True Connections Read Online Free Page A

watching people hook up. Maybe it’s from Nanna’s annual Valentine’s Day party or whatever. The idea of playing matchmaker has always been fun.” At least she had the joy of seeing others be happy. Her business was the only success she had.
    “Which is why I avoided those parties when I could.”
    She grinned. They’d always found ways to disappear when Valentine’s came about, but their grandmothers always wrangled them there. Although she’d thought herself lucky to have missed them for so long, now the idea of attending alone brought a pang to her chest. “That’s because Nanna and Grammy had designs for the both of us. Maybe it’s in my blood, maybe it runs in the family. Besides, our families have always been romantics.”
    He frowned. “If you say so.”
    “Okay, except for you. I can’t see you doing anything romantic, anyway.”
    “I’m a man. I don’t have time to play games like this.”
    “Whatever you say. If I get you a date, then Grammy and Nanna are gonna love me more.”
    “And what makes you think they won’t set you up after they think they have me taken care of?”
    “I’ll deal with it when it’s my turn.” She’d be alone for the rest of her life, so it didn’t matter. Max drummed his fingers on the desk. She pursed her lips. “What?”
    He shrugged. “How long is this going to take?”
    She glanced at her watch. “Are you in a hurry? Would you rather forget this whole thing so you can deal with our grandmothers instead?”
    He glared, and Lia bit her inner cheek to keep from smirking. Picking up the keyboard, she placed it in front of him and adjusted the screen to face him. “Fill this out.”
    He sat up and shifted to the edge of the seat. “What is this bullshit? Favorite food? Color?”
    Lia rolled her eyes and pulled her iPad out of her briefcase, then opened her calendar. “Just answer the questions.”
    “This better be damn well worth it,” he muttered. He continued to click on the mouse.
    “Who knows? Maybe you’ll actually meet someone worthy enough to rock your world.” She brushed the iPad screen with her finger to get to the next week, but something white caught her attention. She glanced over to the drawer to see the edge of the invitation sticking out of the drawer. She pushed at the corner of the ivory cardstock. Focusing on their grandmothers’ mission and seeing Max, she’d almost forgotten about the wedding that should have been hers.
    “If anyone finds out I’m here, I’m sure they’ll get a kick out of it. But I do need a date to the charity ball this weekend.”
    She recalled Grammy Carol mentioning the event. If she went with him, it would only fuel their grandmothers’ hope to see them together one day. No way. “What kind of charity ball?”
    He gave her a quick glance before his eyes returned to the computer screen. “For the Marksmith Foundation. They raise money to help cranky single miserable women like you.”
    She ignored him. “What charity?”
    Max grinned, and her heart did a flip. “It’s to raise money for victims of drunk driving and a few other things. I don’t remember. Keith Walkers’s mother heads the foundation. His twin sisters died in a drunk driving accident three years ago. I’m actually one of the sponsors for this event.”
    Lia leaned back in her seat. She wished she could hate him for all the good deeds he’d done for the community. Their grandmothers constantly raved about how kind-hearted Max was in helping the less fortunate, even though he profited from making an undeveloped part of town look like a gold mine.
    “And you need a date?” she asked, tapping her finger against her chin.
    Max threw her a grin. “I could scrap this whole thing and just bring someone I know. Not like you can really find me anyone.”
    Her eyes narrowed. She’d heard the challenge in his voice. “Nanna and Grams want you to bring a proper date to the party, so I’m sure that entails one to the charity event.”
    He