Page 65 of One Time in Paris
“You’re not succeeding in diverting my thoughts from adult activities with those suggestions,” he said dryly. “What do we need those for?”
“You’ll see. What do you have that we could tie?”
Tie?“I have a tie.”
“Perfect. Grab it.” She opened the door, then stepped out onto the footpath beside the parked car.
Baffled by her, Aiden shut off the engine and went around to the boot for his suitcase. He pulled out one of his silk ties and joined her on the footpath. He held it out to her. “Here, Miss Skye.”
She grinned and took it from him. “Follow me.”
“Was there any other option? I suppose I could leave you here on the side of the road—that might prove my impulsiveness.”
Her pace was brisk as they passed the fountain and the unimpressive Eiffel Tower, heading for a chain-link fence. ..covered in locks. “Is that?—”
“A love lock fence,” Isla said with a wide smile. She stopped in front of it. “Cute, right?”
Cutewas one word for it. “Because this is Paris. I get it.”
She lifted her chin. “I think we should commemorate our marriage. When in Paris, you know.”
He guffawed, finally following her train of thinking. “You want to tie my tie to that fence?”
“Together. In the absence of a lock, this is the best I could come up with. And anyway, it’s a good symbol. Not permanent, like a lock. Easily undone, like our marriage. Just the two of us, passing through, and having a fun memory together.”
He didn’t comment on the fact that it wasn’t just a tie, but an expensive silk one.
Yet. ..this was so Isla.
At his hesitation, she added, “You came all this way to Paris, Aiden. You may as well do something to remember your time here.”
He searched those blue eyes of hers, heat flaring through him. As though he wouldn’t remember that kiss from the hotel room. It would probably haunt him—as would their conversation from the car. “All right.”
She turned toward the fence, and he came up behind her, her back resting lightly against his chest. This should feel awkward and silly, but somehow, it didn’t.
Somehow, it feels perfect.
Like she’s meant to be in my arms.
His hands brushed hers as they tied the necktie through a link in the fence. “At least we’ll remember this,” Isla teased as they finished. “We should probably take a selfie with it, don’t you think?” She fished her mobile from her handbag, then squatted to be at eye level with it.
Helpless to do anything other than follow her lead, he squatted beside her, then smiled as she pointed at the tie. “This is ridiculous, you know that.”
She kissed his cheek and took another picture. “It’s adorable, and you’re going to smile every time you think about it.”
She’s probably right about that.He stood, then helped her to her feet.
“We should probably go. We have a long drive ahead of us,” he said, squeezing her hands gently.
She nodded, her lips parting as though she wanted to say something. Then she thought better of it and walked with him in silence back to the car.
The air between them had shifted as they pulled back onto the road—to something comfortable. Friendly. Isla didn’t speak for a while, clearly lost in thought, playing her quiet music instead.
At last, when they pulled onto the highway, she said, “You know, I may not run a multi-billion-dollar business, but I actually understand what you’re going through. I didn’t set out to be the manager of an inn in Costa Rica—whether or not I love it.” She rolled her head to the side, then tilted her seat back, setting her feet up on the dash.
He tried not to let himself be distracted by the smooth, bare skin of her svelte legs.
“Pop your legs down, love. I’ve heard of terrible accidents associated with people putting their legs up there.” Aidenheardher eye roll, but thankfully, Isla listened.And removed her gorgeous legs from my sight.
