Page 76 of Arrogant Playboy

“As long as you were with me.” He smirks.

“Maybe,” I say, elbowing him gently. “We could look at some sun loungers that could double as beds, you don’t want to traipse wet feet through the home to get to a bedroom when the mood strikes.” I wink at him.

“Don’t tease me, woman,” he growls as he follows me back inside.

We pass the kitchen and dining as we walk past the stairs and toward the front door where a sitting room is located. My eyes are drawn to the stunning floors throughout the bottom level.

“I’m not sure what to do with this room,” he says, pointing to the sitting room, which has been painted charcoal. It’s dark and moody, just like its owner. There’s a gorgeous stone fireplace which is a nice centerpiece. Even though the room is dark, it has windows surrounding it on all sides letting in natural light.

“With the fireplace, it would make a nice winter living room. The dark colors make it cozy. You have your summer living room, which is next to the kitchen and connects with the outside, this would make a nice space to warm yourself by the fire.”

“I’m envisioning a rug right here,” he points in front of the fireplace, “something comfortable that you can lay on while I eat you.” He grins.

I swallow at the image he’s put in my mind. “Noted,” I say, moving on as he shows me the space next door that he would like as an office. Then back along the corridor is the games room as per the floor plan. Daniel says he would very much like to turn this into the perfect games room including a pool table. There’s already a gorgeous onyx bar set up there, then another sitting area that has a fireplace. Somewhere he can hang out with his boys when they come down. There’s a guest bedroom, bathroom, and powder room on the same level, as well as a utility room on the ground floor.

We then head upstairs, where there are three bedrooms, two bathrooms, and the primary suite that is as big as my flat back in town. There’s this enormous marble tub that sits under the window and you can lay in it and look out over the backyard.

“Do you like baths?” I ask Daniel.

“Not alone, I don’t.” He grins.

“I don’t think you’ll be enjoying this gorgeous tub alone. It’s so deep and wide, aw, it’s perfect,” I gush.

“You can join me anytime. Guessing you like baths, then?”

“Who doesn’t? My bath isn’t very deep. I can’t stretch out in it but it’s better than nothing. There’s nothing better than cominghome from a stressful day at work and sinking into the hot water and letting your trouble float away.”

“I like to do that too.”

I nod as I scribble in my notepad. We end up back downstairs, my notepad filled with ideas. It’s late in the afternoon by the time we finish.

“I think I have everything I need from you. I don’t think it will take us long to fit out the place, but we probably should get everything finalized next week if you want it all in so you can use it before summer is over which is fading fast.”

“The sooner the better, whatever you need from me, I’m yours,” he states, not missing that hidden meaning, and as scary as that should feel it doesn’t anymore.

“Great. Well, I just need to measure up some things, I might be about an hour. If you want to go anywhere instead of hanging around here that’s all good,” I say, holding my notepad against my chest.

“Come find me when you’re done. I have work to do so I’ll be sitting outside,” he states, walking away from me.

28

DANIEL

Anotification pops up on my phone alerting me to my order arriving. I head toward the front door and meet them there, then grab the bags and head back toward the pool area. I bought some towels and rugs, bottles of water, some nibbles, and two camp chairs for some fun after work is done, however long that will be.

The sun is scorching down on me, which is unusual for an English summer’s day. Rosie doesn’t look like she is anywhere near done, and the pool looks inviting. I haven’t used it yet. I think it might be heated but I don’t think it’s switched on. Should I? I run my hand through the water, and it feels nice.Fuck it.I’m going for a swim. I start stripping off and launch myself into the pool. My heated skin embraces the cool bite of the water and I enjoy the silence of being submerged for a couple of seconds before launching myself back up to the surface. I emerge and start to do laps up and down the pool, loving the way my muscles stretch through the water. I lose myself in the steady rhythm, my stress melting away. I stop when I sense a presence, and I see Rosie looking down at me with a smirk.

“Are you finished?” I ask as I prop my chin on my arms at the edge of the pool.

“Yes.”

“Do you want to join me in here?”

“Is it cold?”

I shake my head. “It’s heated.”

“I don’t have a towel.”

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