‘Oh, you’re absolutely doing it right,’ Noah echoed. ‘And please do carry on.’
By the time they came up for air, the rest of the tea in their mugs was cold, and they still hadn’t seen any Perseids. Bella glanced at Noah’s watch. ‘Yikes,’ she said. ‘I’m not usually one to bang on about late nights, but I need to open the sanctuary in, er, seven and a half hours’ time, so I’d better get to bed.’
Noah looked appalled. ‘Don’t you ever stop working?’
‘Unlike you, I can’t afford to be a person of leisure at the weekends,’ Bella replied. ‘Mollie depends on me.’
‘I know,’ Noah sighed. ‘She really ought to take on more staff.’
‘It’s an expense she can’t afford. And money’s getting tighter. We need to sort out a fundraiser, but we’re both flat out working and neither of us has the headspace.’
‘Then it’s about time I met with her and brainstormed some solutions.’
Noah’s thoughtful expression made Bella smile. ‘I thought your interest in Lower Brambleton only extended to this cottage? I can’t see you sticking around long once it’s sold.’
‘I used to think that,’ Noah said quietly. ‘But something seems to have changed my mind.’ He looked her deeply in the eyes. ‘I can’t think what that is.’
‘Steady on!’ Bella often joked to hide other emotions, and she’d been jolted enough by the kiss. ‘Shall we take this slowly? Neither of us is in a position to make it more serious than a few kisses right now.’
‘I’m more than happy with a few kisses,’ Noah said, leaning forward again, ‘but if there are a few more going begging…’ He touched her lips playfully with his own.
‘I think we’d better call it a night, don’t you?’ Bella gently pulled away from him and leaned down to pick up their mugs. ‘The residents of Purrfect Paws won’t be too pleased if they don’t get their breakfast on time tomorrow.’
Noah stood up. ‘You’re right, of course.’ He smiled down at her and took the mugs from her. ‘I’ve got these. You get to bed. You can be first in the bathroom.’
‘Thanks.’ Bella smiled back at him. ‘Goodnight, Noah.’
‘Goodnight, Bella. Sweet dreams.’
Bella headed indoors and up the stairs. As she brushed her teeth, she couldn’t help thinking about how, when she went to bed, Noah would be on the other side of her bedroom wall. It simultaneously felt like the widest divide in the world, and the narrowest.
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?
