The Arrogant Artist : A Billionaire Boss Romance (International Bad Boys Set Book 2), стр. 48
“I have a studio at my home, I can work there.” Seems he has it all worked out.
“I can’t just go on vacation with you.”
“You can work from there if you need to.” Louis pulls me into his arms again, his face nuzzling into my neck.
Butterflies flutter in my stomach. I did just say I’d give us a go. Plus, hello, Ibiza.
“Okay.”
His face lights up. “You mean it.” I nod. “Just the two of us.” I nod again. “Thank you.” He kisses me. “You won’t regret taking a chance on me, Emily.”
His words, they make me smile.
28
Louis
“How’s Emily?” Daniel asks.
“She’s doing well. Really well.”
There’s a long pause.
“Oh, for fuck’s sake, you’ve slept with her,” Daniel yells.
“It’s not like that. I like her.”
“What like a boss does a good employee.”
I let out a sigh. “No. As a man who has found a woman who’s special.”
“Oh.” Daniel goes silent.
“She’s my muse, Daniel.”
Silence again.
“You only see her as your muse?” I hear the accusation in his voice, and I don’t appreciate it.
“No, I see her as someone I want to spend my time with. To get to know. To maybe, I don’t know… maybe one day be my partner.”
Silence again.
“You have that strong a feeling for her?”
“It kind of just happened. I wasn’t expecting the feelings nor was I looking for them, but here we are.”
“Wow.”
“Don’t sound so shocked.”
“But I am.”
“Are you upset because you wanted her?” I ask through clenched teeth.
He laughs loudly. “I only said that to get you riled up, and I see it’s worked.”
“You’re a fucking asshole.”
“What are you going to do?”
“I want to take her to Ibiza.”
“Seriously?” He knows that’s my special place, my sanctuary.
“I want to see what life is like… just the two of us. Spend some quality time really getting to know her outside of work.”
“And you think she’s going to agree?”
“She already has.”
“So, you’re going to do the boyfriend thing?”
“Early days, but I want time to get to know her properly while I’m sober and not an asshole.”
“That would be a good start.” He chuckles.
“I see colors again, Daniel.”
“That’s good.”
“But I want more.”
“More?” Daniel asks.
“I love art, but after everything I’ve been through, I realize I want more in my life.”
“But art is your life,” Daniel adds.
“I know it is, but I’m not getting any younger, Daniel. Sometime in the future I’d like to think about having a family, having something more than art because I won’t always be the best. There will always be a new up-and-coming artist hungry for my title.”
“Who the hell are you, and what have you done with my brother?”
I chuckle. “I don’t know. Losing everything kind of makes you work out what’s important to you, and what you thought was the most important thing in your life may not be what you thought it was.”
“Have you… fallen in love, Louis?” Daniel asks tentatively.
“No, not yet, but Emily is special. And maybe I should take the time to find out if we could be more.”
“As long as you get me enough paintings for New York, which is in five weeks, then I don’t care what you do. Just try not to break her heart, Louis.”
“I don’t plan on it.”
“Most people don’t plan on it, but somehow they do.”
And with that, he hangs up, giving me some food for thought.
“I’m so excited.” Emily grins as we make our way from the private airport to my villa in Ibiza. Jumping into my old convertible, I throw our bags into the trunk, then give Emily a kiss as I close her door. The smile that forms on her face quickens my heartbeat. I jump in beside her, taking her hand in mine and kissing it before speeding off into the Mediterranean sunshine.
“It’s so beautiful,” Emily marvels as we drive along the windy, rocky coastline of the island.
“It’s been too long since I have been here.”
We soak in the warmth of the Ibiza sun as it pours over us. Emily’s strawberry blonde hair is blowing around her like golden spun silk, her eyes are closed, her creamy skin turning a light shade of pink, and there’s a smile curved against her rose-colored lips. I try and commit that image to my memory—Emily looking so carefree and relaxed.
A little while later, we’re pulling into my whitewashed villa’s driveway. It’s been way too long since I’ve been back here. Thankfully, I got the manager to air it out before we arrived, and I also asked them to fill up the cupboards with food and, of course, wine. I want Emily to relax and enjoy her time here.
Emily’s emerald eyes take in the villa in front of her. It isn’t as grand as my home in the South of France, but it’s simple and has everything you need. The view of the ocean is the reason I bought this little home on the coast. Once you step through those front doors, the turquoise blue of the Mediterranean calls you to her like a siren to a sailor.
“Louis,” Emily whispers my name in awe. That’s the exact reaction I had when I first saw what was hidden behind the front door.
“I know. It’s beautiful, isn’t it?”
Emily rushes to the edge of the balcony, the land below falls away as the home hugs the rocky cliffs. The pool is on the next level which juts out over the cliff like a white springboard to the ocean below it. You can’t tell where the ocean and the sky begin because they are the same colors.
“This is paradise, Louis.” Emily squints staring into infinity. I move in behind, wrapping myself around her, and she leans back into me.
“I’m glad you like it here.”
“I love it.” She turns to me. “How could anyone not?” I can see by the look on her face, she means every word.
“Elisabeth didn’t.”
Emily freezes.
Dammit! I didn’t mean to bring my ex up—it just came out. “I… sorry…”
Emily shakes her head. “Don’t ever feel bad for mentioning her, Louis. I’m a big girl,