Page 74 of Nocturne

I try hard not to blush, but I think my cheeks give it away at the way Sean winks at me. Despite the slight make-up, where I made sure to use blush on my cheeks, they aren’t helping my case.

I look down at my sage green satin dress that hugs my curves just right. The neckline is too deep, showing off more cleavage than I’m comfortable with. Ivy swatted my hand away when I tried to pull it up, saying that she would kill for my boobs and that if I had them, I might as well flaunt them. I argued with her for a solid ten minutes, and she somehow won.

I do look pretty, but not as pretty as Sean claims me to be.

“How is Cas dealing with the move-in? Having any troubles?”

Sean leans in as he asks me the question. He turned out to be a gentleman, thorough and thorough. He is invested in knowing about me and my work and listens intently. He even asked me questions about my research when I went off on a tangent about it. He gained points for that.

“No. He is comfortable, and he is the happiest I’ve ever seen him,” I take a sip of my wine.

It’s been exactly twelve days since the necessary papers got approved and Cas’s welcome home party. Iyra flew in to meet her nephew, and despite his shyness, my little guy got over it once he got to know that she was my sister.

He only warmed up to Ivy recently after her incessant badgering to win him over. I suppose he had always liked her ever since he saw his bedroom and learned that she painted it for him.

Ellie dropped by for a short time, and Harley, the poor woman, couldn’t be in a room filled with strangers no matter how much she tried. She said she gets panic attacks, and I understood and sympathised with her. She wouldn’t stop apologising even after I assured her countless times that it was okay. She was on the video chat for a few minutes before the guests started to come.

Eero and, to my surprise, Nico came as well with a truckload of gifts. They didn’t know what to bring, so they boughteverything. I’m having trouble finding space for all the extravagant gifts in my small home. He made a point of saying most of them were from his boss, and I tried my best to stay nonchalant at the mention.

Apart from Iyra, Nico is the only one Cas approached to talk. He asked him something that made the stoic guard smile and ruffle Cas’s hair. Eero tried talking to the kid but failed.

I swear the man spent the rest of the night pouting and complaining that he was more handsome and approachable than Nico and how offended he was that the kid chose his stupid friend over him. His words, not mine.

All in all, it was a good time. It gave me hope that something good awaits me in the future.

“That’s wonderful.”

Sean’s phone rings just then and has him frowning down at the gadget.

“I’m sorry, but I have to take this. It’s the hospital,”

“Please, go ahead,” I take a bite of my Chilean Sea Bass and savour the flavours. It’s so tasty and juicy.

Sean takes the call, and with every second, his frown deepens. It sets a small worry inside my heart. After two minutes, he hangs up and turns to me with an apologetic expression.

“Ara, I’m extremely sorry to do this. But one of my patients could be developing a post-op infection, and I need to go check him.”

“No need to be sorry for that, Sean. We can go,” I start to look for my coat, but he shakes his head at me.

“I just need to check on him. It won’t take long. The hospital is just a ten-minute drive from here. Why don’t you enjoy your food? I promise to be back soon.”

“No, that’s okay. We can do it some other time; you don’t have to rush back,”

His expression turns more pleading, “Please, I insist. I’ve been having a wonderful time with you, and I don’t want it to end. And I’d hate myself if I don’t let you taste their Pistachio Financier before we leave.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes.” He nods.

“Okay, then. I’ll wait. Take your time,” I smile at him.

He grabs his coat and I look at the handsome man dressed in a rich blue blazer, matching pants and a brown undershirt who looks at me and smiles as if he means every word. And that is the thing with him, he does.

I’ve seen enough people to understand the slight nuances in their expressions. And I can see nothing but genuine affection in him.

So why is it that I don’t feel the butterflies Ivy said she feels when she is with a guy who she likes? And why am I flooded with tsunami waves in there in the presence of a man who shall not even be thought in my mind lest he gets summoned? He is the devil, after all.

“I won’t be long,” Sean promises, his kind eyes glinting before he turns.

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