Page 5 of Arrogant Playboy

“Have you ever fallen for his charms?” I question her out of curiosity.

Delphine chuckles as if my question is absurd. “I’m not into men. Probably the reason I got the job as all his other assistants tried to sleep with him. I would rather sleep with your boss,” she confesses.

Which makes me laugh. “I think you’d have a fight on your hands with Alex.”

Delphine rolls her eyes. “He comes in all the time as he’s best friends with Daniel. You can’t hate the guy, can you?”

Ivy’s fiancé is best friends with my one-night stand.Good one, Rosie.“I know, right?” I say, agreeing with her and sharing a laugh that thaws the frostiness.

“Anyway, just know I’m not being a bitch. I’m just looking out for you. You seem too nice to be a notch on his belt.” Thanks, I think that was a compliment, but she’s too late. I already am, or is it that he’s a notch on mine? “Here …” she says, handing me her business card. “If you need any art for your clients, let me know and I can source what you need.”

I take the card from her and smile. “Thanks.”

3

DANIEL

Iwas not expecting that gorgeous redhead from the other weekend to walk into my gallery. I haven’t been able to get her out of my mind, I don’t even think we swapped names. She wasn’t anything I was looking for, but as soon as I laid eyes on her I knew I wanted her. Thank fuck the feeling was mutual. Fueled by something in the air, when she suggested a walk through the gardens of the estate, I gladly followed. The next thing I knew I had her bent over a stone table and was fucking her.

Fuck, I remember how tight she was. The sounds that fell from her mouth as I fucked her. The pleading, the gasping, I remember everything, and then she ran. Usually, I’m the one who can’t get away fast enough. It’s weird having the tables turned on me.

And now here she is walking in with my best friend’s fiancée as her work colleague.

Dammit, Ivy, for making her off-limits.

I try not to mix business and pleasure. It may not seem that way thanks to Ivy’s teasing. Unfortunately, taking in the gorgeous redhead beside Ivy, looking like an innocent Englishrose, with those verdant eyes, smattering of freckles across her nose, and pouty blush pink lips,I want her again.And the crimson tint to her apple cheeks is a sharp contrast to the fiery glare she sent my way when I pretended not to know who she was.

“Are you really going to come to dinner next week?” Ivy asks, pulling me from my thoughts about her designer.

I know it’s a dick thing to not attend my friends’ dinners, but they are all happy and in love, and then there’s me, the odd one out.

“Is Rosie going to be there?” I smirk.

“Don’t you touch her, you hear me. She’s a good girl and someone like you will only break her heart,” Ivy warns.

I know just how good she can be. “Am I that bad?”

Ivy’s face softens. “You’re a good guy who likes variety,” Ivy explains. She’s not wrong. I do love women. All women. “Rose is an accomplished woman whose focus is on her career, and I won’t have you disrupting that. Go play somewhere else just not in my company.” The last sentence is said as a warning.

It’s a little too late for that. “I’ll be on my best behavior.” I grin at her which has her shaking her head.

“How are things with your brother?”

“He’s currently in Ibiza, falling for his assistant.”

“The one he hated you for hiring?” Ivy asks.

“Yep, that one. After Monaco and everything that happened there …” Ivy nods in understanding, “… I think it’s brought the two of them closer.”

“There’s a fine line between hate and love. Is he happy?”

“I think he is,” I answer, shoving my hands into my pockets.

“He deserves that and so do you.”

“I don’t have time. My artists are demanding enough as it is. Adding in a girlfriend who will want more time than I can give won’t work.”

“When you find the right woman, you will do anything to be with her.” Ivy smirks.

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