Page 24 of Chasing a Highland Dream

Olivia shrugged. ‘Everything’s ready so I thought we could make the most of the calm before the storm.’

‘I like your thinking. How about we head into Inverness too and do a bit of shopping, maybe grab a spot of lunch? I can text Skye and get her to meet us.’

‘Perfect,’ Olivia replied.

Bella went into her bedroom and grabbed her handbag and phone. She fired off a quick text to Skye and returned to the living room, where she kissed her granny and then the two friends left.

‘I’ll drive,’ Bella said as she dangled her keys aloft. They walked around the side of the castle to where Fifi was parked. Aiden was there beside his own car, an expensive-looking navy-blue saloon.

‘Hi, Aiden,’ Bella said brightly, happy in the knowledge they had sorted out their issues.

‘Oh, hi, Bella. Where’s your little friend?’ Aiden asked with a grin.

‘Beau? He’s staying home with my granny while Olivia and I go to town for a spot of lunch.’

‘And you’re driving that?’ He winced as he pointed at Fifi but there was a distinct glint of mischief to his amused expression.

Bella narrowed her eyes. ‘Absolutely. Fifi hasn’t let me down yet.’

Olivia stepped forward. ‘Is everything okay with the apartment, Mr O’Dowd?’ she asked politely.

‘Please, call me Aiden. And yes, it’s great. Really beautiful, in fact. Whoever you had in to design them has done an amazing job.’

Bella felt her face flushing as Olivia informed him, ‘Ah, you can congratulate the designer yourself.’ She gestured to Bella.

Aiden raised his eyebrows. ‘Really? So that’s what you do for a living, is it? Interior design?’

Bella made an unladylike snorting noise. ‘Me? Nah, I know what I like, I suppose. I’m actually Olivia’s assistant.’

Olivia nudged her. ‘You’re way more than that. She’s my right-hand woman, and my best friend. I don’t know how I’d cope without her.’

‘Well, you have impeccable taste, Bella. I love the navy-blue walls, and the wood panelling is a really nice touch. Very in keeping with the varied history of the castle and its buildings. I think I’m going to take away some tips on what to do with my place when I go home.’

Bella tucked her hair behind her ear, a nervous reaction she was all too aware of. ‘Thank you. It’s kind of you to say so.’

Aiden shrugged. ‘It’s true. Well, I’d better be going. Got a very important date,’ he told them before climbing into his car and driving off, waving as he left.

Olivia’s face crumpled. ‘So, he’s not single then,’ she said with a hint of disappointment to her voice.

Bella scowled. ‘You have the nicest, best-looking boyfriend, why do you sound so gutted that Aiden isn’t single?’

Olivia whacked her arm playfully. ‘Not for me, you bampot.’

Bella rolled her eyes for what must have been the fiftieth time that day and made another strange noise to voice her frustration. ‘Urgh, not you as well? I’ve enough to handle with Granny Isla playing cupid and firing her arrows into every single man she sees.’

Olivia giggled. ‘Bless her; she wants you to be⁠—’

‘—Happy! Yes, so she keeps telling me. Come on, let’s get going.’

Fifi roared to life and Bella almost wished she had driven away before Aiden in his flashy car; she would have loved to prove him wrong about her vintage vehicle. Okay, so it was a bit rusty, and there was no Bluetooth or phone charger, no Spotify or satnav, but it was hers and she loved it. She’d had to get a CD player installed by a specialist but sometimes, when she drove over bumps, the CD shot out and she had to search for it when she parked up. But it was a piece of history and the fact it was built in the mid-eighties and was still running almost forty years later was no mean feat. She was proud of Fifi and wouldn’t hear a bad word said against her.

14

Bella parked up in the centre of Inverness and the two friends made their way to their favourite restaurant in an old converted church on Fraser Street and were shown to a table by the bar. The place was very atmospheric with its vast vaulted double-height ceilings and log fire. Modern art adorned the walls and large fresh flower displays were dotted around the place, their sweet fragrance and vibrant colours adding to the beauty of the surroundings.

A tall, dark-haired waiter brought them menus and took their drinks order.

‘I do love this place,’ Olivia said. ‘It’s so romantic.’