Free Take me if you dare: Alpha Billionaire Romance (The Secret Matchmaker Book 4) by L.N. Pearl, S.K. Lee Page A

door and sighed, pulling Jessie into a warm hug before she could pull me into one. She kissed my forehead and moved back, her concern evident on her face.
    "How are you?"
    "I've been better, but I'm really glad to be home." I forced a smile and shrugged, before turning and walking back into the apartment. I made my way to the kitchen, flipping on lights as I went. "You want some hot chocolate or coffee?"
    "Give me the sweet stuff." She sat at the small dining room table I'd wedged between the kitchen and the living-room. There was no formal dining room in the tiny apartment, but I hadn't rented it for the space. I’d wanted to be in a location that put me right in the heart of the action.
    "How are you, Jess? Anything new going on?"
    "We're not talking about me, but no, nothing new." She lifted her eyebrow at me and I chuckled. "Flight okay?"
    "Yeah, thanks for starting with the easy stuff." I shrugged and worked on making our drinks. I held up a bag of marshmallows. "You want the goods or no?"
    "Yes. Extra on yours please. You deserve to be pampered."
    "I couldn't agree more." I finished with the drinks and handed her the large mug before sitting down across from her with mine. "I'm okay. I'm not good, and I don't think I'll be good for a while, but I'm okay. I made an agreement with Asher and it's my fault I'm sitting in the middle of this mess."
    "Why did you set him up with her? You didn't have to go that far, Lila. At least not before you were sure of his feelings." Jessie took a sip of her drink and fussed with her unruly curls with the other hand.
    "It was my job, Jess. I was hired to find his best match, and honestly... Sofia is that. She is everything I'm not." I let out a painful sigh and pushed a fluffy white marshmallow around the top of my cup.
    "I doubt that. He was interested in you, and while his ways may be disgusting and quite unconventional, I don't think it's as simple as you're making it out to be. If you were just a fuck buddy, then why take you on the trip?"
    "He likes to fuck on vacation?" I offered.
    She rolled her eyes and gave me a look my mother would be proud of. "Stop it. He did more than most men who were in love would do. He took you out and showed you a good time, and cared for you. You said he didn't just screw you, but made love to you. Why? Why would he do all of that if he didn't care? Sure he is an asshole at times, but it always seems like that with very rich men, like nine times out of ten."
    "Agreed." I took another sip of my drink and tried to think through her questions. "I'm sure he was just lonely. These rich guys are as human as any other dude with needs walking around on the street. It's probably more fun for them to go on an exotic date and treat someone like they matter sometimes. I was there, so I got pulled off the bench and put in as someone special for the evening."
    "You're full of shit." She sat back, reaching up and pulling out her hair tie. "He has feelings for you."
    "You don’t know anything about that," I snapped.
    She paused and bit her lower lip, which made me feel guilty. Jess was just trying to comfort me. I sighed and pinched the bridge of my nose.
    "I… I’m sorry, Jess. I know you’re trying to help. I guess I’m tired from the flight and emotionally drained, so I’m being a bitch to you, the one person in the world I can count on."
    She sighed with a smile. I was really lucky to have her as a friend. "It's fine. Let’s move on, okay?"
    I nodded and she reached for her purse. "So I have good news, and maybe some bad news too."
    "Start with the bad and let's end on a good note, okay?" I picked my drink up again, not really wanting any bad news.
    "You’re not going to like this, but you’ll find out anyway. Apparently Asher's found Sofia compatible enough to pay Gisele's invoice."
    Sickness rolled through me, but I stifled it. There was no reason to get upset. Asher had to pay Gisele for matching him with Sofia, right? It was part of the contract. I’d