Page 15 of Highland Hearts Holiday Bookshop

“The local pub. In fact, you might want to meet Harper, the woman who brought it back to life. She’s American. Came over here to have a Scottish pub experience and fell in love with the owner.” Esther’s eyes gleamed as she looked me up and down. “You didn’t mention if you were single or not?”

Right, this was getting to be a bit much. I needed a moment to get my thoughts sorted about their intrusion. Yet, at the same time, I couldn’t quite bring myself to kick the women out into the cold. They knew this town and they’d known Moira. Maybe they could be of some help.

“Listen, I’ll be totally honest with you. This is my first morning, I’m a little overwhelmed, and I’m still trying to figure out where to start on opening the shop, let alone talking about my love life. I have a list of things I need to do and I’d feel much more comfortable if I could just get on with it.”

“List?” Shannon rocked on her heels in excitement. “I love a good list.”

I paused. Ah, maybe I’d found my people.

“If you really do want to help, I won’t say no. But I can’t promise to pay you as I don’t even know the finances yet of the shop.”

“No payment needed.” Esther waved that away. “We’re retired and we miss having the bookshop open. Give us this list and let’s see how we can help.”

“Well, first thing was food, to be honest.” My stomach grumbled and Meredith beamed, taking the sack of groceries.

“I’ll get brekkie sorted. Tea or coffee, Rosie?”

“Um, coffee, please.” My eyebrows rose once again as Meredith breezed away into my personal flat, and I heard cupboards opening in the small kitchen in the back. This was weird, wasn’t it? Random women in my shop and new home? Making me breakfast?

“After we’ve had a cuppa, you can tell us about your love life. Highland Hearts was known to be quite the romantic spot.” Shannon picked up a dust rag and disappeared behind a bookshelf.

“Was it? What was with the name?” If they were going to cook and clean for me, I might as well get some information from them. Rounding the table, I sat in the leather chair and pulled the ledgers closer to me. I couldn’t open until I knew what the finances were, as well as where the bank accounts were held.

“I think it was because she loved romance novels. There’s more shelves of romance books here than any other genre, and Moira didn’t care. She hosted all sorts of parties here, even speed dating sometimes, and she just loved love. I think it’s a lovely name. Will you change it?”

“Oh, I hadn’t thought about changing the name.” I paused and looked up at Esther and noted the concern on her face. “I think I have enough on my plate without a rebrand, don’t you? Plus, I read romance. I mean, more fantasy romance with magic and whatnot, but I can’t argue with her love for the genre. I think Highland Hearts is super cute for a bookstore name.”

“She reads smut!” Meredith crowed as she came in with a tray of cups and pastries.

“You’ll do just fine here,” Esther promised me.

“I hope so.” For some reason, their approval warmed me, and I realized just how much I wanted this to work out. I couldn’t go home, not to the discount store, and not to the life I’d been living. Well, treading water at best. No, Highland Hearts was my new home, and I was determined to make a success of it.

“Now … about your love life.”

I grinned and shook my head, pointing at the cup of coffee Meredith put in front of me.

“Coffee first, ladies. I need to figure out these accounts long before I figure out my love life. Or lack thereof.”

“Hear that, ladies? She’s single!” Crows of delight met Esther’s words and I sighed, pinching my nose. Between these ladies and Jessica, I’d be married before the end of the week.

“No dating. No men. No love life. Just work.”

“Boring,” Shannon called from where she dusted the discounicorn.

“For now,” I amended. “Let me get my bearings, okay?”

“That’s fair. Och, let’s talk Christmas. What are the plans?” Esther asked.

“I have a list.” I pointed to the list, refusing to be distracted by Christmas. “Follow the list and we can get to Christmas decorations. I promise. I can’t open if I don’t have any money. That has to come first.”

“But the Winter Windows competition starts soon.”

At that I looked up, squinting at where Shannon teetered on a step stool. “The what now?”

“The Winter Windows competition. All the bookshops in this part of Scotland decorate their windows for Christmas and the winner gets money for a charity of their choice.”

“And St. Andrews has won the last two years.” Esther clucked her tongue.

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