Page 84 of Seduced By You

“No. I mean… no. Of course it’s not true.”

“A cheatanda liar.” Kadon barked a laugh. “What a catch you are, Oberon.”

Like a wounded animal, Benedict screeched. He threw himself at Kadon, fists flying. Kadon, an expert skier, swished out of the way. Benedict lost his footing and sprawled facedown in the snow.

Don’t laugh. Do. Not. Laugh.

I laughed. Heartily. I shouldn’t have, but God, it felt good. Like an exorcism. Benedict’s final humiliation. He’d taken on an adversary far more powerful and competent than he, and he’d lost. Served him right.

“You know what?” I linked my arm through Kadon’s. “I’ve had enough for one day. Shall we go home?”

“Sounds good to me.”

I detected a slight tremor in Kadon’s voice. Adrenaline, probably. The altercation must have affected him far more than he’d like to let on. He picked up his poles, and we skied back to the lodge in silence, neither one of us glancing behind us. Benedict could lie in the snow for the rest of the day, for all I cared.

Kadon helped me out of my ski clothes, then removed his own. He put a few logs on the fire and lit it, all the while saying nothing. I left him to his thoughts and went into the kitchen to put the kettle on. It wasn’t long before he appeared, propping his shoulder against the door frame, his eyes tracking me as I moved between the fridge and the kitchen counter.

“Aren’t you going to say anything?”

The kettle popped. I filled the teapot with hot water. “What do you want me to say?”

“Are you angry?”

Both eyebrows flew up my forehead. I put the lid on the teapot and left the tea to brew. “Angry? Why would I be angry?”

“Because I reacted when I shouldn’t have.”

I pulled out a chair and sat down, waiting for Kadon to join me. He slumped into one on the other side of the table, all the earlier fight knocked out of him. I couldn’t read minds, but I was close enough to the man sitting opposite to guess where his mind had gone. A delicate situation like this needed careful handling. I hoped I was up to the task.

“What are you afraid of?”

The comprehension in his eyes meant my question needed no further explanation. He reached for my hand. I gave it to him. His thumb traced my knuckles. It took a few seconds before he looked at me.

“Letting my anger get the better of me and killing someone else.”

I knew it.“I understand why you’d think that, but you know what’s different between that situation and this one?”

He rubbed his lips together. “No.”

“You’re older. Wiser. You’re in control. You understand the consequences of your actions. And I stand by what I’ve said all along. What happened in Switzerland was an accident. You were a seventeen-year-old boy faced with a horrific situation, and you acted on instinct. All you wanted was to make what Henry was doing to Samuel stop.” I put my hand over the top of his. “You’d never have hurt Benedict. Not really.” I grinned. “Other than his pride, that is.”

“You sound pretty sure of yourself.”

“That’s because I am.” My grin spread. “Can you imagine the conversation he and Fenella are having right now?”

“Divorced in three months?”

“Fenella’s father is pretty powerful. I’m sure he can fast-track it through the courts in less time than that.”

“Serves him right.”

“I agree.” I poured two cups of tea, pushing one across the oak table toward him. “Can I ask you a favor?”

“Always.”

“Do you mind if we head home tomorrow?” Although I doubted we’d bump into Benedict and Fenella again, especially as she was probably packing her suitcase right this second, I didn’t want to risk it. Benedict was enough of a smooth talker to wriggle his way out of this mess if he chose to, and the thought of having to constantly look over my shoulder didn’t appeal to me.

“I was going to suggest the same thing.”