Chapter 4
Chapter Four
R obbie strolled into Noah’s vast kitchen and grabbed a beer from the huge industrial fridge. ‘I heard you almost got mobbed in the village,’ he teased, throwing a beer towards Noah as he was sitting rather glumly at the end of the central granite breakfast bar and reading the papers. Noah looked up just in time and caught the beer with one hand. All of the training for his action roles came in handy when his best friend was around, as you needed quick reflexes for his constant jokes and tricks. For Robbie, comedy was inherent. He couldn’t help himself from teasing and annoying his closest friends, Noah grumbled to himself as he sipped the beer and enjoyed the cool liquid hit his parched throat. He’d been in a bad mood since he’d tried to take a simple walk along the river. It had one perk, he supposed, even if he had made an absolute jerk of himself and knocked coffee all over her white top. It had to be white! He groaned and leaned his head on his hand.
‘Your housekeeper told me one of your groundsmen had to haul you up from your boat, quick smart!’
‘I drove the boat up the river and jumped out to stretch my legs. I forgot that people find the regular stuff that I do interesting.’
‘I don’t understand it either,’ Robbie said with a straight face. ‘It’s not as if you’re pretty or anything,’ he winked. ‘You’re in half of the movies they watch these days. They’re fascinated about everything from the shoes you wear to what snacks you eat...’ Robbie eyed the huge bowl of crisps that Noah was lazily snacking from, even though he knew he’d have to do an extra hour in the gym to work them off. Robbie filched a few and happily munched away as he wandered around.
‘They think I’m the action hero though. I’m just a guy who wanted a walk by the river.’
‘Your life sucks,’ joked Robbie, gazing around the huge open-plan kitchen, state-of-the-art wine fridges and enormous windows with views across the rolling lawn, down to the water’s edge. Noah grinned suddenly and his sense of humour reasserted itself. It was unlike him to feel maudlin, but something about that morning had unsettled him. He didn’t know if it was bumping into the beautiful woman by the bridge, or the fact that he’d clearly ruined the start to her working day.
‘You’re an idiot,’ Robbie told him helpfully.
‘Thanks,’ Noah replied sarcastically as Robbie rounded the huge island unit in the centre of the kitchen and poked Noah in the ribs, making him jump and almost knock his tooth out on the beer bottle. His agent would love that! It exhausted him sometimes at how demanding his agency could be. He sighed and sipped his beer, still giving Robbie death stares over the top of the bottle, which Rob seemed to find hilarious.
Robbie grinned widely and sipped his own beer. ‘Have you decided what to do about your awful dating life?’
Noah shrugged. 'I'm not sure that I can handle another relationship after what happened with Tabitha. It’s all a bit raw and there’s another story about what a lothario I am in a gossip column again today.'
Robbie snarled and Noah finally smiled. 'Maybe I need to meet someone from a different world to mine? Someone who isn't interested in fame at all.' He pictured the dark haired woman on the bridge and how she hadn’t asked questions of him, she’d just helped him get away, without even telling him her name. He wondered if he could risk going back and trying to find her, but squashed that thought immediately. It could only bring more chaos.
Robbie opened the fridge to search for food. ‘If you prepare me a sliced beef sandwich and add some of that amazing chutney your housekeeper makes, then we can come up with a Tabitha battle plan.’ Robbie batted his eyelashes at his friend and Noah sighed. Robbie never stopped eating! He must work it of in nervous energy when he was on stage because he was slim and fairly athletic for a lazy guy who loved nothing more than slobbing around on Noah’s couch.
He stood up and shoved Robbie out of the way of the fridge to actually start making them some lunch. Robbie piled several jars into Noah’s arms until he complained and began unloading them onto the island unit.
‘You can’t eat all of this,’ said Noah, eyeing the tower of food.
‘I can try!’ replied Robbie happily. ‘We need sustenance and also to make sure that our plans for your revamped sex life are Tabitha proof.