The Secret Affair(22)

                She narrowed her gaze at him. “You wouldn’t.”

                “Trust me, I would. Confessing my sins will clear my conscience but will they clear yours? I’m not sure they would since you seem so wrapped up in not making any right or wrong impressions.”

                She just sat there and said nothing. He figured she was at a loss for words and this would be the best time for him to leave her to her thoughts. “Let’s meet at the same place where we met yesterday in about an hour,” he said, walking off to place his cup in the dishwasher.

                Before exiting the kitchen he turned back to her and said, “And just so you know, Jillian, the reason I’m not leaving today to return to Boston has nothing to do with some woman I met at the club last night, but it has everything to do with you.”

                * * *

                It has everything to do with you.

                Not in her wildest dreams had Jillian thought seven little words could have such a huge impact on her. But they did. So much so that an hour later, she was back in the same place she’d been yesterday, waiting on Aidan.

                She began pacing. Had she lost her mind? She wasn’t sure what kind of game he was playing but instead of putting her foot down and letting him know she wanted no part of his foolishness, somehow she got caught, hook, line and sinker.

                And all because of a kiss.

                She would have to admit, it had been more than just a kiss. The fact that he was a gorgeous man, a man she’d had a secret crush on for four years, probably had a lot to do with it. But she’d always been able to separate fact from fiction, reality from fantasy, good from bad. So what was wrong with her now? An association with Aidan would only bring on heartache because not only was she deceiving her sister and brother-in-law, and no doubt the entire Westmoreland family, but she was deceiving herself, as well. Why would she want to become involved with a man known as a womanizer?

                But then, she really wasn’t involved with him. He was taking her riding, probably he would try to steal a few kisses and then nothing. Tomorrow he would return to Boston and she would return to Wyoming and it would be business as usual. But she knew for her it wouldn’t be that simple.

                She turned when she heard his approach. Their gazes connected and a luscious shiver ran through her body. He rode just like he had yesterday and looked basically the same. But today something was different. Now she knew he had the mouth of a very sensual man. A mouth he definitely knew how to use.

                “I was hoping you would be here,” he said, bringing his horse to a stop a few feet from her.

                “Did you think I wouldn’t after what you threatened to do?”

                “I guess not,” he said, dismounting.

                “And you have no remorse?”

                He tipped his Stetson back to gaze at her. “I’ve heard confession is good for the soul.”

                “And just what would it have accomplished, Aidan?”

                “Putting it out there would have cleared your conscience, since it obviously bothers you that someone might discover I’m attracted to you and that you’re attracted to me.”

                She started to deny what he’d said about her being attracted to him, but decided not to waste her time. It was true and they both knew it. “A true gentleman never kisses and tells.”

                “You’re right. A true gentleman doesn’t kiss and tell. But I don’t like the thought of you cheapening what happened yesterday, either.”