She looked behind her to see Cole staring at her ass. A thrill went right through her body from his gaze.
A long flute was handed to her. She sipped at the liquid.
“Be careful. The champagne at these functions is strong.” Callum took a sip of his own glass. She nodded her head then began to look at each painting she could see.
“There is not a lot of art work here.”
“That’s because there is a showing around the back,” Cole said.
Within moments Simone spotted her brother Daniel. A blond, woman with fake boobs was draped on his arm. Simone chuckled taking another quick glance around the room.
“I need to talk to some people. Do you want to come?” Callum asked.
“No. I’ll go and check out the artwork and see if any of the stuff is considered real art.” Simone moved away from him.
The moment he was gone, Simone felt the emptiness from his absence.
Cole had gone as well to mingle with Callum leaving her alone.
“Well, I have to say I didn’t think the rumours were true,” Daniel said, standing next to her.
“You lost your date.” Simone sipped her drink wishing it was water instead of alcohol.
“She’s eyeing up the next fool to take her in. How are you?”
“I’ve been better as you can imagine. What brings you here?” She turned to him. Her brother had aged some since the last time she’d seen him.
“I’m a collector of fine art, Simone. You should remember that. I thought you’d never mingle with father’s people.” Daniel drained his flute without blinking. She knew he must be used to the more luxurious lifestyle.
“I’m not mingling. I’m here with a really nice date.”
“Yeah, I’ve heard a rumour or two surrounding your date.”
Simone shook her head. “You don’t get to do that here, Daniel. Your time for checking out my dates ran out after I turned eighteen.”
“As your brother I still get to look out for you. Gallagher is a hard man. He’s not the settling down type, Simone. I thought you wanted what Mom never had.”
She turned back to the picture in front of her. The landscape wasn’t all that great. She recalled what Cole had said about the artist’s nudes. She hoped Cole was correct.
“I’ve changed, Daniel. Trying to find the dream was not working out. Besides, I don’t think settling down is in any man’s veins.” When she was a little girl she’d told Daniel how she was going to find her Prince Charming, and he was going to marry her and never cause her any heartache. Getting older had put an end to that nightmare. Now she didn’t even try to look for the right guy. She was happy with the few encounters she had.
“There are men out there looking for the right woman, Simone. There is a guy looking for you.”
“Then tell him to stop looking because she’s found the right guy,” Callum said, wrapping his hands around her. Cole laughed on her other side. She noticed her brother was smiling.
“I think you need to look at what you’ve got. You might be surprised.” Daniel raised his empty glass to them, then left.
“A bit possessive much,” she said, pulling away and turning to face the man in question.
“You’re mine, Simone. No other man gets to touch my stuff.”
“First, I’m a person. A woman. And second, Daniel, who I was talking to, whose last name is also Allusifa, is my brother.”
She sipped her glass. Before Callum got a chance to speak they were interrupted by the artist himself.
“Callum and Cole, the two people who were able to make this possible.”
Simone stared at the man coming toward them. “Elliot Jackson?” she asked.
Sunny paused staring at her. “Well I’ll be damned. Little Simone Allusifa has all grown up.”
The artist walked toward her, swinging her off her feet. She let out a squeal and a protest. Sunny put her down.
“You’re going by Sunny now?” she asked.
“Sunny has a lot better ring to it than Elliot.”
“I take it you two know each other?” Cole said.
“Yeah, we were in the same year at school. I never knew you’d gone on to embrace your art.”
“That’s what you do when you love to paint. You find some sap who is willing to show your work. I’ve been lucky,” Sunny said.
“You certainly have, but I’m more interested in the nudes I’ve heard so much about.” Simone forgot about the two men. Seeing a familiar face from her past was helping. Her brother’s presence helped a great deal as well.
“Yes, I’ll give you an exclusive tour.”
“I’m looking forward to it.”