Page 60 of Chasing a Highland Dream

She winced. ‘Not especially, no, sorry.’

‘No bother. If I’d known that, I’d have shaved it off sooner,’ he replied with a glint of humour in his eyes. ‘Anyway, are you here to pick up Isla? Because she may be relieved if you are. Mum’s got her doing a jigsaw of baked beans. That’s all it is, just baked beans. It’s enough to drive anyone batty. I had to stop trying to help because it sent my eyes squiffy.’ He laughed and Bella was struck by how different his features were without the hair to disguise them. His smile was incredibly handsome, his jaw angular, and she could see his nose had a slight bend where it appeared to have been broken at some point in the past; strangely she hadn’t noticed before today. His resemblance to Tom Hardy was uncanny, and now she could see what her friends had meant. He looked a little younger too without his signature beard.

Realising she was staring, she shook her head. ‘Has Neil said anything about the car? I’m worried about Fifi overstaying her welcome.’

‘Hey, I’ve already said you’ve nothing to worry about. She’s safe, she’s secure. It’s really not a problem.’

She nodded. ‘Okay, thank you. If you’re sure.’

He bent his knees slightly so he could look into her eyes. ‘I am, so no more worrying. Right, I’d better get going. If people see us meeting like this, they might get the wrong impression. It’s like I’m a New York cop and you’re my informant.’ He laughed.

She glanced around but theatrically this time. ‘Yeah, now I’d bedda ged oudda here before dey see me,’ she replied in an absolutely horrendous attempt at a Bronx accent, and her face almost spontaneously combusted with embarrassment until he burst into laughter.

‘Oh god, Bella, I do love you, you’re absolutely hilarious.’

Bella watched as his shoulders juddered and his eyes watered. Seeing him laugh like that, and knowing she was the instigator, gave her a thrill that flipped her insides upside down, along with her world. What on earth was going on?

Strangely, his words didn’t register until he’d gone and climbed into his car, and when his use of the ‘L’ word finally sank in, the butterflies in her stomach suddenly woke up again.

That evening, as Bella and her granny were almost at the end of watching the latest movie – Forrest Gump, which always made her cry – the doorbell sounded, and Bella’s heart almost skipped a beat. Could it be Harris? But this thought was immediately followed by, although why would he be here, you dufus?

Isla interrupted her bizarre internal monologue. ‘Are you going to answer that and find out who it is, or are you keeping us in suspenders on purpose?’

Bella shook her head. ‘I’m sorry, keeping us in…? Never mind, sorry, yes, I’ll go.’ She stood from the sofa and on the way to the door checked her reflection in the hallway mirror. Her blonde hair had that kind of dragged through a hedge appearance and her eyeliner had smudged, thanks to Tom Hanks and his amazing portrayal of the titular character in their movie.

She plastered on a smile and took a deep breath as she enthusiastically flung the door open. ‘Oh, hi, Aiden.’

He was leaning on the doorframe like some jock in a teen movie from the eighties. ‘Hey, gorgeous. I do love an eager welcome. I was wondering if you fancied some company.’

Bella glanced back towards the living room and then to the visitor at the door. ‘Oh, erm, sorry, we’re having a movie night. We have them quite regularly.’

‘Oh, well, if you have them regularly, I’m sure your gran won’t mind me coming in and hanging out in your room instead.’

Bella shook her head. ‘Sorry, but the second movie is about to start.’

He pushed off the doorframe and peered over her shoulder into the apartment. ‘Okay, great. What are you watching?’

‘We’ve just finished Forrest Gump and next we’re watching Local Hero for about the hundredth time.’

‘Local Hero? I don’t think I’ve seen it.’

She smirked. ‘You’ve lived in Scotland since you were a kid and you’ve never seen Local Hero?’

‘Well, now it sounds like I really need to watch it. I brought wine.’ He held up the bottle. He whispered, ‘And this would be an excellent time to get to know your grandma.’

‘Come on in, then. I’ll get an extra glass. Granny and I have already had a bottle of rosé.’ She lowered her voice. ‘It’s her favourite but in my opinion it’s like drinking flat pink lemonade.’ She shivered at the memory of the syrupy sweet drink her granny had won in a raffle at the day centre.

‘Ah, well, this is Merlot, I’m afraid,’ Aiden said, pointing at the bottle.

Isla appeared in the hallway. ‘Ooh, have you brought decent wine? You can come again.’

Bella raised her eyebrows. ‘Hang on, you love rosé! It’s what I always get for you.’

Isla scrunched her face and made an unpleasant gagging sound. ‘No, you think I like it because you’ve never asked otherwise! I drink it because I don’t want to hurt your feelings. It’s like drinking melted-down boiled sweets. Bleurgh. Give me a good Merlot any day. Or a Cabernet Sauvignon. I’ll drink a Shiraz, too, at a push.’

Bella grinned. ‘I’m so sorry, Granny, I never realised you were such a wine connoisseur!’

Isla folded her arms across her chest. ‘Aye, well, you do now. Anyway, come away in if you’re coming, I’ve a date wi’ a very handsome Scotsman who isn’t related to Lewis Capaldi!’