Hearing Bea’s voice, Woody began to wag his tail frantically and jumped up at the hammock.
‘Woody!’ The hammock began to sway. ‘Oh my!’ squealed Bea. She dropped her book and clung on to the sides but she wobbled so much that the hammock swung her right over into the strapping arms of Nolan, who caught her from landing on the grass – and, taking her weight, landed on his backside with a bump, Bea falling right on top of him. Thankfully, her ankle never hit the ground. For a second, they stared into each other’s eyes, their faces just centimetres apart. With her heart pounding and the chemistry fizzing between them, Bea mentally ordered herself to calm down.
Woody thought it was all a game. He began to jump all over them, attempting to lick them, which made them both burst into hysterical laughter.
‘Is accident-prone your middle name? You shouldn’t be allowed out on your own. You’re going to end up breaking every bone in your body.’
‘That wasn’t my fault, it was Woody’s. I was quite happily minding my own business in the hammock.’
‘You can get off me now, before we both get licked to death by an over-enthusiastic cocker spaniel.’
Bea laughed then realised she couldn’t get up. She was sitting on top of Nolan and would have to put her weight on her ankle to move. She looked towards the hammock. If she could grab that, she might be able to pull herself up. The only other option was to roll on to her hands and knees and let Nolan help her up, but that wasn’t very ladylike. On the count of three she reached up, grabbed onto the hammock and managed to pull herself upright. With her sore ankle raised behind her, she balanced on one leg before extending her hand to Nolan to help him up. Woody had now lost interest and was off up the garden, sniffing frantically after the scent of foxes.
‘I thought you were going to leave me down there for a moment,’ he said, grinning as he brushed himself down.
‘Death by dog licks is not what I’d want written on my gravestone.’
As soon as the words left her mouth, she noticed that Nolan’s smile had slipped and realised that his thoughts might have turned to Hannah.
‘I best be going,’ he said, handing Bea her crutches.
Her words had obviously triggered something inside Nolan and she could kick herself.
‘I’m sorry, I didn’t mean anything by it.’
He touched her arm. ‘I know. It’s not you.’ He exhaled and looked at Bea. ‘Every time I’m having fun I feel guilty, knowing I’m alive and Hannah isn’t.’ He swallowed a lump. ‘I am healing, and getting stronger every day… It’s taking time but I’ll get there.’
‘You will. Do you want me to come back with you?’
‘I’m going to lose myself in some painting and there’s a book I want to finish reading but thank you. I’ll come over and pick you up for work in the morning.’
‘Okay, but I’m putting a cushion on that bike seat. My backside is so sore from earlier.’
He laughed and began to wheel the bike towards the path that led around to the front of the B&B, Bea walking next to him.
‘You’ve got the hang of those crutches now,’ he said.
‘It’s easy when you know how. My ankle actually feels a lot better tonight.’
‘That’s good.’
As they reached the gate Nolan hovered for a moment. ‘I do like spending time with you.’
Bea could sense there was a ‘but’ coming, but she cut in before Nolan could say any more. ‘I know and you don’t need to explain. I’m not sure life is meant to be easy.’
‘It’s not.’ He leaned in towards her and placed a soft kiss on her cheek. ‘But I am glad you’re here. 8.30am – be ready.’
He swung his leg over the bike, pushed off and began to cycle up the lane. Bea stood and watched him go. Her heart went out to him. She knew he was trying to come to terms with the fact that life goes on, even after a devastating loss, but she hoped that their time together could help him heal a little more.
Nolan was soon out of sight and Bea headed back to the garden on her crutches to finish reading her book. She was thankful that her ankle was feeling better. Hopefully in the next day or so she could return to the attic at The Little Blue Boathouse, because she loved waking up to that view.
Hearing the sound of an engine behind her, Bea turned and saw a taxi pull up at the entrance of the B&B. The door swung open and a slim woman stepped out with hair that bounced above her shoulders – hair that wouldn’t look out of place in a TV hair commercial – and a sun tan that gave her a healthy glow and complemented her colourful dress. There was something familiar about her that Bea couldn’t quite put her finger on. She knew she’d seen this woman before but couldn’t recollect where. Bea never forgot a face so she racked her brains. No doubt it would come back to her soon.
ChapterTwenty-Two
Nolan greeted Bea with a smile as he bounced the tyres over the uneven ground and attempted to pull a wheelie. She’d been waiting for him at the gate for the last five minutes and tapped her watch as he screeched to a halt.
‘You’re late!’ she trilled. ‘And that was a poor attempt at showing off.’
