Page 27 of Highland Hearts Holiday Bookshop

“Oh, don’t be in a huff about it. If you want me to stay here, I need to do some things my way. And I can’t run a shop and make a profit if I can’t track the stock. It’s as simple as that.”

The music flipped back on.

Mariah Carey again.

“Cute. But I’m taking that to mean you agree with me, even if you’re annoyed about it.”

The volume increased and, despite myself, I laughed.

“Well, I’d promised myself a new adventure, didn’t I? I guess this is what I get. A sarcastic ghost and a matchmaking business.”

Chapter Eleven

Alexander

Was it too early to knock on the bookshop door? It was just shy of eight, and even though I knew the shop didn’t usually open until mid-morning, I had a solution for Rosie’s computer problem. If running the business was hedging on using that ancient laptop of hers, it wasn’t going to go very smoothly.

Rosie opened the door looking like a bouquet of flowers in purple overalls and a frilly red blouse that upon closer inspection revealed the lacy outline of her bra. Pulling my eyes away from that enticing sight, I tilted my head at the bird feeder she held in her hands.

Was this woman purposely trying to make me fall in love with her?

Between her delicious curves, her colorful clothes, and now, apparently an interest in birds, I was going to have a tough time falling asleep tonight.

“Oh, Alexander. Hi. I wasn’t expecting anyone. Actually, never mind, I was expecting everyone.” Her nose crinkled as she rolled her eyes at me.

“You were?”

“I don’t think it seems to matter if I have my sign flipped to open or closed. People seem to just wander in whenever they want.”

“Oh.” Shite, I’d screwed up by coming this early. “I can come back.”

“No, no. That wasn’t a dig at you. More at me and being rigid.”

The word rigid at her lips did weird things to my gut and I had to take a deep breath.

“Whenever there’s something new in a small town, it’s quite a big event.” I still stood on the doorstep, the morning air crisp and cool at my shoulders.

“I’m gathering that. It appears I’m going to have to adjust to … many new things.” She glanced over her shoulder at that and then back at me.

Was someone with her in the shop?

And why did that instantly annoy me? I knew next to nothing about this woman and it was more than likely shedidhave a partner.

“Someone there?” Damn it. I couldn’t help but ask.

“What? Oh, no. Nothing like that. Come in, come in.” Rosie stepped back, the bird feeder still in hand, and I made my way past her, making sure mybackpack didn’t catch any of the random bits and bobs tucked in front of the books on the shelves.

“What birds are you trying to attract?”

“Excuse me?” Rosie looked at me blankly and licked her plum-colored lips. She probably hadn’t even realized she’d done it, but it sent a jolt of lust through me.

“The bird feeder?” I gestured to her hands.

“Oh, right. Right. I have no idea. I just dug this out of a box as I was trying to organize. I don’t know where to hang it or what to feed the birds. I’ve never had an outdoor space before.”

“Really?” I tried to imagine not having nature to immerse myself in and couldn’t. I’d grown up basically feral, running the hills and shoreline, and aside from university, had never lived in a city.

“Really. My apartment was a tiny one-bedroom that I’ve had since college. I was lucky it came with windows, frankly, since it was so cheap.”

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