Page 33 of Highland Hearts Holiday Bookshop

“Why do I feel like Santa’s naughty list and Esther’s are wildly different?” Rosie asked.

“Oh, they are. Neither of you go on my naughty list because both of you together couldn’t handle me. Now, on my shite list, yes, I’ll put both of you there if you don’t straighten up and focus on the task at hand.”

My mouth dropped open, as did Rosie’s. We looked at each other and came to a silent agreement that neither of us wanted more information about Esther’s naughty list.

“Um, how is the competition judged? Are there rules?”

“There’s an independent panel of judges who aren’t affiliated with the participating shops. There are no rules except it has to be a holiday theme of sorts. And there are four windows, one for each weekend, to draw crowds to the store.”

“Crowds?” Rosie paled a bit.

“It’s very popular. And good business for the bookshops.”

“What was St. Andrews’ winning window last year?” I asked.

“A literary Nutcracker.”

“What does that mean exactly?” I accepted a cup of tea from Meredith and leaned back against the table. When my shoulder brushed Rosie’s and she didn’t move, I realized that I enjoyed her closeness. It felt…companionable. Like we were in this together, a team against the overwhelmingness of the Book Bitches.

“They made different famous literary characters and then staged them as parts in the Nutcracker.”

“Ah, I see. Okay, okay.” Rosie tapped a finger against her lips. “So if I do this, it’s going to take considerable time and effort because it can’t be basic.”

“What do you meanifyou do this?” Esther demanded. “Youwilldo this.”

“Will I?” Rosie arched a brow.

“You will. And you’ll love it. And we’re going to go bigger and better and more extravagant than anyone’s seen before!”

“For a wee window competition? Isn’t that excessive?” I asked, earning Esther’s wrath.

“Yourquestions are excessive.”

“Right. My apologies.” Soon she’d tell me I was excess baggage and I’d likely be kicked off the team. Yesterday, I’d wanted nothing to do with the Book Bitches and their competition, but today, after seeing Rosie in her bright clothes and subtly indecent top, my interest had been piqued.

Which it shouldn’t be. Because I’d sworn off dating and women. I was finally at peace with my life and there was nothing wrong with being single, or with being content with your life as you know it.

“Well, it certainly could be a way to drum up more business over the holiday season.” Rosie worried her bottom lip, as she glanced outside to where rain pelted the windows. “And I had planned to decorate as Moira left loads of boxes. Why not? I’m in. St. Andrewsis going down.”

I internally groaned at her phrasing of choice and looked away. Clearly my libido was back in full force. We were talking about Christmas decorations of all things. There was nothing sexy about decorating. If anything, it just led to arguments and tangled strings of lights.

“Right, team. Let’s workshop some ideas.” Esther held a marker to the board. “Nothing is a bad idea.”

“Willy Wonka,” I said, even though I had no idea why.

“What? That makes zero sense.” Esther shook her head.

“I thought there were no bad ideas.”Immediate betrayal by my teammates, I see.

“No, it’s not bad, Esther. You could do all sorts of fun things with the candy and have golden tickets tucked in the books. It’s not a bad idea at all.” Rosie bumped my shoulder and I smiled smugly at Esther.

“Noted.” Esther wrote it down.

“A giant pop-up book,” Meredith suggested.

“Narnia,” Cherise tossed out.

“Gingerbread houses but made out of book covers.”

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