Page 30 of Meet Me at the Christmas Cottage (Jonathon Island #6)

Chapter Fourteen

S he was Cinderella at the ball. She stood at the top of the stairs, and everyone froze and turned to look as she floated down the steps into the arms of the prince.

Okay, so it wasn’t exactly like that. There were no stairs, and no one was turning to look at her, but that was fine with her.

After getting ready, the girls had made their way over to the ballroom. Dani had to be there early, so Bronte wandered, taking in the stillness before the guests arrived.

Draped in lights, the garland twinkled as it fanned out from the great chandelier.

Wreaths hung on the tall windows that circled the entire room.

The mini Christmas trees Jordi and her mom had wrapped in lights surrounded the room, adding the perfect amount of mood lighting and making it smell as if they were actually in a pine forest. Round tables with white tablecloths and centerpieces of mirrors and tall tapered candles were set up, leaving plenty of room for the live band and dance floor.

A large Christmas tree graced the center of the stage, white lights sparkling from every branch.

Once guests started arriving, dazzling in their formal wear, Bronte checked the seating list and made her way to her table, reminding herself to breathe.

Scanning the crowd, she tried to quell the sinking in her stomach when she couldn’t find Jonah.

Had he already found Bree? No, Dani had said Bree hadn’t bought a ticket.

She wouldn’t be here tonight. There were so many new faces from the tourists who’d come over from the mainland and other islanders she hadn’t met.

Not that she could tell the difference between the two groups.

She was just as much a visitor as anyone else for tonight’s event.

Smiling, she wove her way toward table number one, her assigned table.

Not wanting to sit at the table by herself, she decided if there wasn’t anyone there yet, she’d find Dani to see if she needed help with anything.

Her heart in her throat, she finally caught sight of their table, noticing that Mia and Cody sat in their seats.

“You look absolutely stunning tonight.” Jonah’s breath tickled her ear.

She turned, finding Jonah behind her. Jonah dressed in a T-shirt, sweatpants, and Santa socks had been her favorite, but dressed-up Jonah was a whole other thing.

His dark-blue Army dress uniform fit him perfectly, and his dark shoes had been shined to perfection.

His face was clean-shaven, and she wasn’t sure if she preferred Jonah without his scruff, but it didn’t matter because he was there, and her insides were turning to liquid butter.

“You don’t look too bad yourself.” She took in the medals on his chest and wanted to ask about them, but Jonah caught her hand in his and brought it to his lips.

She couldn’t breathe. She vowed to never again wash the place his lips met her skin. She internally rolled her eyes at herself. She was being ridiculous.

“You’re exquisite.” Jonah’s eyes never left hers, pulling her back into the squishy romancy space she had told herself she wouldn’t step foot in again. But Jonah made her feel as if she were the only person in the room. No one had ever made her feel that, had ever made her feel seen.

He took a step closer to her.

“Hi.” Her voice breathy.

“I missed you today.”

Her head told her to run away, but her heart had different ideas. “I missed you too.”

“I like your hair.”

He rubbed circles on the back of her hand, making it hard for Bronte to follow their conversation.

“What? Oh, yeah. This is Jordi’s doing.” Bronte motioned with her free hand to the coil Jordi had fashioned at the base of her neck. “Like my regular bird’s nest, but lower and?—”

“Fancy. I like it.”

“Thank you. Should we get to our table? I’m starving.”

“Lead the way.” Jonah motioned Bronte ahead of him but didn’t let go of her hand. “Did they not feed you this afternoon?”

“There were snacks and pizza, I just couldn’t eat.”

“Really?”

“I was so nervous.”

Jonah’s eyebrows shot up. “What’s there to be nervous about?”

Of course he wouldn’t understand the feeling of wanting someone, or someones , to like her.

Of being afraid that she’d say the wrong thing.

But even Bronte had to admit those nerves hadn’t stuck around for long before being replaced with nerves about seeing him.

Not that she’d tell him that. Instead, she just shrugged.

“I guess just hanging out with new people.”

Bronte led them to their table, and they’d just sat down when Mia’s little boy slid off his chair and circled the table to where Jonah sat.

“You remember my shark, Jonah?” The little boy held up a plastic shark, Jonathon Island written on the side.

“I do remember your shark, Finn. It’s a very nice shark,” Jonah said, bending so he was eye to eye with the boy. “Did your sister like the shark you picked out for her?”

“Oh yeah. She had to stay with Grandma tonight, but Mom said I’m a big boy, so I get to come.”

Jonah and Finn continued to chat, but Bronte felt like she had cotton in her ears. Jonah was so good with kids. He was going to make a great father one day.

A pang shot through her chest. It was the one thing she knew she couldn’t give Jonah.

She should have closed down her heart when he’d told her he wanted to raise a big family on Jonathon Island.

Why had she ignored the warnings? Maybe Jordi and Dani thought something long-distance would work, but it wouldn’t.

They’d never understand because she hadn’t told them the whole story.

It wouldn’t be fair for Bronte to hope for something to happen between them when she already knew it couldn’t.

When Finn skipped back to his seat, Jonah turned to look at her. His brows dipped into a frown. “What’s wrong?”

“Hmm?” Bronte’s eyes rose, and she did everything in her power to smile, to put on a mask that everything was fine, even if she felt a crack starting in her heart. “I’m okay.”

Eyes narrowed, Jonah studied her for a breath longer. Bronte wasn’t sure if he believed her or not.

“I promise, everything is great.” Breaking eye contact, she reached for her glass of water.

He pulled her chair closer to his, boxing her in with one of his arms behind her on the back of her chair and one on the table in front of her.

The scent of sandalwood and citrus engulfed her.

She wanted to melt into his arms, tell him everything.

But she couldn’t. It would just cause more confusion in her brain.

She’d had enough peopling today.

If she asked, Jonah would take her home now. She could put on her sweats and…write her book. She didn’t have time to fall into fantasies of being swallowed by Holland’s amazing couch while she snuggled with Jonah and they watched another Christmas movie.

How many words did she still need? Seventy thousand? And her deadline was getting closer, faster than she’d like to admit. Reality leaked into whatever Christmas dreams she’d started dreaming during her arrival on Jonathon Island.

She leaned her forehead on Jonah’s, careful not to bump the still-tender side.

“Please tell me what’s wrong,” Jonah whispered.

“It’s just?—”

“Jonah, will you play a game of Go Fish with me? I have the cards, see?” Finn’s towhead pushed between them. Bronte leaned back, scooting her chair back to its place.

“Finn, stop interrupting Jonah and come sit back down,” Mia said, shooting a look of apology in their direction.

“It’s okay, Mia,” Jonah said. “I’ll play a quick round with you while we’re waiting for our dinner, okay, Finn?”

Finn nodded and pulled himself up in the empty chair next to Jonah.

What had she been about to do? She couldn’t tell Jonah that she was falling for him.

She couldn’t tell him why it would never work between them.

Not here, where there were too many people to overhear.

But she had to tell him. She needed to let him go so he could make his dreams come true. She’d just hold him back.

Jonah’s gaze remained on her as he played a round of Go Fish with Finn, but she refused to look at him. She couldn’t. If she did, she wasn’t sure she’d be able to hold herself together any longer.

* * *

The pasta Dani had catered in was the definition of perfect.

It gave anything Jonah had ever had in Italy a run for its money.

He’d been excited about seeing how their hard work in the ballroom looked in action—comparing it to Christmas balls past—but now his mind was fully focused on Bronte.

He thought she’d been having a good time, but something had happened to change her mood.

“Are you guys enjoying your meal?” As Dani stood next to Bronte’s chair, her strapless gold gown made her green eyes sparkle. Or maybe it was the excitement of seeing all her hard work come to fruition.

“This is so good, Dani,” Cody said. “Good call picking the catering.”

“So glad you’re enjoying it. Hey.” Dani smiled and put her hand on the back of Bronte’s chair.

“Can I steal Bronte for a moment? There’s a guest who’s a big fan and wanted to know if an introduction could be made.

” She shot a glance toward Bronte. “If you’re not okay with that, I could tell them now isn’t a good time. ”

After the fiasco that’d happened at the Christmas stroll, Jonah knew Bronte would politely decline. He hoped she’d decline, but for selfish reasons. He didn’t want to share her.

He swallowed his disappointment when Bronte shrugged and said, “Sure.”

Dabbing her mouth, she tossed her napkin next to her plate and pushed back from the table. She still wouldn’t make eye contact with him. What had happened?

“She get that a lot?” Mia asked, wiping Finn’s face. He had enjoyed the pasta as well.

Jonah shrugged. “It seems like it’s happening a lot here.”