Page 12 of Love Spell (Witches of London #3)

He’d no sooner reached the now sparsely populated bar with a welcoming murmur of voices instead of the loud voices and laughter of the team, when Timo appeared beside him like a shadow.

Noah jumped, not only startled, but unsettled that Timo, who’d been talking and laughing with Maksim and Ranveer seconds before, had been watching Noah closely enough all the time to dart after him.

“Nightcap?” Smiling, Timo rested a hand on his shoulder.

Noah pulled away, though he found he didn’t mind as much as he should have. Perhaps he was buzzed from the drinks and sugar and overall day, but he almost didn’t mind Timo following him either.

“I’ve had enough.”

“You eat light and you hardly drank anything.”

“How do you know?”

“We just had dinner together, Noah.”

“I was four people away from you. We didn’t ‘have dinner together’ like that.”

“Have a seat.” Timo pulled out a barstool for him. “Just one drink? How’s your day been? Hand okay?”

“It’s fine.” Noah still stood, but didn’t retreat. “And it’s never just one drink with you, is it?”

There was that hooded smile again, the come-hither one that made Noah want to run far more than to draw near.

“Noah,” Timo crooned, “are you afraid to drink with me in case you become so intoxicated you start ripping off my clothes and begging me to fuck you right here on the bar?”

Noah stared blankly at him for a solid five seconds. “Timo …” Noah imitated his silky tone. “Nothing could ever make me that drunk. Nothing. Ever.” He leaned closer. “ Ever. ”

Timo pressed his right hand over his heart. “You wound me. That really hurts my feelings.”

“It’s a relief to know you have any to hurt.”

“Do you fancy emotional weakness in others?”

“It’s not weakness.” Noah rolled his eyes. “It’s called ‘emotional awareness’ or ‘emotional openness.’ Not weakness.”

Timo hesitated, gaze flickering to the ceiling, clearly trying to work out what was the difference between openness and weakness, then decided to drop the matter. “I assure you, I’m a marshmallow at heart. Deep down.”

“Yeah. Sure you are. Thanks, but I think I’ll go up to bed.”

“I’m also generous.” Timo opened his hands as if to say, Just look around you. “And I have an impeccable character.”

“Is that so?”

“I had to have one to get my citizenship.”

“So you lied?”

Timo closed his eyes and let out a breath. “You’re a very difficult man to talk to.”

“ I’m difficult? You agreed to leave me alone —”

“This is a holiday —”

“Besides that, I’m not interested. I told you that.”

“Yet here you are.”

“Because you cornered me!”

Timo squinted around. “I see no corners.”

Face flaming, Noah grit his teeth. Okay, so he could have walked away, could right now even, but that would be … rude?

Instead of turning, Noah crossed his arms and said quietly, “What is this?”

“It’s a bar. In a restaurant. In a resort in Wales.” Timo smiled expectantly, as if waiting for his trivia prize.

Noah imagined a quick uppercut to smash that ever-bleeding nose.

The guys said Timo had done crack, crystal meth — just about everything — in his younger days, that it had destroyed his sinuses.

If it was true, Noah had to be impressed with the man before him.

Because, if it was true, he’d got himself clean, avoided any criminal record, immigrated, started his own company, and was now a multi-multi-millionaire and counting.

If it was true … it was actually pretty damn impressive that he stood here facing Noah at all, much less the rest of it.

Noah tried again. “What is this that’s going on with you?

Will you just tell me why you won’t leave me alone?

Did someone put you up to it? Is it a wager?

Are you proving a point? Experimenting on me?

Seeing if you can make a younger man fall for you by lavishing him with attention?

Because I know I’m not your type and I know you had absolutely zero interest in me until a few weeks ago.

So just tell me what’s going on. What’s the game here? ”

Frowning now, Timo actually looked confused, which only confused Noah more. For the first time ever, Timo shifted in place, glancing around vaguely as if for inspiration. It was unsettling to see him at a loss, like watching a cat spooked by a mouse.

Finally, Timo said, “Do you find it so difficult to believe that someone could be attracted to you?”

“Don’t turn this on me,” Noah growled.

“Struck a nerve?” Timo cocked his head. “Just one drink?” He touched the back of the barstool.

“Then they’ll be closing down anyway. I can’t keep you here long.

” He offered a smile so gentle, so placating, it had to be something he rehearsed in a mirror.

“I wish you’d tell me about yourself. About Alaska, or your family, New York, your IT work before coming here — anything you like. ”

Noah pulled back, knew better, but the smile, the softened tone, the interest …

Timo was right: Noah hadn’t thought for an instant that Timo was into him purely because he was honestly attracted to Noah and interested to see if that could become more.

Ultimately, it wouldn’t change anything one way or another. Still …

Noah took the stool. “Just one.”