Cross My Heart (A Contemporary Romance Novel)

is wrong with you? Are you saying you asked her to stay here, to change her whole life for you, without even telling her you love her?”
    “I…” He wasn’t used to feeling this defensive with his daughter…or with anyone. “She knows I love her. It was obvious every time I was with her.”
    She looked at him in disgust. “Unbelievable. Okay, Dad, let me clue you in here. You have to say the words.”
    He remembered the way he’d felt walking home from Jenna’s that last morning, the pain that had radiated through him. “To be honest, I’m glad I didn’t. Because I’d feel even worse right now.”
    “Is that why you didn’t tell her? To protect yourself? My God, Dad, I had no idea you were such a coward. You know what? You deserved to get rejected. You didn’t ask her to marry you, you didn’t tell her you love her—”
    “Okay, fine. I deserved to get rejected. Now, if you don’t mind, I’d like to go to the state fair and try to have a good time.”
    “You think the butter cow sculpture is going to make you forget about Jenna?”
    That made him smile. “Hey, it’s worth a shot. Did you know the statue weighs 600 pounds and could butter 19,200 slices of toast?”
    Claire shook her head at him. “You’re hopeless, you know that? But you’re the only dad I’ve got, so I guess I’m stuck with you.”
    For the rest of that week, he couldn’t get Claire’s words out of his head.
    It didn’t take him long to realize she was right.
    He should have told Jenna he loved her. He should have asked her to marry him. Because that’s how he felt, and that’s what he wanted.
    Maybe it was crazy, since they’d only known each other a month. But when he looked into his heart, all he could see was Jenna. He could be cautious, and hedge his bets—and lose her. Or he could throw caution to the wind, take a risk—
    And probably still lose her. But at least he’d know he hadn’t held anything back, that he’d done everything he could to win the woman he loved.
    He went downtown the next day to look for a ring. Instinct led him away from the usual stores and into a boutique that sold antique jewelry, where he found an engagement ring that might as well have had “Jenna Landry” in a neon sign above it. It was an art deco square cut ruby set in gold filigree, and it was so perfect he had to stop himself from tracking Jenna down and proposing to her then and there.
    But Jenna had enough on her mind right now, getting ready for tomorrow night’s concert. She’d told him—through Claire, of course—that they should come backstage after the show.
    That’s when he would propose. He’d do it in front of a hundred people if he had to. But he couldn’t wait any longer than that, with the ring burning a hole in his pocket and his heart aching without her.
    * * *
    He and Claire got to the Odeon early, mostly because Claire was so excited she couldn’t sit still. The old-fashioned theater was a great venue, quirky and shabby with a kind of gone-to-seed elegance that appealed to him. He and Claire were sitting in the front row of the balcony, dead center.
    He leaned his arms on the railing in front of him and surveyed the crowd below. The opening act didn’t seem to be holding anyone’s attention. There was a standing room only section right in front of the stage, and none of the people down there seemed particularly interested in the band.
    “I hope they pay attention when the Mollies are performing,” he said with a frown.
    Claire laughed at him. “Don’t worry, Dad. You’re going to see this place go nuts when they come on stage.”
    He looked around him, at the people talking and laughing. They didn’t look like a crowd ready to go nuts. They were people of all ages, all backgrounds—even some pushing forty, like him. “If you say so.”
    At that moment, the opening band finished their last song and left the stage, to applause that sounded more polite than enthusiastic. The lights came up in the theater, and a crew of people came out on stage and cleared the previous band’s equipment. Then they started setting up for the Mollies, bringing out microphones, amps, and instruments.
    That’s when he felt it. A thrum of excitement running through the crowd, like a spark of electricity. He found himself sitting straighter in his seat, watching the crew finish. When they left the stage was ready, but the house lights hadn’t gone down yet.
    He didn’t know how it started, but suddenly the