Between the soft breeze blowing Jace’s scent my way and the buzz, I was on cloud nine. We polished off the rest of the food, and by the time I finished the beer, I felt pretty tipsy. “Thanks.” I took a long sip that felt great going down. “Be right back.”Ī minute later, Jace returned with two chilled bottles of Miller Lite. It’s fucked-up.” He laughed as he walked backwards into the house. “You’ve dropped me off at the damn bar! How could you think that?”

“Is it bad that I had to think for a second whether you’re legal to drink? It feels wrong giving you alcohol, for some reason.” This is a story of forbidden love, broken trust, and an unexpected second chance. The knowledge of that wasn’t enough to stop the inevitable, though.īut more than the physical attraction, we’d developed a strong connection. Still, I assumed he would never… go there. Like on movie night, I’d casually rest my leg against his, and he wouldn’t exactly shift away. I was pretty much hot and bothered twenty-four-seven. That was what made things so complicated. Living under our roof, Jace was as bossy and protective as ever.īut he certainly didn’t look at me like a sister anymore. It was just the three of us-an odd family dynamic. Jace had moved in with my brother, Nathan, and me to help us make ends meet after our parents died. He was six years older and always treated me like the sister he never had. And for as long as I could remember, I’d secretly wanted my brother’s best friend, Jace. It’s natural to want the one you can’t have. Cover Design: Letitia Hasser, RBA Designsįrom New York Times bestselling author Penelope Ward, comes a new standalone, second-chance story of forbidden love…

The Crush by Penelope Ward