Page 61 of Highland Hearts Holiday Bookshop

“Jessica would have destroyed the men of this town by now. I am not her.”

“What about the Boston guy?” I couldn’t help but ask, but I knew it would drive me crazy if I didn’t get an answer. I adjusted my kilt as Rosie slid off the table, a look of confusion on her face.

“Oh, him? I just met him. He’s only visiting.” Rosie waved it away as she bent to pick up more of the decorations from the floor.

“Things can escalate quickly,” I reminded her, picking up the mistletoe I’d tossed behind me.

Rosie glanced at me and rolled her eyes.

“I don’t juggle men. I don’t share. I don’t…that’s not…” She laughed. “I don’t even know how to operate like that.”

“Just checking.”

“Right, so exclusive friends with benefits?” Rosie arched a brow at me, gathering up the rest of the decorations in her arms.

“Correct.”

“Perfect. Thanks for the fun,mate.” Rosie left the room with a wink, and I took another moment to catch my breath before I pulled the other boxes down and carried them out to the main room.

“Been drinking cranberry juice?” Esther asked me, looking at my face.

“Red wine,” I corrected and put the boxes on the table.

“Funny, that red wine looks the same shade as Rosie’s lipstick.”

“They must have taken their inspiration from the wine then.” And that was fair given she tasted so bloody fantastic. Raising a hand in the air, I waved goodbye, breezing through the shop and leaving Rosie to thewolves. There was no way I was going to stand there and deal with an interrogation from the Book Bitches.

No, the only person I wanted to pick apart every second of that interaction was myself. Whistling, I turned my face to the cold winter rain with a smile. I could still smell Rosie’s scent on my skin, and I knew exactly what I’d be pleasuring myself to as soon as I got home.

Chapter Eighteen

Rosie

“I’m sorry, what was that? Did you just say friends with benefits?” Jessica screeched into the phone. “Yes,Queen. I am loving Scottish Rosie. Loving it.Yes, this is what I wanted for you.”

“Would you stop? It’s not a big deal.” I shrugged and glanced nervously toward the door. It was around the time when people would start showing up, with complete disregard for any actual posted opening hours at my shop. This did not annoy me as much as it would have if I’d still been working at the discount store.

“It is for you. You never do stuff like this.”

“Sure I do.” Did I? Maybe I didn’t. I kind of just moved seamlessly between relationships. I couldn’t quite remember anyone cornering me in a closet before andgiving me the best pleasure of my life with just a hand though.

“Please, girl. Lie to yourself all you want. But not to me. Look, I even got you a shirt.” Jessica went off screen before returning with a shirt with a fat Santa on it.

“Where’s my ho ho ho’s at?” I read and glared at Jessica while she threw her head back and laughed. “I am not a ho.”

The speaker flipped on next to me and started playingThere’s Some Hoes in this Houseand Jessica laughed even harder. It’s clear Jessica and Moira would have gotten along.

“Oh my God, perfect timing on that song. Told ya.”

“Yes, perfect timing.” I glared at the speaker, flicking it back off. I hadn’t yet told Jessica about the magick here. We hadn’t managed to get past my love life.

“But I do hope you’re entering your ho era. Every woman needs one.”

“Did you really buy that shirt for me?” I asked.

“Nah, I bought it for a Christmas happy hour I’m going to. But it fit.” Jessica grinned at me as the door to the shop swung open.

“Bitch,” I mouthed and waved at Edina poking her head in the shop. “Gotta run.”

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