Page 76 of One Time in Paris
Tears misted her eyes, and she clenched her hands into fists, then she strode from the bedroom into the small adjoining living room. “I really hate you right now. I’m not sure I’m ever going to want to see you again.”
“I don’t want to hurt you?—”
“But you are. And you don’t care. God, I’m such an idiot. I shouldn’t have expected any less from the guy who broke up with his previous girlfriend over and over again. Who was infamous in his town for getting a girl pregnant and then walking away the instant she lost the baby.”
His face flickered with pain. “You know that wasn’t true.”
“Maybe. Maybe not. Ciara never said any differently, so who knows if we can believe a habitual liar.”
His posture went rigid, his expression closing off to her. “All right. On that note, I’ll see myself out.” He headed toward the door.
Isla wiped the tears from her cheeks. How dare he? Howcouldhe?
God, was this it? All the longing and angst, and he was just going to walk away like she meant nothing to him?
Because that must be the truth.
He wouldn’t discard her so easily if he cared.
Aiden paused at the door, turning his head at the sound of her tears.
Then he set his forehead against the door, closing his eyes.
His breath came rough and uneven as he stared at her. “If I leave, I’ll regret it,” he whispered, more to himself than her.He exhaled sharply as if he’d just made a decision he couldn’t undo.
Aiden left the doorway again, heading straight for her. When he reached her, he lifted her, cradling her against his body as he carried her toward the bedroom. “What are you doing?” she asked.
“Putting my wife to bed, apparently,” he said in a gruff voice. But he set her down gently on the mattress with a look of anguish that made her heart squeeze tightly.
Wife?
She searched his eyes. “That’s not funny, Aiden.”
“Yet, it’s true. We’re married right now, and our lives are tied together in a way that isn’t as easy as shaking hands and going in different directions.” Aiden rubbed his eyes. “I don’t know what to do, Isla. I can’t leave you like this. I care about you too much. You’ve turned my entire world on end.”
She reached for his hand. “I told you last night. We don’t have to have everything figured out right now, Aiden. We don’t have to solve this all immediately. Stop asking yourself what makes sense. What doyouwant?”
“You,” he answered without hesitation. He brushed the tears from her cheeks. “I want you, Isla.”
She reached for his hand and kissed his knuckles. “Then where are you going?”
Aiden blinked at her, a muscle in his jaw flexing.
Please choose me.
She didn’t want to beg—that felt too pathetic—yet his uncertainty didn’t come from a place of insecurity about what he felt for her. They were just in a terrible position.
If he leaves right now, I don’t think I can ever let myself trust him again.
After a few more moments, Aiden exhaled like the weight of the world had just come off his shoulders. Then, with a quiet determination, he reached for her.
He didn’t rush. He didn’t pounce. He gathered her slowly, carefully—like she was something fragile, something breakable. And maybe she was. Perhaps they both were.
His hands slid around her waist as he guided himself into the bed, her body molding against his like they had done this a thousand times before. His fingers wove into her hair, tilting her face toward his. A kiss. Slow. Lingering. Less about desire, more about something deeper. A promise. A vow.
“Nowhere,” he murmured against her lips. “I’m not going anywhere, Isla. If you want me to stay, I’ll stay. If you want to figure this out together, then that’s what we’ll do. Even if I have no idea what I’m doing.”
She closed her eyes, tears continuing to slip from her eyes, but slowing.
