain and regret than I was capable of bearing sober.

I picked up my jack and coke at the bar downstairs in the hotel lobby and lifted it to my lips, draining it quickly. The liquor burned like hell going down, but I was grateful for anything that could take my attention off of the dull ache in my chest.

The bartender smiled and picked up the glass. "Are you done punishing yourself, pretty girl?"

"Nope. One more please, and don't call me pretty. I don't even come close to comparing."

"To who?" He smiled and worked on getting me another drink.

"To anyone." I hiccupped and pulled out my phone. I brought up the picture of Sofia and turned it toward him as he slid another drink in front of me. He could have been my dad from what I could tell by his aging features, but I didn't care. I needed someone to validate that I was nothing compared to the goddess I'd set Asher up with.

"To this girl?" He chuckled and shook his head before handing the phone back. "She's a beautiful woman, but she looks like any other airbrushed model. Men want a real woman, doll. You're perfect. Stop lying to yourself."

"Yeah. Thanks," I grumbled and looked at her picture again. Any man with half a brain and a dick would be falling over himself to have ten minutes with this exotic Barbie doll.

Are her boobs real?
They couldn't be. I pulled the phone up to my face and enlarged the picture, not giving two shits if someone saw me checking out some girl’s breasts. They couldn't be real. They just couldn't.

The meeting with her had been short and sweet, but her confidence and positive outlook on things left me feeling like shit. She was going to win him over. I had no doubt.

She won't even have to open her legs for him first.

Sickness rolled through my stomach at the thought of him liking me simply because I was generous in the sack. Maybe I was a whore. If so, I guess I deserved everything that had happened up to this point. He needed a good woman beside him to rule the world, not a hooker.

"Hey... do hookers sell their body for money or is that a whore?" I asked the bartender as I hiccupped again. The room had become fuzzy and I was starting to feel a twinge of concern over walking. I hadn't stood up in an hour or so. Chances are that it wouldn't be pretty when I tried.

"Um, I'm not too sure. Why? Do you plan on looking for a girl for the night?" He smiled and lifted an eyebrow.

"Me? No. I don't need sex. I get fucked enough by life. Clearly, right?" I laughed a little too loudly and spread my hands out.

"Well, I'm not sure about all of that, but whoever he is..." the bartender leaned toward me and touched my chin, "... he's not worth it. Find yourself a good man and hold on tight to him. You deserve better than what you're doing to yourself tonight, doll."

He moved away and tears burned my eyes. He was right. I did deserve better. I deserved the good man that had recently stolen my heart. Asher wouldn't have had to come up with such a ridiculous agreement between us if I had simply given him my number the night at the club. He wanted more, but I'd pushed back.

Maybe it was fate that shoved us together, but I'd rejected that too.

I deserved to sit at the bar and drown myself in another bottle of liquor. It was the only way I got over James, and I'd use it to get over Asher too. I was lucky I hadn't become an alcoholic. Thank God for Jess. She was my saving grace and though I hated to use her, she would be this time, too.

"I need to get home," I mumbled and glanced at my phone again, hating myself for hating the pretty woman who would most likely turn out to be Asher's perfect match.

I'd done my job. I found her, or Gisele did. I set them up, worked discretely to pull them together and moved out of the way. My job now was to vanish. I was cupid, lady luck, and nothing else. The magic would happen or it wouldn't. That part wasn't up to me.

I knew Asher had started to feel something for me, but it was simply a bastardized version of lust. If he wanted a life partner, he needed to focus on love, not lust. Lust was a quick way to invest in someone for years and end up dick broke at the end of the ride.

"Lust was all James had for me. When it was over... there was nothing to save us." I closed the phone and got up, lifted the drink to my lips and drained the glass.

"You need help up to your room?" The bartender moved back in front of me and reached out, touching my forearm.

"Nope. I can stumble up there. No worries. Really." I smiled and turned, walking on wobbly legs to the elevator. It was just after nine, so the truth of my matchmaking abilities were about to be laid out on display. If Asher was in the penthouse, then the date hadn't gone so well.

If he wasn't there, then chances are that he was getting hot and sweaty with Sofia in a place of her choosing.

I got into the elevator as the world suddenly spun in front of me. I was going to be sick. The thought of Asher with anyone left me feeling violently ill.

"Please, let him be up there. Please, God, please." I walked from the elevator and stopped at the door to the penthouse. I leaned in and pressed my ear to the door, listening for signs of life inside.

"What if they're in there?" I shoved my key into the lock and decided if they were inside the penthouse, that I could play it cool enough to make it to one of the bedrooms before losing my shit.

My stomach contracted painfully as I pushed the door open and held my breath, simply listening.

Nothing.

"Asher? You here?" I called out and closed the door behind me.

I moved through the large floor-plan, checking every room and finding myself with conflicting emotions. I was so far beyond grateful that they weren't in the penthouse making out or drinking wine in the kitchen, and yet if they weren't there with me... where were they?

I dismissed my need to cry and moved to my bedroom, pulling at my dress and bra before kicking off my heels in a hurry. I dropped in front of the toilet and gave in to my need to vomit.

I hadn't been that sick in years, but it was fitting. My heart was broken and my life was about to make another sharp turn in a different direction. I should be on my knees, half-naked, and throwing up in a strange bathroom. Those moments would stand as a great reminder forever more as to why love was for the birds.

After wiping my mouth and brushing my teeth, I got into a t-shirt and locked the bedroom door. The sheets were cold and a comfort of sorts as I snuggled up and tried not to cry. I was done giving over to my emotions. I flopped over onto my back and started to work through my choices, though the timing was horrible for such an exercise. I was exhausted, hurting and completely drunk.

"Why did I ever agree to a fuck buddy in the first place? Sex is intimacy, and intimacy is obviously too hard to handle, for me anyway." I reached up and ran my fingers through my hair. I thought I was mature enough to just screw him and walk away, but I wasn't. Not even close.

Asher was such an incredible lover, so strong and well-endowed. I groaned and slid my hand down my flat stomach, slipping my fingers into my panties and over my sex.

I wanted him. I hated myself for wanting him, but I did. He was so much more than sex though. He was a gentleman outside of the bedroom. He was strong and caring, intelligent and so damn focused. His manners were attractive, and he took good care of himself and his stuff. He had plans to do some incredible things for the business district in downtown L.A. and I couldn't help but want to be involved.

I slipped my fingers from my panties and let out a soft cry. It wasn't just about sex. I wanted it to be, but it wasn't. It couldn't be.

Having thought I tucked my heart away, I was assured of being safe, but I’d been lying to myself. He had grown on me and done so incredibly quickly. It hadn't been more than a week and I was hurting so bad I thought I might never recover from him. Now, he was with Sofia and it was my fault.

"What a mistake. So many mistakes... again."

I sold my soul for money, for a fresh start at my dreams. Not for the sex or the attention, but because I wanted a career I could fully invest myself in. Without the real estate, nothing was going to happen. I took a risk, and here I was... holding the bag once again. A bag filled with guilt, regret and loss.

"I hate you so much," I whispered to myself and turned over, letting the tears fall. I was too tired to hold them back anymore.