Page 3 of Chasing a Highland Dream

‘A friend who makes puppy-dog eyes at you constantly, and who moved in with you after your mum died. That’s a little more than friendship, Kerr. And if it’s one-sided, you’re taking advantage of the poor woman.’ She pushed his hand away and stepped back again, at which point his nostrils flared.

‘Since Olivia inherited Drumblair, I’ve been left with nothing. How do you think that makes me feel when it was all rightfully mine? Emasculated, that’s how. And now you’re doing the same thing.’

Bella scoffed and turned her back on him for a moment. ‘I’m sorry, Kerr, but any such feelings are of your own doing, not mine.’ She turned to face him again and noted his furrowed brow. It wasn’t like him to appear so dejected. ‘Adaira’s in love with you and you’re using her… Hmm, I wonder why my feelings changed.’ Her words dripped with sarcasm. ‘And you know very well Olivia inherited this place because you would’ve gambled it away. I’m happy to be friends with you but that’s all I can offer.’

‘I’m stubborn, you know. I’ll keep trying. I won’t give up. I’ll win you back one way or another.’

Bella huffed air through puffed cheeks but tried to remain calm as she shook her head. ‘No, you won’t. My mind’s been made up for a while now. And I can be stubborn too.’ She smiled to soften the blow.

Kerr’s expression filled with sadness. ‘I don’t want to lose you, Bells.’

‘You won’t lose me, as a friend.’

His lips formed a straight line and he nodded. ‘I should go then. But I’ll meet someone eventually, and then you’ll definitely regret it when I’ve got my life back on track.’

‘I’m sure I’ll be fine. And I really do hope you meet someone; someone who you love enough to change for because Olivia really worries about you, Kerr.’

He harrumphed. ‘She’s no need to. I’m a grown-arsed adult.’ And with that, he walked out of the unfinished apartment, letting the front door close with a bang behind him.

‘Aye, a grown-arsed adult who relies on a sugar momma to pay his way,’ Bella mumbled into the empty room.

May

Bella watched from the kitchen as the painters gathered the last of their equipment. In one hand she clutched her iPad, showing its long to-do list, and tucked her short blonde hair behind her ear with the other as she smiled at her surroundings. A sense of pride settled over her. This kitchen was the final room to be completed in the last of the four apartments. The walls were a fresh cream shade that complemented the deep teal-coloured Shaker-style cupboard doors perfectly. The solid wood countertops had been crafted from fallen trees in the grounds of the castle and Bella was thrilled with the overall look she had created.

It was approaching the end of May now and since being given the chance to create and implement the designs for the old stable block, Bella had grown in confidence thanks to the praise of Olivia and the other staff members at the castle. Each of the four apartments had its own colour scheme and each had its own little quirks that made the most of the beautiful old stonework. The structural additions to each apartment had been turned into features too with some exposed copper piping and chandeliers hanging from black cables in the centre of the larger rooms.

Along with the buzz Bella felt when she viewed the rooms she had created came a niggling sadness it was coming to an end and soon the apartments would be rented out to the creative types Olivia had envisaged utilising the spaces. She couldn’t help wondering what they would make of it all. She hoped they would love it and be inspired.

‘Right, well, that’s us done!’ Davey Howe, one of the painters, informed her as he pulled on his jacket. ‘Steve’s putting the rest of our gear in the van and then we’ll be off. You know where to find us for your next reno’ project.’ He held out his hand.

Bella shook it and told him, ‘Honestly, the apartments look incredible. I wish I was moving in.’

Davey beamed at her. ‘Grand, grand. I hope Lady Olivia is as happy as you are. I wasnae sure about the navy-blue walls in the living and dining room in this flat, and the fake panelling in number three had me beat too till I saw it all done. I reckon you were right. It’s kind of regal. Fitting for a castle, I suppose.’

‘See! I knew you’d end up liking it, Davey,’ Bella said proudly and with a little flush to her cheeks.

‘Aye, well, we’ll be going the now. Pass on our regards to the lady of the house.’ He doffed an invisible cap on his head and left.

Once the decorators had gone, Bella focused her attention on her list. She ticked off the apartments and had one last walk around them to assess the work.

The old furniture that she had selected from the attics had been repaired and cleaned up and would be arriving imminently and then, not too long after, the first paying guests would no doubt arrive.

Bella stood in the centre of the living room in apartment number two and smiled contentedly. The artwork she had purchased would really brighten up the space and she couldn’t wait to get the paintings on the walls. She was excited about the great reveal at the corporate event Olivia was holding for the local businesspeople. The original idea for a Nina Picarro fashion show had been shelved on account of the delays, something Bella knew Olivia was heartbroken about.

But then she would go back to being Olivia’s PA. Her days would no longer be filled with colour charts, fabric samples and shopping trips for decorative items. She was going to miss that so much. Being able to use her creative flair made her feel so alive. She noticed things so much more when she was being creative, like the pattern of tree bark, the randomness of cloud formations, the fluidity of birds in a murmuration. She found she became aware of all patterns created by nature – something she always tried to incorporate into her designs, even if they were for her eyes only.

Her mum’s words rattled around her mind. ‘Don’t you be putting your life on hold for me, Arabella. If I don’t make it through this illness, I want to know you’re going to be happy and doing something you love.’

Of course she had assured her mum at the time she wouldn’t ditch her future, but how could she have concentrated on studies when her mum was so ill and in so much pain? Not to mention how her dad and brother had been coping too back then. She dropped out of university to make sure she was at home in case she was needed.

These days and especially recently, her mum and dad, and Granny Isla, had all been pushing her to return to studying, but she was almost twenty-nine. It was far too late… wasn’t it?

2

Bella arrived home after work, her mind whirring with a confusing mixture of sadness and pride.

She was happy; and at least Kerr had finally taken her at her word that they were over. He had been cordial for the most part, even though she had caught him gazing longingly in her direction on more than one occasion. She wished she had never entered into anything with him in the first place. She had witnessed him being arrogant, surly, stubborn and selfish. So why, oh why, had she been attracted to him? She couldn’t quite believe she allowed the short affair to go on as long as it had. What had she been thinking? He had been horrible to Olivia after the will reading, and still had a lot of making up to do.