The Lady Has a Past (Burning Cove #5) - Amanda Quick Page 0,103
not say that. With a professional showman you know you’re watching a performer at work. It’s an act. Tinsley pretends to be the real deal, a prestigious researcher.”
“From what you told me he didn’t claim to have paranormal powers—he says his machine can detect them.”
“The machine is a fake. Every time he hooked me up to it onstage a green light glowed on the front of the damned thing. He told the audience it was detecting my paranormal ability.”
“Well, you do have some sort of extrasensory perception,” Lyra said.
“The green light came on because he switched it on every time we went onstage, Lyra. The act was a complete con. He used me.”
“Got news for you, Simon. Everyone gets used occasionally.”
“Is that right? When was the last time anyone used you?”
“Gosh, let me think,” Lyra said. “Oh, right, there was the time Marcella Adlington used me as an excuse to kill her husband and try to murder Raina.”
Simon groaned. “Why do I bother arguing with you? You’ve got an answer for everything.”
“And then there was the time you planned to use me to amuse yourself while you vacationed in Burning Cove.”
“That’s different. I wasn’t going to use you, damn it. I just wanted to share my vacation with someone.”
“You wanted a no-strings-attached affair with a reckless, fun-loving divorcée, a lady with a past. A fast woman.”
“Are you going to hold that over my head forever?”
“Probably,” Lyra said. “I like to watch you turn red.”
“Okay, I admit I miscalculated. I wanted to keep things light.”
“Superficial.”
“Superficial,” he said through set teeth. “Whatever. But I had my reasons. I’ve got a lousy track record when it comes to relationships.”
“So do I.”
He narrowed his eyes. “Your record isn’t nearly as bad as mine.”
Lyra turned to face him. She rested her arm along the back of the seat and appeared to give his comment some serious consideration.
“I’ll grant you that point,” she said. “I suppose I could work on my track record by going through a few more lousy relationships. But I think it would be a waste of time.”
“Why do I have the feeling that I’m not winning this argument?”
“Probably because you don’t stand a chance. I’ve got an answer for everything, remember?”
“Sarcasm is beneath you.”
“No, it’s not. What do you say we go meet Dr. Otto Tinsley?”
“He’s not a real doctor of anything.”
“Lots of people use honorary titles.”
“Fake titles.”
“I’m through with this quarrel.” Lyra opened her door and put one foot on the ground. “I can’t wait to meet Dr. Tinsley.”
“We are not going anywhere until I finish what I started here,” Simon said.
“Oh, all right.” She turned halfway around to face him. “I’m listening.”
“I’m trying to tell you that I thought it would be better for both of us if things didn’t get serious. But then they did. I no longer want a fling. I want more—a lot more. I love you, damn it. I realize you’ve decided that you never want to marry, but—”
“I’ve changed my mind.”
“But I think you feel something for me,” he said, determined to finish what he had started. “I’m hoping it’s enough to convince you to continue our relationship. I know you’re committed to your new career at Kirk Investigations. That’s not a problem—”
He broke off as her words finally hit him. “What?”
She smiled. “I said I’ve changed my mind about marriage. I love you.”
“What the hell? Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I just did. I was biding my time, waiting until I thought you were ready for the truth.”
“I didn’t think a close relationship would ever work for me.”
“You hadn’t met me.”
“That is so damn right.” He wrapped a hand around the back of her neck and drew her toward him. “Will you marry me?”
“Yes.” She brushed her mouth against his and then pulled away. “Now let’s go meet Dr. Tinsley, expert in parapsychology.”
“We’re talking about marriage and you want to go meet a con artist. You’re moving a little too fast for me.”
“You wanted a fast woman. That’s what you’ve got.” She opened the car door, got out, and paused to look back at him. “Try to keep up.”
He laughed. It was the very last thing he had anticipated doing after the phone call from Tinsley. But the laughter roared up from a wellspring somewhere deep inside and crashed through him. He was suddenly euphoric. Joyous.
He opened his door, climbed out from behind the wheel, and followed Lyra through the front door of the Hidden Beach Inn.