Page 31 of Meet Me at the Christmas Cottage (Jonathon Island #6)

“I think it’s fun. So, Jonah, I heard something today and just wanted to give you the heads-up—” Mia’s phone, sitting on the table, rang, interrupting whatever she had been about to tell him. Picking it up, she said, “Excuse me, it’s my mom.” Cody helped pull her chair out from the table.

“What was that all about?” Jonah asked, watching as Mia disappeared into a dark corner, phone tucked to her ear.

Cody shrugged and asked, “Is Bronte okay? She seemed a little quiet at dinner.” Cody settled Finn back in with a coloring book and some markers he produced from Finn’s backpack, which sported different kinds of sharks.

“She seems upset.” Jonah straightened his silverware next to his plate as he watched Finn coloring, tongue poked out the side of his mouth. “I’m not really sure what happened.”

“You don’t think Finn upset her, do you?”

“Are you talking about me?” Finn paused his coloring, round eyes looking between Cody and Jonah.

“Yes, Finny.” Cody ruffled the boy’s hair. “It’s all right. Go back to coloring that awesome dinosaur.”

“I don’t think so,” Jonah continued when the boy was distracted again with his artwork. “Who could be mad when Finn’s around? He’s the best.”

Finn paused again, looking up from his coloring. “Thank you,” he said before diving his head into Cody’s side.

“I think she’s just tired, maybe?” Jonah said, frowning in the direction Bronte had disappeared. He heaved a deep sigh. “Maybe a little overwhelmed?”

“I get that. Mia told me this afternoon was a little crazy with all the dresses, and you know how the girls can be when they all get together,” Cody said, pushing back his dessert plate.

Dessert had been a fudge mousse provided by the Fudge Shop on the Corner. It was amazing, but so rich. Jonah had only made it through half before he couldn’t eat anymore.

“How’s she doing since her fall?” Cody took a sip from the cup of coffee that had come with desert.

“Good. She’s just been under a lot of pressure to get her book done.” Jonah ran a hand down his face. “It takes a toll.”

“Hello, everyone!” They both turned as Dani stood in front of the band, a spotlight shining on her.

“I want to welcome everyone to this year’s Jonathon Island Christmas Ball and thank you for coming.

Also, can we give it up for the Maritime Band.

” The room erupted in cheers, and the band members stood and bowed.

Dani went on, giving updates about the renovations, but Jonah didn’t really hear. He scanned the room for Bronte. She’d been gone for well over ten minutes. How long did it take to meet a fan and say hello? Shouldn’t she be back by now?

“…so get out there and dance!” Dani finished, fist pumping the air.

Now he really needed to find Bronte. He’d been thinking about dancing with her all day. Couples paired together and started dancing to a croonie version of “The Way You Look Tonight.”

“What about you?” Cody asked, pulling Jonah’s attention back to the table. “How have you been since you got home? Looking forward to meeting up with the family in a couple of days?”

“I’m excited, but a little disappointed to be leaving Bronte all on her own.”

“She really is special to you,” Cody said, waving off a waiter trying to fill his mug of coffee.

“Yeah.”

They fell into an easy silence, watching couples spin around the dance floor.

Jonah’s gaze wandered up to where he and Pastor Arnie had wrapped the beams in twinkling lights and hung hundreds of ornaments from the ceiling.

Dani had done a great job organizing everything.

He’d say the first Christmas ball since the fire was a success.

“You know what? I’m going to take Finn to my mom and find Mia. It’s time to get a dance in.”

Bronte’s laugh, loud and boisterous over the music, drew Jonah’s gaze.

She was talking with Dani and Jordi about something only a few tables away.

She threw her head back and laughed again.

Maybe whatever had happened earlier was over.

He was glad to see her having a good time.

Liam strolled up to the girls and offered his hand to Dani.

A burning started in Jonah’s chest. He didn’t know what had happened before, but he planned to ask. Maybe before the Christmas Eve service. For now, he wanted nothing more than to dance with her.

He pushed himself up from the table, not taking his eyes off Bronte. A man on a mission.

A man on a mission, who was suddenly intercepted and tugged in the direction of the dance floor. But Bronte was still over by the wall, talking to Jordi…

He swiveled to whoever had his hand in their grip. He’d know that blonde hair, expertly rolled into a French twist, and that petite frame anywhere. His stomach dropped.

They made it to the dance floor, and his captor dropped his hand and turned to him.

Blue eyes that had once captivated his soul. “Bree?”

Bree raised her arms, the sequins on her red dress sparkling in the twinkle lights. “Surprise!”

“What are you doing here?”

“I wanted to surprise you.” Bree fiddled with the brass buttons on his dress uniform.

His fingers gently wrapped around her wrist, and he placed her hands at her sides.

“I meant to find you earlier. I’ve been in town for almost a week, but Grandma got sick the day I arrived, and I’ve barely left her house since. I wasn’t even sure I’d be able to come tonight, but I made it.”

It was seven years since he’d last seen Bree. The woman he had planned, at one time, to spend the rest of his life with—until she’d called it quits instead.

He waited for the emotions to wash over him. The familiar pull of attraction that had been so strong and had about killed him when she’d told him she didn’t want the life they had so carefully planned out.

“How did you know I was coming home for Christmas? I didn’t even know I was coming home for Christmas until last week.”

Bree shrugged. “I was coming anyway, and then I saw Amy post about your family vacation and was afraid that I’d missed you, but you’re here. Have you been staying by yourself this entire time?”

“No.” Jonah looked around. He wanted Bronte here on the dance floor, not Bree. He didn’t even want to talk to Bree. “If you will excuse me.”

Bree reached out and clutched Jonah’s arm, stopping his escape. “Well, you look really good.”

Jonah frowned. “Thank you, Bree. You look good too, but I really must?—”

“What happened to us, Jonah?” Bree asked, looking up through her long, obviously fake eyelashes.

Jonah sighed. Apparently, they were going to have this conversation, right here on the dance floor.

“You said you didn’t want to be married to a military guy and weren’t willing to wait anymore, you didn’t want a big family, and you wanted to travel the world.

” Jonah checked off all the reasons she had given him on his fingers. “So I let you go.”

“Right. Yeah. I did.” Bree nodded and licked her lips. “I’ve been doing a lot of thinking over the last few years, and I think I was just scared. I think I would be okay with settling down now, having our big family like we planned. I miss what we had. Really miss it, Jonah.”

Jonah scanned the crowd, only half listening to what Bree was going on about. But when she got quiet, he looked back at her. He saw determination in her eyes, and his stomach clenched.

“Jonah, I want to get back together.”

“Wh-what?” Jonah stammered.

“I want us to get back together,” Bree repeated.

Jonah blinked. Nothing could have prepared him for that. Six weeks ago, he might have fallen for it. If she had told him last week, he probably would have, hook, line, and sinker, and gotten back into a relationship with Bree. But now…

“We were so good together, Jonah. I was young and stupid.” Bree huffed out a sigh. “I’m making a mess of this. Come here.”

She stood on her tiptoes and wrapped her hands around Jonah’s neck, tugging his head toward hers.