Page 67 of One Time in Paris
Isla sipped her coffee. “Oh, they weren’t so bad. It helped that I was every bit as eager to join them, even if Quinn was constantly scolding the others for not taking it easy enough on me. The summers I got to escape to England, especially as a teenager, were my favorite.” Partially because her grandparents, whom she’d loved dearly, had still been alive.
God, I miss them so much.
“Choo,” Tara babbled happily, pointing one chubby finger at the picture of a train in her book.
“Oh, we should get a video for my mum,” Quinn said, pulling out his phone. “She was so disappointed Tara didn’t say any words during the last FaceTime call.”
“Wait,” Elle said, popping up from the sofa. “Let me change her outfit first. She’s got some drool on her neckline.”
“God, you two are such stereotypical firstborn, first-time parents,” Mason said with a snicker.
“Oh, shut it,” Elle said as she grabbed an outfit from a nearby basket and sat beside Quinn. “Mark my words, you’ll be the next one of the Camden brothers to marry and settle down with children.”
Quinn helped Elle with the buttons on the back of Tara’s little dress. “Well, that’s a bit obvious. Logan’s too young, and Aiden’s not likely to ever marry.”
Mason’s eyes darted to Isla.
Isla’s throat went dry.
Does Mason know?
Then Mason’s gaze flicked away, and he shrugged. “So sue me for being more domestic. Doesn’t mean I still can’t make fun of you.”
Her heart squeezed, and she focused her attention on the caramel-colored brew in her mug. Would Aiden really have been so foolish to tell Mason about their Vegas marriage? He trusted Mason, obviously, but that was explosive information. Recovering, she said, “Quinn’s not wrong, Mas. Make fun of them all you want, but you’re definitely going to be as big of a sucker with your kids as they are.”
“You never know,” Mason said, eyes boring into her. “Aiden could surprise everyone and find someone to elope with.”
Oh, he definitely knows.
But this felt like a challenge.
One that made her pulse speed.
Surely, he didn’t want her to admit the Vegas situation in front of Elle and Quinn?
So Isla threw her head back and laughed. “Well, we all know that’s never going to happen.”
Something in Mason’s eyes glittered, but before he could speak, one of the French doors to the expansive back patio opened, and Aiden slipped inside.
The sight of him, coated in sweat, athletic shirt stuck against the hard muscles of his torso made her core twist, and she fought to keep a smile from her lips. How she’d wanted to continue what she’d started in the car—feeling how hard he was for me was thrilling.She was like a schoolgirl with a crush, and dammit, she had it bad. But the frankness of their conversation in the car the night before had only increased her desire, if she was honest. She couldn’t get his words out of her head.
“What do you want me to admit? That I want to pull this car over, bend you over the bonnet, and fuck you until we’re both senseless?”
Yes. That.That was what she’d wanted him to admit. Because she wanted it, too.
Aiden didn’t look her way, though, clearly wiser than she was. “Morning,” he said, then flashed a smile at Tara. “How’s my favorite niece?”
“They’re changing her to make a video for Mum,” Mason said as Elle dragged the onesie off the baby’s head. Then Mason stood. “Can we have a word?”
Aiden raised a brow. “Right now? I was heading toward the shower.”
“Preferably now, yes.” Mason’s face was serious. He didn’t wait for Aiden, then walked past him and went back out to the patio.
“What has his knickers in a twist?” Aiden asked Quinn, who shrugged. With a sigh, Aiden followed, shutting the patio door behind him.
A nervous feeling fluttered through Isla, and she stood, taking slow steps toward the patio, acting like she just wanted to look out at the gorgeously landscaped backyard. “When do you all open the pool for the season?”
“In a few weeks. If I’d known Aiden and Mason were going to drop in at the same time as you, I would have pushed Q to open it early. It’s heated, so we could have had it ready for you all.” Elle tied her long blond hair into a messy bun, then returned to a squirming Tara, who was trying to run away in nothing but a diaper, giggling.
