LITMIR.BIZ

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      ‘Don’t worry, I’m not going to let anything happen to you.’

      He nodded, soothed by Nell’s words, then looked wistfully towards Sam and gave an exasperated sigh.

      ‘Don’t move!’ Nell joked, smiling.

      ‘I’ve no intention of going anywhere,’ Guy said, folding his arms.

      Nell took the oars out of the rowlocks, dug the blades in the water and stopped the boat. She reached and grabbed the rope then slowly tilted herself towards the wrought-iron ring and tied the little rowing boat securely to the side of the canal boat.

      ‘It doesn’t look like anyone’s home,’ she murmured, hurling herself on to the deck.

      ‘Who owns this boat?’ Guy questioned.

      ‘Much Ado About Nothing,’ she read the bright lettering on the side of the boat, ‘I’ve no idea. It’s only been moored here a couple of days, it’s probably someone just passing through.’

      As soon as Nell was standing on the boat, Sam sprang at her, leaving her covered in wet, stinky paw prints. She grabbed his collar and patted the top of his head. ‘Good boy.’

      ‘He’s definitely been in the water,’ she claimed, wrinkling her nose at the stench. ‘Throw me his lead.’

      Guy reached inside his coat pocket then gently threw the lead towards Nell, who caught it and clipped it on to Sam’s collar. Nell peered through the glass window, ‘No sign of anyone,’ she said, carefully lowering herself back into the boat, then encouraging Sam to jump, however he was sitting firmly on the deck of the canal boat and refusing to move. Nell glanced earnestly at Guy.

      ‘Any ideas how I can get him to move?’

      Once more Guy rummaged inside his pocket and produced a treat and passed it to Nell. ‘Try this.’

      She swallowed hard then exhaled, ‘Okay boy, come on, let’s get you on board so we can all get home.’ She held the treat towards Sam, who immediately leapt into action and propelled himself on to the boat, Nell’s smile drooped slightly as the boat began to rock.

      Guy squirmed, closed his eyes and clasped tightly onto the wooden slacks he was sitting on.

      Nell coaxed Sam to lie between her legs and patted Guy’s knee, ‘Here take this.’ He opened his eyes and she passed him the lead. ‘Keep him still. We will be back on dry land in no time at all.’

      Nell placed the oars back into the rowlocks, grasped one in each hand then placed the blades in the water and began to row gently back towards the quayside. They both sat in silence until finally the little rowing boat bumped lightly against the jetty.

      ‘We are here, safe and sound.’

      Guy’s eyes met with Nell’s.

      ‘Phew,’ he said as she tied up the boat, then held out her hand towards Guy.

      ‘Let’s get you off this boat and on to dry land.’

      ‘Yes captain,’ he answered, relieved.

      As he placed his hand in hers, Nell felt him tense up, then he slid one foot in front of the other and slowly manoeuvred his way off the boat. Once his feet were firmly on the ground he heaved a huge sigh of relief. Sam trotted happily off the boat behind him.

      ‘Are you okay?’ asked Nell gently.

      ‘I feel an idiot, but I am now I’m back on dry land,’ he laughed nervously, ‘Even though I still feel like I’m swaying!’ He gripped on to the railings, steadied himself and began to take deep breaths before exhaling sharply.

      ‘You’re not going to have a panic attack on me, are you?’

      He shook his head warily. ‘I think I’m ready to move.’

      ‘Good,’ Nell answered, seeing a slight smile spread across Guy’s face. She couldn’t help but beam at Sam, who sat patiently at the side of Guy, his tail thumping on the ground.

      ‘You go first.’

      Guy bent down and began to squeeze back through the railings, pulling Sam behind him.

      ‘Do you fancy a …?’

      Before Nell could finish her sentence, Guy gave her a mischievous grin over his shoulder then cocked an eyebrow.

      ‘I was going to say coffee,’ she declared, feeling her face turn a dark shade of crimson.

      ‘Of course you were,’ he beamed, standing up and poking his hand back over the top of the railings.

      ‘I was!’ protested Nell, knowing a huge smile had crept across her face.

      ‘You protest too much,’ he teased.

      ‘I see you’re already on top form,’ Nell joked, placing her hand on top of the railing and deciding to hurl herself over the top. As she swung her leg over, Guy firmly gripped her arm to help steady her.

      ‘Thank you,’ she said, flashing a grateful smile. Her heart swelled at how gorgeous he was.

      ‘I was only teasing you, you know.’ He nudged her jokingly in the ribs.

      ‘I know! Anyway, how are you feeling now?’

      ‘A little light-headed and a right wimp, if I’m honest,’ he muttered embarrassedly.

      ‘Don’t be daft. For the first time in years you’ve been back on the water, you’re bound to feel panicky. How about that coffee to steady your nerves?’

      Guy flicked his eyes between Sam and the ‘Nollie’. His smile faded slightly and Nell sensed his hesitation.

      ‘I know it’s another boat, but it’s a different type of boat, very steady. You won’t even feel like you’re on water. You can sit in your life jacket if that helps.’

      ‘Oh very funny!’ he cocked his head with the most gorgeous smile.

      Nell had instantly warmed towards Guy; he put her at ease and was easy to talk to. It was nice to have a little male company once more.

      ‘Do you need to be somewhere else?’ He glanced towards the deli.

      ‘Wait there a second.’

      She quickly strolled towards the deli and spotted Bea cleaning the empty bread shelves behind the counter. She spun round when she heard the bell above the shop door tinkle.

      ‘Hello, you. Have you found him?’ she asked, with a worried look on her face.

      Nell smiled and nodded. ‘All safe and sound. Somehow he’d managed to get himself stuck on a barge at the back of the marina. We borrowed Fred’s boat to rescue him.’

      ‘Thank God, even though it sounds like you’ve both been on quite an adventure.’

      ‘Do you need me? I was going to grab a quick coffee with Guy?’

      Bea stole a look at the clock, ‘Let’s call it a day. You get off. It’s quiet now and if you need me later, just text.’

      Nell smiled a grateful smile at her friend, ‘Will do, but I’m absolutely fine. See you in the morning.’

      ‘Here, take these,’ Bea scooped up a couple of cream doughnuts into a box, then slid them over the counter.

      ‘Me working here is no good for my diet, you know!’ she laughed, knowing full well that in the last six months the weight had begun to pile on.

      ‘You working here is no good for my profits either,’ she giggled, shooing Nell out of the shop, ‘Now go and enjoy your coffee.’

      Nell closed the door behind her to find Guy waiting patiently outside and Sam lying at his feet.

      ‘I have to say, he does stink a little.’ Nell looked towards Sam, ‘Why don’t you hose him down while I nip on board

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