As the evening wore on, Noah and Ellie regaled Beth with stories from their childhood and all the antics they’d got up to out on the Brennans’ farm. The two of them were hilarious, their banter making them seem more like siblings than cousins and Beth envied them that. What she wouldn’t give for a connection like theirs.
But as she studied each of them from across the table, she thought that maybe it wasn’t such an impossible dream for her after all.
CHAPTER
TWELVE
As Beth climbed the steps to the front door with two servings of fish and chips balanced on one arm, her nerves almost got the better of her. But she urged herself forward. She wanted to show Noah how much she appreciated everything he was doing to help her—and all for a pittance! When she’d again broached the subject of increasing his fee, he’d refused. ‘We’re friends, aren’t we?’ he’d asked, which was the only thing he could’ve said to silence her.
‘Friends help friends, Beth,’ he’d added. ‘Not for money but because it’s what you do for your mates. So stop trying to throw cash at me, okay, or I might start to think you don’t like me.’ He’d delivered that last bit with a wink, and after that, she’d vowed to drop the issue for good.
Then, two days ago, she’d been testing paint samples on the external cladding as she listened to an audiobook when Noah had tapped her on the shoulder. Surprised, she’d spun around so quickly that the paint-smeared brush in her hand had slapped against his forearm and waist.
She was horrified. ‘Oh my goodness! I’m so sorry!’
Noah glanced down at the mess she’d made of him and chuckled. ‘It’s okay. I shouldn’t have crept up on you like that.’ He picked up a rag and attempted to scrape some of the paint off his shirt, but there was no saving it.
She groaned. ‘I’ll buy you a new one.’
‘Honestly, Beth, don’t worry about it.’ He tossed the rag away.
‘No, I mean it. I—’
But he stepped forward and pried the paintbrush from her fingers. ‘Take a break with me and we’ll call it even.’
After they’d cleaned up, Noah had grabbed his esky, pulled out two chicken and salad rolls and handed her one. She’d been touched that he’d thought to pack lunch for her.
Now she was attempting to repay the favour—except on the way over here, she’d started worrying that sitting down to eat dinner together might seem too much like a date. Swallowing her nerves, she stepped through the front door and closed it behind her. Oh god, what if he thought she was coming on to him? What if he felt the need to let her down gently?
She stopped in her tracks but was already halfway along the hallway.
‘Beth?’ Noah called out. ‘Is that you?’
She steeled herself. Too late to back out now.
‘Yep, it’s me!’
She lifted the paper package as she entered the kitchen. ‘I brought dinner. As a thank you.’
Noah grinned down out her. ‘Oh, you legend! I’m starving! Just let me finish this, then I’ll wash my hands and join you.’
‘No worries. Take your time.’ She popped the meal on the bench and wiped the clammy heat from her forearm as she watched him work.
He stood on a mid-sized stepladder, holding aloft one of the overhead cupboard doors and working the screwdriver on its top hinge. The muscles in his forearm grew taut with every turn, his biceps and triceps working, too. He looked good with a tool in his hand. It suited him.
He glanced down at her and she smiled in what she hoped was a casual, unaffected, friendly way, but he grinned and winked, then doubled his efforts in working the screw free. He knew she’d been staring—again.
With heat flooding her cheeks, she turned towards the dining room window and eventually heard the tap running.
‘Okay, ready.’ Wiping his hands on his jeans, he cocked his head towards the laundry. ‘Shall we eat outside?’
‘Yep.’ Beth was quick to grab the food off the bench and lead the way through the back door. They sat on the porch, their legs dangling over the edge with the wrapped fish and chips between them.
‘Man, the view at this time of day …’ Noah leaned back on his hands. ‘It’s just perfect.’
She glanced out at the uninterrupted view of the field, where the setting sun bathed everything in a golden light and created a beautifully romantic atmosphere. Not that this was a date or anything. But they definitely had a pretty outlook.
‘It really is,’ she agreed but avoided looking at him in case he could read her thoughts.
