Page 64 of Highland Hearts Holiday Bookshop

“You as well. How has the window decorating gone?”

“It’s coming along.” I moved around the table and hooked my arm through his, pulling him past the disco unicorn to where the women huddled by the window. “We’re going with an outer space theme this week.”

“Christmas in space. Stellar,” Daniel said.

Esther raised her head and looked him up and down.

“I’d say interstellar, wouldn’t you?” Esther held his look.

“Ah, I stand corrected. I must have spaced out.” Daniel grinned as Esther sniffed.

“It’s important to pay attention. We take things very Sirius-ly here.” Esther’s face was a mask as she braided silver twine together.

“I’ll make sure to approach the situation with the utmost gravity, of course.” Danieltipped his cap.

The Book Bitches had stopped what they were doing, their heads swiveling between the two like they were watching a tennis match.

“Be sure that you do. We can’t have your interruption eclipse our work.”

“Of course not, I’d hate to ruin the atmosphere.” Daniel’s grin widened and it took everything in my power not to jump up and down in excitement.

“Everything will be perfect, because that’s how I planet.” Esther studied her twine, but I caught her quick glance at Daniel. She was interested. The outer space puns were killing me, and I wanted to jump in with some of my own, but I would never ruin this moment for them.

“Naturally, I am sure everything runs smoothly so long as everyone craters to your every whim.”

“It can be a bit of an emotional solar coaster with these three, but we get the job done.” Esther’s eyes lit with appreciation at her own pun.

“No comet.” Daniel’s grin widened when Esther flashed him an annoyed look.

I wondered who would back down first. For Daniel’s sake, I hope he bowed out and gave Esther the win.

“We have to get back to work. I don’t want to get the constellation prize.” Esther gave Daniel the side-eye as she pulled out more twine.

“I certainly hope to see you again, lunar than later.” With that, Daniel tipped his cap and turned, with what I thought was a perfect exiting line.

“Don’t hold your breath, or you’ll be all suited upwith no space to go,” Esther called after him, and he just chuckled as he left the shop.

“Esther!” I whirled on her. “That was rude.”

Esther just shrugged a shoulder. “Just a bit of banter, lass. He’ll be fine.”

“He was cute,” Meredith said, an arm still around the alien blow-up doll.

“He was very handsome, Esther,” Shannon agreed.

“You should give him a whirl,” Cherise agreed.

“Nah.” Esther shook her head. “Didn’t fancy him.”

“Why not?” I demanded. “That was great. He seems very clever.”

“Nope, not for me.” Esther turned and began to tack up the silver twine.

Shannon met my eyes behind Esther’s back.

“In that case, I might give him a go. Rosie, would you be able to introduce us?”

“Oh, is he not from around town?” For some reason, I just assumed everyone knew each other in this place.

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