Page 22 of Highland Hearts Holiday Bookshop

“Tell Tattie we send our love.”

I grimaced and then sighed. At some point I just had to accept this. I nodded over my shoulder.

“Aye, will do.”

Chapter Nine

Rosie

Wine was needed.

It was the only thing one could do after uprooting one’s life and moving to another country only to awkwardly kiss a man’s shoulder in the rain and later have him wish you luck in your journey to sit on many men.

My assumption was he was declining the role of that position if he was wishing me luck onthatparticular journey, but that was neither here nor there.

I’d say fingers crossed I’d never see Alexander again, but since he was apparently coming back to fix my computer, and I needed to find a book about puffin enrichment of all things, I would just have to work past my embarrassment. In fact, maybe I just needed toembrace it. So what if I wanted to sit on all the men? I mean, I didn’t. But hypothetically speaking, I should be allowed to do so in this day and age and not be judged for it.

Realizing that I was standing in the middle of the bookshop having a mental argument with myself about a woman’s right to sleep with as many people as she wanted, I snapped my head up when the door opened again.

Seriously. This town had, like, ten houses from what I’d seen in the pouring rain last night. How could so many people be stopping by already?

A tall man, with perfectly round glasses, a shock of white hair tucked under a knit cap, and kind eyes smiled shyly at me.

“I heard the shop was open again. It’s taken me some time, but I’m ready now.”

“Excuse me?” I tilted my head at him in question.

“Och, well, you know. I needed some time. But Myrna wouldn’t have wanted me to stay a widower forever, and I’ll admit, I’m quite lonely.” The man shrugged and reached inside his pocket. “I decided to make the wee journey down here. I’d like the Highland Hearts Special.”

I blinked as the man handed me a twenty-pound note.

“Sir. I’m not sure…”

“Och, and I’m meant to, what was it…” He looked up at the ceiling for a moment, lost in thought. “Right, right. You’ll need a favorite book of mine.”

“I will?” Curiosity filled me. What was going on in this town? And why were people coming in and handing me money without buying books?

“Aye. So I’m told. Forgive me. I’m new to all this.” The man waved his hand in a circle in the air.

“As am I.” I waited, hoping he’d expound more on what a Highland Hearts Special was.

“Right.” The man snapped his fingers. “Is anyone else here?”

“Um, no.” Why? Was he going to threaten me or something? Even though he looked to be in his mid-seventies, he still seemed sprightly enough. Maybe if I took out his knee, I’d have a fighting chance.

The man leaned closer and dropped his voice.

“Pride and Prejudice.”

Was he speaking code?

“The book?”

“Och, of course. Though there’s been a few fine adaptations as movies, hasn’t there?”

“I mean, it depends on which one you’re discussing. But I’m partial to the one with Keira…” I trailed off and slapped my forehead. “Sir, I’m sorry. Let’s back up. I’m not even open yet. What, exactly, is this for?”

“It’s for the Highland Hearts Special.” The man blinked at me behind his glasses, and we fell into an awkward silence. How many times today was I going to sit and stare in uncomfortable silence at someone in this shop? Resolving myself to locking the door and flipping the lights off until I could figureout just what the hell this Highland Hearts Special was, I grabbed the notebook on the table with Edina’s information.

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