Page 70 of Love Spell

“You will let me buy them if we get engagement rings?”Timo asked.“No gifts, I know, but think of that as part of the legal process.Of course I’ll cover anything like that.”

“Oh … uh… yeah.I guess so.Ifwe get anything like that.”

“If, of course.Let’s get another appointment for Monday.Until then, just think about it.”

“I will.”

“Stop, Noah.I’m ready.”

“I’m not.”

“That’s why I’m telling you to stop.”

“Who knew you’d ever say that to me?”

“‘Mysterious ways’ and all that …”

Again, Noah laughed.

“What do you want to do for your birthday weekend?”Timo asked, needing to distract himself for another minute, again hoping for Noah to say, “You.”Noah still failed to read his lines, but he didn’t totally disappoint.

“You mentioned bike trails?”

“North Downs?Surrey Hills?”

“Sure.But let’s invite the team to hang out.Especially Haoyu and Arthur — anyone who’d want to bike or get out for a hike.We don’t all have to spend every minute together, just go together and have a good time.”He caught his breath before adding quietly, “And not draw so much attention to the fact that you’ve socially dumped the entire Wolf Pack in favour of me.”

That was stupid.Of course Timo was spending time with Noah over anyone else right now.He just couldn’t figure out why Noah had a problem with that or why anyone wouldn’t be flattered by his undivided attention.Noah wouldn’t, but whatever.

Timo said only, “Of course.I’ll send a message on the group chat tonight.”

“Thank you.”

Just as quickly, Timo banished those hangers-on from his mind.

Yes, Timo would have to keep saying “if” for the next 24 to 48 hours, and remember to use hypothetical rather than concrete language.Keep that in mind, though, handle with care, and he had this visa thing in the bag.

22

Saturday passed with an afternoon in the hills of the North Downs, in company this time and actually fun to get out with some of the guys again with no one going silent the moment they saw Noah.He still hadn’t said yes, but that was starting to seem silly because how else was he going to stay here?

Sunday passed lounging at home, a slow start with coffee and omelettes, Timo later beginning to train him to run, with basic exercises and breathing work at Hyde Park, then a West End play that Noah grabbed last-minute tickets for since it was his birthday and Timo had no interest in such things.He still hadn’t said yes, but now he was just being stubborn.Obviously they should go ahead.

Monday passed with a lunchtime appointment with Anjali Mahal, who steepled her fingers above her desk, listened patiently to Noah’s concerns, then went over all the timelines and process with him in great detail.

To judge by the office location and her firm, at which she was a senior partner, Noah suspected such handholding was costing Timo at least several hundred pounds before any work started, but Timo was all smiles and Anjali was all business, setting out every detail without needing to reference the written laws.He still hadn’t said yes, but she sat back, asked if she should start the paperwork, and Noah nodded.

“I guess we …” Biting his own lip, Noah looked to Timo.“You really want to do this?”Silly question, but he had to ask, had to look Timo in the eye and decide for himself based on what he saw there.

“More than anything I’ve ever wanted in my life.”Timo beamed back at him and Noah looked away.

Timo took his hand, kissed it, and even Anjali unbent so far as to smile and say, “Let me be the first to congratulate you on your engagement.”

For some reason Noah wished she hadn’t said that, wished he’d not even nodded, wished they’d never come here, but decided that was all just due to the butterflies in his stomach.Such feelings likely happened to everyone.

* * *

Timo was allowed to take Noah out to a celebratory birthday dinner on Monday that was now also an engagement celebration.Noah was weird about it, pensive and distracted, like he’d rather be somewhere else, but Timo was getting used to this.If Noah wasn’t temperamental, he wouldn’t be as interesting.

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