Page 11 of Contentious

“Oh, sorry, didn’t mean to pry.”

The fuck you didn’t.

Julian turned his back on the man and kept his focus on Isla, in complete disbelief that they had to endure this madness all over again. For that, he’d never forgive his parents.

“He was completely out of line,” Isla said after the elevator doors closed to take them to the fifth floor.

“That’s how it goes. Been there, done that more times than I can count. It’ll probably be even worse this time because my dad has turned himself into a family law expert used by every network in the business when celebrities split. Now he’s the story, and I’m sure they’ll eat it up.”

The utter misery of having to face this crap again threatened to consume him, until Isla wrapped her hands around his arm and gave a gentle squeeze to remind him everything was different now. He had her and she had him, and they’d get through this together. Knowing that gave him strength he wouldn’t have without her there to keep him focused on what truly mattered.

“You know what we should do?” he asked.

“What’s that?”

“Get the fuck out of town for a few weeks. Let’s pack up the kids and just go.”

“Where would we go?”

“Anywhere you want.”

They held hands as they walked from the elevator to the suite he’d booked, hoping to spoil her a little. Instead, the vibe of the evening had been ruined by his freaking parents and TMZ. Bitterness churned in his gut, resurrecting the sort of resentment he hadn’t experienced at this level in years and had hoped to never feel again.

“This is unbelievable,” Isla said of the suite as she took it all in. “I feel like I’m Vivian in Pretty Woman.”

“I’m glad you like it.”

She rested her hands on his chest and gazed up at him. “I love it. Thank you for all you did to make tonight special for me.”

“It was fun for me, too.”

“You’re tight with tension. What can I do for you?”

“I don’t know. I want to shake it off, but I learned a long time ago that it’s not that simple.”

“Don’t feel like you have to shake it off on my account. I’m so happy to be here in this beautiful place with you and to know my babies are sound asleep with someone who loves them like I do.” Her close friend Mrs. Ventura was with the kids. She was like a mother to Isla, who’d lost her parents when she was young, and a grandmother to Theo and Mila.

Julian rested his forehead against hers. “I hate feeling this way when I have a night alone with you.”

“How about we order some room service and change into comfy clothes and just try to relax?”

“That sounds good.”

She reached up to unknot his bow tie and released the top button of his shirt. “Would you prefer to be alone tonight?”

“God no. Please don’t think that for a second.”

“Okay.” She removed the studs in his tuxedo shirt and then the platinum cuff links with his initials on them. “Those are beautiful.”

“My grandfather gave them to me for my eighteenth birthday. We all got cuff links or a necklace.”

“He seems like a sweetheart.”

“He’s the absolute best and always has been.”

“I can’t wait to meet him.”

“Let’s make that happen soon. He’ll love the kids.”