Page 45 of Highland Hearts Holiday Bookshop

“You’ve still yet to meet them,” I pointed out as I closed the shed door. The night was clear, the clouds having blown out over the ocean, and a half-moon lit the fields around us.

“I can vouch for my birds.” Rosie put a hand to her chest. “Definitely not of the wanker variety.”

“Some are. Some steal eggs from other birds and eat them.”

“No, they do not.” Rosie’s mouth dropped open.

“Aye, lass. They do.” Rosie gave a soft little sigh thatdidn’t sound like distress at all. Instead it sounded like … desire? Excitement?

Och, where was my head at tonight?

“Um, so. Tell me.” I paused, trying to focus on something other than asking her to stay at my cottage with me. “Why Scotland? Why here?”

“Well, when Moira left me the bookstore, I just…” Rosie shrugged. My flashlight had a wide beam, lighting up the road ahead of us, and gravel crunched under our shoes as we walked. “I was tired of playing it safe. Being predictable.”

“Nothing wrong with being predictable.” In fact, I craved it these days.

“I know it. If you love where you’re at, I suppose that’s just fine. But what if you don’t?”

“Your work or your relationship?” A soft breeze rustled the grasses and I was grateful we weren’t fighting the rain on the walk home. It was cold, but I loved walking on a crisp, cold winter’s night.

“Both. I suppose it was a reaction to how I was brought up. My mom rarely stayed in one place for long, always wanting an adventure. She couldn’t even tell me who my father was.”

“Ouch, I’m sorry to hear that.”

“It’s fine.” There was that shoulder shrug again. “I made peace with it a while ago. But once I went to college and found an apartment, I just settled in and stayed. I think I’m starting to realize now that I craved putting down roots so much that I settled for less than the best just because it was safe.”

“Was it safe though? You got clocked on the side of the head with a water bottle.”

Rosie’s chuckle sent a shiver dancing down the back of my neck.

“No, I don’t suppose it was. Safe because nothing challenged me and I could predict my days.”

“And then suddenly Moira left you a bookshop in Scotland. Could you have turned the inheritance down?”

“I suppose I could have. But it was never a thought. Instead it felt like a lifeline. A way out from a bland relationship and a mind-numbing job.”

“Why’d you keep dating him if he was so boring?”

“I didn’t think he was going to be at first, but then we just stopped seeing each other. Sometimes I think people live with the idea of someone in their head because it’s easier than looking at the reality of what is in front of their face.”

Her words sliced through me. I absolutely had done just that with my ex-wife, thinking she’d be someone different and the things we wanted from life would someday align. It hadn’t, and her easy rejection of the sanctity of our relationship somehow caused a snowball effect of hiding from them.But if I were to consider dating again, I know it would be Rosie I’d want to try with.

I hadn’t been enough for Tara, though, and I hadn’t fought to make it work.

“That, um, resonates with me.” I cleared my throat. Rosie gave that low chuckle again, and then whirled, bumping her fist against my arm. She’d touchedmy arms a few times tonight. Was she just a tactile person or had she wanted to touch me?

“Hey, do you think the Book Bitches are trying to hook us up? They keep giving us looks.”

Relieved she’d brought it up, because there was only so long before those women went full matchmaker on us, I opened my mouth to speak.

“Because I am so not wanting to date anyone. I’ve sworn off men for a while.”

I paused, recalibrating my thoughts. This was exactly what I wanted to hear. I’d already been more than happy with living my life solo, and had been blindsided by my attraction for Rosie. Knowing she wasn’t looking for anything would make it easier to just keep her neatly in the friend zone.

“All good here. I’m horrible at dating.”

“Are you really? That surprises me.”

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