Page 41 of Highland Hearts Holiday Bookshop

“Pretty much.” A shy grin crossed Alexander’s face, and I had to pause and remind myself that I wasn’t looking for a man. But I couldn’t help noticing how handsome he looked tonight in a fitted green Henley that showcased his broad shoulders. His hair was still damp from the shower. “YouTube is great if you want to learn things.”

“Wow.” Turning a circle, I studied the main room. The front door opened to a small hallway that could be closed off by a door, and then you stepped directly into the main room of the cottage. The wall directly across from us speared up almost two stories with huge windows that ended in a point at the apex of the room, and a large stone fireplace lined the wall cornering it. Low-slung leather couches were placed in an L-shape so you could either sit and watch the fire or stare out the windows to the sea as your mood decided. I immediately wanted to sling myself onto the couch in front of the fire, pile one of the several tartan blankets tucked on the back over my legs, and fall into my never-ending to-be-read pile. “What a great room. I’d never leave.”

“I rarely do.” Alexander laughed. “Aside from work of course.”

“Tell me more about your work? You program computers?”

“Among other things. I also teach, up at St. Andrews.”

“Get out.” I smacked his arm lightly,mainly because I wanted to touch his muscles again. “You’re a hot professor?”

“I have no idea how to answer that and not sound incredibly egotistical.” Alexander winced and led me toward a door on the other side of the room. “Kitchen.”

“Oh, I bet all the women in your class have a crush on you.”

“God, I hope not,” Alexander groaned, pushing the door open. “It’s awkward enough having to speak in front of a room full of people.”

“So why’d you do it?” I stepped through to a bright kitchen done in simple white cupboards, with a sky-blue mosaic backdrop. It was airy and clean, and had another tall window that likely showed the ocean as well. In front of it was a round table with four chairs and three computers on it.

“Teaching?” Alexander leaned against the counter and considered the question. “At the time I hadn’t been happy in my job at the company I’d been at. Getting my PhD offered me more work options, but I also found that I liked helping people. I guess that is what outweighs the social anxiety of teaching. And I also took up freelance consulting, so I can supplement my income there as well.”

I gaped at him and gestured to the kitchen.

“All while also building a home essentially from scratch.”

Alexander laughed, his lips twisting wryly as he did a small shrug with one shoulder.

“Kept me busy.” Turning, he went to the fridge. “Can I get you anything to drink?”

Right, conversation closed. I remembered the books about divorce and grief. The man clearly had just buried himself in work to get through the last few years. I couldn’t say I blamed him. There were worse ways to deal with difficult times in your life, even if sequestering yourself on a cliff wasn’t the most socially acceptable. That being said, he hadn’t been entirely cut off from society, what with teaching and all, so I wouldn’t put him in recluse territory yet.

“Sure.”

“I have juice, wine, beer, and water.”

“Wine would be great.”

Alexander poured us both a glass of wine and then brought it over. Clinking the glass against mine, we both drank. It was a very smooth Malbec, and I appreciated the choice.

Alexander gave me that unreadable look again over the top of his glass. My skin heated. What was he thinking when he looked at me that way?

“And you?” Alexander startled me with the question, interrupting the silence that was drawing out between us again. It was as though he’d forgotten how to carry on normal conversations. Which, based on what he’d just explained about how busy he’d been with work and severe lack of socializing, tracked. “Your work? Before this?”

“Ah, yeah. The most bland job in theworld. I worked retail at a discount store. I quit when I got knocked out with a water bottle.”

Alexander visibly blanched. “One of those big ones with the handles and the straws?”

“The very ones.”

“I had no idea discount stores were so violent.”

“Neither did I. Well, there had been hints of it.” I laughed as I took another sip of the wine and studied a photo on the counter of a smiling woman hugging Alexander. This must have been his mom. “People got pretty pushy over the dollar bins of wrapping paper.”

“Is that right?” Alexander gave me a disbelieving look.

“Seriously. It’s because it’s mostly a single-use product. Nobody wants to pay a lot of money for it. So they’d come to the discount store and load up, but would get pissy if someone else was there taking it.”

“I had no idea. And why were you working there if you found it so bland?”

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