Page 78 of Chasing a Highland Dream

He put his arms around her waist and rested his crash helmet on hers. ‘I’ll keep you safe, Bella. You have no need to worry, hold on and enjoy the ride.’

He climbed onto the bike and held out his hand for her to mount the metal beast behind him. Once she was gripping on for dear life, he patted her arm and started the engine. She tucked her head in tight and closed her eyes. She felt a rumble of laughter through his back and would’ve happily slapped him if she wasn’t clinging to him like a life raft.

After a while, Bella began settling into the tilts and motion of the bike and she lifted her face. Fir trees gave way to mountain views and eventually to a body of water. Harris pulled the bike to a halt in a layby car park and helped her off the bike. They removed their helmets and Bella breathed in the fresh air. Deep lungfuls of it. She was surprisingly warm considering the cool air blasting them as they’d cut through it at what she presumed was over 80 mph.

‘This is Loch Cluanie viewpoint. Stunning, isn’t it?’ he said with an appreciative smile.

‘It really is,’ Bella replied as she took in the view.

The sun had made an appearance now and the cerulean blue of the sky was reflected in the still water of the loch, like a mirror. Rugged mountains skirted the loch on the opposite side of the water in deep purple and green hues and were crowned with fluffy white cumulus clouds. Large shingles formed a kind of beach at the water’s edge and Bella watched as Harris took out his phone. He filmed the peace and quiet of the water gently lapping at the stones for a few moments before turning the camera on Bella.

‘Come on, let’s get a picture.’ She happily tucked herself into his side as he snapped several shots of them against the stunning backdrop. One of the photos was of him kissing the side of her head. She especially liked that the sweet moment had been captured forever.

They climbed back onto the bike and set off towards Skye once again. Bella was beginning to enjoy the ride. It was a rush and a thrill, like Harris had said. Even though they were travelling at speed, Harris was so careful and courteous to other drivers on the road. And the views truly were spectacular.

After around another thirty minutes, they reached Eilean Donan Castle and stopped once more to take in the view. The castle sat on a little stony outcrop reached by a long footbridge linking the island to the mainland. It was somewhere Bella had visited as a child but seeing it again as an adult took her breath away. Harris snapped more photos of the two of them but also insisted on taking one of Bella with the castle in the background.

‘My beautiful Bella,’ he said as he showed her the photo on his phone. ‘How did I get so lucky?’ He kissed her and she revelled in the feeling of his lips on her, and his hands in her hair. She filed this kiss in her memory bank with all the others so she could revisit them when he had left for Skye.

‘I’ve been asking myself the same question,’ she replied with a smile as she stroked his face tenderly, feeling the scratch of the stubble under her fingertips.

‘You really didn’t like my beard then?’ he asked as they left the water’s edge and made their way back to the bike.

‘Looking back, I actually think I did. I didn’t want to admit I was attracted to you back then because I didn’t want to admit my granny knows me better than I know myself.’ She laughed. ‘But clearly she does.’

‘Well, I’m so glad you gave in to my charms,’ he said with a wink. As he zipped up his jacket and went to pull on his helmet, she watched every movement, the look of concentration, the way his brow crumpled and the way the sun highlighted his nose and cheeks. She didn’t think she could ever tire of watching him. He stopped. ‘What?’ he asked. ‘Have I got something on my face? Why are you looking at me like that?’ He laughed.

She shook her head. ‘I’m admiring the view,’ she replied. ‘And making sure I remember every moment for when you leave.’ Saying the words caused a bubble of emotion to rise up from deep within her and she walked over to rest her head on his shoulder.

‘Hey, I’m not going to the other side of the world. And I will see you. We will make this work, Bella. I’m in this for the long haul.’ He paused and tilted her face up with his finger. ‘You could always come with me.’

‘But this is all so new. It’s a huge step to take, for both of us. What if we don’t work out?’

He frowned for a moment and then fixed her with a stern gaze. ‘I don’t care if it’s new, Bella. I’ve never felt this way about anyone. And I’ll do whatever it takes to make this work. And I’ll wait for however long it takes for us to be together. And if you’re never ready to leave Inverness, we will be that one couple who lasts at the long-distance thing.’

Once back on the road, they eventually crossed the Skye Bridge and Bella’s stomach rolled with giddiness as they rose with the arc of the bridge and then descended the other side. They entered a picturesque village with a pub, a row of white-painted houses, a bakery, an outdoor shop and a village hall that sat on an expanse of green beside a church. It was picture-postcard perfect, like something from a movie. It really was beautiful.

Harris pulled to a halt by a fenced inlet and parked the bike again. He took off his crash helmet and said, ‘Welcome to Glentorrin.’

‘This is Glentorrin?’ Bella asked, a little in disbelief as she removed her own helmet.

‘It sure is. The station and house are up there.’ He pointed to the road leading out of the village at the opposite side to where they had entered. ‘But this is the heart of the place.’

A couple walked by with a fluffy Hungarian Vizsla, smiled and said hello. A boy came running after them. ‘Mum! Dad! Can we go to Caitlin’s for cake?’ he shouted. ‘Chewie wants cake, don’t you, boy?’ The dog barked and Bella giggled. Chewie was the perfect name for that dog, especially when the boy resembled a young Han Solo.

Bella looked across the other side of the water to see the bakery was called Caitlin’s Bakes and her stomach growled. ‘Shall we go and grab a cake?’ she asked.

‘Sounds like a plan. We could come and sit on the bench to eat it, enjoy the sunshine.’

They made their way across to the bakery and walked inside past the dog who sat, waiting patiently, with his tongue lolling out. Once the family had been served and had left, Bella walked up to the counter.

‘Hi there, what can I get you?’ a woman with fiery red hair asked.

Bella examined the variety of cakes, biscuits and scones shielded behind a glass cabinet. ‘It all looks amazing. But can I have two pieces of Malteser traybake and two coffees, please.’

‘Sure. Are you guys on holiday here?’ the woman asked as she prepared Bella’s order.

Harris stepped forward. ‘I’m actually the new inspector. I’m taking over the newly converted bothy police station outside the village.’