Page 54 of One Time in Paris
That shouldn’t have hurt. But it did.
He almost said something cutting, something about how she had no idea what his life was like—how much pressure he was under, how many fires he was constantly putting out. But he swallowed it down.
Because she wasn’t wrong.
He’d tried to amend that side of himself, of course, but his reputation with his family and old friends like Isla existed for a reason.
But I hoped Isla saw me differently.
“I tried to call you, Isla. I just...my life is in shambles at the moment, and a deal critical to the business is hanging by a thread. I’ve been from London to Texas to New York, all while trying to work fifteen hours a day. But I’m here, aren’t I? Would I be here if I wanted to ignore you? Being hereisn’tconvenient, and I still came.”
Her arms settled to her sides. “I suppose.”
He held his breath.That’s it?He’d expected her to fight him more.
“You’re not mad?”
She let out a deep sigh. “No. I was hurt, I guess. I know you called; I just didn’t want to talk. But it’s stupid. You’re busy, and you don’t owe me text messages. Our last few interactions have just been confusing. I didn’t know you were with Lola again. It threw me off.”
A sardonic chuckle left him. “I’m not with Lola. I don’t know what she told you, but the only time I saw her was on Saturday at a business brunch. In fact, I went out of my way toavoidLola last week.” Her comment about Lola was curious, though.
Why would that throw Isla off?He peered at her. “Then you purposely avoided my calls? I thought you might be busy filming.”
She hugged her arms to her chest. “I mean, Iwas.But . . .” She furrowed her brow, stepping closer as she scanned his face. “So, you and Lola aren’t back together again?”
He almost smiled. The fact that this mattered to her—that it had worried her . . . felt like an encouragement he hadn’t known he was looking for.
And then, a deep stab went through his gut.I have to tell her about Vegas.
“No, we’re not. I swear it. Ask Mason if you’d like—he’s spent the whole of last week in an office handling negotiations with Lola and was at that brunch. I’m here because . . . I had to see you. You wouldn’t answer my bloody calls, so I’m here. To talk to you. At the first break I’ve had in work. And I’m sorry that I didn’t text. Truly.”
That hint of a smile at the corner of her mouth, the relaxing of her posture . . .why am I suddenly paying such close attention to her every mannerism?
“Now you really have me curious. You flew all the way here to talk to me?” A divot formed between her brows.
Admitting that made him feel suddenlyexposed.He nodded.
She tore her gaze from him. “Okay . . . about what?”
How was he fumbling this conversation so badly already?
Shite.
He drew a quick breath. “Let’s start over. Hello, Isla. I made it to Paris, after all. Is there any good place to eat around here? I’m starved.”
She choked out a laugh. “Oh, there’s no. . .never mind now, Aiden Camden. You’ve got my curiosity burning. What is it you want to talk about? No good conversation has ever started with the wordswe need to talk.”
He cringed. “Why don’t we go somewhere more private?”
Turning, she glanced around the mostly empty surroundings and probably thought he was a lunatic. But she didn’t press him any further.
“Do you have a car?”
He nodded.
“Would you be willing to drive me so we don’t have to wait for everyone?”
“I can do that.”
