“Asking for help is not a sign of weakness,” Caleb pointed out.
Simone didn’t look convinced. “I have learned to make do on my own. It is far easier to go undetected when one doesn’t have a partner underfoot.”
“I don’t know about that. Roswell and I worked well together,” Caleb shared. “I never thought having a partner was a hindrance.”
“But the one time you did work by yourself, you almost got yourself killed,” Simone said, a playfulness to her words.
Caleb crossed his arms over his chest. “When are you ever going to let me live that down?”
Simone seemed to ponder his words before saying, “I don’t rightly know. It is so much fun to tease you about it.”
“You are a minx.”
“I have been called worse,” she bantered back.
Caleb chuckled. “I can only imagine, but in all seriousness, Juliette might not be alone. Her brother might be at the meeting and perhaps other French sympathizers.” He paused. “Have you considered this might be a trap?”
“I have, but we are spies. We know the risks associatedwith doing our jobs, and we can’t risknotgoing to meet with Juliette,” Simone responded.
As they approached the boarding house, Caleb studied Simone for a long moment. All the humor had left her features, and it was replaced with a fierce determination. And in that moment, he knew the only way to break down her walls was to show her that he cared enough about her to climb over them.
Chapter Seven
Simone exited the coach and came to a stop in front of the boarding house. She didn’t know quite what to expect, but she knew she needed to be prepared for anything. She did, however, feel comforted by Caleb’s presence, despite her many objections to having him as a partner.
She didn’t like being vulnerable around anyone. She had fallen down a thousand times, but she had always gotten back up. She wasn’t afraid of breaking, but she was afraid of people knowing it.
Caleb came to stand next to her and asked, “Are you ready?”
“I am always ready,” she replied.
With a glance at her, Caleb said, “That is good because we have no idea what we are getting ourselves into.”
“It will work out.”
“How are you so confident all the time?” Caleb inquired.
Simone shrugged. “I have to be,” she said. “I can’t very well go in expecting failure.”
Caleb offered his arm. “We have each other now. I promise I won’t let you get hurt.”
“I am not your responsibility,” she argued as she placed her hand on his sleeve.
“No, but we are partners, and that means something to me,” Caleb said. “It means whatever we do we do together.”
Together.
She quite liked the sound of that.
Simone smiled. “All right,” she said.
Caleb gave her a curious look. “You aren’t going to argue with me?”
“I see no reason to, at least right now,” Simone replied. “But I am sure I will think of a reason to argue with you later.”
“Ah, I have something to look forward to,” Caleb joked.
Simone brought her gaze back towards the boarding house. “If you are ready…” Her words trailed off.
