Page 23 of Arrogant Playboy

“Come,” Daniel says, pulling Emily out the door. There’s a glow about her that she didn’t have when she was in England, her cheeks are rosy, her skin is tanned, and she is radiating sunshine and happiness.

We all scream as we rush toward her.

“We missed you,” Georgia says through her tears.

“I missed you girls, too,” Emily adds as she hugs us in disbelief.

“Wow, that’s loud.” Louis comes out, resting his shoulder against the door. As soon as Emily hears his voice, she disentangles herself from us and runs toward her man, jumping into his arms and kissing him.

“Thank you, thank you, thank you,” she says, kissing him. I’ve never seen her this happy before.

“You’re welcome. I thought you might be missing them,” Louis tells her. I notice the way he’s looking at our friend, and there is nothing but love there and I couldn’t be happier for her.

“I was. I just …” Emily says still in awe that we are here.

Louis continues to smile down at her, happy that he’s made her this happy. “Tomorrow, we’ll take you to my Paris apartment, and you can have a girls’ weekend there. I’ll stay with Matthieu and Daniel to get some overdue business stuff done,” Louis explains to her.

“Paris, guys, we’re going to Paris.” Emily squeals as she rushes back to us, and we jump for joy again.

“I’ve set drinks and food up by the pool if you want to go hang out,” Louis adds.

“Yes, come on,” Emily says, dragging us through the gorgeous home without even giving me time to stop and admire it.

“This is the life,”I say, laying back on the sun chair as we laze by the pool. We’ve had a couple of bottles of champagne and platters of cheese and bread.

“Seriously, Emmy, that man is hot.” Georgia turns and smiles at Emily.

“His brother and cousin are hot, too.” Ava smirks as she lifts her sunglasses and ogles Daniel and Matthieu, who are walking back with Louis from his studio.I will not stab my friend,I repeat several times to myself.

“You look happy. France suits you,” I tell Emily.

“I’m painting again. I know. I know … I started in Ibiza, and then Louis took me on a date to this castle in the countryside which was surrounded by lavender fields, and he set up a private painting session. We talked and painted for hours. It was great.”

“I can’t believe he’s gotten you painting again. This is phenomenal news,” Ava adds.

“It took me a little while to warm up, but once I lost myself in the stunning views, plus the great conversation and maybe a couple of wines, it felt good to be painting again.”

“He’s your muse.” Georgia winks.

“Maybe he is. I’ve missed you guys so much,” Emily says.

“We’ve missed you,” Georgia adds.

“Please tell me you’re going to be staying here forever,” Ava asks.

“Haven’t really thought about that. My job ends soon. Louis has his exhibition in New York and then I guess … I don’t know.”

“The way that man looks at you, he’s not going to let you go back to London without him,” I tell her.

“You think?” I can hear the uncertainty in her voice.

“Why can’t you stay on as his assistant?” Georgia asks.

“Because he hasn’t asked?”

“He’s going to ask,” Ava states.

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