Page 107 of One Time in Paris
Turning, she found him wearing an undershirt and gray joggers, his hair still damp from the shower they’d taken together. He’d stayed behind in the bathroom to shave while she went to make tea. But between having sex immediately after coming in the doorway, then showering, they’d barely talked.
She lifted her lips to receive his kiss. “I’ll have you know, this is about where my culinary skills end. I can boil a kettle and make decent scones, but I survived primarily on takeaway until I moved back with my mother, who does all the cooking for me now.”
“I can’t remember the last time I turned on my stove if I’m honest. There’s never enough time to eat here.”
Isla let her gaze wander over the modestly-sized kitchen. For a man worth billions, Aiden certainly didn’t live like one. The kitchen was clean, not a speck of food or clutter on the counters. He’d barely had anything in the fridge when she’d opened it earlier to look for milk.
She got the feeling this wasn’t a home—not really. A place to sleep, yes. To shower.
To pass through.
Aiden moved her teacup and the kettle to the side, then lifted her onto the counter. Pushing her knees apart, he stepped between her legs and slid his hands up her thighs. He leaned toward her and pressed a kiss to the curve of her throat. “Spend the night with me tonight.”
She gave a moan of approval. “I can’t. I walked out on my mom and Callum when you texted earlier. I told them the production team needed me for an emergency meeting. They didn’t question it, but they’ll definitely think it’s strange if I stay out all night.”
“The irony of you keeping this hidden isn’t lost on me—especially considering you didn’t want to be a family secret.” Aiden pulled back and searched her eyes. “But I promised Liddy I’d tell Callum tomorrow. It has to happen.”
She furrowed her brow, ignoring the guilt that came with his words. Shehadprolonged the secret.
She’d had to.
“We can’t tell him tomorrow. It has to be on Sunday.” Then she shook her head. “I don’t understand why you told Liddy?—”
“She said that there had been some drama with you. That I shouldn’t pretend I didn’t know about it. I just assumed that?—”
“That it was about us.” Isla grimaced. “No, that wasn’t it.” She drew a deep breath. “Do you remember how I told you Boyd wanted to film at Liddy and Callum’s party? I forgot to ask him even though Davy sent me all the paperwork to get his release, and the production team planned around it. Davy asked me about it on Monday. We got into a fight, and I realized there wasn’t any way to get Callum to agree to it—which I barely did—andtell him about you. So, it has to be Sunday, after the party. Besides, it would be so much drama if we tell him beforehand.”
Aiden pulled back, his brows raising. “Isla, that’s going to make everything so much worse for us.”
“I know, but the production is a more immediate issue?—”
“I don’t care about the production.” Aiden’s blue eyes flashed with anger. “I care aboutyou. About trying to salvage my friendship with your brother. If we wait to tell him until after the party, he’s going to not only feel lied to but also taken advantage of. Not to mention, I promised Liddy.”
She stiffened at the intensity of irritation in Aiden’s tone.
A defensive feeling uncurled in her gut. “Well, it’s done already. If I tell him tomorrow, he could back out of allowing the production team into the party. I didn’t know what else to do?—”
“Well, to begin with, you could have talked to me about it.” Aiden stepped back. “Considering this affects us both. You can’t just sayit’s done.How would you like it if I said the same thing about promising Liddy to tell Callum tomorrow?”
Her jaw dropped. “You’ve got to be joking. You’re the one who told Liddy in the first place. How is that my fault?”
“I wouldn’t havetoldLiddy anything if you’d just communicated with me about the situation with the production crew—not that I would have supported it. We can’t do that to Callum, Isla.”
She threw him a glare, reaching for her teacup to calm down. “And when was I supposed to tell you? You’ve been working nonstop, Aiden. I barely hear from you once you go into work mode. That’s all you have time for.”
She’d aimed the barb well enough—he flinched.
“You knew who I was when we started this, Isla. I’ve been working on the most important business deal I’ve ever done in my life for the past few weeks. A deal vital to the company. Yet I’ve taken the time to visit Texas, Arkansas, and Tennessee—for you. In the middle of everything. I can’t give any more than that. Take it or leave it.”
Isla closed her eyes, gripping the edge of the counter.What are we doing?
This was exactly how things would always be between them.
Her getting the scraps of his time.
Resentment and worry bubbling in the background.
She could see it now.
