Page 68 of One Time in Paris
“It is funny how we all ended up here at the same time,” Isla said, glancing over her shoulder at Elle with a hesitation. “I hope we’re not putting you out too much.”
“Are you kidding? She lives to host.” Quinn smiled. “Besides, my brothers are the ones who came uninvited. Weknewyou were coming.”
“Why is Mason here, by the way? I didn’t expect to see him here,” Isla said with a curious look.
“Yes, well, none of us expected Aiden to be involved in the project you’re working on,” Quinn said as he stood from the floor, gathering the books he’d been reading to Tara and setting them on the coffee table as Elle changed her diaper on a changing pad. “Apparently, I need to call my brothers more.”
“To answer your question,” Elle said with a roll of her eyes, “Mason has been in New York working on some big acquisition deal with Aiden. Apparently, the talks took a break last night, so he decided to take a red-eye flight and spend a few days here, rather than go back to London. He’s got to be back in New York in a few days anyway, and he figured this was a shorter trip. At least, that’s how he explained it.”
Isla set her lips on the rim of the mug, scanning the backyard for Mason and Aiden. They were several feet from the door, near an arbor that marked the entrance to the flower garden.
And they appeared to be arguing.
She shouldn’t intrude. They worked together, and they were brothers, and she really had no business intruding.
But, somehow, she couldn’t help feeling like this involved her. Mason had been testing her with those comments. And he didn’t seem happy with her responses, either.
She didn’t want to be so obvious by heading out there in front of Elle and Quinn. On the other hand, she was staying in the guesthouse on the other side of the pool. “I think I’m going to go get dressed and ready for the day. We still planning on going to lunch?”
Tara zoomed past Isla unsteadily, fleeing from her mother, laughing with a big, toothy grin, blue eyes sparkling.
“Yeah, I have this cute little place I thought we could go,” Elle said with an exasperated look. “Get back here, you crazy child. Don’t just sit there, Q. Help me out here.”
Isla left them chasing Tara and slipped out onto the patio. She sneaked a glance back toward them, but they were obviously occupied with Tara.
Then she marched up toward Aiden and Mason. “What in the hell is going on?” Isla demanded to Mason.
“I don’t know. Whatisgoing on?” Mason shot back, eyes narrowing slightly.
“Were youtryingto announce to Elle and Quinn about that mistake in Vegas? Because you weren’t exactly subtle.” Isla crossed her arms.
Aiden tossed his hands into the air. “Thank you,” he said in a clipped tone to Isla and shifted his body back toward Mason. “You see? I told her. She knows. Now, will you kindly stop trying to shove your nose into our business?”
Mason’s face flushed, his mouth parting as he looked from Isla to Aiden. “Oh. Um...”
The situation became instantly clearer. Masonhadbeen testing her to find out if Aiden had told her about the marriage license. He hadn’t been trying to get a rise out of her, but instead, he was trying to make certain Aiden did the right thing.
Of course.
Mason was like a mini-Quinn. Responsible. More serious.
“How did you find out?” She didn’t imagine Aiden had told him willingly.
“He happened to be there when I received the license at the office. Practically stole it out of my hands trying to read it,” Aiden said with annoyance. “Then he demanded I tell you and Callum immediately, which is why we were arguing out here. He’s still threatening to call your brother.”
What?
Isla’s eyes widened. “Oh no, no, no,” she gasped, gripping Mason’s arm. “No, Mason, youcannottell Callumanything.”
“He’s my friend—Aiden’s friend. He’s going to find out about this, and then we’ll all look like a bunch of liars,” Mason argued, tugging at the collar of his polo shirt.
“He might not find out if you don’t say anything,” Isla argued, edging closer to Aiden.
“But if he does? I’m not comfortable lying to him. And I work closely with Liddy. That could make things exceptionally uncomfortable.”
“God, you’re a fucking prude, Mason,” Aiden seethed through his teeth.
“Like I said in London, it’s your obligation to tell Callum. I won’t have to resort to saying anything if you just do the right thing and tell him yourself,” Mason said, the flush in his face deepening.
