Page 61 of Chasing a Highland Dream

Aiden gave a confused, questioning glance to Bella.

She replied with, ‘Long story.’

At the end of the evening, Aiden stood and stretched. ‘Well, it’s been a lovely evening. Thank you for having me, Isla.’

Isla dryly replied with, ‘I didnae.’

Bella walked him to the door. ‘What did you make of the film?’ she asked, eagerly waiting for his reply.

He pursed his lips. ‘It was okay. A bit too bland for my liking. Although I can understand why Isla likes it. I mean she has a connection with the location. But I think I prefer films with a bit more going on.’

‘Says the man who watches arty-farty film noir,’ Bella replied with a smirk.

He raised his eyebrows. ‘Each to their own.’

‘Indeed,’ Bella replied. ‘Oh, well. I’d better not keep you. I imagine you’ve got work to do on your new book tomorrow.’

‘Hmm, and a conversation with my publisher. There’s something lacking in the marketing of my last release. It’s a bit ridiculous when the likes of Darian Parkins and Helga Becker are higher in the chart than me with their limited vocabularies.’ He scowled and his top lip curled upwards. Green wasn’t the best colour on him.

‘I happen to really like both those authors,’ Bella replied indignantly.

He slipped his arms around her waist and pulled her close. ‘But you like me better, don’t you?’ He didn’t give her a chance to respond; instead, he planted a long, lingering kiss on her mouth then released her, turned and left.

She found him so confusing. He’d say things to annoy her, then kiss it all away, and stupidly she’d let him.

It can’t be healthy, can it?

By the time she returned to the living room, Isla and Beau had gone to bed.

28

‘I’m so glad you decided to look into the interior design course, Bells. I think you could really make a go of it,’ Olivia said after Bella had filled her in on the details as she and Bella sat in the castle study on Wednesday afternoon, going through some orders and invoices. ‘After what you did with the apartments, it’s clear you’ve got a real creative flair.’

‘Coming from you, that’s a huge compliment. It’s only going to be a hobby, though. Don’t worry; I know you need me, so I’m not planning on going anywhere. And it’s a year-long course anyway, so I can work it around my job here.’

Olivia cringed and then sighed. ‘I’m sorry I made you feel that way, honey, it was unfair of me. If you do decide you want to go and do something else, you know I’ll support you, don’t you? I’m all for people chasing their dreams. I did it, remember. I need to get Brodie to believe in himself now too.’

‘It’s brilliant his book is selling so well. I bet he’s over the moon,’ Bella said.

Olivia beamed with pride. ‘He is. Aiden has offered to take a copy to London with him when he leaves. He thinks someone at his agency might be interested in representing him.’

Bella gasped. ‘That’s incredible. I’m so happy for him.’

‘Speaking of our author friend, a little bird, i.e. Aiden himself, tells me he spent the evening watching movies at your apartment with Isla the other night. How did that go?’

Bella decided to go for the positive response. ‘It was good, we watched Local Hero and drank Merlot.’ The flutter she had been used to when discussing Aiden was absent.

‘What did he make of the film?’

Bella shrugged. ‘He said it was a bit bland, but he could understand why we liked it with Granny having a connection with the place it was filmed at.’ Positivity flew out the window and took hope along for the ride. ‘I mean, who doesn’t like Local Hero? And is he trying to say we’re boring?’

Olivia placed the back of her hand on her forehead dramatically. ‘You must dump him at once!’

Bella squinted at her friend. ‘Haha, very funny. Seriously, though, I’m not really sure what we have in common. Apart from books, and even then, he doesn’t read crime novels, he just writes them, so in reality, what do we have in common?’

‘What did Isla make of him?’

‘She was a little quiet when he was there. And she hurried off to bed when he left. I haven’t really spoken to her about why yet.’