Page 87 of Arrogant Playboy

“Sounds like there’s a but at the end of that statement.” Lauren smirks.

“Ivy’s my boss. He’s my client. I’m moving to Dubai,” I explain to her.

“I get it, but you also need to have fun. Life is short,” she says, wrapping her arm around my shoulder and pulling me to her.

33

DANIEL

“You made it,” Alex greets me warmly.

“Sorry, traffic. Where’s the birthday girl? I have her gift here,” I ask, handing him the bag.

“Upstairs with the girls doing something, they’re all up there. Just place it here, I think Camryn’s set up a present table somewhere,” Alex explains, looking around the foyer. “You can dump your stuff in your room and then meet us outside, I’ll have a scotch waiting for you, looks like you might need one.”

I walk upstairs, dump my bag in my room, and head back down.

“Daniel, you made it.” I see Ivy coming down the stairs with her friends behind her.

“Happy birthday, beautiful,” I say, kissing her cheeks.

“Thanks. You remember, my sister Camryn. And Olivia, and I’m not sure if you’ve met Kimberly before,” Ivy says, introducing me to her stunning friends.

“Lovely to meet you, ladies.”

Ivy links arms with me. “Have you seen Alex and the boys? They are probably outside,” she says, escorting me to where all the guests are. There’s a large marquee that engulfs a largeportion of the backyard, and when you walk inside the tent there are booths, chandeliers hanging from the ceiling, flowers everywhere, party lights, and a DJ set up in a corner. Staff are setting up tables of food and there’s a wall of champagne glasses. It’s extravagant, but I would expect nothing less from Ivy and Alex. I glance around quickly to see if Rosie is here yet, but she doesn’t seem to be. Alex hands me a tumbler filled with amber liquid, and I take a large gulp to calm myself.

I continue to talk with my friends, but every person who enters the marquee has my attention, and with every arrival, I become even more disappointed that it’s not her.

“Are you looking for someone?” Ivy asks.

“He’s scoping out the room for single women,” Alex teases.

I give him a smile as if to say he’s right, as I go back to sipping my drink.

“How’s everything else going? Work, women?” Alistair chuckles. I’m about to open my mouth but then I see her, looking like an absolute vision. Everything around me stops, and all I can see is her. She looks absolutely glowing. My eyes take in the sway of her hips as she walks through the marquee, her breasts bouncing with every step she takes toward our group. “Something seems to have caught your attention,” Alistair muses.

“She’s the woman decorating my cottage,” I confess, taking a sip of my drink, hoping to throw my friends off the scent.

“She works with Ivy?”

“Yeah, and her best friend is Emily, Louis’ new partner.” Alistair turns and looks at me in surprise. “I know, right?”

“Small world. Anything going on between the two of you? She seems to have captured your attention.”

I shake my head. “She looks beautiful, I wasn’t the only one staring at her.” This makes me want to pluck every man’s eyes out who dares look at Rosie as if she could be theirs.

“Which means you are even more interested.” He smirks knowingly.

“Remember Ivy warned me not to mess with her.”

Alistair bursts out laughing. “That was the girl? You’re in so much trouble.”

“I know,” I grumble.

“Luckily, there are plenty of other women here who would happily occupy your bed tonight. Not the one you aren’t allowed to touch.” He elbows me.

He’s right, but I don’t want anyone else. “Yeah, I guess,” I say, taking a sip of my drink.

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