Page 49 of Arrogant Playboy

“I sure as hell hope so. I need a drink,” I say, heading toward the bar. “Everything set for New York?”

“Yeah, Deveraux said Louis’ art has arrived in one piece as has Emily’s. He’s really impressed with Emily’s work and thinks the exhibition is going to be great. What happens if this launches Emily onto the art scene? Do you think Louis is going to be okay with that?”

I hand him a glass of scotch. “Are you asking if Emily becomes the new ‘it’ artist if Louis is going to be jealous?”

“Not jealous because I think he would be proud of her, I don’t know …”

I take a sip of my drink and think about what my cousin is saying. “If she does become the hot new thing, and they can fix what has happened between them, the two of them together would be unstoppable.”

“They could be the power couple of the art world. If they wanted to be,” Matthieu adds.

“I have faith. From what I’ve heard, Emily has been working with a therapist and every day she seems to be coming back to herself.”

“Who have you been hearing this information from?” he asks.

“Rosie,” I answer before realizing, and Matthieu bursts out laughing.

“I knew it. You couldn’t keep your eyes off her the entire time she was here. Has something happened? Have you been hooking up with Rosie?” my cousin questions me.

“No,” I say, shaking my head. “I’ve actually hired her to decorate my cottage down in Kent.” Matthieu raises a brow at me. “Look, things between Rosie and I are delicate.”

“So, there is something?”

I nod. “I can’t believe I’m going to say this, but please, this is between us. I don’t have anyone else to talk to about it, and honestly, I don’t know what to do.”

Matthieu indicates to follow him out to the terrace. We take a seat and take in the sights of Paris. “Continue, I promise I won’t say a word.”

I nod. “Months ago we hooked up at a party before either one of us knew who the other was. And we had fun, so much fun, and then she left me. She didn’t want to catch up and do it again.”

“New experience, hey?” my cousin teases.

“Yeah, something like that. I couldn’t stop thinking about her, and then Ivy brought her designer to the art gallery and it was her. But she wasn’t happy to see me.”

“Was she playing hard to get?”

I shake my head. “She didn’t want to be got at all. She told me point blank that we would never repeat that night, she wasn’t interested. Then Ivy goes and leaves us together for lunch, and you know things were stressful between Louis and Emily, and I was dealing with his bullshit. I needed to let loose, and once sex was off the table we both ended up enjoying each other’s company. It was weird. I liked hanging out with her. We laughed and talked, and it was easy.”

Matthieu bursts out laughing. “I shouldn’t be laughing because it’s kind of sad, but that is usually what a healthy relationship looks like. They are your best friend. Look at Mom and Dad, when you see them together, they are always making the other laugh. Guess this is the first time I’ve realized how much your parents messed you up.”

“You think I’m messed up?”

He shakes his head. “No, but I think the toxic environment you grew up in with your father may have done more damage than you realize. I mean, after everything Louis has been through, he still has hope for love.”

“You don’t think I want love?” I question him.

“Yes, you do, but maybe you don’t know what it looks like.”

“And you think I’m in love with Rosie?”

“Whoa now, I didn’t say that, but it’s interesting that you went there. What else has been happening between the two of you?”

I scrub my face as I lean forward. “So much. I can’t stop thinking about her. I hired her to decorate my cottage so I could be closer to her.”

“That’s messed up,” Matthieu adds.

“I know, but she is also the best person for the job, she is a phenomenal designer,” I add quickly.

“Do you hang out with each other a lot?”

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