Page 18 of One Time in Paris
He pushed the image away. “We grew up together. I respect Callum and you—care for you,both.I-I...” He struggled for the right words, then cleared his throat and gave her a look that he knew must be as desperate as he felt. “Do you really think I’m capable of doing that to you? Or any woman?”
Isla’s face paled. After a moment that lasted just a few beats too long for his comfort, she shook her head. “No, no. I just, I needed to know. I know you said you didn’t know what happened, but then you also lied about Lola?—”
“I didn’t lie about Lola.” Aiden struggled for calm, then raked his fingers through his hair. “Lola happens to be in Vegas—or she was—because of the defense and technology conference I’m attending. She’s handling negotiations with a company Camden Enterprises is trying to acquire. Making my life miserable, in fact. I promise you that her turning up at my door couldn’t have been more inopportune or unfortunate because she’s been hoping to rekindle our relationship, which I don’t want to do.”
He didn’t know why he’d just spilled all of this to Isla, but the words didn’t seem to want to stop flowing either. “I don’t remember much of what happened last night, and I’m sorry about that. Truly. I didn’t intend to bump into you last night. I just intended to get as piss drunk as possible, gamble, and go to bed. But for you to suggest that I would ever?—”
“I didn’t say that.” Isla gripped his forearm. “I just...look, it’s been a long day.” She rubbed her temples. “Anyway, I don’t want to talk about it anymore. If you say you don’t remember, I believe you. In fact, that might be because...” Her brow furrowed, and she chewed on her lower lip, her pretty blue eyes wide with worry. “You know what? It doesn’t matter.”
“It does matter. What happened last night...I could never live with myself if you believed I set out to hurt you or did, in fact, take advantage.”
“I don’t think that.”
“Then why did your friends show up like bodyguards?”
Her eyes darted toward them, and she smiled tensely. “Men don’t get it. But yeah, we travel in packs. For safety. Not for intimidation. Not to make a point. Just survival.” She held his gaze. “Last night made that painfully clear.”
His jaw tensed.Just what did she tell her friends?
“Listen, there’s another thing I need to talk to you about. Last night, we apparently promised Davy that we’d help her with a program she pitched to her boss at the Travelog Channel. I offered to host it, and...um, you offered to sponsor it. I know you might not remember.”
Aiden blinked at her, his brows lifting quizzically.
Sponsor a Travelog Channel show?
What the fuck?
“I ...why in the hell would I do that? What show? That’s absolutely not going to happen.”
Isla held his gaze as though surprised at his reaction. Then something hardened in her gaze. “Davy already pitched it, Aiden.”
His lips parted.
And ...here comes the blackmail.
There it was. The glint in her eye. The opening move in what he could only describe as a well-executed swindle...wrapped in a silky accent and wounded eyes.
Wow.
Just ...wow.
And here he thought he knew Isla Scott.
This time, when his anger returned, it struck through him with an intensity he hadn’t expected. “What exactly are you asking of me?”
“I’m not trying to force you to do anything,” Isla said quietly. “Really. But, apparently, we had promised to help, and she needs this. I don’t even know how I’ll make it work with hosting it—the show consists of six episodes in six separate locations named Paris, most in the US, but the last being in Paris, France.”
Not trying to force him?Laughable.
Little Isla Scott had grown up to be just as cutthroat as most of the women he knew.
He didn’t meet her gaze, his fingers curling at his sides. “And what, if I fund your show you keep quiet? Is that the ‘bargain’?”
“God, no!” Isla retreated a step. “That’s not what I’m trying to do here. I know it’s a big ask. I just was hoping for that...” Her eyes grew shiny with tears. “You know what? Forget it. We’ll figure something else out.”
She turned to go.
Shite. Now she’ll be in tears when she goes back to her friends, and I’m going to look even more like a villain.
