Page 87 of Starry Nights over Dragonfly Lake

‘All done,’ he murmured.

Beth realised that he sounded a little breathless as well.

They stood there for a moment as he movedhis hands across to her shoulders and she leaned back into him. It should have been terribly awkward but it wasn’t. It was Noah.

If she turned around now she knew that she would give herself to him. If she turned around now, she was risking everything for a man who had declared that he would never fall in love with anyone, not even her. Was it worth the risk?

She knew the answer before she even finished asking herself the question. She turned around and was immediately enveloped in his arms as his lips came crashing down onto hers.

48

Beth woke up and found herself wrapped in Noah’s arms.

She took a moment to remember the sweet memories of the night before and snuggled in closer, relishing the feel of him lying next to her in the bed.

It was a bittersweet moment though. She loved him. Truly loved him. But he would never love her. He had told her as much. Love, for him, was still something to be mistrusted. She loved Noah. But he didn’t want her love and never would, despite how much he cared for her.

She just couldn’t set herself up for more heartbreak and so, lying there, she made her decision. She would accept the job offer from Antarctica which had come through only two days previously. Her first instinct had been to turn it down but now? Now she was just hoping that leaving Maple Tree Lodge wouldn’t hurt as much as being here and not having Noah’s love.

However, she couldn’t stop herself from staying in his arms, willing the day not to start and interrupt the sweet moment. But, of course, it did. The sun rose and she watched the darkness in the skylight in the roof above the bed slowly change to daybreak.

She slipped out of bed and peered out of the window to see a heavy mist hugging the lake and trees for the second day running. She sighed. Stargazing, like both the weather and love, could be highly unpredictable. But she had been so hoping to be wrong on both counts.

She hadn’t even heard Noah stir but suddenly felt his arms come around her and she leant back against him as he stood there despite her better judgement.

‘You okay?’ he asked.

‘Just worried about what today brings,’ she replied, not untruthfully. ‘Hopefully the skies will clear before tonight’s meteor shower.’

‘It’ll be fine,’ he murmured, before reaching down to kiss her neck. ‘I promise.’

She nodded, believing him about the weather but not about their relationship.

Still feeling blue, she headed over to the Boathouse Café once she had dressed on the pretext of helping Hannah out. When she arrived, she found Lily and Ella had already arrived before her, despite the early hour.

‘So?’ she asked, as she joined them at one of the tables. ‘How’s everyone?’

But as if her best friends had some kind of sixth sense, they all turned at once to look at Beth with knowing smiles on their faces.

As always, she couldn’t fake anything with them and couldn’t return their smiles. She watched in dismay as their happy faces quickly turned into frowns.

‘What is it? Is it Jeremy?’ asked Lily.

‘Because Alex is quite happy to throw him in the lake if necessary,’ added Hannah.

‘Good idea,’ said Ella with a firm nod.

But Beth carried on shaking her head. ‘It’s not him,’ she said.

‘What’s happened?’ asked Hannah, reaching across the table to take Beth’s hand.

‘Everything. Nothing,’ replied Beth in a dull tone.

‘Everything?’ prompted Lily. ‘Noah?’

Beth nodded.

‘I told you I saw them heading over to the lodge last night,’ said Ella with a smug nod. ‘But then what? Is he rubbish in bed?’