Chapter 42
Bella and Noah ambled back from the pub in comfortable conversation.
It was sweet of him to wait until the end of her shift, Bella thought, although she rather got the impression that he wasn’t too fond of being alone in the cottage with Monty.
Much as he’d got to know the cat in the weekends he’d come to Lower Brambleton, their relationship was still a little uneasy.
The night sky, mostly untouched by light pollution, lay dark and wide above them, punctuated by bright, blue-white stars.
Their light would soon be dimmed by the rising moon, but for the moment they looked down watchfully onto Bella and Noah.
Bella had learned from chatting to various customers at the Star and Telescope that Lower Brambleton had once been a hub for astronomers, both amateurs and professionals alike, and on nights like this she could see why.
The newish housing development that overlooked the centre of the village had been built on the site of the Lower Brambleton Observatory, and although Bella had only lived in the village for a year or so, she’d spent enough time looking at the huge number of framed photographs on the walls of the pub to be able to imagine what it would have looked like prior to the houses.
‘It’s so quiet here at night,’ Noah said as they walked the short distance back to the cottage. ‘Where I live, the streetlights are on all night, and the traffic only lets up for an hour or two. It’s like another world.’
‘It really is.’ Bella paused and looked up towards the sky. ‘It’s a reminder to stop sometimes, I think. To notice the little things.’ She jumped slightly and then pointed. ‘Look! A shooting star.’
‘Where?’ Bella smiled as Noah’s head snapped up to catch a glimpse, but by the time he did, the star had vanished. ‘You’re winding me up!’
‘No, I’m not. Haven’t you heard of the Perseid Meteor Shower? It shoots across the sky for a few days in August, and if you’re lucky and the light’s not too bright, it’s possible to see it with the naked eye.’
‘Have you been reading the walls of the pub again?’ Noah teased. ‘Your boss needs to give you some more work!’
Bella gave him a playful little shove. ‘Idiot. Everyone knows about the Perseids around here. They’re practically a local attraction. Last year, there was a full moon, so they weren’t so visible, but it looks a whole lot better this year.’
Noah kept gazing upwards. ‘I can’t see anything.’
‘Keep looking. You never know.’
After a minute or two, Noah dropped his gaze again. ‘Must be like a watched pot,’ he said wryly.
‘Well, we’ll still get a great view from Jack’s garden,’ Bella said. ‘How about we grab a cuppa and sit out for a bit, if you’re not too tired from all the gardening?’
Noah smiled at her and Bella felt a corresponding warmth in her chest. He’d been so serious, almost dour, when they’d met.
It was lovely to see him relaxed and happier.
This unusual living arrangement still felt strange at times, but she was getting more used to having him around at weekends, and, oddly, she was starting to feel more at home when he was there.
They just seemed to get along, and with Noah there she felt much less like an interloper.
‘That sounds good. But you’ve been on your feet all night, so I’ll get the tea, shall I?’
‘It’s a deal.’
A short time later, Bella was sitting on the small wall that separated out the patio from the lawn.
Jack’s patio set had been well beyond repair, so it had gone in the skip that the foam removal firm, who would be starting work the following week, had had delivered, along with a leaky watering can and a bundle of old bamboo poles.
The brickwork was quite warm, and any perch felt like a luxury after standing behind the bar all night.
‘Here you go.’ Noah handed her a steaming cup of tea.
‘Thanks.’
They sat in companionable silence for a few moments, sipping their tea and staring up at the stars.
‘Are you sure you weren’t winding me up about that so-called meteor shower happening tonight?’ Noah teased. ‘I haven’t seen a thing.’
‘Be patient,’ Bella replied. ‘Good things come to those who wait.’
‘I’ve never been a patient man,’ Noah murmured.
Bella’s mug of tea paused on the way to her lips as Noah turned his head towards hers.
Their eyes locked and she could see the starlight reflected in Noah’s irises.
Time seemed to stand still as they regarded each other, caught in an indefinable moment.
Bella’s heart, having slowed down now she was sitting, suddenly sped up again.
‘Ouch!’ Noah jolted forward and narrowly missed spilling his tea down the front of his jeans as Monty jumped up alongside him on the wall, knocking into the hand holding his cup. ‘Monty, you bugger!’
A rumbling chirp was all he got in reply from the Bengal, who was now regarding Noah with a look akin to suspicion.
‘Never had you pipped for a stargazer, Monty,’ Bella giggled as the cat strolled unconcernedly over Noah’s legs and propped his front paws up on Bella’s thighs, parking his spotted bottom firmly in the small space between the two sitting humans.
‘He doesn’t give a toss about the stars!’ Noah laughed, slightly nervously. ‘He’s obviously developing a protective streak towards you.’
Bella smiled and reached out a hand to stroke Monty’s long back, then jumped when she realised Noah’s hand was already there.
‘Sorry,’ she said, face flaming. She hastily removed her hand from where it had caught Noah’s, but he flexed his palm and placed it onto the top of Bella’s hand.
‘I’m not complaining,’ he said softly, before adding, ‘and Monty’s here as chaperone, so I’m sure holding your hand is the most I’m going to get away with.’
Bella’s attention was now fixated solely on the warm sensation of Noah’s hand on hers. Monty’s soft fur stroked her palm as she left her hand resting gently on the cat’s back. Seemingly enjoying the attention, the cat started to purr.
‘Do we need a chaperone?’ Bella asked nervously.
‘I’m not sure. It depends if you want to kiss me as much as I want to kiss you.’ Noah locked eyes with her again and she saw him carefully placing his mug on the ground. As if synchronised, she did the same.
‘I do, Noah,’ she said softly. ‘I really, really do. It’s just…’
‘What?’
Bella gestured with her free hand. ‘When you asked me to move in here, it was with no strings attached. If we kiss now, is that going to be a string?’
‘It won’t be as much as a thread, I promise,’ Noah murmured. ‘No pressure, Bella. Kiss me, but if you don’t want to, then I’ll let go of your hand and you, me and Monty can carry on watching the stars and drinking our tea like this never happened.’
Bella smiled. ‘Thank you.’
The blissful moment before their lips met felt as though it could go on forever, and as Bella leaned closer to Noah, their hands still entwined and resting lightly on Monty’s back, she felt a rush of warmth and rightness.
His lips were gentle and soft, tentative at first, but as the kiss grew firmer, she removed her hand from Monty and brought it up to the back of Noah’s neck.
As their mouths began to explore, Bella sighed into the kiss.
This was so unexpected and yet so lovely.
Monty, however, thought otherwise. With an irritated growl, he slithered out from between the two of them, and as Bella opened her eyes a fraction, she saw him stalking down the garden, tail in the air, towards his favourite spot under the plum tree.