They were helping one another. Nothing more, nothing less. So why couldn’t he believe his own words? He knew he had fallen for Simone. She had been an unexpected surprise. He had never expected it to be her. But it was her. It was all her. And now there was no turning back.
Chapter Fourteen
Simone sat in the darkened coach as it traveled down the deserted street. No one was out this late at night- unless they were up to no good.
She sat across from Caleb and tried to pretend that his nearness didn’t affect her. But it did. Quite frankly, she couldn’t stop thinking about that kiss. He may have only kissed her cheek, but that one simple gesture touched her deeply.
The worst part was that she wanted him to kiss her again.
It didn’t matter to her that they were so different. All that mattered was the way that he made her feel. She laughed more freely when he was around, and she even noticed her smile felt more genuine. Not the forced smile that she showed the world.
Simone resisted the urge to groan. This would not do. They were supposed to be married, in name only. She couldn’t risk falling in love and pining after her husband for the remainder of her days.
Caleb’s voice interrupted her thoughts. “You are rather quiet,” he observed.
“I am thinking.”
“Anything you would wish to share?”
No.
She didn’t dare reveal what she was truly thinking on. So instead, she said, “I was just thinking about Juliette and Victor.”
“We will figure out their plan and stop them,” Caleb encouraged.
“I know, but I do not like that they included my father in it,” Simone said. “He may be brash and inattentive, but he is still my father.”
Caleb bobbed his head. “I understand that, more than you know.”
Simone smoothed down her simple blue gown. “I know you do, which is why I feel comfortable sharing such things.”
“I hope you are comfortable sharing everything with me since we will soon be married,” Caleb said.
“Not in every sense,” Simone corrected.
A playful smirk came to Caleb’s lips. “I would be willing to make an exception.”
Simone’s back went rigid at his insinuation. “You gave me your word.”
“I am just teasing you, Simone,” Caleb said. “I would never do anything that would make you feel uncomfortable.”
She felt herself relax and she even returned his smile. “I wish you wouldn’t tease me so much.”
“You’d think you would be used to it by now,” Caleb joked. “Besides, I do not think I can stop. It is too much fun.”
“You are incorrigible.”
Caleb chuckled. “I have been called far worse- by you, actually.”
She laughed. “It seems so long ago that we were at odds with one another,” she said. “You are not as awful as I once thought.”
Placing a hand over his heart, Caleb said, “Your words mean the world to me.”
“I doubt that.”
Caleb lowered his hand to his side and perused the length of her. “I half-expected you to wear trousers this evening.”
“I debated about it, but I thought a dress would do just fine for sneaking into Mr. Frickle’s office,” Simone said. “I’m hoping this is not a waste of time.”
