Page 33 of Meet Me at the Christmas Cottage (Jonathon Island #6)

Jonah wanted to laugh again. Bree asking him for relationship advice?

He barely had any answers for himself. But he took both of Bree’s hands in his.

“Bree, you’re a wonderful person. There’s someone out there that is going to be completely head over heels in love with you, and you are going to be crazy about him. ”

“But you’re not that person,” Bree finished Jonah’s unsaid statement.

“But I’m not that person.”

Bree took a step back. Her face flamed, and Jonah could see the tears welling in her eyes, even in the dim ballroom lights.

“I wish you well, Jonah.” She started walking backward, turning when she backed against a chair, almost falling. On instinct, Jonah lunged forward to catch her, but she righted herself before he got to her. She held her hand up. “I’m good.”

Was she telling him that or talking herself into it?

Jonah didn’t watch her go. Instead, he scanned the place for Bronte. She had just been with Jordi and Dani, but Jordi was currently on the dance floor with a tall black man, and he didn’t see Dani or Liam.

“Jonah, how are you not on the dance floor with Bronte yet?” Jordi asked, dancing over to him. “And this is Mick. He’s thinking about moving to the island. You guys should talk. You’d love him.”

“Jordi.” Jonah pulled Jordi over to him. “I need to find Bronte. Have you seen her?”

“I haven’t.” Jordi shrugged from his grasp and rose on her toes. “I saw her over by the front, like, two minutes ago, talking to Martha. Maybe ask her?”

Jonah scanned the area Jodi had mentioned. “Where’s Martha?”

“If you can’t find her out here, I’ll bet you she’s in the kitchen. I know Dani banned her from there, but honestly, do we think that’s going to stop her?” She grinned cheekily up at Jonah before fluttering her eyes at Mick. “Let’s go round once more?” She held her hand out, and Mick spun her away.

Jonah had to force himself to keep from jogging to the kitchen.

Something felt off. Something had happened before Bronte had gotten up from the table, and now he couldn’t find her.

Had he said something wrong? He racked his brain as to what could have set Bronte off, but nothing stuck out in his memory. He had just been talking to Finn.

The command center room. Jonah stopped halfway to the kitchen. Hadn’t Dani mentioned they had set up a command center of sorts in one of the side rooms? Changing course, Jonah headed toward where he thought it would be.

What if Bronte wasn’t there? Where else could she be? Maybe the bathroom. If she wasn’t in the command center, he’d get someone to check the bathroom. Although, at this point, he wasn’t beyond sticking his head in the ladies’ room and calling out.

Compared to the dim ballroom below, the command center was brightly lit.

A folding table had been transformed into a buffet.

Trays of finger foods and half-eaten pizzas from the pizzeria sat on the table, and Jonah guessed it was left over from the girls’ getting-ready party.

An ice chest sat on the floor at the end of the table, and another smaller table held walkie-talkies and extra batteries.

Clipboards were discarded on various surfaces around the room.

Along one wall, bags, purses, and coats leaned in a haphazard line. But the room lacked one thing.

The person Jonah was currently looking for.

Okay then, on to find a female to help him check the bathrooms.

Rounding the corner, Jonah ran into Dani. He reached out to steady her.

“Oh! Jonah, hey, what are you doing in here?”

“Dani, sorry. I was just looking for Bronte.”

Dani’s face scrunched into a frown. “She left.”

“Left?”

“You didn’t know?”

“No.”

“I thought she would have told you. I thought you would be going with her. You really didn’t know?” she asked again.

Why had she left? And left without saying goodbye. Something was definitely going on. He needed to get back home to check on her to make sure she was okay. Maybe she wasn’t feeling well. “I really didn’t know. Thanks, Dani. Did she get a ride or walk?”

If she had decided to walk…He shivered at the thought of her strappy heels and backless dress. She’d freeze to death between here and the house.

“I don’t know. You might check with the guys giving rides to and from the ferry. Maybe one of them took her back to your house?”

Jonah dodged past Dani and headed toward the front of the ballroom.

Pushing out into the cold, he hoped to see Bronte there. Instead, he was met by nothing but the tall columns on the veranda. The sparkling lights wrapped around the columns didn’t give off a lot of light, but there was enough for Jonah to tell Bronte was long gone.

“There you are, you big lug.”

Jonah spun, spotting Martha in the shadow of one of the columns. “Me?” He pointed a finger to his chest, but he didn’t see anyone else close that Martha could be talking to.

“Yes, I’m talking to you.” Martha stepped out from behind the column.

“What are you doing out here? Aren’t you cold?”

Martha snorted. “I came outside for some fresh air for a minute. And don’t try and change the subject. That girl was the best thing that could have happened to you, and you go and do something so foolhardy with Bree, who isn’t your round peg.”

“Round peg? Martha, what are you talking about?” Jonah ran his hand over his face. He didn’t have time for one of her lectures.

“She’s more of a square peg to your round hole,” Martha muttered.

Jonah took Martha by the shoulders and dipped down so he could look her in the eyes. “Martha, what are you talking about?”

Martha threw her hands up. “Bronte. She’s perfect for you, and you had to go and kiss that Jennings girl in front of God and everyone.”

“What are you talking about? I didn’t kiss—” Jonah stopped. Bree. “Are you telling me that Bronte saw Bree try to kiss me?”

Martha scoffed. “Didn’t look like you weren’t enjoying it.”

Jonah ran a hand down his face. “Bree tried to kiss me. I pushed her away before she got the chance to.”

Martha harrumphed, lips pursed.

“I’ve got to get home.” Jonah turned to go back inside to get his coat from the coat check. He didn’t want to take the time to get it, but it was too cold.

He handed his ticket over to the teen at the coat check with a plea for him to hurry. The boy disappeared into the coat closet. It was taking him forever. Jonah rapped his knuckles on the counter. Checked his watch. How long did it take someone to find a coat?

“Make this right, Jonah White,” Martha hissed from his side. She had followed him inside.

The teen appeared, handing Jonah his coat.

Jonah grabbed it and shoved his arms into the sleeves. “I plan to.”

He had to.