kind of new partnership rule? I’m not allowed to have a conversation with my girlfriends?”
That wasn’t what he meant, was it? He scowled. “Not if it’s about… Never mind. I just don’t want you to—”
Her eyes narrowed and she stepped closer. “You don’t want me to what?”
“Look, Ellie,” he said, trying to sound reasonable. “It’s none of my business if you and Blake…”
“What about me and Blake?” she said, her tone challenging.
He gritted his teeth and changed the subject. “Never mind. Just give me the file and go home.”
“I’ll give you the damn file.” She slammed it down on his desk.
“Temper,” he chided.
She pursed her lips and got right up in his face. “But who says I’m going home?”
A red haze of fury filled his vision at the thought of her going off to Blake’s house.
“You’re not going anywhere,” he said, his voice low and threatening.
“Oh? And who’s going to stop me?”
“Me.” He grabbed her by her jacket lapels and yanked her against him and his mouth covered hers in an act of overt possession. She returned the favor with equal passion, her hips writhing against his already rock-hard erection as her lips searched his in a needy quest for more.
It was wonderful, Ellie thought, her mind drifting in a fog of sensual pleasure. Aidan was wild. Dangerous. Better than ever before. Or maybe it only seemed that way because it had been a lifetime since he’d kissed her.
Not that it meant anything. It was just sex. Wild, hot, fabulous sex, but still. It didn’t mean anything more than that to Aidan. Or to her, she reminded herself. So even if he thought he could make demands on her, he still had no intention of ever settling down with one woman.
Ellie had been trying for seven long days to resist him, but she couldn’t do it anymore. She knew she’d been obsessing over him, but she couldn’t help herself. The good news was that she had finally recognized what her mom must have been going through all those years ago. It wasn’t easy, but in her heart, Ellie had finally forgiven her. That was a big step.
And as for Ellie, she simply didn’t want to deny her true self anymore. She resolved here and now to just enjoy what she and Aidan had for as long as she could. She was tired of obsessing about obsession. If fun was all Aidan was offering, then fun is what she wanted to have.
He grabbed her hair and pulled gently, wrenching their lips apart. “I mean it, Ellie. You’re not going to see Blake.”
She smiled. “Of course I’m not.”
“Ever again,” he warned.
“I already told him a week ago.”
“Good. Come here,” he muttered and kissed her again.
*
Two weeks later, the Duke cousins arrived on the island for the wedding of Tom Sutherland and Sally Duke.
Aidan and Logan greeted everyone as they climbed out of the limousine.
He gave Sally a hug. She stared up at him and pressed her hands to his cheeks. “Oh Aidan, I’m so happy you’re my family.”
The words struck him like a punch to the solar plexus.
“I’m happy, too,” he managed, before Sally turned to Logan. Surreptitiously he blinked back a few drops of moisture that sprang to his eyes. Where the hell had that come from?
“Oh, look who’s here,” Sally cried, and rushed across the porte cochere.
Aidan turned in time to see her greet Ellie with a big hug and kisses on both cheeks. He frowned. How did those two know each other?
Logan elbowed him just then and chuckled. “Check it out. You are so dead.”
Aidan was suddenly reminded of Sally’s reputation as a matchmaker and was instantly suspicious. “How do they know each other?”
Logan shrugged. “They must’ve met on Sally’s last trip here. Don’t worry about it. I’m sure it’s all friendly and harmless.”
“Dude,” Aidan said quietly. “On her last trip here, you accused her of being a witch.”
“A good witch,” Logan reminded him under his breath.
“Right, but still.”
The last time Sally had visited Alleria, she’d spent a long time talking to Grace. Their cousin Brandon Duke had caught up with Aidan and advised him to warn his brother Logan that Sally liked to play matchmaker—and she played for keeps. She had uncanny luck in that area and the three Duke brothers were living proof. All three confirmed bachelors were now happily married with babies and the whole deal.
“You thought I was crazy for being concerned,” Aidan said. “Remember?”
“Yeah, and I was right,” Logan said. “You were crazy.”
“I was