Page 72 of One Time in Paris
Isla bit down on her lip, looking down at the running water, her cheeks already turning pink.
Aiden stepped away from Isla and turned to glance at Elle, who stood in the doorway, her mouth still open in shock.
She held Aiden’s gaze, then closed her mouth, swallowing. “Um,” she stammered. “Um...the dishwasher.”
Elle continued into the kitchen, not saying a word about what she’d seen. She didn’t meet Aiden’s eyes again, either. “We have two of them,” she continued, opening one, then the other. “Just throw everything in here.”
Holy fuck, what do I even say?
If he knew Elle, she wouldn’t be against it—or even judge them. But she might tell Quinn. Probablywouldtell Quinn.
She’d bedyingto tell Quinn.
The awkward silence continued as Isla set a plate into one of the dishwashers. “That’s great, thanks,” Isla said quietly.
“No, no. Thank you. Both of you. I really didn’t expect...um, for you to do the dishes.” Elle paused, looking between them again, then gave an overly bright, forced smile. She turned to hurry back toward the door.
Aiden followed Elle and caught her in the dining room. “Please don’t,” he said, his voice edged with a rough scrape.
Elle froze, then turned and glanced at Aiden. She gave him a good, long stare, then squeezed his forearm. “You know I’ll never judge. But you’re playing with fire, Aiden. You’re going to get burned.”
“What if I already am burned?” he asked, stepping closer. “And I still can’t stop?”
“I don’t know,” Elle whispered, her eyes wide and filled with sadness. “But I know you’re a good man, Aiden. And you’re tough. I just hope this doesn’t blow up in your face because you don’t deserve that. But it might. Please be careful.”
She hurried off, leaving him standing alone in the dining room.
Aiden released a breath, his chest aching with the effort. He couldn’t very well go into the living room now and sit with Elle and Quinn, acting like nothing had happened.
But he couldn’t go back to Isla, either. Not yet. Not when his hands were still tingling with the memory of her skin. Not when her taste still lingered on his tongue.
This wasn’t just a mistake anymore. It wasn’t something he could laugh off or walk away from. He knew it, Isla knew it, and now Elle knew it too.
And soon, Callum would know it. One way or another.
He needed to think.
To figure out what he wanted.
And what he was willing to lose.
24
ISLA
I haveto stop doing this to myself.
Isla slid into the bed of the guesthouse wearily, the faint pulse of a headache at the edge of her senses. She was thankful for the luxurious king-sized bed all to herself.
Elle and Quinn were such incredible hosts, with a beautiful home she knew they’d paid off from the money from Elle’s music career. They’d chosen a place off the beaten path that afforded them privacy and security, and despite it all, they were still both so humble. So normal. She’d always appreciated that about Quinn.
In that way, he and Aiden were different.
Aiden was arrogant. A full-of-himselfassholethat she had to stop allowing to toy with her.
After a sizzling kiss that had made her weak in the knees, he’d left her in that kitchen tonight, doing dishes by herself. Becausewhy?He wasn’t willing to face her after Elle had caught them kissing? She hadn’t wanted to face Elle, either, and definitely not alone.
But that was precisely what she’d had to do. She’d put the dishes in the dishwashers, then gone back out to the living room to play a board game with Mason, Elle, Quinn, and their friends. No Aiden in sight.
