Page 22 of Bitter Secrets

Roth buried his face against her. “I like this one,” he said in a sleepy tone.

“Then let me go, and I’ll give it to you.”

“I’m comfortable here,” he said and tightened his hold when she tried to slip away.

“Would you like anything to eat or drink?” Sarai asked him while she gave Jasmine an admonishing look.

“Coffee,” he said.

“Yes, sir.”

Sarai hopped up and double-timed it to the front of the jet. Jasmine stiffened as he nuzzled her chest and slipped his hand beneath her sweater.

“Want to join the mile high club?”

She sucked in a breath as his hand splayed over her stomach.“No.”

“Maybe on the way back.”

She had to use both hands to yank his paw off her skin. She held it at arm’s length as if it were a snake. “Maybe never,” she retorted.

“We’re joining the club,” he said lazily. “You choose when, I’ll choose how.”

Before she could come up with a retort, Sarai reappeared. She was grateful his hands left her to accept a cup from Sarai.

“We land in thirty minutes,” Sarai reported with a radiant smile.

“Good,” he said.

“I’ll wake Johan and Mo,” Sarai said and bustled to the back of the jet.

Roth drank coffee and ate some of her pancakes while she perched stiffly on his lap.

“Did Sarai tell you where we’re headed?” he asked.

“London. How long will we be there?”

“A few days, but I have business in other cities as well. If everything goes smoothly, I should be able to wrap this up in two weeks.”

“Twoweeks? I didn’t pack for two weeks!”

“You can buy whatever you need there,” he said dismissively.

“That’s not the point!”

“You like to travel.”

It wasn’t a question. “I do, but usually, I have more than a couple of hours’ notice and know where I’m going.”

“It won’t always be like this. I left England abruptly, and now I’m playing catch up.”

“Why did you leave so suddenly?” she asked, striving for a casual tone, but her voice came out sharp and terse instead.

Roth didn’t answer. Instead, he drank coffee and studied her with a clinical air that put her on edge.

“Lyle told me you relocated to New York just days after Dad died.”

Her temper kindled to life as he maintained his silence.

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