Page 47 of Chasing a Highland Dream

Promptly, at noon, Bella knocked on the door of apartment one and waited as butterflies set about fluttering in her stomach. Aiden opened the door but was on the phone. At first, he looked a little confused but he held up a halting finger, mouthed the words, ‘Two minutes,’ and then beckoned for her to come in. He was unshaven and his hair was sticking up at all angles. He was wearing the same pair of pyjama bottoms and T-shirt she had found rather yummy almost five days ago, but now found it a little disconcerting he was still wearing them, especially when she had made an effort to look nice.

She followed him through to the living room and was a bit annoyed to find the apartment she had poured her heart and soul into designing in a dreadful mess with empty wine bottles and dirty glasses on the formerly beautiful oak coffee table, along with a red wine stain in a ring the size of a bottle base; the specially selected oak coasters were still stacked at the edge of the table, unused. There was a pile of dirty clothes on the floor by the sofa too that she had to step over.

Aiden ran his free hand through his hair then pinched the bridge of his nose as he paced the floor. ‘No, I’ve amended that scene; it just wasn’t working, so I had a rethink.’ There was a long pause while Bella presumed the other person on the call was speaking. ‘Oh, you know, I’m okay. I’m in the back of beyond, in the middle of nowhere. So it’s not perfect. You know how I love my sushi and matcha and you just can’t find it around here.’ He laughed lightly. ‘But it’s very peaceful, unlike London. Too peaceful, really. I actually miss the noise.’

He walked through to the kitchen and lowered his voice. ‘Has Candace been in touch with you?’ Another pause. ‘No, the message was anonymous. It just said “I know where you are”.’ He walked back through to the lounge, he was chewing at the skin around his thumb and his nostrils were flared. ‘Maybe it was a prank. Look, I’ve got to go, someone’s here now. Yeah, bye, Nelly, and thanks again.’ He hit the end call button on the handset with a rigid index finger and threw the phone onto the sofa before running his hands through his messy hair.

‘Hey, hi. Sorry about that,’ he said as he walked over and slipped his arms around Bella’s waist. ‘I have to admit I’m not really prepared for this.’ He glanced around the mess in the room.

Bella raised her eyebrows. ‘I can go if⁠—’

‘No, you’re here now.’ He bent to kiss her and for a moment she forgot he appeared to be a bit of a slob. ‘I could use a bit of distraction,’ he told her as he rested his forehead on hers. ‘And you’re the perfect kind.’

Distraction? Is that how he sees me? She decided she was being paranoid again and gazed up at him and into those bright blue eyes, so blue they looked like contact lenses, and she closed her own eyes as he lowered his head and kissed her again; the one saving grace was he’d cleaned his teeth.

Things got a little heated this time, his hands explored her body over her clothes and found her bottom, he squeezed her firmly there as he nibbled on her lip, and he pulled her closer to him with urgency, his arousal evident as he did so. He kissed a trail up her neck, along her jaw to her ear, his stubble grazing her skin. Shivers travelled the length of her spine, but not the kind she’d expected, and her heart pounded. She could feel his heart drumming fast too but for entirely different reasons. Something felt off.

‘Shall we take this to the bedroom?’ he whispered as he slid her dress up her leg to her thigh.

That was the jolt she needed. A little shocked, Bella gathered her wits and pushed on his chest. ‘Whoa, I think… I think maybe we should slow down a wee bit.’ Panting, despite her actions to halt things, she smoothed down her dress and took a step back. She wasn’t the type to rush into sex; she hadn’t jumped into bed with Kerr and this would be no different.

He frowned and nodded. ‘Right, right, yes, of course, sorry. But you’ve got all dressed up for me and you look so sexy in that dress and…’ Dressed up for you? She hoped he wasn’t insinuating the dress was an invitation of some kind, and wondered what had happened to simply kissing without expectations of it going further? Why did it have to lead to sex? He held up his hands. ‘But you’re right; we haven’t known each other long. My bad.’ He took a deep breath. ‘Can I get you a coffee? I have biscuits. That nice woman from the castle kitchen gave me some homemade shortbread.’

They had known each other for a split second in the great scheme of things, and even considering their heart-to-heart, she knew very little about him. Looking back, she realised he knew even less about her. An awkward atmosphere hung in the air, and she replied, ‘Coffee would be good, thanks.’ In order to lighten the mood, she added, ‘And Mirren’s shortbread is delicious. You’re in for a treat.’

‘Good to know. Have a seat while I pour the coffee. I have a fresh pot on.’

Once again, Bella stepped over things; a laptop bag, a pile of books, a used coffee mug, pages ripped from a notepad with illegible scrawl covering them. She sat on one of the two-seater couches. ‘Looks like you’ve been busy,’ she called to Aiden in the kitchen. It was the most diplomatic thing she could think of saying without calling out his slovenly ways.

‘Yeah, sorry about the mess. I’m a bit of a boor when I’m working. Can’t let my mind get diverted off course when the ideas strike. With the exception of a pretty woman, obviously.’

Bella cringed, finding his comment a little condescending, and began to wonder if other ‘pretty women’ had distracted him recently. She pushed the thoughts aside. ‘Is everything okay? You sounded concerned on the phone when I arrived.’

Aiden walked back into the living room with two cups of coffee and handed her one. ‘Oh, it’s nothing. I was just catching up with my editor. She’s a friend too.’ He sat on the sofa opposite her, clearly keeping his distance now.

‘Ah, I see.’ It was obvious there had been more to it than that, but she didn’t pry.

‘So, have you seen much more of the police sergeant?’ he asked, before taking a sip of his coffee and appearing to be doing his best to appear nonchalant.

Bella was confused by the question. ‘Why do you ask?’

He shrugged. ‘Like I’ve said before, I think he has his sights set on you, that’s all.’

‘We’re friends, he’s a nice guy.’

‘I suppose.’ He took another sip of his coffee. ‘Seems a bit boring to me, but if you like that sort of thing…’

Bella scowled. ‘That’s unkind, Aiden, and uncalled for.’

Aiden nodded. ‘You’re right, I’m sorry. I’m a wee bit jealous, that’s all. I suppose I’m used to getting what, and who, I want, but you seem different and that’s good.’ Ego much? Alarm bells rang in her mind; he had nothing to be jealous about when they had shared one night out that wasn’t even technically a date, but before she could voice her concerns, he carried on, ‘I’m sorry, okay? Forgive me? I’m a bit useless when I really like someone. I say all the wrong things.’ It wasn’t a good excuse, but it was a reason. ‘Anyway, the words have been flowing today and I have you to thank for that.’

She was intrigued by his comment. ‘How so?’

He glanced down at his bare feet and smiled coyly for a moment. ‘It’s like you’re my muse or something.’ He grinned. ‘I think about kissing you and the words flow.’

That was kind of romantic, she supposed, although did kissing her make him think about killing people? It wasn’t like he was Nicholas Sparks! With his comment clattering around her head, she decided to try to get to know him a little better.

‘So how long have you been writing? I know you’ve got lots of books out there so I’m guessing it’s been a while.’ Ugh, now you sound like you’re interviewing him.