Lily and the Billionaire: The Complete Collection Read Online Free PDF Page A

old Victorian house which had been converted into flats; the building was pretty derelict-looking and badly in need of a new paint job but at least it had more character than her own, modern identikit building. He opened the door with another broad grin, and showed her in to a warm, brightly decorated room.  Multi-coloured fabrics hung from the walls, and the numerous cushions and blankets spread liberally around the floor, along with the couple of giant houseplants at the window, gave the whole place a welcoming, homely ambience which instantly put her at ease.  They sat on the sofa among sheepskin rugs and silk pillows.
     
    “Nice place”, she commented.
     
    “Yeah, it’s fantastic isn’t it? And the rent is really cheap because the landlord doesn’t want to fix it up”.
     
    “Not bad”.
     
    “Yep, I’ve been lucky with this place”, he said, getting up and moving to a speaker set which to Lily’s eye looked pretty fancy. “Music?”
     
    “Oh, yeah of course...whatever you want”, she said, still gazing around at the decorations. “It looks like you got this stuff from some pretty exotic places”.
     
    For some reason Daniel looked uncomfortable at this comment. “Oh, no, I mean, not really”, he mumbled. “I’d like to travel, but, you know...I got so many things going on here.”
     
    “Really? Like what?”
     
    “Well”, he began, as lilting Indian music began to emanate from the speaker, “you know, like work and stuff”.
     
    “Yeah, it’s kind of annoying being stuck in a bar job”, agreed Lily. “I’ve been trying to save money, but the pay just isn’t good enough”.
     
    “So you don’t want to stay working at The Corner all your life?” Lily laughed.
     
    “Come on! You’ve seen what it’s like in there!”
     
    “What do you want to do then?”
     
    “I want to paint”, said Lily firmly, although there was no real conviction in her voice. Painting had been her passion for so long that it was her automatic response when people asked her what she wanted in life. Right now, though, the dream seemed too far away to be able to give it credence.
     
    However, Daniel didn’t seem to notice this lack of faith and enthusiastically began explaining that he too was involved in an art project. Lily half-followed, still feeling a little melancholy, trying to grasp what the project was about. “Sounds interesting! What does it involve?”
     
    But Daniel was being decidedly vague about it; saying only that it was something to do with art.  “But I’m sure we have a place for you, you know, and for your paintings...”
     
    Lily’s heart leapt. A space for her to paint in? It didn’t matter what exactly the project was; she should take this chance. “Daniel, I’d love to be involved”, she told him warmly, and he stopped mid-prattle and beamed at her.
     
    “Well this calls for a celebration! I’ll get us a drink”, he said and disappeared into the kitchen. Lily sat back and took in the mesmeric twanging of the music. This was so exciting! She had not even touched a paintbrush for months, not even made a sketch. But here was a chance to use her talent in something bigger. She smiled, jiggling lightly on the cushions with happiness. Daniel returned, holding to her slight surprise a teapot and two cups.
     
    “Oh!” said Lily, “I thought you meant a proper drink”.
     
    “You don’t mind?” asked Daniel, placing the pot and cups on a small table at her feet.
     
    “Well, no – of course not. I love tea. I mean, this is England, after all!”
     
    He smiled gently and knelt before her in front of the table. “I think you will enjoy this one”, he said, pouring the tea slowly into each cup. Then he handed her cup to her, and they clinked the cups together gently, looking into each others’ eyes. “Cheers”, she said softly, and they drank.
     
    “Now, Lily”, began Daniel, still kneeling before her. “I want you to know that I misjudged you the other