Page 105 of One Time in Paris
Redness crept up Liddy’s neck as she continued to stare at him, disbelief and anger clouding her gaze. “My God, youare!Oh my God, Aiden. I knew it! I knew you two were sleeping together. I could tell from the phone call that you were both hiding something. And then youlied. Bothof you.”
“Liddy, I’m so sorry,” Aiden said, reaching for her forearm.
She stepped out of his grasp. “You know, I don’t even care that you’re dating. Like, good for you. I love both of you, and I think you could make a fabulous couple, but why in the hell did you lie to us about it?”
“Christ, Liddy, I’m sorry. This whole thing has me absolutely gutted. But think about it. You’ve been there. You know what it’s like to get involved with someone who might rock the boat and?—”
“Don’t you dare bring my personal history into this,” Liddy said, crossing her arms. “This is not the same thing.”
“But isn’t it? Didn’t you fall in love with Callum while lying to Elle and Quinn?”
Liddy’s lips pursed, and she looked away.
God, if I lose this battle with Liddy, what hope do I have with Callum?
Isla is going to kill me before Callum gets a chance.
Then Liddy’s expression suddenly softened, and she peered at Aiden. “Wait, are you saying you’re inlovewith Isla?”
Aiden glanced around the hall, suddenly more aware than ever that they weren’t entirely in a private space. It was after work hours and most of the people left were in the boardroom, but this wasn’t just a casual conversation. He nodded. “Yes. I love her.”
Liddy frowned. “When did you guys get together?”
This isn’t going to sound good.
“Officially? A couple of weeks ago.”
Liddy threw her hands up in the air and started to walk away. Then she turned and came back, jabbing a finger at him. “You’re not in love. You’re in lust. You’re in those first glorious weeks of a relationship when the other person can do no wrong.”
“I am in lust, absolutely. Not that I could ever admit that to Callum. But I alsolove her.I didn’t just meet her two weeks ago, Liddy. I’ve spent a lifetime getting to know her.”
He stepped closer. “She’s smart. Quirky. Hilarious. You think Isla is a force to be reckoned with now? Try Isla at five, trying to keep up with all of us playing rugby. Or better yet, at ten, jamming herself into the sitting room sofa to play video games or watch horror movies that would give her nightmares all night—just to prove she was tough enough. I don’t just know that her favorite color is pink, I know that it’s because her grandmother died of breast cancer and that’s why she often dyes her hair like that—to remember her. I held her hand at the funeral.”
And maybe I didn’t realize the way her tears back then broke me, but they did. God, the way she cried hurt my heart so much.
Taking a deep breath, he went on. “I know her favorite animals are tigers because she thinks they’re her so-calledspirit animal—except she would never use that term because she doesn’t love it—and I know she can’t decide if she’s Costa Rican, or American, or English but swears perfectly three ways now.”
His voice grew softer. “And she didn’t have to tell me those things. I just knew them. I won’t pretend I spent a lifetime pining after her because that’s not what I’m saying. But maybe I never understood what I felt for her until I really saw her for the woman that she is. Not a sister I never had. Not my friend’s sister. But a beautiful, spectacular woman whom I love.”
Liddy looked away from him, her body rigid. Tears welled in her eyes, then she nodded. “You do love her.” She paused, taking a deep breath. “I’m happy for you, Aiden, but I hate that you both lied to me—to us—about this.ThatI don’t understand. And you can’t expect me to lie to Callum about this.”
“I’m not expecting you to. Maybe just to give us a chance to tell him? Together? I just got back today and haven’t even seen Isla, so we’ll tell him tomorrow.”
Liddy rubbed her eyes. “I won’t make any promises, Aiden. If it comes up, I’m not lying to him. He deserves better than that from me. Please don’t cause drama at the only wedding celebration we’re having with our friends and family.”
That was fair. Liddy deserved a peaceful wedding celebration—not one filled with potential ugliness. He hated that she was worried about that at all. She didn’t need that stress.
Aiden nodded. “I can’t ask for anything more than that.”
She walked away before he could say anything else.
Damn.He’d never seen Liddy so angry.
Not that he blamed her.
Deciding to abandon his bag in his office, Aiden left. He didn’t want to be here another minute if he could avoid it. His bag would be here in the morning.
He called a car on his way to the lift—it would be there by the time he reached the building’s lobby. These were the perks that had made the job so appealing, at first. Instant command.
