Page 2 of Chasing a Highland Dream

Bella shrugged. ‘I figured the stone would keep the wine cool like in wine cellars.’

‘You’re hired,’ Olivia stated matter-of-factly.

Bella gasped. ‘Seriously? Are you sure you don’t want me to maybe do one room and see what you think?’

Olivia shook her head. ‘We don’t have time for that and, to be honest, I absolutely love everything you’ve designed. From the rich colours to the lighting. I’d never have thought to use jewel colours on the walls. But I absolutely love the whole look you’ve compiled. When can you start? You’ll need to speak to the builders and decorating team as soon as possible. In fact, they’re in finishing off the ceilings today and are due to start plastering the walls tomorrow, so we need to stop that from happening.’

Bella couldn’t hide her excitement and grappled Olivia into a hug. ‘There’s no time like the present!’

1

As Bella stood in one of the newly converted stone stables under a freshly plastered ceiling, clutching her iPad and making notes, she couldn’t quite believe this was happening. The structural changes to the exterior of the stables had been done already, in addition to the ceilings, first fix electrics had been installed, woodwork had been sanded and stained, and floors had been levelled. They were now at the point where she could instruct the decorators to carry out the designs she never imagined would see the light of day. And even if it was only temporary, she was about to embark upon her absolute dream job, and at Drumblair Castle of all places. She tried to stifle a squeal of excitement bubbling up from within her but it was suddenly replaced by a squeal of fear when someone slipped their hands over her eyes, making her almost jump out of her skin.

‘It’s only me,’ a male voice said as he snaked his arms around her waist and turned her to face him.

‘Kerr! You scared me half to death,’ she said with a slap to his chest.

Olivia’s irreverent brother stuck out his bottom lip and pouted. ‘I’m sowwy. Pwease forgive me.’

Bella sighed but stepped back. ‘Forgiven, I suppose. But what are you doing here? You seem to be here more these days than at your own house in the city.’

Bella had adored Kerr since she was a teenage girl and he was her best friend’s older brother; all handsome, mysterious and aloof. She had discovered, however, that in reality he was nothing like she had imagined back then. After a very brief relationship in which she had encountered many ‘red flags’ – one of which being the fact he was accepting money from a female family ‘friend’, fifty-nine-year-old Adaira Wallace, who was clearly besotted with him, and who she was pretty sure had no clue about their relationship – she had ended things, hating herself for lying to Olivia by omission. Kerr, unfortunately, couldn’t seem to let go.

During their short dalliance, Kerr had continuously tried to get her into bed but Bella had remained true to herself in her determination not to sleep with him until things felt right. A decision she was very happy about now she had ended things.

Their relationship had remained a guilt-inducing secret from everyone except Granny Isla, as Bella figured Olivia had enough going on with her relatively new role as Lady of Drumblair. Things between the siblings had deteriorated further since Kerr discovered Olivia had been chosen to inherit the castle instead of him, so telling her about them would definitely not have helped.

Until quite recently, Kerr had been doing his best to sabotage Olivia’s plans for the castle but with the tiny amount of new-found influence she’d had over him, Bella had managed to convince Kerr he’d been horrible and had helped him to see the error of his ways. He had seemed to make his peace with everything and had agreed to do better. So if anything good was to come of their clandestine connection, that was it.

‘I heard that you were taking over the design work here so I wanted to come and say congratulations.’

She smiled, surprised he had no other agenda. ‘Thanks, I’m very excited about it.’

Kerr reached out to her again but she moved further away and he sighed deeply. ‘Won’t you give me another chance? I’ve told you we can tell Olivia very soon,’ he said. ‘It has to be the right time, that’s all.’

Bella shook her head and sighed out her exasperation. ‘Not this again, Kerr. I’ve told you, I’m not prepared to lie to Olivia again, or to be someone’s bit on the side, so drop it, will you?’

He held his arms out to his sides. ‘Bit on the side? But there’s no one else.’

Bella scoffed. ‘Tell that to Adaira.’

He ignored her. ‘I have to say you look super-sexy in this tight skirt.’

Smoothing down her clothing, Bella replied, ‘I didn’t wear it to appeal to you. Now I’m busy, so you should go.’

He stepped closer. ‘Oh, come on, Bells, you know you still want me. You fancied me for years. That doesn’t change overnight.’

She pushed him back firmly and with conviction. ‘It has changed, Kerr. I’m not going through this again with you. You only want me because I turned you down.’

He stepped back and sulkily stuffed his hands into his trouser pockets. ‘You’ll regret it.’

Bella rolled her eyes, wondering why she allowed herself to be sucked in by his handsome exterior. ‘It’s a chance I’m willing to take.’

His expression brightened. ‘I’ll tell Olivia about us. We’ll get it all out in the open. That’s what you want, isn’t it? To make us official? So let’s be official.’ He was verging on begging now and Bella was becoming increasingly frustrated.

She gritted her teeth. ‘Not any more, Kerr. That ship sailed so long ago it’s almost circumnavigated the globe. We’re too different. And I want to be with someone who wants to be seen in public with me. And who doesn’t take me out using money he took from another woman.’ She shuddered at that particular memory.

Kerr stepped closer once again and cupped her cheek, running his thumb gently over her skin. ‘I’ve told you I’ll do whatever you want. Name it. My life’s complicated, I get it. And yes, Adaira helps me, but it’s only financial. She’s my friend, that’s all.’