Page 18 of Love Spell

Timo didn’t much care what had happened, but he knew how much people loved feeling supported and understood and all that other crap.

Once Noah felt supported and understood, Timo could make sure they were still on to meet at the museum on Saturday.Or, why wait?What about dinner tonight?It wasn’t as if Timo thought of anything else when he wasn’t with Noah, so everything else was really wasted time.

Stepping into his office, Timo found a best-case scenario: Dave gone, Noah still there, waiting for Timo.

Timo smiled at him.“You okay, Noah?You’ve had quite the morning.”

“We need to talk,” Noah said, voice as stiff as his perch on the streamlined chair.

“Of course.What happened with Dave?”Timo sat back on the edge of his desk, again ignoring the screens, gaze only for Noah.

“Not about that.”Noah met his eyes and Timo’s pulse quickened.“About how you’re behaving.”

“Me?”

“I don’t have much time left to work here, but I want that time.I want to make this a success and stay as long as I can.”

“Indeed —”

“I can’t do that if you’re going to keep acting like this.”

“Like what?”Timo was taken aback.Now it wasn’t just attacking your colleagues that was illegal but being friendly?

“Don’t bullshit me.Put it this way: Will you leave me alone to do my job and only talk to me about work-related things for the next seven weeks?”

“Then what?”

“Then what … what?”

“After the seven weeks?”

“Then I’m going back to the States.Maybe more like six.”

“Oh.”

“I did tell you my exact dates at the interview.”

“I understand keeping things professional at work, Noah.That’s absolutely fine.”

“It is?You’ll respect that?”

“Yes, of course.”

“Oh …” Noah sat back, as if having been braced against a heavy burden only to let go.“Thanks.”

“How about dinner?”Timo said.

“Wait — w-wha-what did you say?Fuck.” Noah shook his head violently, eyes closed.Very clearly and precisely, he repeated, “What did you say?”

“At dinner, after work, we can catch up about other matters.Totally work focused here.Okay?”

“No.”

“Have you been to the new Mongolian place on —?”

“No!”Noah jumped to his feet.“Will you leave me alone, or do I have to leave the office and go back homeright noweven though I d-d-don’t have a home!”

Timo cocked his head.“You mean, to North America?”