Page 37 of Highland Hearts Holiday Bookshop

But here? I could make a difference. I could bring joy to people’s lives, through stories and community and parties and whatever, really. A bookshop was a hub of somany things to so many people and all I had to do was open the door. In this case, notevenopen the door and people would come in anyway.

“All right, lass, now that they’re gone, tell me, what’s this matchmaking business about? The Highland Hearts Special?” Esther looked over my shoulder and her expression softened at the photograph I held. “She was like that, you know. Just lit up a room. Annoying old bat. Scored all the men.”

“Is that right? I thought she was single.”

“And ready to mingle.” Esther sniffed. “Nagged me all the time too.”

“Something I’m sure you never do.” I stifled a grin as Esther narrowed her eyes at me.

“It’s not nagging if I’m right,” Esther pointed out.

“Is that the way of it?” I hummed under my breath as I looked around the shop. “Do you think she’d care if I decorated more in here? I mean, it’s already full of lovely pieces. But I was thinking of maybe a statement wall over here.” I pointed to the wall on the other side of the room that was bare except for two abstract paintings full of pops of color. “Put up some wallpaper, add some lighting, maybe some fun chairs and a table in front of it? Create another little nook for people to sit down?”

And maybe a spot for one of their fancy tea kettles that just needed an electrical socket, and tea, so some people would stop going into my kitchen all the time.

“Moira loved changing things around. She moved bookshelves quite a bit. These all unhook and can be shifted about. You can create a differentconfiguration,” Esther explained, pointing up to hinges and hooks on the edges of the bookshelves that I hadn’t noticed before. “I’m sure she’d be delighted that you would want to do the same. She loved surprising people with new and fun things when they came through the door. I think that was part of the draw of the shop. It wasn’t just the books. Moira made it an experience to visit.”

“I don’t doubt it. I feel like every time I turn around I discover something new. It’s the way a bookshop should be, in my opinion. I want to be charmed and delighted when I go through a door to a bookshop, you know?”

“Aye, I know it.” Esther took the picture from me and moved across the room to stick it next to the speaker. “There. That’s better. Now that I’ve gotten rid of the others, why don’t you tell me more about this Highland Hearts Special?”

“Um.” I wasn’t sure if I was allowed to share this information. I’d clearly bungled it by saying something and now I wasn’t sure what to do.

The music flipped toGo Aheadby Alicia Keys.

“See? Moira knows I’m good for it. Go ahead, lass, tell me.”

“Well, from my understanding, it’s a magick inherited through the shop owner.” It actually felt like a weight shifted off my shoulders a bit. Not only had the discovery of magick been both daunting and exciting, but the pressure of having to match people I’d never met before was slightly terrifying. Esther might actually be a really valuable resource as I tried to fulfill thematches that I’d inadvertently agreed to help with already. I went on to give her a quick rundown of what I’d learned so far.

“Let me see,” Esther demanded, when I told her about the magnifying glass. I moved around the table and took a seat in the leather chair, and Esther pulled one of the velvet fabric chairs to the table and plopped down in it. Stretching out her legs, she breathed a sigh of happiness. “Moira and I used to sit here for hours at a time like this. But she never told me about her matchmaking business. Probably because she knew I’d be better at it than her.”

The lights flipped off for a second and I bit back a grin.

“Och, fine, fine. You could read people well enough.” Esther waved a hand in the air and the lights flicked back on.

The music flipped toBitchby Meredith Brooks, and I laughed out loud.

“Okay, Moira has a sense of humor. I like her.” I pushed the notebook over to Esther and showed her matches. Then I lifted the magnifying glass from where I’d secured it in a drawer in the credenza behind the table. “And if you use this … you should be able to see a word that connects the matches.”

“Oh.” Esther patted a hand at her heart before taking the magnifying glass from me. “Moira used to wear this around her neck every day. Will you?”

“I … I think so.”

“Good, you should. It will be like looking through hereyes a bit.” Esther held it up to her face and I grinned at her magnified eyeball looking back at me.

“Hold it over the paper.”

When Esther did so and gasped, I figured she was seeing the same thing I had.

“So I can match people through their favorite book. And apparently, there’s some sort of underground market for this because I’ve had two people come in already and slip me money along with their contact information. I have no idea where to start.”

“Who?” Esther demanded, leaning forward.

“Let me see.” I opened my notebook and looked down. “Edina and Daniel are the first two.”

“Oh, Edina. Such a shame that one. Nasty divorce. She’s just a shell of herself these days. Like watching a fallen leaf get tossed about by the winter breeze.”

“But here’s the thing.Howdo I help her? I think I’ve narrowed down two potential past clients that might be a good match based on their book choices, but there may be more. I didn’t get very far before visitors arrived. Unannounced.” I raised an eyebrow at Esther.

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