Page 70 of His Wicked Charm

“And if you don’t want to believe in something, it’s nonsense.”

“Why do you harp on this? Why do you have to push and push—”

Con overrode her words. “The real question is, why do you continue to deny the existence of things you’ve witnessed? You refuse to accept it because it upsets the pleasant, orderly fantasy you have fashioned for your life. You might have to admit that Vesta could be right. Maybe her séance wasn’t a humbug.”

“You’re wrong!” Anger surged in Lilah, shooting through her veins like wildfire. At the same time, she wanted to run away, as far and as fast as she could. “Stop! Just stop.”

But Con pressed on, throwing his arms out wide, “If you weren’t so bloody narrow-minded, you’d admit the world isn’t as tidy as your Aunt Helena would want you to believe. The rules don’t always apply, Lilah.”

“No!” For the second time in her life, Lilah slapped him.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

CON GAPED AT her in astonishment, but he could not have been more surprised than Lilah herself. Letting out a choked moan of dismay, she covered her face with her hands.

“I’m sorry.” The words came out in little more than a whisper. She dropped her hands, but she couldn’t yet bring herself to look into his eyes. Clearing her throat, Lilah said, more firmly, “Please accept my apologies. I—I don’t know how I could have acted in such a way.”

“That’s twice, you know.” There was an odd note in Con’s voice, not anger, really. It sounded more like...

Lilah lifted her head. “Are you laughing?”

“No. Never.” His eyes twinkled with amusement. “Tell me, am I the only person you thrash on a regular basis?”

“I have never hit anyone else in my life,” Lilah said indignantly.

“I’m special to you, then.” A smile teased at his lips.

“You are the only one who’s that infuriating,” she responded, beginning to relax. “Honestly, Con, how can you laugh?”

“I have three sisters. I’ve been hit any number of times. It happens when one is, as you said, ‘that infuriating.’”

“I doubt they slapped you.”

“True. But Olivia once chased me down the hall, wielding a hairbrush. She’s faster than you’d think.”

“You must have been a terrible child.”

“There you are. A smile.” He laid a caressing hand on her cheek.

“I don’t know how you can be so pleasant after I hit you.”

“Well, I’d prefer you didn’t make a habit of it. But you didn’t hit me that hard. I need to teach you how to punch properly. And I should have had my guard up. It’s embarrassing, really.” He wrapped his arms around her.

“I truly am sorry, Con. It was rude and uncalled for.” It felt so good to stand like this, his chest warm and firm beneath her cheek, his heart steadily thumping.

“It was rather impolite.” Con kissed the top of her head and stepped back. “I’m sorry, too. I was bullying you. And I shouldn’t have mentioned your aunt.”

Lilah felt the loss of his embrace, but she couldn’t let him see that. “Which one? Helena or Vesta?”

“Either. Both. I shouldn’t get angry because you don’t believe what I do.”

“I don’t normally act that way, though I can hardly expect you to believe that.”

“I believe you. Have you ever seen a cork shoot out of a champagne bottle?”

“Now I’m like a cork?”

“Tightly sealed things sometimes explode. You’re worried by your sleepwalking. Peculiar things are happening. I’m pressing you. Your ardent, elderly suitor pursued you here.”