Free Bewitched in Budapest (Xcite Romance) by Justine Elyot Page B

the bathroom to find it, flashing away amidst a pile of still-wet clothes. Naked and shivering, I picked it up, registering the time – after five – and that the caller was Jodie.
    ‘Jo?’
    ‘Ah, you’re still alive then.’
    ‘Of course. What’s up?’
    ‘I think you should come back to the flat.’
    ‘Do you? Why?’
    ‘Please, just come back. And …’ She lowered her voice to a stage-whisper, ‘Probably best if you come alone, yeah?’
    ‘What? What’s happening?’
    But she had ended the call.
    While I was frowning at the phone, a sleepy János materialised behind me, wrapping his arms around my shoulders, ducking down to examine the screen for clues.
    ‘Everything is OK?’
    ‘I’m not sure. That was Jodie, sounding very mysterious. She wants me to go back to the flat right away.’
    ‘She don’t say why?’
    ‘No. But she said I should go alone.’
    ‘Hmm.’ He held on to me for just long enough for my stomach to give a spectacular rumble. ‘This is a long thunderstorm,’ he joked. I elbowed him in the ribs. 
    ‘No, but you must eat first. You are hungry. Come to the kitchen.’
    He made me pancakes – or palacsinta, as he called them – while my feeling of uneasiness over the phone call grew and grew.
    ‘I wish Jodie had told me what the rush was. I think I’m going to call her back.’
    ‘You want I come with you?’ János slid a plate of crepes filled with cream and walnuts in front of me.
    ‘I don’t understand why it would be so important that I was alone. I’m definitely going to call her.’
    ‘Eat first.’
    He had a point. Yapping on the phone and eating rich food at the same time probably wouldn’t help my digestion. Obediently, I downed the delicious pancakes while János sat opposite me, wiping stray drops of cream from my lips with a considerate finger.
    I felt so relaxed with him. I had never felt this relaxed with a man before. We ate our palacsinta with stupid blissful grins on our faces. If I wasn’t one of the lovey-dovey gooey-eyed people involved in the scene, I might have felt a bit sick.
    ‘OK. I’m calling her.’ I punched in Jodie’s number, my stomach lurching a little, and not just because of all the cream and sugar in it.
    She didn’t pick up. She didn’t pick up the next time I dialled either. My text message remained unanswered.
    ‘OK, so now I’m freaking out,’ I muttered.
    János took my hand. ‘I come with you. I don’t let you walk through the Nyocker alone besides.’
    ‘Anyway,’ I corrected without thinking, my mind on a variety of dark and hideous scenarios. ‘Thanks. Thanks for coming with me.’
    ‘No thanking. Of course I come with you.’
    The rain had stopped but my clothes were still uncomfortably damp, so over my skirt I wore a dry shirt from the wardrobe, buttoning it loosely over my braless body. Whatever was going on at Jodie’s flat, I hoped my lack of underwear wouldn’t be noticed. If only we hadn’t been so focused on each other – maybe we would have thought to put the clothes out to dry. That was unrestrained passion for you, though.
    People were back in the crumbling streets of the Eighth district. We passed the derelict site of János’ potential romkocsma, but it didn’t have the same romantic cast I’d given it in my mind. It looked like a death trap.
    Everywhere János was hailed by shuffling elderly people and swaggering youths alike as they passed us by, most of them shooting me a curious look while they gabbled in Hungarian. The glad-handing didn’t stop until we were well on our way up the main drag towards Jodie’s apartment.
    ‘You seem popular,’ I commented, aiming to calm the riot in my stomach by indulging in some light conversation.
    ‘I know these people a long time. I have plans to give jobs to young people without jobs – they will work in my bar, or help to build, you know? It’s important. I want to help my local people.’
    ‘I really hope it works out for you.’
    What I’d