“Would I?” he asked, his words low, intimate.
Simone locked eyes with him and detected a playful glint in his gaze. Once again, he was teasing her- a delicate interplay of emotions that stirred both excitement and irritation within her. She was uncertain of which emotion to focus on. Annoyance. It felt like the safer option.
Caleb’s smile transformed into a devilish grin, drawing her attention to his lips. “You do like me. Just admit it.”
“I would never admit such a thing,” Simone responded with a stubborn tilt of her chin. “Are you ever serious?”
“I think I have proven I can be serious when the situation warrants it.”
“And this situation does not warrant it?”
Caleb took a step closer to her. “I don’t think it does,” he replied. “It is all right for us to enjoy one another’s company.”
“How can I enjoy a thorn in my boot?”
He brought a hand to his chest, feigning disappointment. “You wound me,” he said. “I shall have to work harder to earn your approval.”
“If this ridiculous conversation is over, I need to plan my escape so I can meet you at headquarters.”
“I shall count every moment that passes until we see each other again,” Caleb said, his hand still over his heart.
Simone made a showing of rolling her eyes. “You should be in the theatre,” she joked. “Although, there is such a thing as overacting.”
“I save my theatric performances just for you,” Caleb responded with a wink.
“Lucky me,” Simone muttered.
Simone wanted to continue being annoyed, but with each passing moment, her resolve was softening. She was rather enjoying this playful side of Caleb. But she didn’t dare admit that, especially to him. He was already entirely too cocky for his own good, and she had no desire to encourage him. They needed to remain serious.
Taking a step back, Simone said, “I’ll be at headquarters as quickly as I am able.”
Caleb tipped his head. “I wish you luck but do be careful. It wouldn’t be farfetched to assume that you are being followed.”
“I shall take extra precautions,” Simone declared. “Now if you will excuse me, I need to go tell my companion I am going to my bedchamber to rest and then sneak out the servants’ entrance.”
“Do you want me to escort you back inside?” Caleb asked, offering his arm.
Simone looked at his arm as she debated what she should do. One part of her wanted to keep him close, while the other urged her to push him away. His ability to break through her defenses unsettled her deeply.
But she had a decision to make.
Propriety won out. With a feigned indifference, she placed her hand on his sleeve, pretending that his nearness wasn’t affecting her. “Thank you,” she murmured.
As Caleb led Simone down the path, she knew she was in trouble. She couldn’t deny it any longer. She liked Caleb, perhaps more than she should.
Caleb sat in the entry hall of the agency’s headquarters. He was waiting for Simone to arrive so they could go in together to see Kendrick.
He had pushed her today, knowing she was capable of so much more. He could see it in her eyes. She wasn’t completely indifferent towards him. She cared for him. He was sure of that. But he didn’t know to what extent. Simone fiercely guarded her emotions, and it was going to take more than his persistent teasing to topple those barriers.
And he did love to tease her.
The door opened, revealing Simone as she entered the entry hall. She was wearing a faded pink gown that bore the marks of time. Atop her head rested a matching bonnet, and her brown shoes, worn and dulled by countless steps, completed the look.
Caleb rose from his seat as she approached him. “Did you walk here?”
“Of course not, I took a hackney. It was much too far to walk, but I did ensure I wasn’t followed,” she replied.
“You could have ridden with me.”
