Read Serving HIM Vol. 4: Alpha Billionaire Romance for Free Online Page B

Masters—”
    “No. He’s divorced and has a child. I don’t want some other woman and a brat to compete with.” Her eyes glinted over the rim of her glass.
    Over the next twenty minutes, as we placed our orders and was served, I tossed out a few names—most of them random acquaintances—and Penelope shot down every last one of them.
    “Penelope, has it occurred to you that you might be rather difficult to match up if you’re this…selective?” I finally asked with an exasperated sigh.
    She pushed her food around her plate and smiled at me. I realized I hadn’t seen her take more than two bites of the expensive lobster bisque or its accompanying salad.
    “I actually have somebody in mind who’d be ideal…Dominic.” She speared a small, plump tomato with her fork and slid it between her lips, her lashes lying low over her eyes.
    The woman was about as subtle as...well, I couldn’t think of something that was less subtle than her.
    “Is that a fact?” I placed my napkin down on the table and signaled for the server. I was done with this.
    “You can’t tell me you haven’t thought of it.”
    Shifting my eyes back to hers, I elevated a brow. She was going to be that direct, was she? At least she’d stopped pretending to be coy.
    She reached out a hand and covered mine. “I was thinking, perhaps what we need to do is take a few days away, just the two of us. Get to know each other. I’ve got a soiree of sorts coming up in Philadelphia next month. Perhaps you could attend with me…?”
    “My plate is rather full.” I pulled my hand out from under hers and reached for my wallet as the server laid the bill down, tucked inside a discreet leather folder.
    “Dominic—”
    I looked over at her. “I’ll be in Philadelphia off and on myself over the next few months. I can possibly help set you up with a date for your event if you’re looking for companionship—”
    She jerked up, moving so quickly she banged into the table.
    “Do you really think that I need help finding a man to attend a function with me?” She glared down at me, her eyes glittering, color rushing into her face. “The very idea is absurd . The only reason I’ve even talked to you about your stupid matchmaking company is because you’re too obtuse to see what I’m offering you.”
    Rising to stand in front of her, I inclined my head. Penelope glared at me and all around us people were staring. I saw at least one with their phone out.
    Leaning in, I said quietly, “Keep this up and you’ll have some interesting commentary on social media to follow that piece ECHELON did on you.”
    Her mouth went tight but then, bit by bit, the tension faded and she smiled. The polite society mask was back in place. “Really, Dominic…”
    That was all she said, and then she laughed. The odd, tense silence shattered and the pace around us resumed. I held out my arm and she took it. It didn’t surprise me. It was the best thing to do to diffuse the scene.
    As we stepped out in the brilliance of the spring day, a camera flashed in our faces. Penelope didn’t even look fazed and I suspected I knew why. She’d contacted somebody, told them we’d be there. She hadn’t planned on me turning her down, but she’d sure as hell set me up.
    Now we’d end up on a local gossip site. Great.
    It was nothing new to me, yet I was irritated all the same. Leading her to the curb where my car waited, I let Maxwell open the door for us, but after Penelope climbed in, I looked at him. “Take her wherever she wants. I’m walking back to the office. It’s not far.”
    He gave me a nod. He’d been with my family my whole life and had often been more like a father to me than my adopted father had. He could tell with one look that I was annoyed and that Penelope was the cause.
    Turning my back on the car, I pushed through the crowd of people and began to walk.
    This whole mess was going to bite me on the ass, I knew it.
    Penelope could cause trouble, and I knew