The Crush

by Ward , Penelope

“Why?”

  He placed his hand on the small of my back and guided me toward the door. “I’ll explain to you in a minute. Let’s take a drive.”

  Still confused, I followed Jace out to the truck. As we drove off, I just stared at him. “You need to tell me what’s going on!”

  “Please don’t worry. It’s nothing bad. I’ll explain to you when we get home. I promise it will all make sense.”

  When we got back to the house, Jace led me out to the pool area. It was a beautiful, cool night.

  “Relax here. I’ll be right back.”

  Confused as hell, I waited on one of the loungers as I looked up at the starry sky.

  A minute later, he brought out a plate. As he got closer, I realized it was chocolate-covered strawberries, my favorite treat.

  “What is all this?”

  “This is Plan B.” He set the plate down at the edge of my lounger. “Take one.”

  I lifted one of the strawberries and bit into it. Speaking with my mouth full, I said, “This is so nice, but—”

  “But you’re confused as hell. I get it.” Jace sighed. “Farrah, this night was supposed to be perfect. I called the manager of the bar a while back and arranged to make sure I could be the last to go up there. I was…supposed to ask you to marry me on that stage tonight, in front of all those people.”

  “Oh…Oh my God. What?”

  “Yeah.”

  “You changed your mind?”

  “No.” He laughed. “I didn’t have the damn ring!”

  “It’s lost?”

  “I have to back up a little.”

  I took his hand. “Okay…”

  “Before my mother died, she told my dad that if anything ever happened to her, to make sure he kept her wedding ring so I could have it for the woman I eventually married. The only problem is—and this is going to sound shallow as fuck—my mom’s ring is pretty small. I wanted to get something bigger for you without hurting my dad’s feelings. I went to ask Nathan for his advice on how I should handle it, and something freaky happened. He left the room and came back with a diamond ring that was exactly the same size as my mother’s. It was your mom’s ring.”

  My eyes widened. “Really? I knew Nathan had it, but I thought it was for him.”

  “He wanted me to have it for you. I thought… what am I gonna do with two rings? I’m a one-woman man.” He winked. “But then...I had an idea. I’d take both stones and put them on each side of another one. I went to that local jeweler—Fred Seales. He helped me design the perfect ring for you. He told me it would be ready this week, so I planned this whole thing around that. The problem is, when I went to pick it up earlier, the damn jewelry store had closed early.”

  Unable to contain my laughter, I said, “Oh no.”

  “I nearly canceled my plans at The Iguana, but then Nathan somehow had the bright idea to track down the owner’s home phone number. It turned out his wife went into labor, so he closed the store before I had a chance to pick up the ring.”

  “Oh my God.”

  “I was with you by this time, but he agreed to leave the hospital really quick to meet Nathan and open the store so I could still propose to you tonight on stage. The entire time I was up there, I was praying Nathan would burst through those doors with the ring just in the nick of time.”

  “So that’s why Nathan showed up when he did? He had the ring, but he was too late?”

  “He still didn’t have the ring!” Jace laughed. “The guy had to turn back around because his wife started to push. It was either get me my ring or miss the birth. Nathan didn’t want me to have nothing to give you tonight. So he went to Walmart and bought a temporary zirconia ring, thinking he could make it on time. But of course, he was too late.”

  “Poor Nathan.” I covered my face. “I’m sorry I made you tell me. I ruined everything.”

  “Don’t feel bad. I don’t think I could’ve held it in another second. The stress nearly killed me.”

  We were interrupted by loud banging.

  Jace ran to answer the door, and I followed.

  When he opened, Nathan stood there with his mouth ajar, looking like he was afraid to say anything.

  Jace put him out of his misery. “It’s okay. She knows.”

  Nathan’s shoulders fell. “I’m sorry, sis. We fucked this up.”

  I shook my head. “What are you apologizing for? Don’t you realize how ridiculously lucky I feel tonight? Not only that my boyfriend tried so hard to make tonight special, but that my brother cared enough to run around like a chicken with his head cut off?” I started crying. “I love you both so much.”

  “The jeweler called from the hospital and told me to meet him there.” Nathan handed the ring box to Jace. “Here you go, man. Congratulations.”

  A shiver ran down my spine.

  “Don’t congratulate me yet. She didn’t say yes.”

  Nathan patted Jace on the shoulder. “Before you do it, I have to tell you both something amazing.” He paused. “Guess what they named the baby?”

  “What?” Jace asked.

  He looked like he might cry. “Elizabeth.”

  I whispered, “Mom’s name.”

  “Yup.”

  Jace wrapped his arm around my waist. “I prayed for their approval and asked for a sign. Maybe that’s it.”

  Nathan looked between us and asked, “Should I go now?”

  “Nah.” Jace waved his hand. “You might as well stay. Fitting that your ass will be breathing down my neck when I do it, just like always.”

  Nathan stepped back a bit and smiled. When I looked over again, Jace was already down on one knee.

  “Farrah, this didn’t turn out anything like it was supposed to, but honestly, has anything we’ve ever experienced together gone according to plan? That’s how we do it. I love you so much. You’re gonna be the best damn lawyer there ever was. And I can’t wait to be by your side every step of the way. I’ll be there for you no matter where the road takes us next. I love you more than life itself. Will you be my wife?” He opened the black ring box.

  Tears filled my eyes as I looked down at the gorgeous sparkler. A large center stone was adorned on each side by the two diamonds that had belonged to our mothers, who’d be symbolically protecting our union forever.

  “I love you so much,” I managed to say through my tears.

  “Is that a yes?” He smiled.

  “Yes!” I laughed. “Of course!”

  Nathan fist-pumped. “Yes!”

  Jace turned to him. “That’s a yes from you, too?”

  I wiped the tears from my eyes. “I think this proposal worked out exactly the way it was meant to.”

  “You know what?” Jace smiled. “I agree.”

  Nathan clapped his hands together. “Can we celebrate?”

  “I happen to have some sparkling cider in the fridge leftover from Thanksgiving,” I said.

  “Pop it open, then!”

  Jace kissed me on the cheek. “I’ll get it.”

  I couldn’t stop looking down at my ring. Jace returned with three champagne flutes and the bottle. After popping the cork, he poured us each a glass.

  Nathan was first to toast. “To my brother from another mother and my sister. May you have a long and happy marriage. And to the lucky woman I’ve yet to meet who will someday become the proud recipient of a fifty-dollar zirconia solitaire. Salud!”

  We broke out into laughter.

  This night…gosh, it was perfect.

  Pulling my fiancé close, I lifted my glass and made a toast of my own. “To family…the one you’re born into and the one you make.”

  Dear Readers,

  I hope you’ve enjoyed reading The Crush! I’d love to stay in touch and invite you to join my mailing list and receive back a NEW, FREE short story.

  For a Good Time Call

  Ever see For a good time call scribbled on the bathroom wall of a bar? Sure you have. Ever wonder what would happen if you had a few too many drinks and actu
ally called the number? Well, now you don’t have to wonder anymore, because I’ll tell you… It blows up in your face when you suddenly realize who Mr. Good Time is.

  Other Books by Penelope Ward

  * * *

  The Anti-Boyfriend

  RoomHate

  The Day He Came Back

  Just One Year

  When August Ends

  Love Online

  Gentleman Nine

  Drunk Dial

  Mack Daddy

  Stepbrother Dearest

  Neighbor Dearest

  Jaded and Tyed (A novelette)

  Sins of Sevin

  Jake Undone (Jake #1)

  Jake Understood (Jake #2)

  My Skylar

  Gemini

  Park Avenue Player (co-written with Vi Keeland)

  Stuck-Up Suit (co-written with Vi Keeland)

  Cocky Bastard (co-written with Vi Keeland)

  British Bedmate (co-written with Vi Keeland)

  Playboy Pilot (co-written with Vi Keeland)

  Mister Moneybags (co-written with Vi Keeland)

  Rebel Heir (co-written with Vi Keeland)

  Rebel Heart (co-written with Vi Keeland)

  Hate Notes (co-written with Vi Keeland)

  Dirty Letters (co-written with Vi Keeland)

  My Favorite Souvenir (co-written with Vi Keeland)

  Happily Letter After (co-written with Vi Keeland)

  Acknowledgements

  * * *

  This book was written in 2020 during a really challenging year for all of us. In these unprecedented times, I’m so happy to be able to help provide an escape for you. I consider myself the luckiest gal in the world to have readers all over the world who continue to support and promote my books. Your enthusiasm and hunger for my stories is what motivates me every day. And to all of the book bloggers who work tirelessly to support me, please know how much I appreciate you.

  To Vi – Forever my partner in crime. Hopefully you don’t get tired of me singing your praises. Each year our friendship becomes more invaluable to me. I couldn’t do any of this without you. The best part of this career has been our collaborations and getting to work with my friend each and every day.

  To Julie – My late-night watch dog. Thank you for your friendship and for always inspiring me with your amazing writing and attitude.

  To Luna –Thank you being there day in and day out and especially this year for being such an inspiration. The best is yet to come.

  To Erika –Thank you for always brightening my days with your daily check-ins and virtual smiles. It will always be an E thing!

  To Cheri – An amazing friend and supporter. Thanks for always looking out. Can’t wait ‘til the day we can all get together again.

  To my Facebook reader group, Penelope’s Peeps – I adore you all. You are my home and favorite place to be.

  To my agent extraordinaire, Kimberly Brower –Thank you for everything you do and for getting my books out into the world.

  To my editor Jessica Royer Ocken – It’s always a pleasure working with you. I look forward to many more experiences to come.

  To Elaine of Allusion Book Formatting and Publishing – Thank you for being the best proofreader, formatter, and friend a girl could ask for.

  To Julia Griffis of The Romance Bibliophile – Your eagle eye is amazing. Thank you for being so easy to work with.

  To my assistant Brooke – Thank you for hard work in handling all of the things Vi and I can’t seem to ever get to. We appreciate you so much!

  To Kylie and Jo at Give Me Books – You guys are amazing! Thank you for your tireless promotional work. I would be lost without you.

  To Letitia of RBA Designs – My awesome cover designer. Thank you for always working with me until the finished product exactly perfect.

  To my husband – Thank you for always taking on so much more than you should have to so that I am able to write. I love you so much.

  To the best parents in the world – I’m so lucky to have you! Thank you for everything you have ever done for me and for always being there.

  Last but not least, to my daughter and son – Mommy loves you. You are my motivation and inspiration!

  About the Author

  * * *

  Penelope Ward is a New York Times, USA Today and #1 Wall Street Journal bestselling author.

  She grew up in Boston with five older brothers and spent most of her twenties as a television news anchor. Penelope resides in Rhode Island with her husband, son and beautiful daughter with autism.

  With over two million books sold, she is a 21-time New York Times bestseller and the author of over twenty novels.

  Penelope’s books have been translated into over a dozen languages and can be found in bookstores around the world.

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