Page 15 of Snowy Surprises in the Highlands (Scottish Highland #5)

Bella and Olivia waved goodbye to Bella’s mum who had to get back home to continue with their clear-out. Her parents’ house sale in Inverness was progressing and their offer had finally been accepted for Rowan Cottage at Dunan on Skye, so they had begun to downsize their possessions in readiness.

Bella and Olivia made their way around to the bistro-style café within the grounds of the castle where they were joined by new mum Skye.

The café had been created from one of the old stable blocks that stood adjacent to the one that had been turned into holiday lets.

In the café, each stall that was once home to a horse now had custom-built benches and oak plank tables.

Horse brasses hung on the walls and framed black and white photos of horses that had been a part of the castle staff many years before.

It was rustic and quirky through the day but at nighttime, when the place was open as a bistro, the tables were covered in linen cloths and candles adorned the centres, creating a romantic and cosy ambience that Bella very much approved of, partly because she’d subtly had a hand in how they looked too.

The three friends placed their lunch orders for homemade quiche and salad and sat in their little private space drinking prosecco, except for Skye, who couldn’t partake as she was still breastfeeding her four-month-old son.

Today, Theo was at home having some daddy and son time, but every five minutes Skye received a WhatsApp message updating her on what facial expressions and noises their son had made.

‘So, you love your dress then?’ Skye asked. Bella had messaged her after the fitting and had gushed about how perfect it was.

Bella sighed dreamily. ‘Oh, Skye, it’s stunning. I won’t want to take it off. I might just live in it like Miss Havisham from Great Expectations .’

‘Only your fella won’t be ditching you at the altar,’ Skye replied.

‘Oh, heck, I hope not.’

‘On a scale of one to ten, how excited are you about the wedding?’ Olivia asked.

Bella tapped her chin. ‘About… a hundred and fifty.’

Skye and Olivia giggled along with her and Olivia added, ‘Seriously, Bells, you will be the most stunning bride. What’s Harris wearing? Please tell me he’s going for a kilt.’

‘I believe so. But he’s keeping everything a secret. He says he’s only going to discuss it with the men involved in the wedding so I’m leaving him to it. He’ll be so cold in a kilt though!’

‘He’s a Scotsman, he’s tough,’ Skye said with a laugh. ‘At least that’s what most Scotsmen will say.’

Olivia took a sip of her drink. ‘I can’t believe you won’t let us throw you a hen party.’

‘Yeah, what’s that about?’ Skye asked, pouting.

‘I just don’t want to bother everyone with another event so close to Christmas. It’s such a lot for people to be taking time out of the festive season for the wedding as it is.’

‘So, let’s have a hen do in October?’ Skye said, as if it was the most obvious solution.

Bella smiled. ‘I’ll think about it.’ She turned to Olivia and changed the subject again. ‘Are you excited for the whisky launch and reception grand opening?’

Olivia nodded emphatically. ‘I really am! Brodie and Uncle Innes are perhaps a little giddier than I am, but it will be great to be selling our own blend at last and to have somewhere stunning to sell it from, thanks to you, Bells. Once again, you’ve done a magnificent job.’

‘Aye, well, the team that worked on it were fantastic. And I hear the gin has been going down a treat with people.’

Olivia smiled. ‘Oh, it has. People seem to love it so much that we’re planning on doing a couple of different lines of flavoured gin.

But it doesn’t feel like a proper distillery without our own brand of whisky, so we’re all looking forward to seeing how it goes down.

You’re still coming over for the event, aren’t you? ’

It was Bella’s turn to nod. ‘Try and stop me.’

Skye huffed. ‘I can’t believe I won’t be here.’

‘Don’t be daft, you’re going on your first weekend way since Theo was born. Have fun and make the most of it,’ Olivia said.

‘Hmm, I’m not sure I’ll be able to relax. We’ve never left him before,’ Skye replied, chewing on her lip. ‘Five months old feels too soon, what if he thinks we’ve abandoned him?’

‘He’ll be fine. Both sets of doting grandparents will be on hand to cater to his every need. Just go and have fun,’ Bella said, hoping to encourage her.

Olivia leaned in and whispered, ‘And lots of sex, because those times are not easy to come by with a little one.’ They all giggled like teenagers.

‘Speaking of going away, what are you and Harris doing about a honeymoon?’ Skye asked.

‘We’re delaying that for a while. I’m not sure how long for but Harris has got a lot on at work with there being a shortage of officers just now, and I have a few new clients in the pipeline so we can’t really afford the time just now.

We can go sometime in the future when things settle down a bit. ’

‘But if you don’t go right after the wedding, you may never make the time to go,’ Skye insisted.

Bella knew there was truth to Skye’s words and the thought had crossed her mind too. ‘We’ve promised each other that we’ll make the time as soon as we can, don’t worry.’

‘Where would you want to go if you were going right after your wedding?’ Skye asked.

Bella smiled. ‘I’ve always wanted to go to Tuscany.

There’s something magical about the images you see online,’ she said dreamily.

‘I’d love to see Florence, and if we went in winter, I’d want to experience the Cavalcade of the Magi.

I’ve seen videos online and it looks amazing.

I’d love to stay in a pretty, romantic hotel overlooking a piazza, and having a trip to a vineyard would be amazing. ’

‘Now you’re talking,’ Olivia said. ‘It’s a shame you can’t go sooner. But it will be wonderful when you do eventually get there. It’s something to look forward to.’

Bella sighed, trying not to let her disappointment show. ‘Aye, we’ll get there at some point… hopefully.’

Olivia clearly thought it best to change the subject. ‘Anyway, how is the hotel refurb going?’

‘Really well. It’s been a slow process compared to the distillery but it’s getting there now. I’m trying to only go to the site if it’s absolutely necessary, to be honest,’ Bella replied.

‘Oh no, does that mean the manager is still flirting with you?’ Skye asked.

Bella took a sip of the sweet bubbles in her glass and placed it down.

‘Not really, he seems to have got the message, finally,’ she lied.

‘But from the way he behaves it seems he’s so used to getting what, and who, he wants.

I mean, okay, he may sound like, and have the body of Matthew McConaughey, and I think that’s why he was a little shocked when I turned him down.

Like he was thinking, “But why would you pass me up?” but not all women fawn over men like that.

I’m happy with Harris, thank you very much. ’

Skye scoffed. ‘Conceited pig. You’d think the diamond on your left hand would’ve been a massive giveaway that you weren’t interested.’

The waitress arrived and placed plates of mouthwatering food on the table in front of each of them. The quiche was deep with a pastry base and crust that Bella knew from sight only would melt in her mouth.

Bella shook her head and shrugged. ‘I honestly got the impression that my relationship status didn’t matter to him. He’s seen me talking with Harris on the phone and how loved up we are, and he still pursued me. It’s almost like that makes the chase more amusing for him.’

Olivia reached out and squeezed her arm. ‘Well, let’s hope he’s finally taken no for an answer.’

‘Hmm, let’s hope so because there’s only so many times I can bump into him while he’s shirtless and trouserless before I’ll be talking to Harris, or his parents, about him anyway.’

Olivia and Skye paused with their forks en route to their mouths and shared a wide-eyed glance. ‘He walks around shirtless and trouserless?’ they both said in unison.

Bella felt her cheeks warming at the admission.

‘It’s only happened a couple of times but that’s plenty.

I mean, okay, he’s ripped and looks like he’s walked off the cover of Men’s Health …

I mean he actually was a model for catalogues, but it’s inappropriate and I’ve told him so.

He acted all innocent and made out like I’d caught him unawares, but the timing was too convenient for my liking. ’

Olivia gasped and shook her head. ‘What possible reason could he have for taking off his clothes around you?’

Bella almost wished she hadn’t mentioned that bit now, she was trying to deal with it herself. ‘Like I say, it’s only been a couple of times.’

‘The first time was too many!’ Skye insisted.

Bella sighed. ‘Yes… I know. The first time it happened I’d turned up for our first meeting and he’d been cutting down the ivy on the front of the building and he was all sweaty.

’ She shivered at the memory. ‘But he knew I was coming and at what time, so he had plenty of opportunity to shower and dress before I arrived. He didn’t apologise or anything. It’s just not professional.’

‘It’s very sus,’ Skye mumbled through a mouthful of food. ‘He’s clearly trying to seduce you.’

‘Hmm,’ Bella nodded in agreement. When she had swallowed, she continued, ‘The second time he had been working out and he showed up in a pair of those tight boxers. And again, we’d made an appointment so it’s not like me turning up was a surprise that caught him off guard.

Not only was he half naked but he was late too. ’

Olivia shook her head. ‘He probably thinks you’ll love seeing him in a state of undress. Especially seeing as he’s a former model. Some women might but you’re engaged. What an arrogant arse. Clearly loves himself.’

‘Oh yes, and then some.’