The Best Kept Secrets...: The Secret Affair. Brenda Jackson

anyway,” he said, interrupting her thoughts.

      She frowned. “And I see no reason to reveal it. Ever,” she said. “Especially in light of one very important fact.”

      “And what fact is that?”

      “The fact that we aren’t together and we won’t ever be together again.”

      * * *

      If she figured that then she was wrong.

      They would be together again. He was counting on it. It was the reason he’d come on the cruise. The one thing she had not said was that she no longer loved him. And as long as she had feelings for him then he could accomplish anything. At this point, even if she claimed she didn’t love him, he would have to prove her wrong because he believed she loved him just as much as he loved her. Their relationship was just going through a few hiccups, which he felt they could resolve.

      “If you truly believe that then you have nothing to worry about,” he said.

      She frowned. “Meaning what?”

      “Meaning my presence on this ship shouldn’t bother you.”

      She lifted her chin. “It won’t unless you become a nuisance.”

      A smile spread across his face. “Nuisance? I think not. But I do intend to win you back, like I said. Then we can move on with our lives. I see marriage and babies in our future.”

      She laughed. “You’ve got to be kidding. Didn’t you hear what I said? We won’t be getting back together, so we don’t have a future.”

      “And you’re willing to throw away the last three years?”

      “What I’ve done is make it easy for you.”

      He lifted a brow. “To do what?”

      “Go back to your womanizing ways. You seemed to be enjoying yourself so much at your birthday party I wouldn’t think of denying you the opportunity.”

      He crossed his arms over his chest. “I gave up my so-called womanizing ways when I fell in love with you.”

      “Could have fooled me with your lap dancer and all those strippers waiting their turn.”

      “Like I said, I didn’t invite them.”

      “But you could have asked them to leave.”

      He shrugged. “Yes, I could have. But you’re going to have to learn to trust me, Jillian. I can see where my attitude leading up to that night might have been less than desirable, but at no time have I betrayed you with another woman. Do you intend to punish me forever for one night of a little fun?”

      “I’m not punishing you, Aidan. I’m not doing anything to you. I didn’t invite you on this cruise. You took it upon yourself to...”

      Her words trailed off and she gazed at him suspiciously before saying, “Paige and I were supposed to go on this cruise together and she had to back out when she had a conflict, which is why I came alone. Please tell me you had nothing to do with that.”

      He’d known she would eventually figure things out but he had hoped it wouldn’t be this soon. “Okay, I won’t tell you.”

      She was back in his face again. “You told Paige about us? Now she knows I was duped by a womanizer.”

      Her lips were mere inches from his again. Evidently, she’d forgotten his earlier warning. “I am not a womanizer, and I didn’t tell her anything about us. She figured things out on her own. Ivy told Paige about the lap dance and Paige told me. And I appreciate her doing so.”

      From Jill’s expression he could tell that although he might appreciate it, she didn’t. “I am so upset with you right now, Aidan. You are—”

      Suddenly he pulled her into his arms. “You were warned.”

      Then he captured her mouth with his.

      * * *

      Push him away. Push him away. Push him away, a voice inside of Jillian’s head chanted.

      But her body would not obey. Instead of pushing him away, she leaned in closer, wrapping her arms around his neck.

      Had it been a year since she had enjoyed this? A year since she’d had the taste of his tongue inside her mouth? Doing all those crazy things in every nook and cranny? Making liquid heat she’d held at bay shoot straight to the area between her legs?

      How could any woman deal with a master kisser like him? She would admit that during the past year she had gone to bed dreaming of this but the real thing surpassed any dream she’d ever had.

      The sound of voices made them pull apart. She drew in a deep breath, turning her back to him so she could lick her lips without him seeing her do so. That had been one hell of a kiss. Her lips were still electrified.

      She turned back around and caught him tracing his tongue across his own lips. Her stomach clenched. “I think you have it all wrong, Aidan,” she managed to say.

      “After that kiss, I’d say I got it all right.”

      “Think whatever you like,” she said, walking away.

      “Hey, where’re you going? The Madrid Room is this way.”

      She stopped and turned. “I’ll order room service.”

      Jillian continued walking, feeling the heat of his gaze on her back.

      * * *

      Aidan watched her walk away, appreciating the sway of her hips. He drew in a deep breath. He loved the woman. If there was any doubt in her mind of that—which there seemed to be—he would wipe it out.

      Turning, he headed toward his own cabin, thinking room service sounded pretty good. Besides, he had shocked Jillian’s senses enough for today. Tomorrow he planned to lay it on even thicker. She had warned him not to be a nuisance. He smiled at the thought. He wouldn’t be a nuisance, just totally effective.