Chapter 1
When Jenna Greene’s boyfriend got down on bended knee in the middle of their favorite upscale restaurant, she frowned in confusion. “Jason...” Wow, so many ways to finish that sentence.
Didn’t we talk about this?
Please don’t do this.
Everyone is watching.
Because yes, as luck would have it, every table at The Bradley was full. The ambient noise of muted chatter and clanking silverware was outdone only by Frank Sinatra, who crooned “Fly Me to the Moon.” Which incidentally sounded like a lovely idea right now.
The clamor hushed as their audience caught on to the moment. Jason gazed up at Jenna, his hazel eyes gleaming behind clear-framed glasses. “Jenna, when you first walked in the door at Fleming Orthodontics I knew you were the one—and not just for the office position.”
Jenna’s heart threatened to burst from her chest. As he continued talking, her thoughts spun like a top. She should’ve seen this coming! It was the second anniversary of their first date. It was Valentine’s Day. And hadn’t he just brought up marriage (again) last week?
But why was he proposing when she’d told him (again) she wasn’t ready for that? Well, maybe nottold, but certainly intimated! She was in no hurry. She was only twenty-seven. They had the rest of their lives to take the next step.
Jason continued regaling her with what she could only assume were romantic sentiments. Her smile felt plastic as her gaze darted around the room. Yep, every eye was locked on them, hopeful anticipation animating each face. Women were practically swooning over the grand gesture. Jenna was practically swooning too, if you went by the literal definition.
She put her fingers to her spinning head. Shehadto say yes, didn’t she? It was pretty much a prerequisite of a public proposal. Besides which, friends of his family were likely present. Alexandria, Virginia, wasn’t exactly a metropolis, and the Flemings were well-known since his mother was the mayor.
If Jenna said no, word would spread quickly and Jason would be humiliated. His family would hate her. There would be no way for him to save face if she rejected him so publicly.
Maybe that was the whole point.
She shook away the unproductive thought as the rich scent of hot fudge wafted to her nose. The double-chocolate brownie now sat in her stomach like a lead brick. Her cloth dinner napkin slipped from the table, and the room was so quiet she actually heard it hit the wooden floor.
Then Jason reached into his pocket and produced a ring: a shiny gold band set with a flashy oval diamond. So very lovely—if not exactly her style. But what did one expect when one avoided ring shopping with one’s boyfriend?
He bought a ring.
She definitely had to say yes. Then once they were alone, she’d gently walk back her answer. It was the kind thing to do—wasn’t it?
Or maybe she’d just go along with it. Sure, she’d wanted to wait awhile longer. Till she was ready. But she loved Jason. And ithadbeen two years. Maybe she should just bite the bullet.
She winced at the unromantic thought. But really, she did love the guy. He was a kind man. Great with kids. Handsome in that John Krasinski way. She loved everything about him. Except that he rooted for the Nationals. And, okay, the way he didn’t quitehearher sometimes. (Case in point.) Also, that teensy problem with his holding grudges. But nobody was perfect!
So she would say yes. Maybe she wouldn’t even take it back later. Or maybe she would. She’d have to postpone that decision because Jason was taking a breath, the anticipated question hovering on his lips, and there was nothing she could do to stop it.
“Jenna Mae Greene... will you marry me?” Jason’s sparkling eyes cheered her on. His lips curved in that about-to-win smirk she saw regularly just before his final checkmate.
It was her turn to talk. But the abrupt silence was like a black hole. A vacuum sucking every thought from her head. Literally everything she’d been thinking... gone. Lost. Vanished.
Say something!
How about yes!
Just say yes!
She opened her mouth. But her thick tongue was cemented to the roof of her mouth.
Jason gave a nervous chuckle. “Jenna?”
“I—” she croaked. Then her throat constricted as if she’d suddenly developed a severe allergy to chocolate—or to sudden, unwanted proposals.
Say yes, dummy!Then joy would transform his expression, and he’d slip that ring on her finger and kiss her like she’d just made him the happiest man alive. The entire restaurant would explode with approval, the server would offer their best bottle of champagne, and they would toast to the rest of their lives.
But.
