Page 23 of Highland Hearts Holiday Bookshop

“Right. Your name?”

“Daniel.”

“Nice to meet you, Daniel. I’m Rosie. How best can I contact you?” After taking down the man’s information, I looked up at him.

“Do you think this will work?” Daniel asked, his expression hopeful.

“I don’t know,” I said, honestly, because I had no idea what the Highland Hearts Special was. But if it was bringing customers to the shop in a relatively small town that likely saw little to no foot traffic, well, I was going to damn well figure out what it was.

“That’s fair.” Daniel’s mouth turned down, sadness slipping across his features. “Worth a shot, I guess.”

“I’ll be in contact soon.” I wished I could reassure him that I would help him, whatever I could do to take that sad look off his face, but I also didn’t want to lie. It was clear there was something else going on here that I needed to discover.

“Thanks, Rosie. Welcome to Scotland, by the way. I hope you enjoy your new home.” With that, Daniel took his leave and I locked up after him, flipping the main lights of the bookshop off. Now, just the lamp with the fringe shade glowed behind the front table, and I paused to look around the shop in the semi-darkness.

Thiswasmy new home.

For some reason, that hadn’t fully registered until Danielhad said it, but even though my lists had been torn apart and I was wildly off the schedule I’d written for myself, which was basically chaos in my world, I felt good. Trailing a hand over a bookshelf, I smiled at a small figurine of a witch with a batch of red hair, grinning at me from a corner of the shelf.

The sound of a book hitting the floor made me jump.

Already I knew what book it was.

“This isnotnormal.” I said this out loud to the shop, craning my neck to peer at every dimly lit corner that I could see. I’d meant what I’d said about being excited if the shop was haunted, but it would be nice to have some evidence of it, so I didn’t think that this was all just hallucinations born of jet lag. “But I hear you. Loud and clear, all right? I’ll read the book.”

Picking up the Celtic heart book, I noted an envelope sticking out of the corner. Maybe that was the reason whatever ghost that lingered here was basically throwing a book at my head every chance it had. Excitement coursed through me. This was a proper adventure, not like back home at the discount store where going viral over a water bottle was the most exciting thing to happen to the store in years.

I had myself a real ghost.Jessica will not believe this.And now I’d been led to look at an envelope specifically sent to me to review.How is this my life?

Humming softly to the music in the background, I put the book on the table and went to open a bottle of wine that the Book Bitches had brought me. Pouring a glass, I snagged another one of the pastries from breakfast, a buttery fromwhat I was told. Delicious was whatIcalled it. Munching on flaky yumminess, I returned to the front room with my glass of wine and, snagging the book, I wandered to the disco unicorn corner. There, I dropped onto one of the comfy floor poufs, more like a bean bag chair really, and put my wine on the windowsill and took a deep breath.

“Right, commence new adventure.”

I slid out the envelope.

It was addressed to me. My heart picked up speed and I danced my fingers across the flowery script on the envelope, a silly little thing I was sure, but for a moment I felt like the ink warmed beneath my fingers. Taking a sip of wine for some liquid courage, I slid the flap of the envelope open and pulled out writing paper with an ink design of roses in the corner.

My dearest Rosie,

Do you mind if I call you “my dearest?” I suppose it’s a bit of a presumption, seeing as how we’ve never met. And yet, I feel as though I know you anyway. You and I, well, my child, we’re alike more than you’ll ever realize. Two peas in a pod, some may say. How do I know this? Well, I stalked you. Now, don’t be alarmed. It was in the nicest sense of the word, of course. Darling William gathered the information for me, and I’d just been meaning to reach out when I’d been warned that my time here wasn’t for much longer. That’sthe way of it, I suppose, but I’ll tell you, what a fun life I’ve had. I hope you will too, particularly since I’ve left you more than this bookshop.

I paused and took another sip of my wine, sinking deeper into the cushion. There was more to this inheritance? The solicitor had been very thorough in his contracts and whatnot, so I was certain he wouldn’t have missed anything.

If you’re the kind of woman that I think you are, I’m hoping this news will bring you excitement, not fear.

“I mean, with a line like that…how can I not be nervous?” I mumbled, taking another sip and smoothing the paper out in my lap.

This cottage that the bookshop is in has been standing here for almost two hundred years. Prior to that, a wee stone circle was situated just at the base of the back door.The couple who built the cottage, the woman was a well-renowned midwife. One day, she saved the life of the baby of a mysterious traveler, who’d gone into labour early and was quite unwell. As a thanks, this traveler, who saw the kind heart of the midwife, bestowed upon her a very special gift. One which has been passed down to every owner of this cottage since.

I tilted my head at that, nerves kicking low in my stomach. This letter had taken a turn, and I wasn’t sure how I felt about it.

It was a gift of magick, you see. But a very special kind. Those holding this gift can bring two lonely hearts together to find love. The traveler, knowing how much the gentle midwife loved love, bestowed upon her the gift to help others find their happiness. This, my child, has now been passed down to you. But, because I am who I am, and you are who you are, I was able to learn a little iteration of this magick that became quite popular around Scotland for thosein the know.

“Oh my God. It’s the Highland Hearts Special,” I breathed.

Not only are you now a matchmaker, but your ability will come from matching people by their favorite books. Now, it’s not an easy task. Just because two people like the same book doesn’t mean they’ll complement each other elsewhere. Sometimes it’s the polar opposite book choices that strike up the most interesting of love matches. The magick will help you, if you work with it, and you’ll be able to see just the right pairings as you learn. While the bookshop was a great joy in my life, helping people find love was my greatest gift. One I hope that you, too, can enjoy. Best of luck on this new journey, and remember, above all else, have fun. Life is meant to be an enjoyable adventure, not bland and boring. And what could be more exciting than magick? Sparkle on, sweet Rosie. You’ll do just fine.

Holy hell. I took a deep breath, and then another, before reading the letter all the way through again. My handstrembled slightly as I slowly opened the cover of the Celtic heart book. I gaped at the list of names that greeted me.

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