Page 16 of Meet Me at the Christmas Cottage
Jonah plucked a piece off the top of the pile and popped it in his mouth with a very audible crunch. “It’s perfect, but that’s for you.” He pointed to a wooden box on the counter. “And my sister keeps all the tea in there. If you want to pick one out, I’ll get the table set and you can eat.”
Deciding against digging in her luggage for her favorite tea, Bronte settled on a cinnamon teabag. “Are you not going to eat?”
Jonah set her plate at the table before picking up his book and moving to another seat. “Nah, I already ate. My body’s still in a different time zone.”
Bronte nodded as she finished pouring water into her mug. Her middle warmed at the realization Jonah had cooked breakfast for her. “You didn’t have to…” She motioned to the plate of food as she sat down with her steaming mug.
“It’s nothing. I was up anyway.”
Bronte nodded, her eyes darting to the window. The snow was still falling, although maybe it had let up a little bit? How could something so beautiful also be so frustrating? She had wanted it to snow while she was here—in theory—but now she wasn’t so sure. Would it have been better to be stuck here in the snow by herself? Would she have known about dripping the water or the generator? How did one even start a generator? Jonah had said they’d probably be stuck here for a couple of days, so as long as she kept her head down and got the words in, she should be able to still make her deadline. With three days to spare for the read-through, as long as she put in at least seven thousand words a day, give or take, she would make it.
The best Bronte had ever done in a day was four thousand, but it was fine. She wouldn’t think about it. The food in front of her started making her stomach turn. She could do this.
Couldn’t she?
Taking her phone out of her pocket, Bronte sent Lexi a text explaining the situation and that she’d be staying on Jonathon Island after all. She’d barely hit Send before her phone started ringing.
“You’re staying? In that house? With a strange man?” Lexi fired off before Bronte could even say hello. It was five thirty in LA. How was Lexi even up at this hour?
Bronte’s eyes darted up to Jonah, who was focused on the book in front of him. “It’s fine, Lex. It’s not like either of us has any other choice anyway. The snow is really coming down.”
Lexi let out a grunt. “Put him on.”
“Lexi—”
“Let me talk to him, Bronte.”
Cringing, Bronte held the phone out toward Jonah. “Um, my friend would like to talk to you.”
Jonah set his book face down on the table and took the phone from Bronte, eyebrows raised.
Bronte didn’t know what Lexi was telling Jonah, but she had a pretty good idea. Jonah’s face gave nothing away as he calmly listened and agreed to whatever Lexi told him on the other end of the line.
“Yes, ma’am.”
Yes, ma’amwhat? Bronte would bet Lexi was having a cow at being addressed so formally, and what was he yes ma’aming her about?
“Jonah White.” An amused sigh. “Jonah Ray White.” A beat of silence. “I give you my solemn word.”
Bronte wanted to roll her eyes. Solemn word. But more so, she wanted to know what solemn word he’d promised Lexi. Why hadn’t she put Lexi on speaker instead of just handing over the phone?
“Lexi, was it?” He paused while Bronte assumed Lexi was confirming her name. “Well, Lexi, I hope that you have a wonderful day Christmas shopping with your mom.”
Wait, what? Lexi had told Jonah she was going Christmas shopping? They’d talked for a whole two minutes on the phone, and they were friends all of a sudden?
Finished, he handed the phone back to Bronte and picked up his book.
“Hello?”
“Okay, I feel a little bit better about you staying with him, but I’m still running the full stalking gambit on him.” Bronte could hear Lexi typing on her laptop. Full stalking gambit started with Facebook, Instagram, and then moved on to more obscure places like Google and LinkedIn. “Goodness, Bront. This man is gorgeous.”
Bronte’s gaze darted back to Jonah, who looked completely engrossed in his book, but from the grin on his face, she wondered if he’d heard what Lexi had said. Bronte turned in her chair, as if that would keep Jonah from overhearing their conversation. “I guess.”
“There is no guessing about it. This man is as fine as any leading man. And four sisters?Andhe’s military?” The more Lexi’s stalking turned up, the more it sounded as if she was on Jonah’s side of things.
“So, you’ve deemed me safe?” Her eggs were getting cold, and Bronte was ready to wrap up this conversation.
“Yes, yes. If anything turns up, I’ll let you know. I’ve also threatened him within an inch of his life if he hurts you.”
