Page 55 of Snowy Surprises in the Highlands

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Harris hugged Bella close to him. ‘Are you sure you’re okay?’ he asked, kissing her head. They had been out of the lift for around five minutes and had made their way back down to the hotel foyer from where the lift had been stuck. She was shivering and he had draped his jacket around her shoulders. Carlton had gone straight to the room he’d been sleeping in on the second floor to retrieve a bottle of Jack Daniel’s. He walked back into the foyer swigging from it, no doubt to counteract the panic he had been feeling when they were trapped.

Bella nodded. ‘I’m absolutely fine. I’m glad to be out of there but I’m unharmed, don’t worry.’

‘Has he been okay with you?’ Harris whispered as he gave a sideways glance to Carlton.

She debated for a moment whether to say anything but remembered their agreement to keep no secrets from each other. ‘We had words. I’ll tell you more when we get home. Speaking of which, can we go? I’m starving and still cold.’

Carlton was now talking to the fire crew and nodding as the main firefighter, ironically female, pointed at the lift. Bella couldn’t make out everything that was being said but the words dangerous and condemned stood out. Carlton was clearly taking it all in, thankfully.

Eventually he walked over to where Harris and Bella stood. He glanced sheepishly at Harris. ‘Thanks again for coming to our rescue, Inspector Donaldson. It’s been quite an unpleasant experience. I’m just glad Bella was with me because I’m not sure I would’ve survived on my own. I’m sure she’s told you that I cried like a baby in there.’

Harris crumpled his brow and shook his head. ‘She didn’t, actually. Are you hurt? Do you need an ambulance after all, Mr Somers?’

Carlton’s face turned pink as he turned to Bella. ‘You didn’t? Ah… okay. No, no thanks, I’m good. No physical injuries. And thanks, Bella. I imagined you’d probably have enjoyed filling him in on that little juicy snippet. But I appreciate your discretion, even if I’ve blown my own cover.’ He smiled.

Bella was a little hurt that he would presume such a thing of her when she had given him no reason to. ‘I’m not a mean person, Carlton. I don’t take delight in people’s phobias.’

Harris’s brow crumpled. ‘Phobias? What phobias?’

Carlton explained, his face colouring a new shade of pink. ‘I… erm… I’m claustrophobic. Always have been. I was terrified in there. And then the lights went out and made it a hundred times worse.’

Harris’s frown remained in place. ‘So why use the lift? Claustrophobic people don’t use lifts. Everyone knows that.’

Bella couldn’t help smiling at the fact he had repeated her exact words.

Carlton rubbed the back of his neck, clearly embarrassed. ‘Yeah… I just… I’m an idiot. What else can I say? I’m guessing Bella will explain.’ He turned to Bella. ‘And once again, I’m truly sorry, Bella. I completely understand if you want to rethink working on this place. Although I sincerely hope you don’t. I doubt anyone else could do as good a job.’

Harris’s nostrils flared and his cheeks flamed too but for very different reasons. He pointed his index finger in Carlton’s face and spoke through gritted teeth. ‘Okay, why are you apologising to Bella? What exactly happened in there with you two? Is there something I should know?’ He turned to Bella and gestured at Carlton. ‘Should I be arresting him?’

Bella placed a hand on his chest. ‘It’s fine, Harris. It’s been dealt with. Let’s just go home, eh?’

Harris nodded but glared at Carlton then nodded towards the bottle he was clutching. ‘Don’t drink too much of that stuff. It doesn’t mix well with the aftereffects of shock, and don’t even think of driving anywhere because I wouldn’t hesitate to arrest you and throw you in jail.’

Carlton glanced down at the bottle then saluted with his empty hand. ‘Duly noted, Inspector. I’ll be staying put and ordering a pizza.’

‘Goodnight, Carlton. Take it easy,’ Bella said.

He nodded. ‘Thanks again… for everything.’

* * *

Once they arrived home, Harris lit the log burner in the lounge and made spaghetti carbonara, then they sat at the dining table eating as Bella explained the goings on of the day, leaving nothing out, in the name of transparency and their no-secrets agreement. Watching Harris’s reactions wasn’t easy for Bella. Once again, the colour of his face spoke volumes on how he was feeling.

Harris clenched his jaw and shook his head. ‘The arrogant shit. Who the hell does he think he is, kissing you like that when you’ve told him countless times you’re not interested? I know I said I’m not a caveman type, Bella, but I’m raging. If you’d told me this when we were back there I would’ve punched him and sod the consequences.’

Bella sighed. ‘That’s exactly why I didn’t. He’s not worth losing your career over. And I can stick up for myself, remember.’

He reached out and took her hand. ‘Aye, I know you can, darlin’. But… just thinking about what his intentions were makes me…’ His jaw ticked under his skin again and his lips curled up tightly for a moment. ‘And the fact that he made sure you didn’t have your phone… What kind of man is he?’

‘Not a great one. And nothing happened so you don’t need to think about it any more. Okay?’

‘But something did happen, Bella. He forced himself on you and trapped you in a broken lift. That’s assault and false imprisonment right there. I should arrest him. I should go back there and—’ He made to stand up.

‘No! Please don’t do that. It’s fine, honestly. He’s realised his mistakes. I don’t want to take things any further.’

He sat again. ‘But what about the design job? You’re not going to carry on there, are you?’