Chapter 9
‘ You’re becoming a bit of a celebrity.
Don’t let it go to your head!’ teased Maya as she boarded Bertha and gazed around at the hordes of customers and queues of tourists still waiting to have their tickets checked by Roman.
She’d heard the buzz of conversation as she’d passed and the excitement level to get on board and meet the captain was palpable.
The steamer was usually fully booked now and Maya had helped Joe to hire two new staff.
Maya kind of craved the simple times when she could sit on the boat and draw, but Joe was much happier now and Olive had visited and exclaimed how much she loved Bertha’ s new look.
Maya’s chat with Mason hadn’t gone that well the week before and he was avoiding her now, but there was no way she could explain that she was resolutely single when she’d spun such a yarn to everyone else.
She’d had to pretend that it was very recent and not that serious, but Mason’s texts had dwindled to nothing, which stung a little but was her own fault.
Maya stepped into the bar, and ordered their signature strawberry lemonade, which had kind of happened by accident when Roman had been gazing dreamily at a woman who kept asking him about the makeover.
He accidentally put strawberry puree in the lemonade, and it created a Bertha classic.
Lots of people enjoyed it with a hint of gin, but tonight Maya wanted a clear head.
She had quite a demanding client this week, expectations were high.
She blew Roman a kiss and headed out to the main deck.
Joe waved and then continued with his spiel about the local landmarks.
The sun was dipping and because it was early summer, lots of houses along the river were having barbecues and parties.
Maya could see lights strung across the garden of Noah’s house and people milling around the grounds, drinking fancy-looking cocktails and laughing.
A few women were wearing long, floaty summer dresses in hues of orange and green that were the height of glamour right now and as the boat approached, there were guests on the private jetty, which had steps down to the boats that were tied up at the water’s edge.
As they drew closer to the boats, Joe's customers started murmuring in excitement at being so near to Noah’s house and the fact that they had just spotted a famous comedian, Robbie Latton, who she knew from the gossip columns was Noah’s best friend.
One woman on the jetty of Noah's house cackled and pushed the chest of the man next to her in jest.
He stepped back and lost his footing, which sent him tumbling into the water.
Maya kept her eyes on him and, as he fell, his head struck the edge of a sleek black powerboat moored below.
She didn’t think twice.
She called ‘man overboard!’ to Joe and dove straight into the water, right where the man fell.
It was quite a leap from the height of Bertha's deck, but Maya had leapt off of Bertha thousands of times before when they’d been quiet.
Maya heard the woman’s hysterical screams as she plunged into the icy water and reached to secure her arms around the man, who was by now a dead weight.
She felt her lungs strain and pushed up to the surface with all her might, gasping for air as she surfaced and feeling relieved to hear the splash of someone else diving in to help. Joe had thrown a buoy into the water and the other person grabbed it and then them. Between them, they dragged the inert man back to the jetty as arms reached down to lift the three of them back onto dry land.
Maya’s teeth started chattering as river water streamed from her hair and clothes and she attempted to catch her breath and push herself to stand up on wobbly legs, but they gave out and she leaned on her arms and sat next to the unconscious man instead.
He was still out cold.
She knew from protocol that Joe would have already called an ambulance.
She held out a hand to stop the man, who was dripping with water next to her, when he called for someone nearby to contact emergency services.
‘Joe will have called them already,’ she whispered, seeing the lines of fear on his face and nodding towards the boat in the river.
She didn’t have time to really register that the person who dived in after her was Noah before she checked the inert man's vital signs and started resuscitation.
All the boat crew had safety training regularly, and she was sending up a prayer of thanks whilst trying to remember what to do and blocking out the sobbing woman who was still hysterical.
Noah asked someone to take her into the house and the other guests crowded round, trying to help the inert form.
Maya was too busy concentrating on the man who had hit his head to notice too much else, but he had a huge red lump on his forehead and a slight cut to his cheek that was now bleeding.
She tried to calm her own breathing and suddenly the man who hit his head came round and started coughing and spluttering, gasping for air.
Maya put her hand on his heart to calm him and told him quietly that he was okay and that an ambulance was on its way.
‘You fell into the water and hit your head, but you’re going to be fine,’ she added, keeping her tone soothing and praying that what she said was true.
She gently dabbed at the cut on his face with her t-shirt, but it was superficial and had already stopped bleeding.
He groaned in pain and the ambulance crew pushed through the throng and took over, checking their patient and asking Maya several questions which she answered as best she could, shivering at the realisation of what had just happened.
The second crew member also checked her over after they had the guy who had fallen into the water on a stretcher and wrapped in a blanket.
They gave Noah a quick check too, although he assured them he was fine and had gotten there at the last minute.
Smartly dressed house staff arrived and towels were placed around their shoulders as the crew lifted the very dozy man into the air and carried him to the ambulance.
Maya stood up shakily and walked to the end of the jetty to where Joe and a crowd of onlookers were standing on Bertha , who had been anchored in the same spot.
Maya waved to show that everything was fine – at least she hoped it was, and Joe nodded and turned to tell his customers to get ready to resume their journey.
She knew he’d have been worried sick and would have kept Bertha there to stop any other boat from going overhead while she was in the water.
She also knew he’d be watching for her signal to leave, but that he’d be back for her when the clients were safely at their destination, now that he knew she was safe.
Noah spoke to the paramedics, as they were about to leave, then turned to face Maya.
She didn’t feel anxious or shy, so she presumed she was still in shock.
They just stood looking at each other for a moment, before he blinked and then walked over and put his arm around her.
‘You’re an absolute hero and you’re shivering!’ he said.
Maya was so cold now that her teeth started chattering again.
‘Come on,’ said Noah, taking her hand and not really giving her a chance to run and hide.
‘There are fresh clothes and hot showers in my guesthouse.
We need to wash the river water off of our skin.
Thank you for saving Robbie,’ he added gravely.
‘You’d have gotten to him in time,’ she said croakily when she finally found her voice.
‘I’m Maya,’ she added shyly.
‘I’m Noah,’ he said unnecessarily.
‘I didn’t know the exact spot he’d fallen in as the sun had dropped.
Plus, the boats were in the way and Tabitha was screaming, so I couldn't think.’ He waved his arm in the general direction of the hysterical woman, who was still sobbing into a rather good-looking young man’s arms.
‘You saved him and we are forever in your debt,’ added Noah sombrely.
‘Plus I owe you for dry cleaning… twice now… and a coffee,’ he quipped and her head snapped up that he’d recognised her.
‘You saved me that day on the bridge too.’
Maya laughed at how serious he looked, even though his wet hair was bedraggled and his face and his clothes were plastered to his body, giving her a glimpse of firm chest.
‘Anyone would’ve done the same.
I’m always alert when I’m working on the boat, maybe not so much on my way to work…’ she bantered.
‘I was just in the right place at the right time,’ she said self-deprecatingly.
Noah led her through the crowds, who made room for them as they got closer.
‘Get everyone a fresh drink,’ he said to one guy as they passed and he nodded and ushered everyone back up the garden and towards the house .
Maya could hear music playing as they walked towards the modern building in the garden that she’d always wondered about.
Noah’s guesthouse! She was going to see inside it! She couldn’t wait to tell Matt and Leah.
Matt would faint because he was such a Noah fan.
Leah would want to know about the interior furnishings and plants, after asking what Noah looked like drenched in water from the river, of course! She chuckled to herself and admired Noah’s broad shoulders as he led the way to the building and opened the door for her to step through.
‘Thank you.’ She looked around in awe at the interior of what seemed to be a huge annex.
It had a gym area and a stunning glistening pool that looked out on plate-glass windows that had views out to the river.
There were oversized concrete urns with lush green plants that contrasted to the industrial feel.
The main area before you got to the pool had comfortable seating and a fully stocked bar with tall bar stools in front of it.
The furnishings were plush and in deep rich tones of plum, dark blue, green and inky black, reflecting the tones of the river.
Some wooden stairs led to a second level, which was behind an enormous sheet of glass where she could see a vast bed and more windows out to the water.
The view from the bed must be incredible to have views over the pool to one side and elevated views of the river from the other.
Most of his actual house was made of weathered metal, wood and glass, but she could live here and die happily.
That whoever stayed there with Noah was so lucky – but just because of the view! She bit her shivering lip to stop herself from shaking and half-wished she could just jump into the pool, as it looked warm and inviting.
Who’d have thought that she’d meet the ultimate player? She was so glad he wasn’t her type, or she’d be blushing and stumbling over her words right now.
The air in the guesthouse was cool as he led her upstairs to the bedroom.
It was such a weird sensation to be so close to the man she’d seen on the big screen and on her own television.
She’d drooled then, but she hadn’t been serious and she watched his taut derriere ascend the stairs in front of her eyes, blinking a few times to make sure she wasn’t dreaming and had actually knocked her own head somehow.
Noah beckoned her inside his guest suite and pointed to where she could find clothes and a shower.
One of her own artworks hung above the plush headboard of the bed and she stopped walking in shock.
He must have bought it from Penny’s café, but Penny hadn’t mentioned it and she was pretty sure that everyone locally would ram themselves into the café if they thought he’d been there.
Even soaking wet and exhausted, he still oozed glamour and sex appeal.
Her heart was racing after all the drama of the accident and it was just her luck to be looking like a swamp monster the both times she met a film star.
She plucked a stray piece of river weed out of her hair and sighed.
It always ended up like a wavy mess when it got wet, and it wasn’t her best look.
Less sexy siren and more horror film extra.
Noah saw her looking at the painting of Wood-sorrel with its distinctive trefoil heart-shaped leaves and white flowers that hung from tiny green stems and he smiled her way.
He had magnetism on the screen, but in person, it radiated from him.
Maya gulped and tried to shove the first burst of lust she’d had for a while away in confusion.
‘Do you like the art?’ asked Noah as he grabbed a fresh fluffy towel from a drawer for each of them and handed one to her.
It smelt like heaven with its soft, citrusy fragrance and she draped it around her shoulders to mask the stench of river water.
‘There are some spare clothes in the wardrobes.
I keep them here for when I’m working late and come for a swim, then I fall asleep after I’ve dried off.’ Maya pictured him pulling himself out of the water half-naked and then shook that thought away.
The next image was of Noah, all sleepy and delicious, waking up tousled and in the vast bed they were standing beside and she frowned.
She really must have hit her head on something when she dived into the water because she was behaving like a teenager with her first crush! He’d asked her a question, and she’d rudely ignored him.
‘I… um.
The paintings look nice,’ she mumbled, trying not to look into the big blue eyes that were looking worried as he gazed at her.
‘I should get you into the shower and warmed up.
Are you sure you didn’t hurt yourself when you heroically dived in?’ he asked with concern, not seeming like the dark and dangerous sex-god who was splashed all over the papers for a moment.
‘If you leave your clothes out here, I’ll get them washed and dried quickly up at the house.
There is a dressing gown on the back of the bathroom door.’
‘I’m fine, really,’ she protested, finally finding her voice.
‘I think I might have been in a bit of shock, as it all happened so fast, but I’m warming up now.
A shower would be great.
I’m sorry if I wasn’t listening earlier.’ Noah laughed and led her nearer to the bathroom that had a huge bath in front of another river view and a double shower.
Maya’s eyes went wide in shock.
‘Anyone can see you take a shower?’ she asked.
Noah chuckled and tapped the wall with his fingers.
‘It’s a one-way glass.
You can see out, but no one can see in.’
Maya frowned.
‘Are you sure?’ she ran her hand over the glass, before stepping back and flushing. ‘Sorry!’
Noah threw back his head and laughed again.
‘I think it might have been headline news if a local resident was having showers and flashing to the river cruises!’ Maya spluttered and finally the knot of tension in her stomach eased and she sighed.
‘Sorry,’ she giggled.
‘You like this artist’s style?’ she said after a moment, glancing over her shoulder at the Wood-sorrel.
‘I asked my assistant to find me pieces from local artists that reflected the river and he said this lady was popular.
He tried to find her contact details and reach out to her directly about a further commission, but the café owner gave him a short sharp shrift about respecting privacy.’ He grinned with a mischievous twinkle in his eyes and Maya gasped.
She might have met Noah again sooner if Penny hadn't been so vigilant, but in the end, it would probably have just been a phone call with his stylist and Penny knew she didn’t take on private commissions for her art.
She was too busy with her jewellery line.
Might have been fun to know about though.
She smiled shyly.
The painting certainly reflected the river, as Maya had drawn the original lines of the flower against the edge of the swirling river, on her sketchpad while sitting on Bertha .
Tonal blues and greens of Noah’s furnishings echoed the paintings beautifully, and she felt pride swell in her chest.
The guesthouse seemed to complement the surrounding river.
Calming colours welcomed them, but the room had an eclectic edge, with art and sculptures dotted around.
‘Please make yourself feel comfortable.
I’ll have a shower by the pool so that I don’t look so much like a drowned rat and scare my guests,’ he joked, and she laughed.
‘I hope your friend is ok,’ she said quickly, wishing she’d thought to say that before.
He should have been her first thought, but her mind had been groggy.
His eyes clouded over and he frowned.
‘They said they’d let us know.
His brother was here and they only let one person go with him, so he’s been giving us all text updates.
My phone is waterproof, but I don’t think they expected it to be dunked in a river,’ he joked.
He pulled his phone out of his rather wet jeans pocket and luckily it had a clear rubber case around it.
He scanned his latest texts and his shoulders sagged with relief.
‘Apparently Robbie is already regaling the ambulance crew with his awful jokes, so it looks like he might be ok,’ he grinned and turned to smile at her.
She drew in a sharp breath.
‘I was so worried about getting him breathing again that I didn’t really register who had been knocked out,’ she said, a tremor in her voice as she reached out to put a hand on the wall to steady herself.
She’d just given mouth to mouth with one of the nation’s favourite comedians - Robbie Latton! ‘Bad jokes?’ she raised one eyebrow in question and snuggled further into her towel.
Noah grinned cheekily and shrugged.
‘Okay.
Maybe the knock to the head has improved them.’ He winked, and she grinned back at him, eyes full of mischief in mirth.
Robbie sold out packed stadiums and people clamoured to hear his sets.
‘Thank goodness he’s okay.
He was out cold.’
‘Get into the shower.
You look freezing,’ encouraged Noah, moving back towards the door and motioning that bigger bath towels were in the cabinet next to the shower before leaving her standing alone and not quite knowing what to do with herself.
She was glad that her own phone was tucked into her sketch bag that was still on the boat and safe with Joe.
She quickly stripped off, leaving her clothes outside the door as instructed and stepped under the waterfall shower, that was instantly warm.
Fancy! She wondered if she could get one of those at her own house as she lathered her hair to wash away the river weed and breathed in the manly scent of the shower gel, which was spicy and immediately perked her senses up.
She didn’t hang about after that and towelled herself dry and wandered into the bedroom, noting that someone had pulled huge curtains across the guesthouse and pool side, so the bedroom felt snug and private, even though it was huge.
Turning and catching sight of the river almost took her breath away.
Realising now that this was also one way glass, the hazy early evening light was dappled across the water and the fairy lights from the garden that were moving in the gentle breeze sent darts of light across the surface.
Wishing she had her sketchpad to capture that moment, Maya glanced at the view briefly, but needed to get a move on or appear rude.
She’d have liked to have sunk against the shower wall and tried to work out how she was going to get out of there with so many glamorous people milling about.
Maya opened one of the modern wardrobes and ran her hands over the rows of clothes hanging in an orderly fashion and smiled.
Perhaps she wasn’t the only neat freak in the world? She selected a white t-shirt and pulled it on.
After using her fingers to comb her hair into some semblance of a style, and grabbing the hairband she’d left at the side of the fancy double granite sink to pull it into a slick, high ponytail, she put her still disgustingly damp underwear back on, before rushing back down stairs .
Noah looked like he’d just stepped out of the shower, as he was all tousled and sexy.
He was wearing a discreetly branded blue shirt with the sleeves rolled up and some washed out jeans that made him look like he’d just taken part in a fashion shoot.
She smiled tentatively and smoothed her hands down the t-shirt, tugging at the hem.
He grinned at her and reached out for her to take his hand.
She blushed and complied.
‘You must need to get back to your guests?’
‘I need a minute to breathe before we go back out into the throng.
Is that okay?’ he asked, shifting uncomfortably in his seat.
‘My ex-girlfriend, Tabitha, is out there and she definitely wasn’t invited.’
‘Sure,’ she replied, worrying that he had actually hurt himself in the river.
‘Why is Tabitha here if she wasn’t invited? I wasn’t exactly on the guest list either,’ she joked, but was curious now.
‘I understand if you don’t want to tell me.
We have literally just met...
for more than five minutes anyway,’ she countered.
Noah looked at her for a moment as if deciding something, then offered her a cup of steaming tea that he poured from a china teapot.
Next to it was a bowl full of sugar lumps and a plate of crumbly looking shortbread.
‘Apparently, I’m a reprobate and not to be trusted – especially if you believe the stories that Tabitha feeds the press,’ he sighed, and rubbed his temples.
‘Sorry.
That was uncalled for.
She’s making me second-guess everything I say and do.
Rob falling into the river will probably be my fault by the end of the night.’