“I’m nervous.”
“Me, too,” I confess, rubbing my hands together. “How about a selfie?” I ask, then give her a quick wink.
“I’m fairly certain your adoring fans only want to see you, Louis, especially in this tuxedo…” I raise an eyebrow, “… they are going to go crazy.”
I don’t care about the faceless people online. I want the woman in front of me to go crazy for me instead.
I’m not supposed to be having these thoughts.
We’re starting over, remember?
“Where should we take the photo?”
She looks around my home. “Is the limousine here? That will be perfect. You’ll look like the James Bond of the art world.” Emily gives me a playful wink.
She’s just doing her job, Louis. This isn’t a date, I remind myself.
She rushes off in search of the limousine.
“Have fun tonight.” Felix gives me a wink and walks outside to join his team.
Taking in a deep breath, I join Emily beside the limousine.
“Stand right there…” She points, and I do as I’m told. “Don’t pose like that. Give me a natural look. You’re not on your way to a school dance. Stop standing like that.”
I cross my arms over my chest and sigh. Taking ridiculous photos isn’t my scene.
“Relax your arm.” Emily directs me, and I try to do as she says. “Give me brooding.” Instead, I give her daggers. “Perfect. The women are going to love that smolder.”
“Are we finished?” I groan.
“Yes. Yes.”
“Let me take a photo of you two,” Felix interrupts.
“Oh no, you don’t need one of me.”
“Come on… if I have to, you do, too.” She wrinkles her nose but reluctantly hands over her cell to Felix, then she joins me beside the limousine.
“Now it really looks like a school prom photo,” I whisper into her ear as I rest my hand on her hip.
Felix snaps a couple of photos with a huge grin on his face. “Have fun, you two.” He hands Emily back her cell and waves us goodbye.
I hold open the limousine door for her. Emily gathers up her dress and attempts to gracefully slide into the car, but there’s a lot of dress, so I help push the last bits of fabric into the car, making sure I don’t close the door on anything.
I run around the other side and jump in as she gives me a wide smile.
The limousine takes off. It would normally be a two-hour drive from here to Monaco, but sitting in a car with Emily for that amount of time, in a confined space, I didn’t think I could be a gentleman for that long, so instead, I have a surprise planned.
“Come on, let’s take a car selfie.” She rolls her eyes but smiles, then hands over her cell. “Remember, you, too, are showing the world you’re fine without him.” Emily slides over beside me, letting me place my arm around her shoulders for the smallest of moments. I snap the image and then hand it back to her.
“What hashtag should I use?” she asks, reminding me of our last photograph.
“Think you should use the same #dreamscometrue, #bestartistintheworld maybe even #fangirling.” She gives me a light tap on my arm making me laugh. It doesn’t take long until we arrive at our first stop.
“Where are we?” She looks up from her cell. “Why are we at a heliport?”
My grin widens. “I wanted to surprise you.”
“Well, I’m surprised, but I still don’t get why we’re here.”
“We’re taking a helicopter to the event.” Emily blinks a few times while her head shakes infinitesimally.
“But why?” she asks when stepping from the car.
“Because who wants to be stuck in a car for two hours.”
Emily shrugs as if my answer makes sense and then tells me, “I’ve never been in one before.”
Really? Her ex really was a dickhead.
The pilot greets us and opens the door for Emily to slide in. She looks at the step and then her dress. Okay, I didn’t think this through all that well—ballgowns and helicopters probably don’t mix all that well. But before she realizes there’s a problem, I pick her up in my arms making her squeal, then step onto the step and place her inside. After she’s securely in place, I rush around to the other side and jump in.
The pilot hands her the headphones, and she mouths, “Thank you.”
“Testing, testing,” the pilot talks into his microphone. “Welcome aboard. The flight to Monaco tonight should only take fifteen minutes. The weather is perfect for the flight, and the skyline should be lit up, so take as many pictures as you want.”
After his announcement, we’re up in the air and zooming along the coastline in minutes. I keep looking over at Emily whose face is planted against the glass, the pilot pointing out landmarks. The bright lights of the Monte Carlo casinos come into view as do the luxury yachts that line the shore.
It’s a quick journey, and now we’re descending for landing at the heliport where there’s another limousine waiting for us. I hold out my arms to her to help her out, and she takes them. I spin her around while holding onto her which makes her giggle. She slowly slides down my body, her warm, soft flesh against mine. We both stay in the moment maybe for a little longer than is professional, but it feels nice. Right. I take her hand and pull her toward the limousine. From here, it’s not far to the gala, and there’s not enough time for me to do all the things I’d love to be doing to her right now.
“So, are you ready for tonight?” she asks, looking over at me.
“No,” I confess.
Emily reaches out and places her hand on my thigh lightly, my body instantly reacting to her touch. “Do we need a safe word just in case?”
“In case of what? Is Christian Gray going to be
