Take a Chance on Me(101)

She’d hated every minute of it.

When she’d taken to sneaking into the farmhouse and crawling into bed with him in the middle of the night, he’d finally put his foot down.

She sighed. Contentment had her curling deeper into his embrace. She didn’t care if it was wrong: Mitch and this farmhouse made her happy.

“Maddie,” he said, his voice catching in a way that had her lifting her chin. “You know I love you.”

“I know. I love you too.”

His fingers brushed a lock of hair behind her chin. “Come with me.”

He clasped her hand and led her into the bedroom before motioning her to the bed. She sat, and he walked over to the antique dresser and took a box out of the dresser. He walked back to the bed and sat down next to her. “I wanted to give this to you tonight, but then I saw you standing in the doorway and I knew I couldn’t wait.”

Maddie looked at the box, it was wooden, etched with an intricate fleur-de-lis design on it and words in another language. “What is it?”

“It was my grandmother’s. They bought it on their honeymoon. It’s French. It says, ‘There is only one happiness in life: to love and be loved.’”

“It’s beautiful.” That he would give her something so treasured brought the threat of tears to her eyes.

He handed it to her. “Open it.”

She took the box and suddenly her heart started to pound. She lifted the lid and gasped, blinking as her vision blurred.

Mitch grasped her left hand. “I know it’s only been three months, but in my family, meeting the night your car breaks down is a sign of a long, happy marriage.”

Maddie couldn’t take her eyes off the ring. It was a gorgeous, simple platinum band with two small emerald stones flanking what had to be a three-carat rectangular diamond.

She looked at Mitch.

“Maddie Donovan, will you please marry me?”

“Yes.” She kissed him, a soft, slow, drugging kiss filled with hope and promises. There was no hesitation. Not a seed of worry or shred of doubt. Her heart belonged to only one man, and he was right in front of her. “It would be my honor.”

He slipped the ring on her finger. “My grandma would be thrilled that you have her ring.”

“It’s hers?” It sparkled in the sunlight. It looked important on her hand.

“It’s been in the family vault since she died. My mom sent it a couple of weeks ago. She’s been a little pushy about the whole thing. I think she’s worried I’ll do something to screw it up and she’ll lose the best daughter-in-law ever.”

Maddie laughed. “I love her, too.”

He ran his finger over the platinum band. “I changed the side stones to emeralds because they match your eyes. Do you think I made the right choice?”

She put her hands on the sides of his face. “It is the most gorgeous ring I have ever laid eyes on. I love it. I love you. You know I’d take you with a plastic ring from Wal-Mart.”

“I know.”

She kissed him. “But I’m not going to lie: this is a kick-ass ring.”

He grinned. “You know, I think that’s what my grandma used to say.”

“She was obviously a smart woman.”

“For the record, don’t even think about running.” Mitch pushed her back on the bed and captured her beneath him. “I will hunt you down to the ends of the earth and bring you back where you belong.”

She reached for him, this man who’d been her salvation. “I will run down the aisle to meet you.”





Keep reading for

an excerpt from the

second book in

Jennifer Dawson’s

Something New series!





“We got the lead story.” Nathaniel Riley’s voice sounded over the car speaker.

The news didn’t surprise Cecilia. Reporters don’t shove a story about a senator recovering from a blackmail scandal to the back page.

Cecilia stabbed the speaker’s volume button until it lowered to a reasonable level. “Then everything is going according to plan.”

“I trust you’re happy.” Her father’s purring tone conveyed that he was one satisfied cat.

She clenched the leather steering wheel.

Happy. Now there’s a word. When was the last time she’d been happy? Stop. This was not the time to get philosophical. If she wanted a chance in hell at winning the congressional seat come election time this was what needed to be done.

It was the smart move.

And she needed to win.

She’d get over the distastefulness sitting in the back of her throat. She always did.

A green highway sign came into focus. Revival. Fifteen miles. Where everything was sunshine, laughter, and genuine happiness.

Her skull throbbed.

“Cecilia?” Her father’s voice fractured her thoughts. “What did you think of the article?”

She hadn’t read it. This morning, she’d thrown the unopened paper in the trash and deleted the Google Alert links sitting in her email. It was a fluff piece, carefully crafted by the senator’s finest. The first of many that would lead to a final press conference where she’d announce her bid for Congress. It was all part of a perfectly planned public relations strategy, designed by her.