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He looked up and considered her for a moment. ‘The sweet and sour is the best. I would also recommend the Mongolian lamb and cashew nut stir-fry. Plus, the springs rolls are great and the chicken satay sticks.’
‘You know what? I think I’m going to order exactly that.’ And a smile trembled over her lips. She was rewarded with a grin that was irresistibly devastating and Ava felt a lurch in her chest, a funny little giddy-up of her heart.
‘Ladies first,’ Noah gestured to the queue.
Now they had to wait together for their meals to be cooked and the silence was awkward.
‘You know, I spoke to Bridie and she said exactly what you said she would. She was adamant that I cannot use O’Brien builders. Very emphatic. So, I won’t…’
‘I know we got off on the wrong foot, but my advice wasn’t vindictive and I’m glad you know that. I would never recommend him to anyone and that’s a fact.’ Noah shuffled his feet, considered the lino floor in detail. ‘About that…another job has fallen through. We were waiting on building approvals that haven’t arrived yet and can’t start as expected. I can do the work for you.’
The words hung between them.
‘You can do my reno work and start straight away?’
‘Yes, if you still want me to.’
There was no pretending this time. Her smile was wide, warm and genuine, radiating from the inside. ‘That would be so great. I mean, I should really be telling you to shove it after the things you’ve said and the way you treated me, but I think you’re aware that I need you.’
‘And I need…’ he began to speak as a loud crash of steel bowls and plates occurred in the kitchen.
‘I’m sorry what was that?’ Was he about to say he needed her too? Why would he?
‘Ah, it’s nothing. I want the job and am happy to help you. As you know I have a soft spot for the place and I want it to be the beautiful house it deserves to be. Oh, that reminds me, I did have some preliminary plans drawn up, only by me, mind you, but to the correct dimensions and in keeping with the old traditional style of design. I can bring them and show you. You might like to use them.’
‘Gosh. That would be … great. I don’t know what to say.’
Order for Montgomery!
Ava stared at Noah, properly studied him for the first time. He wasn’t wearing his hat tonight and it changed his entire appearance. Turned his rigid and usually stern face more handsome even under the harsh lights of the takeaway. Was it just the missing hat? No, she detected something else. His features were softer and his stance less combative than the times they’d met previously. His feet shuffled and he gazed down at the ground and up again. It was shyness, or perhaps uncertainty. And yet, when their eyes locked, he didn’t look away. He had mesmerising grey eyes flecked with gold that were large and well-set apart. Everything about him was big and broad including his facial features with his wide and firm-set mouth and aquiline nose. Those unruly wavy curls on top were more blonde than brown. He was well-groomed and carried an air of authority that was charming and made Ava want to be around him. She sensed when he smiled she might be unable to tear her gaze away. This was a man who worked hard but was loyal and strident in his convictions. Someone to be trusted?
Order for Montgomery!
‘Um, Ava, that’s your order, isn’t it?’
Oh, bugger, yes. Trapped in his gaze, she momentarily forgot her name. To be fair, it was her maiden name that she had only recently reverted to. It hadn’t quite stuck, yet.
She giggled to cover her nerves at being caught daydreaming about him, in his presence. ‘Sorry, yes. That’s me!’ she called, and a bag was thrust into her hand. ‘Oh, this smells delicious.’ Words of invitation formed on her tongue. They were both eating Chinese, they could eat their meals together, couldn’t they? But then his order was called, the moment broken, her nerve frayed.
‘So, sorry, just to be sure,’ he bowed his head, ‘is it agreed that I’ll do the job?’
Ava nodded. ‘Yes, absolutely.’
‘Okay, great. And you mentioned something about cash terms?’
They were talking business. Thank goodness she hadn’t invited him to eat with them. How embarrassing! Ava recovered quickly. ‘Yes, sure. Can you invoice me?’
‘Yep. Fantastic, thank you. I’ll work something out and quote you. An advance would be great to purchase materials and to cover the wages of my team. I’ll do most of the work on my own, but for the bigger jobs I might call on my very experienced team of builders. You met Alex the other day. I’ll give you some more details tomorrow. I’ll head over first thing.’
‘See you then.’
Ava jumped into her car and sped away. Not sure why, but something felt off and her gut twinged. Not a full twist, so that was something. Was it the handsome stranger and her almost faux pas or something else? Bridie, town crier and bearer of the knowledge of Bellethorpe, trusted Noah Hawthorn, so she could too, right? So, if the builder was trustworthy, what was it? Or perhaps it was too soon to trust anyone? Lack of trust was keeping them safe. After all, hadn’t she learned the hard way? People said one thing and did another. Perhaps it was human nature. It would be okay. The renos would be completed, and she’d continue like she’d always done, on high alert, her only priority protecting herself and Ish. Tonight, that burden felt heavy.
Chapter Eight
‘Knock, knock!’
Noah called out before he poked his head around the rear of Ava’s house. The place was deadly quiet. First foot on the back stair and he saw her. Ava sat hunched over at the outdoor table. Crying.
