Page 10 of One Time in Paris
“We could chug them all.” Isla shrugged and took a sip.
“I think we should take it easy.” Davy gave Isla a pointed, warning look.
“Oh, just leave them. I’m sure we’ll get more. I’m with Isla—we can start toward the Eiffel while Davy and Isla go to theloo.I love the way you still keep some of those English terms and accents when you talk,” Kelsey told Isla with exaggerated eyebrows. “It’s so cute.”
Crap.Isla hadn’t even noticed she’d let that slip. She normally tried to use English expressions and terms around her English friends and American ones around Americans, but when she was drunk, all bets were off. And even then, it wasn’t an exact science. The only reason she probably even had an English accent was because she’d lived in England until she was seven.
Isla smiled tightly. “Thanks. It’s not an affectation. It’s just...how I speak.”But sure, let’s exoticize the British/Costa Rican hybrid like I’m a novelty at the zoo.Going to boarding school in Connecticut after living in Costa Rica with Mum for years had been the hardest transition. Her English father had moved there to be with his new American wife, and her mum had managed to convince him to let her stay with her for grade school.
But once the pressure of “getting into a proper Ivy League” became more pressing to her dad, Mum had finally relented and sent her to Connecticut. Holidays were split between England at her grandparents’ and Costa Rica with her mum and her partner. Talk about culture shock.
She nudged Davy to exit.
Davy climbed out of her seat on wobbly legs. “Actually, why don’t I sit here and drink as much water as possible while you go to the bathroom? I’ll wait for you, and everyone else can go on ahead.”
“Are you sure?” Megan asked, worry creasing her brow.
“Yeah, go on. We’ll be right behind you.” Isla winked at Megan, then hurried off in the direction of the bathroom.
The alcohol buzz settled into her limbs as she walked, her legs feeling oddly bouncy. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d gone out like this. Back home, most of her drinking was with Sergio, her friend and the manager of the inn.
Thank God for Sergio. He was the only thing keeping her sane at the inn. He’d started as a full-time tour operator and then seamlessly transitioned to manager when the inn booked out and work had gotten busy.
She smiled to herself, feeling lighter than she had in weeks. For the first time on this trip, she felt relaxed. No drama or forced laughter. Just warmth and a buzz in her bloodstream. Maybe this trip hadn’t been a total mistake after all?—
A hand clamped around her elbow.
“Hey there,” a male voice said in her ear.Too close.
Isla turned to find herself only inches away from Cowboy Hockey Man. She froze, her stomach roiling at the strong scent of beer coming from his breath.
“Uh...” She shifted her elbow, but his grip was firm. Uncomfortable.
Shit.
This was why she always went to the bathroom with a girlfriend.
“How’s about you and I get out of here?” Cowboy Hockey Man said, edging even closer.
Isla’s eyes narrowed. “How’s about you take your hands off me?” She pulled her arm away forcefully, but he still didn’t let go.
“Don’t play shy. I saw you eye fucking me from that table.”
Oh my God. So foul.“Yeah, never. I prefer real men to wankers.” She yanked herself free and turned to go, but the man was still too close behind her.
A cold spike of fear slithered up her spine.Fuck.She should have brought pepper spray.
“There you are,” a male voice came suddenly. She knew that voice. And those eyes. Ice-blue and currently trained on her unwanted shadow with surgical precision. His hand gripped hers, and she turned, the familiarity of him flooding her with relief—Aiden Camden.
What in the hell was he doing here?
There is a god.Not Aiden, of course, but the one who’d sent him here like a guardian angel.
“Aiden,” she managed.
His eyes flicked toward the man following her. “I believe my wife asked you to leave her alone, didn’t she?” He tilted his head in challenge.
Wife?Never had that word sounded so unbelievably sexy, even if it was from one of her brother’s best friends.
