Page 57 of Chasing a Highland Dream

Olivia joined them. ‘My girls back together. It’s so good to see you.’ The three friends hugged as a group.

‘This is something you have to get used to with these three,’ Ben informed Aiden. ‘They’re like sisters from another mister and all that.’ He laughed. ‘Joined at the hip by invisible thread. Egg, beans and sausage. The Three Musketeers.’

‘I think he gets it, Ben,’ Skye said with a giggle.

‘Aiden, this is Ben, and of course Skye,’ Brodie said. They shook hands.

Bella got the distinct impression this was intended as a ‘couples’ dinner party but she and Aiden hadn’t really known each other long enough to be worthy of that label. And there was that whole issue with the photograph and the accusations that had gone along with it. Thinking back to that situation caused her to bristle again. And when Aiden’s temporary situation at the castle was added into the mix, Bella wasn’t sure what the future held, or if they even had one.

The group sat around the table and Olivia placed a large dish in the centre along with a plate of homemade garlic bread. ‘Tuck in, everyone. No standing on ceremony.’

Aiden didn’t need telling twice. ‘This really does look delicious, Olivia, thank you for inviting me.’

As if she could read Bella’s mind, Olivia glanced across the table and gave an apologetic smile. ‘So, Bella,’ she said. ‘Any news on Fifi yet? I’ve missed seeing her around.’

Aiden laughed. ‘Oh yeah, what’s happening with the old rust bucket? Is she beyond repair?’

Bella scowled at him. ‘Fifi isn’t a rust bucket. She’s vintage and a rather beautiful piece of machinery. They’re actually really rugged and don’t rust that easily.’

He must have realised she was annoyed by his comments as he began to backtrack. ‘Oh yeah, I know, I’m only jesting. I think it’s great it’s still running. Well… was still running, anyway. It’s great you look after it… I mean her so well.’

Bella chose to ignore him and returned her focus to Olivia. ‘She can be fixed once I sort out the cash. But Neil at the garage is holding her there for me until I can do that.’ She purposefully didn’t use the phrase ‘I can’t afford to have her repaired’ because the fact was embarrassing, and she didn’t want offers of financial aid, which she knew would happen thanks to Olivia’s good nature.

Bella was aware Olivia knew her well enough not to talk about money with her in front of people. Instead, Olivia smiled and simply said, ‘It’ll get sorted, lovely. It won’t be long.’ Bella read between the lines and knew exactly what Olivia meant. She would need to talk to her after the meal and explain she would deal with Fifi herself. Olivia had done enough for her by employing her and giving her a place to live.

Aiden reached across and took Bella’s hand. ‘She’s right. Fifi will be back before you know it.’ Oh, good grief, not you as well.

Ben topped up everyone’s wine glasses. ‘Aiden, Brodie tells me you’re a writer. What kind of stuff do you write?’ he asked.

‘I write crime novels mostly,’ came his curt reply.

Ben’s eyes lit up. ‘Ooh, I love a good whodunnit. Might I have read anything of yours?’

Bella watched as Aiden’s jaw ticked. It was a strange reaction. He held up a finger as he chewed and then replied with a strange smile, ‘Actually, I write under a pseudonym. And I like to think my work is a little more complex than whodunnits. I pride myself on the depth of my research, and I like to insert elements of true crime in there too. Unsolved cases and solved ones alike. It adds to their realness.’

Ben was undeterred by Aiden’s apparent pretentiousness. ‘Ooh, a bit like that author I like, what’s his name, Skye? Ugh, I’m useless with names.’

‘Carrick Murphy,’ Skye replied.

Ben wagged his fork. ‘That’s it! Have you read anything by him?’

Aiden wiped his mouth with his napkin and glanced at Bella, his lips pulled into a thin line. ‘Do they know?’

Bella scrunched her brow. ‘What do you mean?’

Aiden gave that weird smile again. ‘Do they know about me? Have you told them? It’s fine if you have.’ He squeezed her hand her little too tightly. ‘It’d be a relief, to be honest.’

Bella sighed and placed down her fork, suddenly bereft of appetite. ‘Not this again.’

Brodie broke the heavy silence that had descended over the table. ‘What’s wrong? What do you mean, do we know about you? What is there to know about you?’

Ben sniggered. ‘Yeah, are you Carrick Murphy in hiding or something?’

Aiden took a large swig of his drink and placed his glass down with a thud. ‘Okay… Yes, I’m Carrick Murphy. The cat’s out of the bag.’ He held up his hands in a kind of Tadaaaa gesture and everyone stared blankly at him – with the exception of Bella, who couldn’t bring herself to look at him.

Ben burst out laughing. ‘Good one! You had me going for a minute there!’ When Aiden returned his stoic gaze to Ben, his smile disappeared. ‘You’re not joking, are you?’

Aiden shook his head. ‘I am not.’