Page 31 of Arrogant Playboy

“I’ve had fun with you, tonight,” I confess as I start clearing up our rubbish. “Watching you in your element, how happy and excited you are to help bring my ideas to life has made me forget about the outside world for a couple of hours.”

“Me too,” she says, shoving her notepad into her bag.

“What are your plans for the rest of the night?”

She lets out a sigh. “I’m thinking I might walk back home. It looks like a beautiful night.”

“Where’s home?” I ask.

“Chelsea, near the office.”

That’s a couple of miles, add in heels and a bottle of wine. “Do you want company?” The words are out before I have a chance to realize what I’ve asked.

“You want to walk me back to Chelsea?”

“I could use the fresh air. I’ve been stuck in my office all week, fighting fires. You don’t have to talk to me if you need to be alone, I just need to clear my head.”

Her brows pull together. “I’d like that.” Her answer surprises me, I thought for sure she would say no. I grab my keys and phone and lock up the gallery.

“Do you know where you are going?” I ask.

“Yeah, I put it in my phone. I have a rough idea. I like the idea of just wandering down the streets—they are so beautiful here—getting lost in the architecture, the history.”

Rosie is a beautiful woman, and in this moment, I want nothing more than to reach down, cup her face, and kiss her. But I can’t. And I won’t.

“Are you going to be okay in those heels?” I ask, staring down at her legs, quickly having a glance before zeroing in on her heels.

She shrugs. “Let’s see how I go. Otherwise, you might have to piggyback me all the way home.”

“Piggyback?” I question her.

“You know, when someone jumps on your back, and you carry them?” she explains. I shake my head. “Turn around and get ready to catch me,” she says, and the next thing I know, she’s jumping onto my back, and I grab her. “This is a piggyback ride.”

I turn my head, and our mouths are so close to one another that my eyes flick to her lips before returning. “I know, I wanted to see if you would do it.”

She gasps and hits me lightly before jumping down. I’m in fits of laughter, and she shakes her head and then flips me off which is the cutest thing. “You’re a dick. Maybe I should walk home alone.” She huffs as she starts walking away from me.

“Hold up, I’m sorry. I was messing around,” I say as I walk beside her. It’s nice being able to laugh like this, it feels like it’s been forever since I have.

“It was a good one,” she grumbles beside me, but the smile that is across her lips says she’s not angry about it.

13

DANIEL

We continue to walk through the streets of Mayfair, and she excitedly talks about the buildings, giving me historical facts as we pass certain places of interest. We stop and look in the windows of some designer shops, but she doesn’t go inside saying they are out of her budget. Most women I date would have happily dragged me into the shop and done whatever they needed to secure the bag.

“Do you want to walk through Hyde Park or go around?” she asks when we reach the park.

“Which way is quicker?”

“Through the park,” she answers.

“How are your feet?”

“Fine.” She huffs.

I would say they are not fine, and she might be in some pain. “Come with me,” I say, grabbing her hand and taking her into the nearest designer shop I can find.

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