Page 80 of Meet Me at the Christmas Cottage
“Let me think about it.”
Jonah straightened up and shrugged. She instantly missed his touch. “I guess we’re headed home, Holland. I only have a little over a week of leave left, and it seems Bronte is too busy for us.”
Both Holland and Lexi started to protest when Bronte grabbed Jonah’s wrist and pulled him back to her. “Shut up and kiss me, Jonah White.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“We’re just going to see ourselves out.” Holland and Lexi tiptoed back into the hallway, closing the door behind them.
Not being able to stand the space between them, Bronte rose on her tiptoes and softly pressed her lips to Jonah’s. She’d missed the feel of his lips on hers. Missed the fireworks shooting off in her head at his touch.
“Jonah,” she whispered, pulling away.
Jonah, eyes closed, found her lips again with his. “We’re supposed to be kissing.”
“I know,” she said in between kisses. “But I need to say this.” Before her head was too clouded with his kisses and his sandalwood and citrus scent.
Jonah leaned his head back but left his arms around her, his blue eyes staring into hers.
One could drown in his eyes. “Thank you.”
Eyebrows dipping into a frown, he asked, “For what?”
“For coming to find me. For not giving up on us. For choosing me.” Her voice wobbled with emotion.
“I will always choose you.” His eyes darted between hers. “Can we be done talking now? Because I really want to kiss you some more.”
She could only nod as he brought his mouth back to hers, claiming her lips with his own.
Sighing into his kiss, she let his words roll over her. She finally, really,trulybelonged to someone—and she couldn’t have picked a better someone for herself.
Epilogue
DateDecember 31
Days until Deadline13
Words to be written15,743 (and some edits)
Bronte’s insides twisted as she once again stood outside Holland’s house. This time, tucked into Jonah’s side.
Since they hadn’t been able to get a flight back to Michigan until New Year’s Eve, Bronte had enjoyed taking Jonah and Holland around Tulsa and showing them all her favorite spots. Jonah had been right about Bronte loving Holland.
“Are they going to be mad I left?” Bronte whispered, thinking only Jonah would be able to hear.
“Trust me,” Holland answered, skirting around them. “They would have been mad had we not brought you back. Jonah has been sulking for daaaays.”
Bronte looked up at Jonah, and he shrugged. “What can I say? My heart left.”
Smiling, Bronte stood on tiptoes to give Jonah a quick peck, but he pulled her closer, deepening the kiss.
“You guys, the parents are coming,” Holland warned, slipping into the house two seconds before Jonah’s parents bounded out the door, arms open wide.
“Jonah! Bronte!” Renee and George White pulled them into a hug.
Bronte had thought her heart couldn’t get any fuller, but she had been wrong. Meeting Jonah’s parents had her heart almost overflowing.
During the flight, Jonah had told Bronte all about how his parents had been excited that he’d be moving home. It didn’t matter that he still had at least a year of processing before he’d be officially out of the Army. He’d gotten in touch with the Johnsons, and they were working on writing up a deal for him and Oliver to purchase the bookstore. Since it would be a while before Jonah could move home, the plan was for Oliver to return to the island in a few weeks. They wanted to have the bookstore opened in time for the start of the season at the beginning of May. His dad had also talked to Dr. Nova, and she was planning to purchase the clinic.
