To think I have to move from sheer embarrassment?

No it doesn’t.

The way to look at these types of situations is this. What was the intention? When you can clarify with yourself that you meant no harm, then you can simply let go of that guilt or embarrassment. Through life there are plenty of people that will be wrong or misunderstand about us. But we can simply let them be wrong.

Op, I feel for you but you did nothing wrong, other than offer a kindness in exchange for one. I hate this type of thing where people make an issue out of nothing, like this plonker did. I'd be avoiding him like the plague from now on.

I'm showing my age here, but for some reason, that really reminds me of Henry Root - who would send people random mad letters asking them random mad things and then stick an unexplained fiver in (or it might just have been a pound note back then) for their trouble!

Talk about 1950s…why didn’t op ask another woman to help her move the furniture? Why did it have to be a man?

It makes perfect sense if he's a fit, strong gym bunny.

Maybe the neighbour on the other side is only 4'6" and in her 90s!

Exactly.

He might think that she's drugged the cookies to have her wicked way with him!

I will Literally be giggling till Wednesday about that post x

I wouldn't give this a second thought on either side of the conversation, but if it happens again, as he gets ready to leave, ask him if he'd like a few beers to take with him as a carry out. Then it's clear that you're intending that he drink them in his own house.

That seems natural and friendly enough to me, but I'm sure some mumsnetters will find it rude / mortifying / chavvy / suggestive etc.

What a ridiculous response from him. I cannot see why he said that.

Why did you ask him to help you move the furniture? Why not another neighbour? You fancy him, don’t you?

I don't understand why so many people here over-react so much. And how is it possible that you weren't embarrassed to knock on a stranger's door (I'm assuming he's a stranger) to ask for help, but were so embarrassed about a little verbal awkwardness.

Just write a little note saying "I just wanted to thank you again. Nice to have helpful neighbors" - with a box of cookies.

The poster that suggested offering him £5 has me giggling uncontrollably on my nightly mumsnet scroll, why is it so funny?! £5! lol!

This comment is just making me giggle like all is very much not well with me!

Then again, I could very easily imagine "Would you help me to move the banquette, kind sir?" as being slang for something quite salacious way back then

And she could have tapped the side of his face Tony Soprano style , with a hushed shhh and a sideways glances while stuffing aforesaid guinea into his top pocket.
Capiche!!

So because she had one FWB relationship with a neighbour, she is now prowling after all her male neighbours?

OP, i don't think you need to feel embarrassed. He was polite and helpful to you whilst being mindful of his girlfriend's feelings.

I know it's no help now, but my youngish male neighbour helped me lift something when DH was away. I thanked him by buying a couple of beers and just dropped them next door. That's obviously purely a thank you.
As for your current embarrassment, it will wear off, just try to avoid him for a while!

she went on to speak about a friends with benefit setup with a previous neighbour so it’s not outside the realm of possibility

We all do or say things we could have worded better at the time. It sounds like you both did in this case. You just wanted to say thanks and he probably just wanted to say no thanks. Just forget all about it and don't worry.

Tsk ! You are behind the times. Prices have risen. She should have offered the gentleman a guinea.

Another one here who thinks that, if anybody acted more embarrassingly, it was him.

He reminds me of the character from The Fast Show who thought that everybody in the office was trying to seduce him every time they asked him to countersign a form or to borrow his stapler!

I presume you meant 'a beer' as in a can(s) or bottle(s) from your fridge/cupboard to take home with him? You didn't smoulder moodily about needing to cool him down as you chained him to the sofa whilst you 'slipped into something more comfortable'?!

OP says in her OP that she doesn't fancy him and he's not her type.