EastEnders‘ Jack Branning has had a surprising passionate encounter with Nicola Mitchell.

Jack has been trying to mend his relationship with ex-wife Denise Fox, unaware she had resumed her secret affair with Ravi Gulati.

In tonight’s (January 15) episode, Nicola set her sights on Jack, grinning from ear to ear when she spotted his attempts to rekindle his bond with Denise being shut down.

While Denise doesn’t want to go public with Ravi just yet to protect her daughter Chelsea, she promised him she isn’t interested in getting back with Jack.

“I’m not playing games, Ravi,” she told him, insisting she wasn’t stringing him along.

“There is only one fella in my life,” she said.

At Harry’s Barn that night, Nicola walked up to Jack with a peace offering.

“Still touchy about your lunch date rejection earlier?” she teased him, adding she knew far too well how complicated relationships with exes can be.

As Jack’s texts to Denise went unanswered, he was left alone mulling over his marriage.

Witnessing Chelsea being harassed by some male patrons, Jack stepped in and got punched in the face.

Chelsea thanked Jack, while Nicola helped him clean up. In her office, she offered him a drink.

A text from Denise finally came in, reinforcing the fact that she and Jack needed to maintain their boundaries.

Seeing no hope to get back with Denise, Jack accepted Nicola’s drink offer. The suspended police detective got more than he bargained for when she started flirting with him… and the two finally kissed.