True Connections Read Online Free Page B

snorted. “Look, it’s bad enough that I’m here filling out this form.” He turned the screen to face her. “What does it matter if I have allergies or not? Or what my dream vacation is? Who came up with these stupid questions?”
    Her throat tightened and she blew out a breath. “Just answer the questions to the best of your abilities.”
    He chuckled. “Sweetheart, you have no idea what those are.”
    Her fists clenched, then released. This was just Max. She’d show him. “I’ll find you a date to the charity.”
    “Why does that sound so ominous?” He moved the screen back to position.
    With as much innocence as she could feign, she smiled. “Who knows? Maybe you’ll find a proper date tomorrow—someone that Nanna and Grammy would approve for both the party and your charity thing.”
    “What’s going on tomorrow?”
    “The speed date luncheon.”
    Max grimaced. “Speed date luncheon? Are you for real? Who actually goes on dates in the middle of a work day?”
    She glared. “People who take my company seriously. Don’t tell me you’ve never picked up women during the day now that you’re making big bucks?”
    “Money isn’t everything.”
    She wished she could believe him. Men like him used his wealth to their advantage to draw weak women like her mother into their lair, before they broke hearts and moved on to the next victim. “Maybe it’s all your success that’s attracting the wrong type of women.”
    “There’s nothing wrong with my success. I’ve worked hard to be where I am, and when I’ve accomplished what I want, maybe then I’d consider finding the right woman.”
    She quelled the urge to scoff at his words. He’d never settle down. From what she’d seen at the construction site, he enjoyed his job a little too much, and he obviously still dated the same types of women—women like Lindsay Forks. “We’ll see.”
    He growled as he focused back on the computer screen. “Is this thing going to tell me who I’m to meet right away?”
    Lia smirked. “No, I have to run your reports through another program and see which candidates match your file. Then you’ll meet them this week. So, if you don’t meet—” she lifted her hands to quote “‘—the right woman’ then there’s always the social on Friday.”
    His eyes narrowed, tension lining his jaw. “And this happens all this week?”
    She stifled her amusement and cleared her throat. The least she could do was pretend to be professional, even though devious thoughts ruled her mind. She knew just who to hook him up with. “Yes. We only have two weeks until Nanna’s party. So if you don’t find anyone this week, we’d need next week to try again. The Regis Royal Hotel is—”
    Max jerked out of his chair. “I’m not going.”
    “Why not?”
    He paced the carpet in front of her desk and shoved a hand through his hair. “I do business at that hotel all the time. They recognize me. Shoot. Nick Claremont owns that chain. If he finds out I was there for a blind date, do you know what would happen?”
    She pressed her lips together to contain her laughter. “No, why don’t you tell me?”
    He spun around and slammed his palms on the desk. “I’d be the laughing stock of the town.”
    “No—” Lia leaned further back into her chair, her breath hitching at his close proximity. “Nobody’s going to laugh.”
    Of course he would worry about his reputation. The successful playboy cared what others thought of him. The Grant elite, from what she’d learned, kept well to their own social group. And if word got out, how was the rich bachelor going to find his next victim?
    “No one is going to laugh. And what makes you think Nanna and Grammy won’t tell their friends, who would tell their kids?”
    Max froze.
    She chuckled. She had him there.
    He straightened, but kept his glare. “I’m not going.”
    Lia took a deep breath. “Do you want me to talk to our grandmothers? It’s just a few luncheons and socials.