The CEO Daddy Next Door Read Free Page B

“Ash. Peter Richie is one of the hottest designers on the planet, he’s giving you a dress for your party and you still haven’t shown up for your final fitting? It’s two days away.”
    â€œI know. I’m terrible.” The truth was that she’d been avoiding it. Peter had been gracious and generous, but she was keenly aware that the Manhattan Matchmaker had been afforded the luxury, not the real Ashley George. A designer making a couture gown for her? Ludicrous. The real Ashley had grown up with dresses her mother had made.
    Grace opened up her laptop. “If you haven’t dealt with your dress, I don’t even want to guess the status of you finding a date.”
    Ashley’s lips twisted into a tight bunch. She’d been hoping the network would forget they’d made the request for her to find a date for the premiere party. “They’re still insisting on this?”
    â€œYes. The premiere is a network function to publicize your show. And don’t forget they still haven’t given you an answer on the new show you pitched to them. You do not want to be anything less than a woman who says yes.”
    â€œThey’re just fixated on this because of those stupid gossip website photos.”
    â€œThe image of you buying ice cream and a candy bar on a Saturday night did not help your image. And that affects the ratings.”
    â€œThat was three weeks ago and I had the world’s worst PMS. It has nothing to do with not having a boyfriend.” Although if she’d had a boyfriend, she could have sent him out for the ice cream. “I hate the fact that anyone cares about this.”
    Grace began tapping away at her laptop. “And not just a little. You know it’s the most popular topic on the Manhattan Matchmaker message boards. Your fans want to see you happy. They want to know that the woman who finds true love for everyone else can find it for herself. And the last time I checked, Ash, you live on this kind of attention.”
    Actually, Ashley didn’t live on that kind of attention. She existed on it. She made money because of it. After she’d watched her parents struggle for years, working tirelessly and never getting ahead, it was nice to know she’d broken that particular family tradition.
    Ashley sucked in a deep breath. “You’re going to have to set me up with someone or call a male escort service. I have no prospects.”
    â€œNo way. Word will get out if I try to arrange something. I can just see it in the papers.” With a dramatic sweep of both hands, Grace made a nightmare materialize. “The Manhattan Matchmaker Can’t Find Her Own Match.”
    â€œHey. That’s not fair. You know I’m intentionally taking a break from men.”
    â€œAnd my grandmother would say that you fall off the horse, you need to get right back on it.”
    â€œYeah, well, my saddle is out of commission. I haven’t even been on a real date since James broke up with me.”
    Grace’s eyes flickered in a way that made Ashley squirm. “That’s not true. The Tower of London? You’ve been on a date with him.”
    It felt as though Ashley’s heart had seized up in her chest. “No. That was not a date. It was a disaster.”
    â€œHe asked you out. That counts as a date.” Grace scooted forward in her seat, her eyes brimming with entirely too much excitement. “Just think. If you get him to come to the party, it’ll be that much harder for him to complain about your apartment.”
    â€œWhat about ‘familiarity breeds contempt’?”
    â€œNow you’re just making excuses. What’s his real name again? Marcus...” She glanced down at her computer and began typing.
    â€œChambers,” Ashley grumbled. How exactly was this going to work? Oh, wait. It wouldn’t. Marcus would say no, and that would make every hallway encounter excruciatingly