Page 98 of Arrogant Playboy

“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.”

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