Touched (The Untouched Trilogy #2)(21)

“Protective? Well I don’t know if I would use that word.” More like possessive. “It doesn’t matter if he’s let me go because I’ve let him go.”

“Have you?” he asked.

“I don’t want to spend any more time talking to or about Aiden. I need a drink. Would you like one?”

He didn’t reply. He looked at me as if expecting more. He deserved more but not here.

“I promise to tell you everything later, okay?”

“I don’t want to pressure you into doing something you’re not ready for.”

“And I don’t want to leave your questions unanswered.”

“Sure, I’ll have a scotch.”

“Great. I’ll be right back.” I excused myself. I went to the ladies room first and stopped at the bar on the way back to my table. I ordered our drinks and turned to people watch as I waited. One of those people was approaching the bar; it was Aiden’s date. I wanted to yank her f*cking hair out.

“Hi, I don’t think we’ve met. I’m Nadia Lane,” she said, smiling like she had the juiciest of secrets.

So this was the no one important that Aiden didn’t wish to talk about.

“Hello, I’m Aria Cason.” I sensed she already knew who I was.

“It’s nice to meet you Aria,” she said, and beckoned the bartender. She ordered a drink and turned toward the crowd as I had. I looked over at Kellan talking to Zoe and then glanced toward Aiden’s table. He was never alone. Someone always wanted a piece of him, including Miss Thing standing beside me.

“He’s an intense guy isn’t he?” she asked.

“Excuse me?”

“Aiden. He can be very intense…both in bed and out. Don’t you agree?”

What the f*ck? “Nadia, I don’t particularly care for your assumptions nor will I engage in conversation with you as a means of substantiating them.”

“I wasn’t implying –”

“Oh, I know exactly what you’re implying and I know what you’re hoping to accomplish here and sweetheart it ain’t working.”

“I was simply making conversation about a man we both seem to appreciate; I don’t see it as any reason to be impolite.”

“So my refusing to substantiate your statement is impolite but your statement itself is an attempt at casual conversation? Listen, I won’t be party to whatever type of game you’re attempting to play and I’m no threat to whatever it is you’re trying to accomplish with Aiden so I suggest you direct your phallic rage elsewhere. Enjoy your evening.” I grabbed our drinks and headed back to my table but I didn’t make it before running into Allison.

“Hi Aria. You look beautiful,” she said, reaching out to hug me.

“So do you. I didn’t know you were here. It’s so good to see you,” I exclaimed. I really liked Allison and seeing her reminded me of a much happier time.

“I saw you speaking with Nadia at the bar.”

I rolled my eyes. “She seems to be a piece of work.”

“I’m guessing that means your conversation was nasty.”

“It was what it was,” I replied, waving it off.

“She saw the two of you dancing earlier. She watched you dance the entire time and when the dance ended she saw Aiden pull you away. She asked me if I knew you. I told her yes. I knew she would say or do something horrid. In case you didn’t pick up on it, she has it bad for him. I’m sorry you had to deal with her,” she said.

And he’d said she was just a friend. He’d failed to mention that his friend had feelings for him. How interesting that he glossed over that tit bit during his anti-Kellan speech.

“Allison, she’s the least of my worries and if her intent was to ward me off, she wasn’t very effective. If anything she’s shown her desperation.”

“I knew there would be some craziness when I realized my brother had feelings for you and I don’t want there to be any additional reasons for you to have an issue with him. I’d really hoped you two would’ve figured it all out by now.”

“Some of the craziness could have been avoided but what’s done is done.” She knew that I was referring to the lies surrounding his identity.

“I agree. And I’m sorry I haven’t been in contact with you. I wanted to call but Aiden forbid me to reach out to you in any capacity. He said you needed time. He’s such an idiot. I told him time is exactly what you didn’t need.”

“It’s okay Allison. I know how he can be when he wants his way.”

“He can be such a jerk but Aria he’s really an amazing guy and I’m not just saying that because he’s my brother. I know he wants you. And I can tell you’re still into him,” she added, smiling.

I chose to ignore her last statement. “Some things just weren’t meant to be Allison but I would love it if you kept in touch. Don’t let Aiden boss you around.”

“I will but don’t mention it to him. I don’t want to upset the only sibling that I actually get along with.”

“I don’t plan to discuss anything personal with him so you have nothing to worry about.”

“So who’s your date? He’s a hottie.”

“He’s a friend. He was in town on business and since I had to be here, we made a date of it.”