The Secret Affair(53)

                “And you enjoyed every minute of it.”

                He shrugged. “I had a few drinks and—”

                “You don’t know what all you did, do you?”

                He frowned. “I remember fine. Other than the lap dance and her strip act...and a couple other women stripping...nothing else happened.”

                “Wasn’t that enough?” she asked, irritated that he thought several naked women on display in his apartment were of little significance. “And why didn’t you tell me about the party? You led me to believe you’d done just as you said you were going to do—watch TV and go to bed.”

                He released a deep breath. “Okay, I admit I should have told you and I was wrong for not doing so. But I was angry with you. It was my birthday and I wanted to spend it with you. I felt you could have sacrificed a little that weekend to be with me. I hadn’t known you changed your mind and flew to Portland.”

                He paused a moment and then continued, “I realized after we’d broken up just how unpleasant my attitude had been and I do apologize for that. I was getting frustrated with the secrecy surrounding our affair, with my work and how little time I could get off to fly to New Orleans to spend with you.”

                As far as Jillian was concerned, his attitude had been more than unpleasant; it had become downright unacceptable. He wasn’t the only one who’d been frustrated with their situation. She had, too, which was the reason she had decided to confess all to Pam.

                “Now that you’re finished with medical school, there’s no reason to keep our secret any longer 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.”