8. Aiden
AIDEN
The fountains of the Bellagio were already dancing and swaying to the music, lights shimmering amid the sparkling waters on a day of perfect weather—everything insufferably cheery as though completely oblivious to ruined hopes and dreams. The conference had chosen March in Vegas for the weather, and Aiden had to appreciate the mildness of the day, even as sick as he still felt.
He straightened as he spotted Isla approaching with two of her friends—Davy, he remembered, but the other blond beside her was unfamiliar.
And even though he’d known Isla all his life, he couldn’t help the tension that bunched in his shoulders at the sight of her.
She and her friends all wore stern expressions.
Brilliant. He was about to be interrogated.
Maybe he should have expected Isla to call in the late morning like she had, but some part of him had hoped she wouldn’t. That they could just chalk this up to a drunken mistake, never to be discussed or repeated.
Of course, she had called, though, and asked for a few minutes to talk to him in person. He couldn’t tell her no.
Rather than waiting for her to reach him, he left his perch and made his way down the footpath in front of the famous hotel.
He’d suggested they meet here because the thought and smell of coffee or any other food or drink was completely intolerable right now.
Plus, with this being outside, he could think a bit straighter, even with the synchronized music from the fountain show.
“Isla,” he said with a smile. “Good to see you again. You’re looking well.”
Actually, she looks a whole lot better than how I feel. Which, admittedly, was a low bar.
“The magic of rehydrating intravenously,” Isla said as she stopped in front of him.
Aiden swallowed. Of course she was managing to look effortlessly stunning while he felt like death on two legs.
He leaned to kiss her cheek as he might do if this was a normal day—but it wasn’t. Faltering, he straightened and nodded toward Davy. “Hello, Davy.”
“This is Megan,” Davy said, nodding toward the woman beside her. “She’s the bride we’re here celebrating. The lawyer I was telling you about last night.”
Aiden felt his brow furrow, just slightly.
A lawyer? Why had Davy emphasized her profession? He extended a hand toward the blond. “Aiden Camden. A pleasure.”
She shook his hand, her grip overly firm, and his mouth dried.
The hell?
“We’ll be right over here,” Megan said with a curt smile, gesturing a few paces away. “Watching the fountain show.”
Ugh... her voice absolutely held a warning note to it.
As Megan and Davy stepped a few meters away, Aiden crossed his arms, a defensive feeling growing like a vise around his ribs. “Intravenous hydration?” he asked as casually as possible. “Did you go to hospital?”
“Actually, yeah. I did. A clinic.” Isla hesitated, then bit her lip. “Not for the IV, though. That was already planned. But after everything that happened, I thought I should...you know ...check.”
“Clinic?” Aiden raised his brows, a growing feeling of discomfort rising like acid in his throat.
“I...wanted to have a clearer picture of what happened last night. Just in case.” Isla met his eyes for a moment. “But, um, they didn’t find any evidence of...anything, so I think we’re good.”
Anything? Her words choked him, and he stepped closer to her, a mixture of horror and anger bristling through him.
“Fuck.” The word barely made it past his lips, like something inside him had just cracked. His entire body revolted at the suggestion. “You actually thought I—” He couldn’t finish. He couldn’t even breathe.
“No, no. I mean.” Isla drew a deep, sharp breath. “I thought it was important to find out what I could. Look, it was already humiliating enough, Aiden, and I don’t really want to talk about it, but I thought it might be good for you to know.”
He rubbed the back of his neck, any anger he’d felt melting away into just horror.
“I would never hurt you, Isla.” His words were forceful. Hard, even. “You need to understand that. Never . Christ, you’re like my own sister.”
Then why had the memory of her skin against his been haunting his thoughts since sunrise?
He pushed the image away. “We grew up together. I respect Callum and you—care for you, both. I-I...” He struggled for the right words, then cleared his throat and gave her a look that he knew must be as desperate as he felt. “Do you really think I’m capable of doing that to you? Or any woman?”
Isla’s face paled. After a moment that lasted just a few beats too long for his comfort, she shook her head. “No, no. I just, I needed to know. I know you said you didn’t know what happened, but then you also lied about Lola?—”
“I didn’t lie about Lola.” Aiden struggled for calm, then raked his fingers through his hair.
“Lola happens to be in Vegas—or she was—because of the defense and technology conference I’m attending.
She’s handling negotiations with a company Camden Enterprises is trying to acquire.
Making my life miserable, in fact. I promise you that her turning up at my door couldn’t have been more inopportune or unfortunate because she’s been hoping to rekindle our relationship, which I don’t want to do. ”
He didn’t know why he’d just spilled all of this to Isla, but the words didn’t seem to want to stop flowing either.
“I don’t remember much of what happened last night, and I’m sorry about that.
Truly. I didn’t intend to bump into you last night.
I just intended to get as piss drunk as possible, gamble, and go to bed.
But for you to suggest that I would ever?—”
“I didn’t say that.” Isla gripped his forearm.
“I just...look, it’s been a long day.
” She rubbed her temples. “Anyway, I don’t want to talk about it anymore.
If you say you don’t remember, I believe you.
In fact, that might be because...” Her brow furrowed, and she chewed on her lower lip, her pretty blue eyes wide with worry. “You know what? It doesn’t matter.”
“It does matter. What happened last night...I could never live with myself if you believed I set out to hurt you or did, in fact, take advantage . ”
“I don’t think that.”
“Then why did your friends show up like bodyguards?”
Her eyes darted toward them, and she smiled tensely. “Men don’t get it. But yeah, we travel in packs. For safety. Not for intimidation. Not to make a point. Just survival.” She held his gaze. “Last night made that painfully clear.”
His jaw tensed. Just what did she tell her friends?
“Listen, there’s another thing I need to talk to you about. Last night, we apparently promised Davy that we’d help her with a program she pitched to her boss at the Travelog Channel. I offered to host it, and...um, you offered to sponsor it. I know you might not remember.”
Aiden blinked at her, his brows lifting quizzically.
Sponsor a Travelog Channel show?
What the fuck?
“I ...why in the hell would I do that? What show? That’s absolutely not going to happen.”
Isla held his gaze as though surprised at his reaction. Then something hardened in her gaze. “Davy already pitched it, Aiden.”
His lips parted.
And ...here comes the blackmail.
There it was. The glint in her eye. The opening move in what he could only describe as a well-executed swindle...wrapped in a silky accent and wounded eyes.
Wow.
Just ...wow.
And here he thought he knew Isla Scott.
This time, when his anger returned, it struck through him with an intensity he hadn’t expected. “What exactly are you asking of me?”
“I’m not trying to force you to do anything,” Isla said quietly.
“Really. But, apparently, we had promised to help, and she needs this. I don’t even know how I’ll make it work with hosting it—the show consists of six episodes in six separate locations named Paris, most in the US, but the last being in Paris, France. ”
Not trying to force him? Laughable.
Little Isla Scott had grown up to be just as cutthroat as most of the women he knew.
He didn’t meet her gaze, his fingers curling at his sides. “And what, if I fund your show you keep quiet? Is that the ‘bargain’?”
“God, no!” Isla retreated a step. “That’s not what I’m trying to do here. I know it’s a big ask. I just was hoping for that...” Her eyes grew shiny with tears. “You know what? Forget it. We’ll figure something else out.”
She turned to go.
Shite. Now she’ll be in tears when she goes back to her friends, and I’m going to look even more like a villain.
“Wait.” He grasped her wrist. “Wait.”
His gaze traveled toward the dancing fountains, calm and peaceful, a sharp, discordant sight contrasting with the turmoil inside him.
Whatever had happened last night had clearly shaken Isla.
He didn’t want to be a villain to her. More than just her opinion was at risk because Callum would never forgive him.
He swallowed hard, trying to fight against his initial, ugly instinct at the thought of blackmail.
This is Isla. Someone I know and trust.
Calm the fuck down, Camden.
He couldn’t let women like Lola poison his view of other women. Isla wasn’t like her, right?
And if she was blackmailing him, maybe she’d earned the right.
He did feel guilty, after all.
Horrible.
“What sort of sponsorship are we talking about?” Aiden asked at last, releasing her wrist.
“I don’t know. You’d have to talk to Davy. She’s handling the finer details.”
Aiden blinked a few times. This wasn’t a money thing—God knew he could afford it—it was a question of honor.
And if this was the price it took to redeem himself, so be it. He didn’t want another woman out there believing he was an arsehole.
Another thought struck him. Lola hadn’t believed him this morning that Isla had been there for business, but what if this was a way to prove it? Cover his tracks? Whatever pitiful threats Lola might make against him could vanish—and this might go a long way to help him with the Ipolymer problem.
He could show Lola—publicly—he was, in fact, in a business deal with Isla. Lola won’t have a leg to stand on.
And maybe he could prove he wasn’t in a relationship with Isla at the same time.
“All right, I’ll do it,” Aiden said, straightening. “But I have one stipulation. Solo hosting is boring. If I’m going to sponsor, I want you to do it with your boyfriend. A couple hosting would be more interesting.”
She gave him a baffled look. “I don’t have a boyfriend. You know that.”
He shrugged. “I’ll leave you to figure that out. It doesn’t have to be real. You’re a good actress, if I remember correctly.”
Isla held his gaze. “I don’t even have any men I’m currently friends with. Except for Sergio and Kyle Winnick, and that’s only because Sergio works for me and Kyle is down at La Hacienda every few weeks to go surfing.”
“Perfect. Ask one of them.”
She gawked at him. “I can’t just ask my sister-in-law’s brother to pretend—on a television show—to be my boyfriend. And it couldn’t be Sergio. I’m going to need his help at the inn so I can host.”
Aiden lifted his chin. “Sponsorship comes at a price, Isla, and these are my terms. Take them. Or walk away.” He didn’t like the words even as he said them, but pride had a death grip on his mouth today.
Maybe he could explain the whole situation with Lola, but he didn’t feel completely in the mood to after this conversation.
A sudden breeze brought the damp mist from the fountain toward them, and he almost shivered.
Then Isla nodded. “Okay.” A determined look set in her gaze. “Let’s talk to Davy.”