Page 31 of Love Spell

“Your wedding day.”

“Yes.I got married.”

“No …” Timo snapped his fingers several times.“Julian.His name was Julian.”

“What about him?”

“I have to speak to him.It’s urgent.”

“You said this was urgent,” Rhys snarled but Timo cut him off.

“Please, I’m begging you.I’m sorry I did that.I haven’t been myself; I’ve been … fuck … I don’t even know.Strung out and I’m not even taking anything.Something’s wrong and it started that day and I don’t … I really, really, really need to talk to Julian.Please.”

Rhys watched him, stance finally softening a bit.Still he hesitated, but something about Timo’s tone or expression must have got through to him.At last, he said, “You can reach him on his website.He’s an astrologer in London.Julian Ardenghi.Just search and he should come up.”

Timo nodded, gulping a breath, newly discovering he’d skipped several.“Thank you.”

Rhys backed away from him, his frown returned, although no longer furious.Perhaps more worried.“Sure.Look after yourself, Tim.”He turned for the breakfast room, leaving Timo alone.

11

It had been so easy to sleep at the office on Monday night without anyone being the wiser, Noah assumed he could get away with Tuesday as well.No one had noticed his bags tucked under his desk.No one questioned him being first in or last out.

Then Tuesday evening rolled around and everyone drifted out, two or three at a time, Noah pretending to leave as well, only to discover Timo was still in his office.Leave and come back?He did need dinner.

Without a word, he slunk past Timo’s office so as not to say goodnight and risk a conversation.Although “altercation” would be a better word for his time alone with Timo.

Over his solitary Thai dinner with fresh summer rolls and ginger prawns in vegetables, his mind played on loops that he’d been reliving since Saturday night.

His parents, his first love, that night in February, city life, school, London, Timo, all leading to Saturday night in Wales, to Noah spending his spa vacation night staring at the ceiling, fighting suffocation, fighting tears, wishing he hadn’t walked away.

Timo’s behaviour was so inappropriate, so unacceptable, of course Noah had to walk away.He couldn’t encourage someone like that.Timo was Noah’s boss; he was abusing his power; sexual harassment now escalated to assault.Noah had 100% done the right thing.No question.

No matter how many times Noah reminded himself of that, he still lay awake wishing he’d done the wrong thing.However stunning and magnetic Timo was, however amazing the sex might promise to be, he couldnotlet pure instinct take over.

He hadn’t been carefully avoiding Timo ever since Sunday because he was afraid Timo would try something again.He’d been avoiding Timo because he wanted Timo to try something again.That was what turned his stomach.

Noah had a month left in the country.After that, he would almost certainly never see Timo again.He couldn’t possibly get into anything complicated now, couldn’t commit in any way.That said, he also didn’t have much to lose.So why not?Why not try being with someone again?Why not tell Timo the truth?Why live in this endless state of panic?

Then what?Set the scene for a predator to go after the next junior he hired?

Instead of encouraging him, Noah should be reporting him.

In order to drag out his time for as long as possible before going back to read and sleep on the floor, Noah ordered a scoop of coconut ice cream.

He ate as slowly as he could, tiny licks off his spoon one by one, watching the round scoop begin to melt into the bottom of the glass dish.

What if it was real?What if — yes it seemed wild and impossible and hardly worth thinking of — Timo really was in love with him?What if instant action and pressing his company at Noah was all he knew to show his feelings and, given Noah’s impending departure anyway, it wouldn’t hurt to explore the possibility?

No … Noah was romanticising a creep.He couldn’t help being flattered on some level by the lavish attention, but the whole thing was messed up and Noah had to stay away.

Even if he didn’t want to?Well, if Noah didn’t want to stay away it was only a result of unruly hormones and these mind games, more akin to Stockholm Syndrome than genuine, healthy affection.

His regrets about fleeing on Saturday, about lying awake all night alone instead of going back, were just the same: unhealthy.

But what if he did tell Timo the truth?How would Timo respond?What if not telling him was ultimately hurting Noah more than anyone because Noah regretted not going back and —?

Ugh.

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