Page 42 of Love Spell

Noah mouthed at him like a fish.“Am I hearing this right?This spell you’ve worked has trashed my whole life, and you’re not going to lift it because Timo hurt your feelings?”

“I will be more than happy to lift it.Just as soon as your boss owns up and apologises for being the arrogant, judgmental, obnoxious prick that he is; and begs my forgiveness for ever doubting me.”

“That’s never going to happen.”

Julian shrugged.“Too bad for him.”

“No, too bad forme.You just said you were sorry this was affecting me so much.So do something!”

“You may be underestimating the influence you have over this man.”

“Influence?”

Julian rolled his eyes.“Exactly.Yes,youcan get him to apologise.Tell him what I told you.I met with him yesterday and he thought shouting at me would get me to lift the spell.”Julian added this last rather pointedly.“Of course, that didn’t get him anywhere, but you can tell him the solution and see if he doesn’t jog right out to see me.”

Noah gripped the back of his chair, facing Julian with the chair between them, thinking fast.“Timo came to see you about all this?”That explained the website.“Why hasn’t he told me that he knew he was under outside influences?”

“Because he doesn’t want to believe he’s being impacted by outside influences at all.He knows what I’ve done, but he’s loath to acknowledge it.Sweep it under the rug and pretend there’s no magick is his policy.You, on the other hand, are more open-minded and you can explain what he needs to do to lift the spell.”

“And if he won’t?”

Julian smiled at that.“In the state he’s in right now?If you bat your eyes at him, you could probably get him to feed his leg to a shark.”

15

Noah had calmed down to a simmer by the time he got home and unlocked the door with his own key, which Timo had been quick to give him.He wasn’t expecting Timo to be home at 6:30 in the evening.Timo would be getting a drink with trading buddies and insiders, return to the office for more work, meet an analyst for dinner, or even working out.Not home.

So Noah almost jumped when he walked into rich, savoury aromas, and Timo in the kitchen.

Timo turned at the sound and smiled like a floodlight.“Welcome home.”

Noah thought of slamming the door and going … where?

He slunk in, closed it after him.“Hey.I didn’t think you’d be here.”

“It occurred to me that you’ve been living here all week and we’ve yet to have a homemade meal together.”

“We don’t have to do that because this is just for —”

“So I said to myself, ‘What does Noah like?’Old Russia, for some reason.I popped out to the shops and this has been cooking ever since.You’re in good time.We’re ready to put the noodles in soon.Change, relax, make yourself comfortable.Wine?”

“Timo —”

“I’d recommend a red.”He’d not changed into lounge clothes or even donned an apron, cooking in his spotless work shirt and trousers, jacket hanging across the back of a chair, tie gone and top few buttons of his shirt open.He looked like the host of a mock cooking show titled something likeFood Porn with Wolves.

Noah gulped.“What are we having?”No, idiot.That wasn’t what he was asking.He was storming in here to demand that Timo put all this right.

“I’m glad you asked.”Noah had never seen anyone so able to smile enough to show half his teeth while talking and making it look like a normal thing to do.“Beef Stroganov, or as you probably call it, Stroganoff.My mother’s recipe, formerly her mother’s recipe.”

You didnotjust pull the granny’s-recipe card.

“I thought beef Stroganoff was German,” Noah said.

“Afraid not.But I do have a classic Spätburgunder, now that you mention it.Should be a perfect pairing.May I pour you a glass?”

“Uh…” Why was it so hot in here?Was it the kitchen?Was it Noah?Had Timo deliberately turned up the thermostat so Noah would sit around in a T-shirt?True, September had been warm, but it was nippy now and it shouldn’t be this hot inside.

Dinner smelled outrageous.It was probably only the cooking that raised the temperature.

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