Page 58 of A Gingerbread Romance

He turned to face her. “I needed to see you, Greta.”

She almost smiled. “And you couldn’t wait until we got back?”

His lips curled. “Nope. I told you we’d come here together, and I wanted to make good on that promise.”

She gazed at the ground, probably thinking how he hadn’t made good on his other statements, whether they’d been promises or not. “I got your message the other day,” she said, and he heard the sadness in her voice.

He glanced back at Luke and Chloe, who were standing a suitable distance from them, opening the small thermos of hot chocolate that Luke had so wisely thought to bring, and chatting contentedly. Luke would certainly take Chloe further away, so he and Greta would have a little privacy.

“I’m really sorry about that message, Greta.” He gazed into her eyes. “Look, I have a lot of things I want to tell you, and I’m just hoping you’ll give me the chance.”

She nodded, but just barely.

He swallowed and took her hands, as warm in her gloves as his were. It was time to explain. “Greta, I never told you much about my ex, but I need to.”

She waited, her brow rising at the word, so he went on.

“We were together for three years, and we were engaged to be married.”

Her brow rose again. He never told her he’d been engaged.

“One month before the wedding date, I walked in on her and another man, in my—our—bed. This was Carla and Don, who you met a few weeks ago.”

Greta gasped, her gaze widening.

He nodded as if to agree with her. “So, I called off the wedding, of course.” He thought about it for a second, the details blurry. “Or did she?” He shook his head. “It didn’t matter. It was all over. We were done with each other. And then I went on my honeymoon alone.”

Greta’s eyes filled with empathy.

“But, after that, I just decided I wasn’t going to trust a woman again, for a very long time—if ever.”

Her brow fell, and he felt her grip on his hands tighten, as if to show him she was listening intently.

“And everything was fine. Or good enough, at least. I was never alone when I wanted companionship, but, on the flip side, I was always lonely.” He studied her with a long gaze. “And then I met you.”

Her expression softened, but she remained quiet.

“And I could no longer imagine being lonely because you filled that well inside of me—that place that had been empty for so long.”

Her gaze became a gentle smile, and his heart warmed. “And I made a terrible mistake leaving you. I want to apologize for that. From the bottom of my heart. I never should’ve assumed what I did.”

“What did you assume?” she said softly, her eyes full of concern.

He took a deep breath, his heart pounding. She wasn’t going to like this. “I came to see you on Christmas Day, and Berg was there, and I saw the two of you talking and laughing and then he hugged you, and then he went inside the house with you, and I assumed that…” He sighed. “I got jealous, and I assumed the worst. It was like Carla and Don all over again.” He frowned. “I’m sorry. I never should’ve thought so little of you.”

Greta frowned. “No, you shouldn’t have. He just stopped by to drop off a gift because I’m a client. And we’ve become friends, but there was nothing going on, Jonathan.” She shook her head. “Nothing at—”

“—Nothing at all.” He stopped her. “I know that.” He reached for a strand of her hair and ran it through his fingers even though he was still wearing gloves. “It was a knee jerk reaction, and I’m not proud of it. Can you ever forgive me?”

She inhaled through her nose and let it out. “Of course I can. I just wish you had told me sooner. He only stayed for about two minutes. You could’ve knocked on the door while he was there, and then…”

“I know. It was immature, insecure, ridiculous of me, and it won’t happen again. I’m trying to get past all of that.”

She nodded. “But I can see how what happened in the past made you react that way, and it all makes a lot more sense now. You tried to warn me,” Greta said, lifting her hands to cup his face. “Thank you for explaining. I can’t even imagine what you went through with your ex, but I would never do something like that to you, Jonathan. I want you to know that.”

“I know that,” he said. “I should’ve trusted you.” He wanted her more than he’d ever wanted anyone. And he trusted her, more than he’d ever trusted anyone.

She gently caressed his face. Despite her winter gloves between them, warmth emanated from her touch.

---