Chapter 35
In the event, Bella decided she wanted to change a few things around in her room, and her and Noah’s paths didn’t cross again until Sunday afternoon.
Given that the cottage was so small, this felt like a miracle, but Bella was used to sharing houses with people and had grown adept at marking out her own space.
At around two o’clock, Bella was considering having a late lunch when Noah came through the back door again. The afternoon was very warm, and he looked sweaty and dishevelled. Instinctively, Bella made to leave the kitchen, but he started to chat while he grabbed a large glass of water.
‘I can’t believe what Grandpa kept in that bloody shed! My brothers and I never thought to check it after he moved into the home, but there must be decades of stuff in there.’ He shook his head. ‘At least it’s all in meticulous order, though.’
‘That’s something.’ Bella edged towards the kitchen door. She was trying not to watch Noah’s throat as he glugged down the first glass of water and then filled the tumbler again.
‘I’m bloody starving now – what do you say to a bite to eat down the pub? Celebrate our new living arrangement?’
Bella laughed. ‘Thanks, but I like to keep my distance from there when I’m not actually working – otherwise I feel like I need to jump behind the bar and help out.’
‘We can’t have that.’ Noah paused. ‘Well, how about I nip to the farm shop and grab something for us, then? The garden’s a no-go area but we could split a picnic in here?’
‘Honestly, Noah, there’s no need. I’m happy with a bit of toast.’
‘I insist.’ Noah looked at her with those irresistible brown eyes again, and she wondered how anyone ever denied him anything.
‘Oh, all right then,’ she conceded. ‘Mine’s a Saint’s Farm mature cheddar cheese and pickle, if they’ve got it, on crusty white.’
‘Spoken like someone who’s a regular!’ Noah laughed.
‘Your wish is my command. I’ll be right back.
’ Grabbing his door keys from where he’d hooked them on Jack’s wall-mounted key holder, in a matter of moments she heard the electric hum of the Tesla pulling away from the cottage.
Bella smiled to herself; the farm shop was about a ten-minute walk away, but Noah was obviously as hungry as she was.
Bella looked down at Monty, who was staring, clear-eyed, back up at her. ‘Don’t look at me like that,’ she said. ‘Just because he’s all hot and sweaty, and he’s gone to buy me my favourite sandwich, doesn’t mean I fancy him!’
Monty blinked slowly at her and turned tail back to his spot under Jack’s old armchair.
Half an hour later, Bella was having to remind herself of her wise words to Monty.
The more she talked to Noah, the more she began to realise that her early first impression of him – the so-called ‘weekend wanker’ – was all wrong.
Admittedly, he seemed to have a taste for the expensive things in life, but he earned a large enough salary to be able to afford them.
As the afternoon turned golden in the late summer sunshine, she was beginning to think that all the pep talks in the world weren’t going to stop her from fancying him.
‘So there I was, on my very first viewing for the new company, and when I pulled open the door of the walk-in wardrobe, this leather-studded corset and knickers fell out! I don’t know who was more embarrassed, me or the prospective buyer.’
Bella giggled. ‘What did you do?’
‘Got them out of there as soon as I could. Thankfully, I think they were so flummoxed by the undies coming out of the closet, they didn’t bat an eyelid about the mirrored ceiling in the master bedroom!
’ Noah’s eyes twinkled mischievously. ‘I learned a valuable lesson that day, get to a house early and check out all potential trouble spots before the buyers arrive.’
‘So,’ Bella said mischievously, ‘how would you describe your own house? What might fall out of your cupboards that you wouldn’t want anyone to see?’
Noah burst out laughing. ‘Oh, I’m much too boring for that sort of thing.’ He looked at her, a teasing glint in his eye. ‘What do you imagine my place looks like?’
Bella paused. They’d got to know each other a little better over lunch, but what did she really know about Noah? She took a deep breath.
‘Well, I think you’re a bit of a neat freak, so there wouldn’t be anything out of place.’
Noah raised an eyebrow. ‘Go on.’
‘I think your kitchen’s much more modern than this one, and you’ve turned storage into an art form. I think you’ve got one of those fancy wine fridges under the counter, and I think you’d make everyone take their shoes off at the door.’
‘Hmmm… what else?’
Noah wasn’t giving her any indication of whether she was right or wrong, but his smile suggested he hadn’t taken offence.
‘No pets.’
‘Well, yes, but that’s more to do with the fact I live on the third floor! I don’t mind animals.’
‘Just as well, since you’re sharing custody of Monty.’ Bella grinned.
‘You make us sound like we’re co-parenting!’ Noah grinned back. They looked at each other for a moment, and Bella felt as though she was being assessed by that lingering, sexy brown-eyed gaze.
She cleared her throat. ‘How did I do?’
‘Not bad, but I don’t have a wine fridge.’
‘Shame. I can’t possibly come and stay with you, then!’
‘You’re welcome any time.’
Bella blushed. ‘I don’t get to London much.’
‘Maybe you should.’
Oh, God, she thought, that smile of his would get her into so much trouble if she let it…
‘Er, speaking of which, shouldn’t you be heading back there soon? Haven’t you got a fabulous job to get back to?’
Noah nodded. ‘I’m afraid so.’ He suddenly looked downcast. ‘I wish I didn’t. It’s so lovely being back in Grandpa’s house. It almost feels like…’ He shook his head. ‘Sorry. I’m being stupid.’
‘Feels like what?’ Bella asked gently.
Noah paused and Bella got the feeling he was struggling to articulate what he wanted to express.
‘It almost feels like he’s still here.’ He gave a short laugh.
‘It’s odd. All the times I popped down and it was only me in the house, I could feel it wasn’t the same, that he wasn’t here any more.
But now Monty’s back, and now you’re living here, looking after him, it’s almost as if Grandpa’s here too, giving the nod that I did the right thing to bring Monty home.
’ He shook his head and dropped his gaze to the empty plate in front of him. ‘That’s mad, isn’t it?’
‘I don’t think it’s mad.’ Before she could think twice, Bella reached a hand across the small kitchen table and squeezed Noah’s, where it lay. ‘I think it’s lovely. And I’m flattered that me being here makes you feel that way.’
As Noah lifted his eyes to meet hers, Bella felt something building between them again.
This time, it wasn’t only the electric fizz of attraction, but something deeper, the seeds of a friendship.
Their hands were still touching on the table, and Bella was reluctant to move hers.
Noah’s, warm underneath, felt so right. As she looked at him, she could see his eyes flickering to her lips and back again, and his pupils getting bigger.
He leaned towards her, and Bella began to lean in, too, suddenly wanting to meet him halfway.
In the end, it was Noah who pulled away. ‘I’m sorry,’ he said quietly. ‘I didn’t mean to make things weird. It’s not appropriate, is it?’ He moved his hand away from hers, and Bella immediately felt the loss. ‘This is your home now, and I’ve no right to impose on you.’
‘You didn’t,’ Bella said gently. ‘It’s all right.’
‘And you were right.’ Noah stood up hurriedly. ‘Time’s getting on and I should hit the road.’ He made to leave the kitchen. ‘Um… is it OK if I come back next Friday night? I need to get the garden sorted, and I’d like to start early on Saturday morning, if that’s OK with you.’
‘That’s fine,’ Bella said quickly. ‘And by that time, Monty should be OK to be let back outside, so he can keep an eye on you.’
Noah smiled. ‘I’m sure he’ll be very keen to do that!’
As Bella said goodbye to Noah that evening, she couldn’t help wondering what it would have been like if they’d both leaned in a little closer. She couldn’t deny that she was finding him more and more attractive, and from the look on his face when he’d pulled away, he seemed to be feeling the same.
Perhaps Noah was right, though. This relationship they had was full of imbalances, not least that he owned this house, and she was just his informal tenant.
There was no written contract between them, and although he was happy for her to stay here and look after Monty, if things went sour between them, who knew where she’d end up?
She couldn’t risk the security of the roof over her head because they were attracted to each other.
She needed to give herself a shake and get over it.