Page 58 of Highland Hearts Holiday Bookshop
“They were only two points below us.” Shannon studied the numbers on the screen. “So we’ve got to step it up next round.”
“I found more boxes of decorations in the back storage area, but they are too high for me to reach,” Rosie said. She looked up at me. “Want to grab them? They may be of help this week.”
“Of course.” I’d walk through fire for this woman. Right, okay.What the hell?Where had that thought come from? Maybe my three years of abstinence was making me be a bit dramatic.
“Wait, let’s decide on a theme first.” Esther pulled out the whiteboard from behind the table and propped it back up. “Seeing as how Under the Sea was such a success, I’ll make an attempt to be more flexible about some of these other hare-brained ideas.”
“I thought you said there were no bad ideas.”
“Exactly. I didn’t say there were no hare-brained ideas, did I?” Esther scowled and I bit back a grin.
“Don’t poke the bear,” Rosie whispered to me. “She’s running on a high right now, and I don’t get the impression she’s a benevolent dictator.”
“Ahem.” Esther smacked her hand on the whiteboard, drawing our attention back.
“My vote is Christmas in Space, since Under the Sea did so well. Though I think we missed a trick.” Rosie tapped a finger against those delicious red lips. “We could slip in some books related to the theme. Like if we did outer space, we could put inThe Martianby Andy Weir.”
“War of the Worlds.”
“Contact. Carl Sagan.” Shannon nodded.
“So you want an alien Christmas?” Esther asked, hands on her hips, her scowl deepening.
“Seems to be the vote,” I said.
“Aliens it is. But I don’t want any talk about alien breasts and if they shouldbe covered.”
“But alien smut is one of my favorite genres,” Meredith protested, and my eyes widened.
Grabbing Rosie, who was looking more than a little stunned, I tugged her toward the back. “Show me those boxes?”
“Yup. And we’ll take as much time as we need until I can erase the image of Meredith reading alien romance from my mind,” Rosie grumbled as she took me through a narrow hallway to a back storage room. Flipping the light on, she pointed to several boxes on the top of a bookshelf. The closet was small, with just enough space for two people to walk a few feet into, and dimly lit. I was instantly aware of our closeness as the door swung closed behind us on spring-loaded hinges.
“Maybe it’s the extra appendages?”
“The what?” Rosie whirled on me, her mouth dropping open. I grinned down at her.
“The alien stuff.” I waved a hand in the air. “You know. More…options.”
“Oh.” Rosie tilted her head, thinking it over, and when her cheeks flushed, my body responded. Desire lasered through me and I had to clench my hands together to stop myself from reaching for her. “Oh my. I’d never considered that. I suppose I could see the appeal. Apologies to Meredith for the judgment I suppose.”
I’d done this to myself. I had no one else to blame because I was now picturing Rosie in ways that I wasn’t supposed to be if we were meant to just be friends. Clearing my throat, I reached blindly up for the box above my head.
And caught it as it fell, spilling its contents everywhere.
“Och, I’m sorry about that.” I put the box aside and bent to start picking up the decorations at the same time Rosie did.
Her lips hit my shoulder.
“Oh no!” Rosie gasped, looking down at the red lipstick smudge on my jumper.
I was never washing this jumper again.
“Och, you may need to get help for this shoulder fetish of yours,” I said, as Rosie grabbed my arm and tried to rub the stain with her finger.
“Damn it.” Rosie stomped a foot, pouting. “I told you I don’t have a thing for shoulders.”
“There’s nothing wrong with admitting it, darling.” Please just keep touching me.