“I will deal with it,” Caleb replied. “Just try to be nice to me this evening.”
“That will be rather difficult,” Simone said, softening her words with a smile. “I would have you know that I can be rather pleasant.”
Caleb grinned. “I have yet to see that side of you.”
“That is because you only say things that vex me, constantly,” Simone joked.
“I do believe everything out of my mouth vexes you,” Caleb said.
Her smile grew. “You wouldn’t be wrong.”
Caleb perused the length of her, and in his eyes, she saw approval. “I was in earnest earlier. You are looking especially lovely this evening.”
“Flattery, Mr. Bolingbroke?” she asked.
“It is merely the truth.”
Simone was secretly pleased by his compliment, but she would never admit that. She didn’t want him to think she cared about what he thought.
Caleb’s grin transformed into a smirk. “Did I do the impossible and make you speechless?”
“You did no such thing,” she asserted. “I was just thinking about all the ways I could insult you, but I do not wish to do so in front of your mother.”
“Should you practice complimenting me?” Caleb asked.
Simone arched an eyebrow. “What would I even compliment?”
Caleb waggled his brow as he tugged at the end of his waistcoat. “You could tell me how devilishly handsome I look this evening.”
“I thought you wanted truth between us,” Simone quipped.
“Humor me,” he said with amusement in his eyes. “Just offer me one genuine compliment.”
Simone pursed her lips together, feeling rather foolish. “This is absurd,” she muttered.
“Can you not do it?”
With a glance at her father, who was admiring the vase in his hand, Simone attempted to think of something that would appease Caleb. There were many things she admired about him, but she didn’t dare admit that. Not to him. He would become even more unbearable than he already was.
Simone turned her attention back to Caleb and studied him from head to foot. After a long moment, she said, “I like the way you brushed your hair this evening.”
He chuckled. “Are you truly complimenting me on how I brushed my hair?”
“Yes, it is more brushed forward than normal, is it not?”
“I don’t rightly know,” he replied. “I do not keep track of such things.”
“Pity,” she said.
Caleb leaned closer to her. “There are surely other things that you have noticed about me,” he remarked. “My smile or perhaps my chiseled jawline.”
“I haven’t noticed those things but clearlyyouhave,” Simone said, secretly enjoying his nearness. He smelled of orange and musk. It was the most intriguing combination of scents, and it was as unique as he was.
“You disappoint me,” Caleb said, his words light.
“And you, sir, are supposed to be charming,” Simone retorted.
A subtle smile played at the edges of his lips as he remarked, “I like how you styled your hair this evening, as well. The pearls are a nice touch.”
