Page 15 of Meet Me at the Christmas Cottage (Jonathon Island #6)

A tall, willowy woman turned to Bronte with a smile taking up most of her face, her green eyes bright. The man, Liam, shrugged out of what Bronte could tell was an expensive coat, but even if he looked like he belonged in New York City, his cheeky grin told her he would be kind and down to earth.

“It’s so nice to meet you,” Dani said, and before Bronte knew it, she’d been pulled into a hug.

It took her off guard. She had to remind her arms to hug Dani back. “It’s good to meet you too.”

“Dani, it’s great to see you out!” Mia said, getting a hug from Dani as well.

She turned to Bronte again. “Dani’s my cousin, but I’ve hardly seen her lately.

” She gave Dani a little side elbow and a teasing smile.

“She’s been hard at work planning not only the Christmas stroll but also the comeback of the Jonathon Island Christmas Ball and her wedding. ”

“You sound busy.” And Bronte thought writing ninety thousand words in three weeks was stressful. “I can’t imagine having to plan all that.”

Dani slid onto a barstool and, lifting the plastic covering the brownies, tore a corner off one and popped it into her mouth. “Busy is one word for it.”

“How’s everything going?” Jonah asked, pulling the bread from the oven and dropping each perfectly buttered slice into a waiting basket. Bronte’s mouth started watering again, and she wiped at it to make sure she wasn’t drooling all over the place.

“Oh, you’re in for it now,” Liam said, stepping up behind Dani and putting his hands on her shoulders.

“I finally got all the permits and the fire department’s all clear for the ballroom. I could have wrung Tommy’s neck for how long he took. He’s the new fire chief. But honestly, the ball’s next week!”

“Someone on the ferry over was telling me about it. So, it’s a pretty big thing?” Bronte was really starting to feel like Jonathon Island was the setting for a Hallmark movie—which was the only place she’d ever heard of a Christmas ball happening.

“It used to happen every year, but this will be the first one in years ,” Cody replied. “I think I was still a teenager the last ball.”

“Yes, and all this snow had me worried we’d have to cancel the ball and the stroll.” Dani ran her hands through her hair. “The stroll is still on for Saturday, and I expect to see everyone there.” She pointed down each of them, Bronte included.

Normally Bronte would be ruffled at someone she hardly knew giving her orders, but in this case, she didn’t mind. “The ferry will be back running by then?” she asked.

Dani nodded. “Yes, thankfully. I paid for it to operate a few extra times on Saturday to make sure everyone can make it over here since there isn’t anywhere for tourists to stay on the island right now.”

“I don’t mean to ask a dumb question, but what is a Christmas stroll?”

“Not dumb at all. It’s new this year, actually.

I got the idea from something Nantucket does every year.

It’s basically a festival of sorts, held all day the Saturday before Christmas.

Tourists come over from the mainland, all the shops have fun Christmas specials, and there are gingerbread-house-making contests, a gift-wrapping station, and a snowman-building contest.” Dani’s eyes sparkled as she ticked off the different events on her fingers.

“That sounds like a lot of fun. I’ll be there.

” Wait? She would? What was it about this island that made her want to do more than just hide in her hole and write?

She needed to backpedal and tell them she had a book to write and couldn’t come to the Christmas festival, but her mouth stayed firmly shut.

It sounded fun, and there was an entire day between now and then.

A lot of work could be done in that time, and she could use the Christmas festival as her reward for getting it done.

“Dinner is ready!” Jonah declared as he handed out bowls of soup and warm slices of bread wrapped in a paper towel.

“Should we watch a movie while we eat?” Dani asked, popping up from the stool and moving to the couch. “Holland has the best collection of Christmas movies.”

“But of course. What were you thinking?” Jonah asked.

“Girls pick,” Mia called out, ignoring the boys’ protests and moving toward the cabinet under the TV, where the movies were stored. “Come on, Bronte, help us choose.”

Bronte looked to Jonah. They wanted her to help?

Jonah winked at her and nodded toward the girls in encouragement. She set her bowl on the side table and kneeled next to Dani and Mia.

“Have you seen this one?” Dani handed Bronte a case that had Sandra Bullock and Bill Pullman with a train behind them. While You Were Sleeping . Sounded like something Lexi would like.

“I haven’t seen this one.” She handed the case back to Dani.

“What?” Mia pulled it from Dani’s hands and clutched it to her chest. “We’re watching this one.”

“We’re definitely watching that one.” Dani pointed both her pointer fingers in Mia’s direction.

“Which movie?” Jonah asked from the couch.

Mia held up the case.

All three guys groaned. “Come on, that’s not a Christmas movie.” Liam’s head dropped to the back of the sectional.

“It is too.” Dani glanced over her shoulder and gave her fiancé a flirty grin. “And I’ll have no complaints from you, Liam Stone. I happen to know you really like this one.”

“You’ve seen this one?” Cody’s mouth hung open.

Jonah just shrugged and slurped another bite of soup.

Movie selected, everyone settled into their seats.

Dani and Liam snuggled on one side of the sectional, bowls cradled in their hands.

Mia and Cody somehow both fit in the oversized armchair, and she and Jonah were opposite Liam and Dani—not anywhere close to snuggling.

It was strange to see couples that had a much different relationship than she and Brad had ever had.

They were all touchy-feely and could joke back and forth without anyone getting their feelings hurt.

Maybe it had been a knee-jerk reaction when she’d sworn off love forever.

“You good?” Jonah whispered as he leaned over. In the dim lighting, the blue in his eyes deepened.

Bronte could only nod past the lump in her throat.

Jonah squeezed her shoulder and moved back to his side of the couch.

He would never know how many tingles he’d left shooting through her body with that one touch.

Bronte chewed on the inside of her cheek.

It was more than just the tingles Jonah caused.

The way these people made her feel like a part of their group after having just met her…

she’d never really had that before. Especially considering her best friend was also her agent.

Maybe she just needed to get out more…

Or maybe this place was special. She could see, just a little bit, why Jonah believed in happily ever afters and true romance.