Arrogant Playboy (The Art of Love Series Book 2), page 23
“I wanted to, I have a ton of stuff to get done, but I’ve been here for an hour and the car won’t start.”
“Shit,” Lauren says, scratching her head.
“I know. I’ve called the rental company, and they aren’t open.” I want to cry but I hold it in.
“I think Alex is up, should I go get him?”
“Yes, please. See if he can start it enough for me to get it back to the rental company.”
Lauren smiles and heads back inside. Moments later, Alex, Ivy, and Daniel come out.
No.
“What’s going on?” Daniel asks.
“The car won’t start,” I tell him. He indicates for me to get out and he tries, but it does the same thing, and the car still doesn’t turn on.
“Doesn’t sound good,” Alex adds.
“Maybe you should call the hire company and get them to sort it out,” Ivy suggests.
“Already done that. No one is answering,” I explain to her.
“Why are you leaving so early?” Daniel whispers while he’s in the car.
“I have a lot of work to do.”
“You’re not avoiding me?” he asks, those dark brows pulled together.
“No, why?” I squeak out. Real smooth there Rosie.
His frown deepens. “Because of what I asked?”
My heart pounds loudly in my chest. Is he seriously asking me about those three little words right now, in front of his friends?
“Hey, Daniel, why don’t you give Rosie a lift back to London? You were heading that way anyway,” Alex calls out.
“We can sort out the car rental,” Ivy adds.
Now it’s my turn to frown. “I don’t want to inconvenience anyone,” I tell Alex and Ivy.
“I can give you a lift if you need one,” Daniel says with a shrug, still staring at me in confusion.
“Um, sure, let me try to call them again and see if they are open,” I say, walking away from him. Thankfully, this time I can get through, and they arrange for a tow truck to come and pick it up from Ivy’s. When I turn back around to the group, Daniel is gone. “They said the tow truck should be here in about three hours. I can stay and wait.”
Ivy shakes her head. “Give me the keys, we’ll look after it unless you want to stay, you’re more than welcome to.”
Then I see Daniel walking out of the house toward me with his bag. I hand over the keys to Ivy and she gives me a smile.
“Thank you so much for everything this weekend. Sorry about the car,” I say, giving her a hug.
“Don’t worry about it. Thanks again for coming, I’ll see you tomorrow.” She smiles, and I give her a nod. “Hey, Daniel, you should stop in the village, it’s market day. I bet Rosie is dying for a coffee,” Ivy calls out to him. He gives her a nod as he places his bag into the trunk of his car.
“He doesn’t need to do that, he seems to be in a hurry. I can pick one up at a gas station along the way.”
“No. I would have loved to have taken you today, but my hangover is killing me.” She grins. “Honestly, you will love it, trust me.” I nod and say goodbye to everyone and thank them again for a great night. Daniel’s already got my bag from the hire car and has placed it beside his, he is holding the door open for me, and I jump in. Then I watch him walk around the front of his Ferrari, he stops and says his goodbyes to his friends and jumps into the car. He starts the car, and the deep purr of the engine vibrates through me, he gives the horn a beep before peeling out of the driveaway.
We are quiet for a couple of moments before Daniel speaks.
“Seems the universe agreed with me driving you home.” He chuckles, breaking the awkwardness that has fallen between us. I look him over, and he seems relaxed, not a ball of anxiety like I am. Does he not remember his confession last night? I still. What if I imagined it? No. I swear I heard it as I play back the entire moment again and again. But now I’m starting to doubt myself. What if he said it in the moment and didn’t mean it the way I think he meant it? You’re driving yourself crazy, Rosie. He’s acting fine, normal, except earlier when he was upset over me leaving, and I get it. I slinked out of his bed in the middle of the night after he just fucked me for the umptieth time. “Ivy suggested we go and check out the local village market, it’s not far,” Daniel says to me. “Unless you urgently need to get back to London?"
My stomach is in knots with anxiety, and I am second-guessing everything. Then my stomach growls, and we both look at each other and burst out laughing. I guess my body made up its mind.
“Sure, sounds like a great idea.”
We arrive in the village and it’s so quaint, with its old stone buildings with ivy growing over the walls, hanging baskets of colorful petunias, the old church with its leaning spire and small cemetery with old stone headstones dotting the green lawn. When we turn the corner, we arrive at the main village square and you can see, set up in the middle, the market stalls.
“Do you ever get used to people looking at the car?” I ask, noticing the amount of people looking at the car as he finds a space.
“Is it the car or the driver they are looking at?” He winks.
“Seeing as you have tinted windows, it’s the car,” I tease.
We eventually find a park and head into the market. It’s filled with local produce, as well as arts and crafts. We walk around chatting to the locals, trying some of the delicious food, and grabbing some to take back to London. I trawl through the local antique section, hoping to find something but I’m not successful. We grab some coffees and pastries for brunch as we continue strolling through the village, enjoying the elusive sunshine and each other’s company, the stress from the night before disappearing. It is nice, simple, and easy, with no awkward silences as we chat about everything. Whatever I heard or didn’t hear Daniel say last night won’t change our relationship. It still has an expiration date, but I’ll enjoy every moment I have with him.
“Thanks so much for driving me home. I had the best time walking around that little village,” I say as he stops outside my flat.
“Surprisingly, I had fun, too, but I think that was mainly the company,” he says, picking up my hand and kissing it.
“I didn’t mind the company either.” I bite my bottom lip as he suckers me in with those turquoise eyes. I lean forward and press a kiss to his lips. “Thanks for another great weekend.” He doesn’t push for anything more, but I know what he wants, I can see the hunger in his eyes. If I’m being honest, I want it to, but I think a little distance might be for the best, my mind is scrambled.
“I’ll be in touch about Wednesday and the weekend,” I tell him.
“And will I have an answer to my question then?” He grins.
“Um … sure,” I answer distractedly as I step out of the car. Daniel follows and opens the trunk to grab my bag and hands it to me.
“Are you okay?” he asks, and I can see the concern on his face. I don’t mean to have put it there, but I can’t think.
“I’m fine. Just have this client that wants to host a party in their home just after installation and I don’t want to let him down.”
Daniel’s face softens as he reaches out and cups my face. “You could never let me down.” He leans in and kisses me. This time it’s not as chaste, it’s slow, languid, and soft and it makes my toes curl. Why the hell am I denying myself this man? He’s perfect, a heady mixture of sweet, arrogant, demanding, grumpy, commanding, and sex god rolled into a hot package.
“I’ve got you, Rosie, okay,” he reassures me. And the damn flutters in my stomach ignite again. “Call me if you need anything.”
I nod as I’m unable to speak, and when I turn to leave, he slaps my ass making me squeak. I turn, and the sound of his laughter as he gets into his car hits me, making me smile.
Dumping my bag at the front door, I’ll worry about that later, I pick up my phone.
“Hey, how was your weekend with Daniel?” Georgia asks.
“I don’t know what to do anymore,” I tell her, bursting out crying.
“Oh, babe, what’s going on?”
I sniffle and try to catch my breath as if all the emotions I felt over the weekend have bubbled to the surface and hit me at once. “He asked me to be official?” Georgia gasps. “And then I heard him say he loves me after sex, but he’s acting like he didn’t say it, and now I’m not sure if he said it or not?”
“That’s been a jam-packed weekend.”
“The hire car I drove down in broke down so he drove me home via the cutest little village market where we spent the day hanging out together. It was truly perfect.”
“Except the cloud of Dubai is hanging over your head?” Georgia says.
“Yes. And now he wants us to host a weekend for his friends. You and Emily are invited to his home in Kent, and I think he wants us to become official there. Oh, and he said Matthieu is coming and that you can catch a lift back to Paris with him, but they’ll be in touch about it.”
“Catch a lift back to Paris in the private jet?” I nod even though she can’t see me. “That’s crazy and awesome and hell yeah. But also, that’s kind of sweet that he wants to make things official in front of everyone,” Georgia says.
“It is and he is. Under all that handsomeness is a good man and he’s been showing me more and more of that side and …”
“You’re falling for him …” she answers for me.
“Yes.”
“Okay, answer me this. If Dubai wasn’t on the cards, would we be having this conversation?” I let out a long breath because I know what my answer is going to be, no. I would be taking a chance on him. “That silence is all the answer I need.”
Tears start to fall down my cheeks. “What do I do?”
“I know Ivy said not to tell anyone, but you need to tell him. You’re keeping something big from him. You’re making him think there is a future between the two of you when you know there isn’t.” I swallow hard as she’s right. “Tell him before the party.”
“I have the install Wednesday.”
“Tell him after that but before the party. He is expecting to show off his new house his girl decorated for him. All his family and friends are coming. It’s a moment for him and he probably wants you to be by his side.” She’s right. Shit.
“I’m scared.”
“I know, but also, you still don’t have to go to Dubai, you can stay.”
I shake my head even though she can’t see. “I want this opportunity. I promised myself to never let a man stand in the way of my career.”
“You’re not, though. You can still have an amazing career here in London.”
She’s right. But what happens if I say yes to Daniel and then things don’t work out, I’ll regret not going to Dubai.
“I’m going to go have a bath and an early night. My head hurts,” I tell her.
“I love you. Call me if you need anything.”
“You’re busy packing up your life for Paris, you don’t need me adding to your stress.”
“Don’t worry about that. I’m here if you need me, okay?”
“Okay.”
37
DANIEL
“What’s with this secret meeting?” Alex asks suspiciously, closing the door to his office behind him.
“I need to ask a favor.”
His brow lifts curiously at me. “You don’t normally ask for favors. What kind of favor?”
“I would like a second card for The Paradise Club.”
Alex blinks at me as if he didn’t quite hear what I’ve just asked.
“Don’t tell me it’s Rosie?” His eyes narrow on me. That isn’t the reaction I was expecting.
“I thought you liked Rosie?” I question him.
“I do. Must be serious if you want to take her to the club.”
“It is,” I answer, shifting in my seat with unease.
Alex’s eyes narrow on me. “Fuck, Daniel,” he curses as he rakes his hand through his hair.
“I asked Rosie to be my girlfriend over the weekend.” Alex stares at me. “She hasn’t given me her answer yet, she needs some time.”
Alex shakes his head. “I don’t know if it’s going to happen,” Is he trying to protect Rosie from me? I thought he was a friend, “and I know why.”
My stomach sinks as a feeling of dread starts to trickle through my body. “What do you mean?”
“You know how Ivy and I went to Dubai the other month for work?” I nod. “Ivy’s been asked to set up a Starr Designs there with Pierre.” I stare at him as the pieces to a puzzle I didn’t realize I was working on start to fit. “Ivy wants Rosie to manage the office.” It feels like my friend has sucker punched me. “Ivy asked Rosie not to tell anyone, not yet. She is taking her to Dubai in a couple of weeks to check it out to see if she likes it. I also don’t know if she has spoken to Rosie about her promotion either.” I swallow hard, my heart pounds in my chest. “At the moment, Rosie thinks she’s just going to be one of the designers in the new office. Ivy is going to talk to her about it today, about being the lead designer and creating the office as if it was her own,” Oh fuck. “I’m going to assume you didn’t know?” I shake my head. “I’m sorry,” he says, giving me a sad face.
“But I love her.” The words come out without it registering. The thought that Rosie is going to leave London and live halfway across the world shocks me.
“Fuck, man, I didn’t realize. I assumed it was just a crush, I had no idea it was so much deeper. How long has this been going on?” he asks.
“Six months,” I confess.
Alex shakes his head, and I can see the confusion on his face. “You’ve been sneaking around for that long?”
“It wasn’t like that … fuck …”
“Maybe you need to start at the beginning.”
I think I might have to because I can feel the agony rippling through my chest at the thought of losing Rosie forever. I tell him about how we met at a party, had some fun, and then she left before I even had a chance to ask for more. I confess I was already smitten but Rosie had disappeared. Then I tell him about how Ivy brought her into the gallery and that’s when I saw her again. I tell him about France and about all the times we caught up and how she pushed me away because she was worried about her career, then I explain about New York, the weekend at the cottage then home.
“I can’t believe you kept this from me?”
I raise a brow at him. “As if you wouldn’t have told Ivy.”
His eyes narrow on me before a smile forms. “You’re right. I can’t hide things from her.”
“Rosie is so scared of letting Ivy down,” I explain to him.
“Ivy loves her.” I nod. “She thinks she’s one of her best designers,” then his shoulders sag, “hence why she wants her to head her first ever international office. Shit. Maybe I can ask her to not send her, give the job to someone else.”
“No,” I say forcefully, “I will not mess up her life like that. Like you said, Rosie is the best, and by the sounds of it, she wants this opportunity.”
“But you love her?” Alex argues.
“Yeah, but I don’t think she feels the same way,” I tell him sadly.
“I’m sorry.”
“It’s not your fault. Thank you for being honest with me.”
Alex smiles sadly. “I’m sure she wanted to be honest with you, but she couldn’t.” I nod. “Do you still want The Paradise Club membership?”
I shake my head. “No point now.”
“It kills me seeing you like this. She’s the first woman that you’ve fallen for.” And she will be my last. “Talk to her, convince her to stay?”
“Thanks for the chat, I appreciate it, but I’m going to get going,” I say, standing and pushing my chair out. Alex shakes my hand and I walk out of his office.
38
ROSIE
Adina walks into my office. “Hey, Ivy would like to see you, if you have a moment.”
My stomach sinks, today has been a shitty Monday by Monday standards, because all I can think about is Daniel and how amazing he was all weekend, the heartfelt confessions, the fact that a man like him might have fallen for a girl like me, he’s the man of many woman’s dreams, but is he mine?
“Sure, I’m on my way,” I say, jumping up out of my chair and shaking off my anxiety. I head on over to Ivy’s office and her assistant sends me in. “Hi,” I say, trying to mask my nervousness as I take a seat.
“Hey, how are you feeling? I’m still so dusty.” She groans, shaking her head.
“I’m all good. Thanks again for being there for the tow truck, I’m sorry it inconvenienced your weekend.”
She waves my apology away. “How were the markets? Did you love them?”
“Oh my god, yes. That village is the cutest. There were so many things I would have grabbed but I have no room in my flat.”
“Same. Did Daniel enjoy it?” She smirks.
“I think he did. There wasn’t any complaining, but to be fair, the free food samples kept him busy.”
Ivy smiles. “It usually works for Alex, too.” She chuckles before her face turns serious, and the nervousness that had disappeared returns. “I wanted to talk to you about Dubai,” Oh. Has she changed her mind? Does she not want me to go anymore? “You’re still interested in going, right?” I nod. “Good, because I wanted to talk to you about something, and I’m not sure if you will be interested. I wanted to offer you the position of manager of the Dubai office.” What! “You would have a say in how the business is run. I want you to be my right-hand woman regarding this project.” I stare in disbelief at her. “I trust you, Rosie, and I believe you are the right person to make the Dubai office one of the best in the world.” My heart is pounding loudly in my chest, I can’t believe it. Then Ivy’s phone rings, and she looks down and silences it. “It’s just Alex, I’ll call him back,” she says with a smile. “So, what do you think? I’m planning the girls trip not next week but the one after. It works for all our schedules so if you could check and let me know.” This is happening so quickly. “You don’t have to give me an answer just yet, Rosie. If you want to wait till you get back from Dubai …”
