Chapter 44
The next morning, Bella rolled over groggily to silence the alarm on her phone and hauled herself out of bed.
She’d slept surprisingly well, even accounting for Noah’s proximity.
It was testament, she supposed, to the sheer physical exhaustion of going from one job to another for several days in a row.
At least her bank balance was looking healthier.
Having only to fork out for Monty’s cat food these days and not losing most of her earnings to rent had its advantages.
Noah’s offer had been very generous, and she hoped, in the longer term, it would allow her to provide some financial security for herself.
After all, when her impromptu tenancy ended here, she’d have to look for somewhere else to live.
Having a decent deposit saved over the next few months would definitely be a bonus when she needed to move.
Hurrying downstairs, she jumped when she saw that Noah was already up and about. He was still in his sleepwear, a grey T-shirt and baggy black shorts, but he’d made a cup of coffee and handed her one as she walked into the kitchen.
‘I thought you might want this,’ he said.
His hair was unruly from sleep, and Bella had the sudden urge to run her hands through it and mess it up even further.
He looked as though he was thinking about kissing her again, but suddenly shy and feeling a little awkward, Bella didn’t move close enough to him.
‘Thanks.’ She took the cup from him and went to put a couple of slices of bread in the toaster. She had about half an hour before she had to open up Purrfect Paws; just about enough time for breakfast before feeding time for the hungry felines.
‘Any plans for today?’ she asked Noah as she waited for toast.
‘I found a mower in Grandpa’s shed yesterday that needs a bit of work, but it should start up all right.’
‘Did Jack use the mower himself, or did he have a gardener in?’
‘Until he went into the nursing home, he was proud to do it himself,’ Noah said.
‘I used to sort it out for him when I came down, but he always used to grumble I didn’t cut it in straight lines.
’ He smiled at the memory, and Bella’s heart melted a little more.
‘I think he was grateful I did it, in the last year he was here, at least.’
‘I’m sure he was.’ She was about to take her toast out and to the kitchen table when Noah moved closer to her. Obviously not wanting to crowd her in Jack’s small kitchen space, he kept a small distance between them but reached out and took her right hand in his.
‘I know what we said last night,’ he murmured softly, ‘and I completely agree. But I also want to remind you that this is your home – yours and Monty’s.
I can’t promise it will be yours forever, but for the time being it is.
And I want you to be able to relax here.
I’m the gardener today, and when you come home from the sanctuary, I want you to be able to put your feet up and relax.
After all, you’re back doing two jobs again tomorrow, aren’t you? ’
‘No, actually, I’ve got the day off tomorrow, so I can relax a bit.
’ All the same, Bella was touched by his concern.
She got the feeling that, in Noah’s world, there weren’t many people who worked like she did, and lived like she did, from one place to the next.
She knew he was finding her lack of concern about it difficult to get his head around.
He was the type who wanted security and continuity, and the financial stability to have both of those things.
She, having never had that in the first place, didn’t chase it, and didn’t want it.
Or did she?
As she munched her toast and chatted to Noah about some of the new residents Purrfect Paws had taken in over the past few days, she found herself wondering what it would be like to be in Noah’s shoes, to have a steady income, a permanent place to live and an inheritance on the way that would provide a comfortable cushion, should things suddenly go pear-shaped in his life.
They were so different: apart from a few wonderful kisses, how else could they possibly be compatible?
But then, she thought, those kisses had been exceptionally wonderful.
‘See you later,’ she said as she headed towards the front door after getting herself ready.
Noah, who was on his second cup of coffee, stood from the kitchen table and crossed the small kitchen space. ‘Um, before you go…’
‘Yeah?’
‘Can I kiss you again?’
Bella smiled. ‘I think that can be arranged.’
As their lips met, Bella felt a surge of rightness. If this was only a temporary thing, it was definitely a very lovely one.
Heading over to Purrfect Paws, Bella couldn’t help smiling all the way through her shift.
It was a good job that she was on her own; Mollie was taking a well-earned day off and was out to lunch with her grandson.
As she tended to the cattery’s residents and then switched sides to check in on the rescues, she began to sing under her breath.
A melody had been running through her head since she’d woken up, and she’d been resolutely ignoring it until now, but as she checked over the ferals in the outdoor pen, noting with relief that they seemed to be settling into their new habitat, the melody began to find lyrics, too.
‘No,’ she told herself wryly. ‘You are not going to succumb to that age-old cliché of snogging a bloke and then writing a song about it!’ All the same, snatches of lyrics kept coming to her, and when she stopped for a cuppa and one of Mollie’s ever-replenishing supply of Penguins, she grabbed a scrap piece of paper from the recycling box by the printer and scribbled down a couple of things, before they drove her bonkers.
It didn’t take long to make sure that all of the residents were happy, well fed and had no immediate issues, so after lunch, Bella headed back to the cottage. Mollie would be back home in good time for the evening shift, so Bella could relax for the rest of the afternoon.
She wasn’t quite sure what time Noah would be leaving, and she was shocked at how much she wanted to see him again.
As she approached the cottage, she could hear the low chug-chug of a lawnmower and assumed it must have taken Noah longer than anticipated to get the thing working again.
She couldn’t resist a peek through the garden gate and was rewarded with the sight of a once-again shirtless Noah, carefully mowing straight lines into the expanse of lawn.
Smiling to herself, she crept through to the back door and poured two glasses of water, filling them with ice from the tray in the freezer.
She heard the mower stop again and brought the glasses out, putting them down on the wall where they’d sat the night before.
‘Thanks.’ Noah gave her a lazy smile and took a long gulp.
This time, he didn’t seem nearly so self-conscious about being shirtless in her presence.
In fact, she thought in amusement, he seemed to be enjoying the thought of her seeing him like that.
His olive skin was glistening with sweat and Bella had to resist the urge to run her hands over his torso. The heat was coming off him in waves.
‘I’ve got to get off soon,’ Noah said, putting the glass down on the wall again.
Me too, Bella thought, eyes fixated on Noah’s unclothed chest. Just in time, she realised he was talking about going back to London.
‘Traffic’s always rubbish on a Sunday evening.’
‘Right, right,’ Bella stammered. ‘Um… will you be back next weekend?’
Noah paused. ‘Not sure yet. Can I let you know?’
Disappointment slithered down Bella’s spine as she heard the noncommittal nature of Noah’s response. ‘Of course.’
Smiling, Noah reached out a warm hand. ‘I don’t want to crowd you.
Maybe it’s better if we have a little breathing space to think.
’ His eyes were still warm and spoke of many things he didn’t quite seem to have the confidence to articulate.
Despite his assured salesman’s patter, Bella got the impression that he was playing things cautiously; letting her decide the pace.
‘Well.’ Bella took a breath. ‘If you wanted to, and you don’t have anything else on, why don’t you come down on Friday night? I could cook some dinner, we could talk.’
Noah’s tentative smile grew a lot broader. ‘I’d like that.’
‘It’s a date.’ Bella stretched up and kissed him. Then, before things could escalate any further, she broke away again. ‘Slowly,’ she breathed, trying to calm her suddenly racing heart.
‘Agreed.’ Noah’s voice was husky, and Bella knew that they were both trying to keep their physical feelings under control. A few days to cool off were a very good idea, and hopefully, by Friday, they’d be able to think about what happened next.