Page 67 of Settling the Score

His Adam’s apple jerked visibly as he swallowed, and she had a sudden urge to save face, because his flirtation, no matter how practised, had made her heart thump hard and fast.

‘I mean, you’ve dated half of New York. Or are you just famous enough to be able to get away with lame lines regardless?’

‘Hey,’ he said, shaking his head a little, frowning in a way she hated to admit she found adorable. ‘I didn’t mean it like that. I just wanted to… talk, I guess.’

‘We talked last night,’ she reminded him, a self-preservation instinct making her want to maintain some space from Aiden. ‘And this morning. Is there anything more you want to say?’

His dark brows knitted together. ‘I think there might be.’

Where did she go next?

‘Well, this is my best friend’s wedding.’ She shrugged, hating how confused she felt. ‘That’s my focus.’

‘It’s not their wedding tonight.’

Sienna’s laugh was ever so slightly brittle. ‘The whole week is their wedding.’

‘Okay,’ he said, expelling a breath, reaching behind her to the champagne bowl of beers and plucking one out of the ice. His arm brushed her side on the way back and she nearly jumped out of her skin. She realised how hard she was fighting to hold herself together. How tempted she was by him. How much she wanted to go somewhere quiet and talk, after all. But she was conscious of the three pairs of eyes watching her, and of how she could explain all of this to them. So she shook her head a little.

‘I have to go back over there,’ she said, nodding towards the others. ‘I’ll catch you later, okay?’

* * *

Though the party was still in full flight, by twelve thirty, Sienna was ready for a cup of tea and bed. Or maybe she was ready for something else. Space? Or a lack of space… either way, she was ready to get back to her own room.

‘You’re sure you won’t stay for another dance?’ Astrid called, arms looped around Blake’s neck, goofy, happy, loved-up smile locked in place.

Sienna waved a hand. ‘Have fun, kids.’

The path was illuminated by the full, silvery moon, and low-set lights that glowed with a golden warmth, so she made it to the mansion easily, stepping inside and avoiding making eye contact with the few groups of revellers who’d strayed inside and were set up in small groups in the foyer, drinking, chatting, having a more subdued kind of party. She took the steps to her own room, her walk slowing down briefly as she approached Aiden’s, until she stopped walking altogether and held her breath, her skin prickling in goosebumps.

It was madness to even think of knocking.

To think of seeing him again. To think of… yet, of its own volition, her hand lifted and her fist pumped on the door a couple of times. She took a rushed step back, as if she couldn’t quite believe what she’d done.

Thank God he didn’t answer.

Thank God she was spared at least that mortification. She closed her eyes and began to walk much, much faster, to the sanctity of her own room, pushing open the door just as she could have sworn she heard the clicking of another door, a little way down the corridor.

Heart in her throat, she closed her door and pressed her back against it, breath coming in rushed fits and spurts, like she’d just sprinted the last mile of a marathon.

Holy crapola. What had she been thinking?

‘Sienna?’

Her heart slammed out of its nook in her chest cavity and rammed into her throat. She couldfeelit there, a hard thumping hammer. Aiden’s voice was so deep and growly, gruff and familiar, even when it wasn’t. Just like him. Familiar and not, all at once.

Her Aiden, butnother Aiden.

She squeezed her eyes shut, as though that might somehow magically transport her out of this situation.

It didn’t.

‘Sienna?’

She jumped forward, off the door, then whirled around to stare at it accusingly.

‘Did you need something?’