Page 30 of Snowy Surprises in the Highlands (Scottish Highland #5)
Whoever was in charge of the weather had been efficient, that’s for sure; the temperature had plummeted overnight, and rain had set in. It was a miserable day that matched her solemn mood at having to return to Iolair-Mhara, knowing full well that Carlton would be there.
After a thoroughly enjoyable weekend, all Bella wanted to do was roll over and pull the duvet over her head; anything to avoid the innuendos and being undressed by the American’s eyes.
But instead, she showered, dressed in a smart trouser suit over a loose top, applied minimal makeup and stared at her reflection.
She hated that she was having to second guess everything she was going to wear in case it encouraged Carlton.
In reality she should’ve been able to wear whatever the hell she liked but she knew that he would scrutinise her whole outfit and try to read hidden come-ons that didn’t exist. So, the more plainly dressed she was, the better.
With reluctance, she arrived at the hotel determined to deal with the Carlton situation once and for all.
She felt so much better now that Harris knew what had been going on and it had spurred her on to make sure the arrogant arse knew she was engaged to the most wonderful man and had no intentions of that changing.
The hotel was surprisingly, and eerily, quiet when she arrived, which confused her somewhat.
The crew were supposed to be in with a team kitting out the catering kitchen and another dealing with her snagging list for the lounge, while another started on the first-floor bedrooms. She wandered around the place to see if anyone had bothered to turn up for work but was met with silence and sparse, dark rooms with the restored original shutters closed.
She wandered up the stairs to check the bedrooms which were now devoid of the awful fitted Formica furniture and instead had bare plaster walls in readiness for the next phase of her designs.
There were still a few tools scattered around that the construction crew had left behind but, frustratingly, no one was there to operate them.
Thankfully, when eradicating the seventies from the place, they had uncovered many of the old Victorian building’s original features; the ceiling roses and cornices hidden above suspended ceilings and the shutters and balustrades that had been boarded in were Bella’s favourites so far.
There was a lot to still be done and for the first time she wondered if she had bitten off more than she could chew.
Although nothing would get done without the workers here to do it, so she took out her phone, chuntering to herself, and was just about to make the call when a hand landed firmly on her shoulder, causing her to squeal and lash out as she turned to face her assailant.
Carlton laughed, holding onto her arms. ‘Whoa there, Bella! What’s got you all riled up?
’ He stood there in dark jeans and a tight white T-shirt that clung to his biceps and pectoral muscles.
At least he’s wearing clothes on this occasion .
A crease appeared between his brows, but the smile remained in place.
‘You look like you’ve seen a ghost, but I thought they’d all left with the seventies crap. ’
She yanked her arms from his grasp. ‘Carlton! You can’t sneak up on people like that, you almost gave me a heart attack,’ she snapped, placing her hand over the pounding in her chest.
He held out his hands, palms up, and shook his head. ‘Hey, it’s not my fault you’re so highly strung. You need to relax a little bit. Maybe I can help you with that.’
Here we go again . ‘I’m not here to relax, I’m here to work. Speaking of which, where are the building and decorating crews?’
He shrugged. ‘Oh, I gave them the day off. Thought we needed a little alone time.’ He smirked, licking his lips suggestively. ‘To talk about my new ideas for the games room, obviously.’ His mouth curled up into that irritating half-smile he seemed to save especially for her.
Realising this meant she was here alone with him sent a shiver of unease down her back.
‘You had no right to do that without consulting me. There’s plenty for them to be getting on with.
A list of jobs I gave them, in fact, to work on towards the finished design your parents are paying me to deliver.
I need them here to get on with it, otherwise the schedule falls behind, and I’m sure you don’t want that. ’
‘You’re so damned serious.’ He pulled his lower lip between his teeth and released it slowly while looking her up and down.
‘But you’re sexy as all hell when you’re annoyed.
I like ’em feisty.’ He winked and her stomach roiled.
‘And I have to say I love that shirt. It clings in all the right places.’
Bella had chosen the shirt because it didn’t cling at all, so it was clear he was goading her and his comments were becoming more frequent and intense.
She clenched her jaw, refusing to react outwardly to his comments, and reached for her phone.
‘It’s okay, I’ll call and get them to come in as soon as possible. The day’s not lost yet.’
He shoved his hands into his pockets and shrugged his shoulders.
‘No point. They’re working on another job now in the south of the island.
They’ll be back tomorrow, as I requested; after all, it is my hotel.
Now, I thought we’d start our discussions downstairs in the dining room.
In fact, you’re right on time because the food I ordered for us was delivered about five minutes ago.
Follow me.’ He turned to walk towards the staircase that led down to the foyer, but Bella stayed completely still.
He stopped and turned around to face her, grinning.
‘Oh, come on now. I’m not gonna bite you.
Unless you want me to, of course. I’d certainly enjoy that. ’ He flicked his eyebrows upwards.
Bella had had enough. He may have borne a striking resemblance to a younger Matthew McConaughey, but it made no difference to her, she still wasn’t about to jump into bed with him. ‘Right, that’s it. You need to stop this, right now.’ She jabbed a finger in the direction of the ground for emphasis.
His smile disappeared and he feigned innocence. ‘Stop what? I don’t know what you’re talking about, Bella.’ He held out his hands as if to show he was unarmed.
Her nostrils flared and she folded her arms across her chest. ‘The innuendos, the flirting, the ridiculous attempts at seduction. It’s highly inappropriate. I’ve told you I’m engaged and absolutely not interested. Read the room and know when you’re wasting your time.’
He took a few steps towards her again. ‘Did y’all leave your sense of humour locked in one of your fiancé’s jail cells back home?’
Her heart pounded at her ribs as she glared at him. ‘This is nothing to do with having a sense of humour, Carlton. It has everything to do with being pissed off at being sexually harassed when I’m simply trying to do the job your parents employed me to do.’
He held up both hands in a halting motion and scowled.
‘Now hang on there just a damn minute, Bella. I’m not sexually harassing you, and I don’t know why you’d say that.
Jeez, what is wrong with you women? I take offence.
I’m not some kind of perverted deviant, for Chrissake.
Where I’m from we call it a bit of harmless fun.
A little bit of flirting to pass the time is all. ’
Through gritted teeth, she said, ‘Well, where I’m from it’s called sexual harassment, and it makes women feel objectified and extremely uncomfortable. Now please, let’s be professional, otherwise I’ll be pulling out of the contract, and you’ll have lots of explaining to do to your parents.’
He smiled snidely. ‘If you do that, they’ll just call our lawyers and you’ll be in a whole mess of trouble,’ he said, then chuckled. ‘You’re so overdramatic, you know that? Now I’m starving, let’s go eat.’
Once again, she remained on the spot, and he laughed.
‘It’s lunch, for heaven’s sakes. I’m not gonna poison ya.
I’ll take a bite of everything first to prove it if you like.
’ When she still didn’t move, he sighed, and his smile disappeared.
‘Okay, I get it. You’re British, uptight and not interested in having fun at work?—’
‘ I take offence at that! Being British has nothing to do with it, Carlton. It’s simply that it’s not fun.’ Her jaw ached from being clenched so hard and her heart was racing, partly due to anger and partly due to anxiety.
He held up his hands in a surrendering gesture.
‘Okay, okay, you’re engaged and not interested.
Message received loud and clear. From now on I’ll be the perfect gentleman.
But you have seen what you’re missing out on.
’ He held his arms out as if to make it clearer.
‘There’s not many women who’d pass up a night with this face and body. ’
Good grief, love yourself much? ‘Believe it or not, good things don’t always come in pretty packaging. You’ve only got to look at Ted Bundy.’
He raised his eyebrows. ‘You did not just compare me to a deranged serial killer.’
Perhaps that was a step too far, Bella, he hasn’t tried to murder you… yet. ‘All I’m saying is that looks aren’t everything.’
‘Your cop not a looker then?’
She scowled. ‘That’s not what I’m saying at all. And I’m not having this conversation with you any longer.’
‘Look, can we please go eat and discuss my ideas already? I wasn’t kidding, I’ve been lifting some serious weights this mornin’ and it’s made me damn hungry.’ He flexed his biceps and grinned.
He really doesn’t know when to give up.