Page 43 of Love Spell

Noah had walked to the dining room table in the open-plan penthouse in a daze, nearly resting his hand on Timo’s wool jacket on the chair, before catching himself and shaking his head.

“No, thanks.I need to talk to you.”

“Please do.What would you prefer to drink?Are you sure you don’t want to change first?We can sit while this finishes off.Then I’ll just need ten more minutes and dinner is served.”

Was it rehearsed?Was it deliberate to throw Noah off his stride?Was it a self-serving way of stealing the spotlight?Look at you!While really saying,Look at me!

Looking into his eyes made everything worse.Timo’s smile never wavered from Noah’s face.A smile, an intensity, a slightly glazed joy, that Noah could best describe as besotted.

If Noah walked away to ditch the suit and tie, or got a drink, or so much as pulled out a chair, Timo would keep distracting him, on purpose or otherwise.

Before Timo could say another word, Noah said, “I just met with Julian.”

“Who?”Timo asked distractedly, standing by the kitchen island, one hand on the marble countertop, waiting for Noah to choose his beverage.

“The astrologer, Julian, in south London, just now.”

At last, Timo lost his smile, expression clouding.“That son of a bitch.Why?”

“I’ve been wanting a consultation, and I saw his webpage in your office a few hours ago.He had a free slot.”Noah stepped forward.“Why didn’t you tell me what’s really happening?”

“Nothing is happening.Did he spin you some fairytale of magic spells and love potions?”

“Don’t you dare belittle someone else’s beliefs.And don’t start telling me that his putting a love spell on you is fantasy either.I don’t know what to believe, but right now his explanation is the only thing that makes sense.The good news is that you can put all this right.”

“He’s the one who ‘cast a spell,’ but I can put it right?”

“Yes.You can go back to him, meet with him this weekend, and apologise.”

Timo waited a beat, as if to hear the rest of the sentence.Then, “Apologise for what?”

“Apparently for ridiculing him.I don’t know?Challenging his abilities, mocking his faith, whatever it is you said to him at the wedding you went to.”

Timo crossed his arms, leaning one hip into the counter.His expression grew sanctimonious.“Noah, think about what you’re saying.I didn’t do anything wrong.I don’t owe anyone an apology.Even if I did, I certainly wouldn’t go offering one to a man who thinks he’s put a curse on me when he’s done no such thing.”

“No,youthink about it.Are you under a spell?I don’t know.But I know that all it takes to find out is a quick text and a ten-minute meeting.Case closed.You have to see him.”

“I did see him.He told me to go fuck myself.Not that it matters because there is no —”

“You can at least try it!”

“We cannot allow ourselves to cave to bullies.”

“Youare a bully!All you have to do is say you’re sorry and put this right, for both our sakes, but you won’t do it, even for my sake.”

“Me?”Timo pressed a hand to his own chest, taking a theatrical step back.“I don’t know what you’re talking about.I’m strong-willed and know what I want.There’s nothing wrong with that.But it doesn’t matter.The main point that you keep losing sight of is that there is no magic spell.There is no potion.There is no curse.It’s just a wild story, like a fortune-teller or a medium.Those people know how to get into your head but it’s all just a con —”

“Bullshit ‘not real’!”Noah yelled over him.“You never noticed I existed after the interview until one day, it was like being hit in the face.”

“Because I finally did notice you.”Now Timo opened his hands, shifting tactics to try his placating tone.“What’s that they say about smelling the roses?Well, I stopped and took a deep breath, and I noticed someone I shouldn’t have been overlooking.These things happen.Am I a criminal for loving you?”

Noah’s breath caught halfway down.He gripped the back of the chair and Timo’s jacket after all.

“You don’t.”Despite valiant efforts to keep his voice cold and firm, Noah knew he sounded breathless.

Timo was the one who sounded perfectly controlled.“I’m in love with you, Noah, and that’s on me.Not on a stranger’s magic spell.”

Noah pressed his fist against his own forehead for a moment, eyes squeezed shut.“You can’t really think you love me just like that — totally out of the blue.”

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