Touched (The Untouched Trilogy #2)(94)

What the f*ck was she saying? Was she pregnant? I thought back to the last time I was here and Aiden had reluctantly revealed that he’d had sex with Nadia the night of the gala. That had been a one-time thing though; he wouldn’t still be f*cking her. I was sure that she was trying to get a rise out of me but why that particular lie? Something was off.

I left the terrace in search of Aiden. Unlike my fruitless search for Lia and Bianca, I easily found Aiden; he was laughing with Nicholas near the bar. Nicholas saw me approaching and his facial expression changed from one of merriment to one of misperception, which cued Aided to look over his shoulder.

He smiled as I approached but that smile quickly morphed as his eyes darted my face. “What’s wrong?”

“I’m not sure. Can we speak in private?” I asked.

“Sure. Nick, can you have the bartender bring over Cles des Ducs for me and a vodka cranberry for Aria.”

“No problem,” Nicholas replied, as Aiden and I stepped away.

“What’s going on?” he asked.

“I’m hoping you can tell me. I just had a rather strange exchange with your ex.”

“Who are you talking about?” he asked, his brows furrowed.

“Damn. How many of your exes are here tonight?”

“Aria, please don’t start with this.”

“I’m referring to Nadia. Who the f*ck else?”

His temples began flexing immediately.

“Sir, your drinks,” came the voice of the waiter behind us. Aiden took both glasses and passed one to me. He took a sip, his eyes not leaving mine. It was easy to determine that he was already frustrated by the subject of this conversation.

I took a larger sip of the drink than I should have. It burned going down.

“Okay, so let’s hear it. What’s going on now?” he asked.

I started to feel silly for even considering this but I needed to ask.

“Is Nadia pregnant with your child?”

He almost heaved at the question.

“What? Hell no. Why would you think something like that?” he asked.

“In the midst of other useless conversation with her she mentioned it was complicated with the two of you because carrying your child complicated things.”

A look of awareness crossed his face and he sighed deeply, shoving his hand through his hair.

“What is it? Am I missing something here?” I asked.

“Fuck. Why can’t Nadia just keep her f*cking mouth shut? This situation with her is really starting to piss me off.”

“Wait. So, what are you saying? I don’t think I follow you.”

“I’m leaving town soon, we barely have any time to spend together so let’s forget the Nadia bullshit and make the most of the time we have, Aria.”

He was right but I wasn’t letting this go. “What was she talking about?”

“This isn’t the place to discuss this Aria. I’ll tell you everything later.”

So there was something to what Nadia had said. Something wasn’t right. There was something he wasn’t saying. Something I needed to know.

“Aiden, I think I need to know whatever this is now.”

“I can’t have one night? One f*cking night without trying to convince you that you have nothing and no one to worry about? That it’s you that I want!”

“First off I suggest you take that tone out of your voice when you speak to me. I’m not one of your sycophants who buckle every time you so much as frown at them and secondly, I don’t question if you want me because I know that you do. What I do question is if you want someone else also. There’s a difference *.”

“So this is about jealousy?” he asked.

“Don’t you dare spin this around like that. This has far less to do with me and more to do with all of your f*cking secrets that continue seeping out!”

“So are you telling me that you don’t have any secrets?” he asked.

“I’m not saying anything. This is not about me. We’re talking about you and another fact about yourself that you’ve chosen to conceal.”

“And there’s absolutely nothing that you’ve done in your past that you’re ashamed of? I think we both know that isn’t true,” he spit out bitterly.

“Have any of my supposed secrets come back to bite you in the butt? No they haven’t so in response to your previous question, I would have to say no.”

“Oh really? And the shit storm with Dane Patrick? What exactly was that if not a secret and how the hell do you think it was extinguished? Me! Your little secret could have denigrated the career you’ve worked so diligently for, not to mention causing a PR nightmare for Raine Industries. So don’t judge me for my past indiscretions when you have several of your own!” he exclaimed, taking a swig of the dark liquor.

I recoiled from his accusation and tone. He was being cruel and his temper, which he had somehow managed to rein in until now, was flaring.

“Indiscretion? How can you reduce this to something as simple as that? We’re talking about a life Aiden, not some innocent slip of your dick into the wrong woman.”

“I do not wish to fight with you Aria,” he stated. I could see the anger rising.

“This does not have to be a fight Aiden, I just want to understand.”