The Casanova (The Miles High Club #3)(29)

He’s like a fucking rock star.

I bite my lip and raise an unimpressed eyebrow. Ugh, Casanova Miles . . . give me a fucking break.

Who cares. I click out of images and go back to the main page.

I read on.

His art collection is one of the best in the world, estimated to be worth over two hundred million dollars, and is housed in a private gallery in New York. It is understood that his most intimate pieces are kept in his London home.

I screw my face up.

“Private art gallery, you are kidding me?” I mutter under my breath.

I look up at the Bentley, completely rattled.

What the ever-loving fuck?

Elliot’s words come back to me from the other night. He isn’t looking for hot.

He’s looking for extraordinary.

I bite my thumbnail as I think about what that means.

Given all of the beautiful women from around the world that he’s dated.

Extraordinary.

Even that choice of word is strange.

And when I meet her, I will know.

I go back over our conversation.

I believe in love at first sight, when our eyes meet. We will both know.

I bite my lip to stifle my smile.

The doors open and I see Elliot stride out, every step purposeful.

Briefcase in hand. Back ramrod-straight. He doesn’t have to assert power, it comes naturally. Down to his bones, Elliot Miles is a born leader.

He nods and says something to his driver as he gets into the backseat. The door closes.

The car pulls out into the traffic and I watch as it drives away.

When our eyes meet. We’ll both know.

I smile softly.

Elliot Miles still believes in magic.

And I know it’s not me that he’s waiting to meet.

I’m not extraordinary.

We didn’t have that breathtaking eye-lock moment and we most definitely don’t get along.

This isn’t a grand love story.

I’m just an ordinary girl and his crush is horizontal.

I lean my chin on my hand as I stare out of the window.

But that’s okay.

One day a man is going to walk in here and sweep me off my feet and we’ll ride off into the sunset and live happily ever after.

I smile wistfully. I guess Elliot Miles and I do have one thing in common.

I believe in magic too.

We climb out of the car as cameras flash, and Daniel grabs my hand and pulls me in through the fancy black doors. “See.” He smiles proudly. “This is why you have to look good at all times. The paps are here.”

I tip my head back and laugh out loud at his delusion. “They aren’t here to get us, you idiot, they’re here to snap the actual celebrities. And please don’t say the word paps, you sound ridiculous.”

It’s Saturday night and we are at the opening of some swanky club.

Daniel flashes a broad smile as he adjusts the straps on my dress. “Hey, we are on the guest list.”

“You’re on the guest list, I’m just the slummy sidekick.”

“And don’t you look fabulous.”

I smile nervously as I run my hands down my thighs. “Are you sure this isn’t too much?”

He links my arm through his as we progress in the line. “Darling, there’s no such thing as too much.”

I giggle as I glance down at myself: I’m wearing a hot pink, fitted minidress with little capped sleeves and nude strappy stilettos. My hair is out and tucked strategically behind one ear, and for the first time ever, I’m wearing pink lipstick. It kind of looks like I just stepped out of a high-fashion sixties magazine, and I hate to admit it, but I do look good.

We arrive at the front of the line and Daniel hands over our tickets. “Pity Rebecca didn’t come.”

“I know, she’s in such a rut lately. She won’t go anywhere,” I reply.

Daniel scrunches his nose up. “This is why I’m not falling in love any time soon.” He leads me into the club.

“Why, because you’re not boring?” I ask.

“Precisely.” He chuckles.

My eyes widen as I look around. “Oh wow.”

The ceilings are so high that I can’t even see the roof; it’s dark and glamorous, with staircases around the edges that lead to the upper levels.

“Now this. Is a club.” Daniel smiles. “Let’s go for a walk and check it out.”

Hand in hand we walk around the bottom level. There’s a dance floor and tables and chairs. Huge leather couches are placed around a fireplace area. We walk up to the next level to find a swanky cocktail bar where the music is demure, and just wow at the people there.

“Everyone is so beautiful,” I whisper, feeling very out of place.

“I know,” Daniel replies. “I don’t know who to look at first, I’m going cross-eyed, it’s like a fucking smorgasbord.”

I giggle as we walk up the stairs to the next level, which has a completely different feel. This has a whisky bar and an outdoor terrace with large, comfy chairs and fairy lights. “Oh, this is my favorite floor.” I smile as I look out at the terrace. “Can we sit there?”

“Yes, let’s check out the top level and we’ll come back down to have a cocktail here.”

“Okay.”

He leads me up the crowded stairs, and when we get to the top I am completely flabbergasted.