Page 1 of Crazy Love

PROLOGUE

SCREECHING HALT

PENN

February

The sun is just starting to set over the turquoise waters of the Bahamas and I’m trying not to freak out over this ceremony. I’m officiating the wedding of one of my best friends tomorrow—Bowie Fox. I technically married him and Poppy in their hospital room while they were giving birth to their baby, but this is thepolished-up, beautiful version. The pressure is on. I’ve gotta get this right.

I try out a few lines under my breath as I stare out at the water, willing it to calm me. “Marriage is like the ocean—vast, mysterious, and full of surprises.” I wince. “Nope. Too deep. Literally.”

“You might want to avoid ocean metaphors unless you’re comparing love to a hurricane…whichhasbeen done, I suppose.”

My thoughts halt like a record scratch when I look over and see an impossibly gorgeous woman staring out pensively at the ocean. Her long, black hair cascades down her back and her skin looks bronzed in this light. She’s wearing a white tank top andshortwhite shorts and she is wearing themwell.

When her eyes meet mine, she gives me an amused smirk and I get this weird ping in my gut. Like I just went skydiving and lost my stomach.

“Caught me practicing,” I say sheepishly. “I’m marrying my friends tomorrow.”

Her eyebrows lift. “You’re marrying your friends…”

“I mean, I’m officiating…” I tug on my shirt, feeling hot all of a sudden.

“And you’re nervous?” Her gaze drifts over my face and I swallow hard but then try to play it off.

“I-no. Not really. I—” I run my hands through my hair and laugh. “Well, yeah. I am. Words matter, you know? I love my friends and they’re trusting me to set the tone for their wedding…and the rest of their lives. No pressure or anything.”

Her smirk widens into a smile and I’m done. Sign me up. I’m in.

“Well, Preacher Man, I think you’ll be just fine.”

“Preacher Man?” I volley, a grin taking over my entire face.

Damn, she’s pretty.

“Sounds like it fits.” She gives a slight shrug and my eyes drop to her delicate shoulder. Her skin looks so soft and it takes effort to drag my eyes away from her body, but her big brown eyes and pouty lips are oh so alluring, so the payoff is still huge when I do.

“Trust me, I am not…holy.”

There’s a beat where we stare at each other. My eyes drop to her mouth and stay fixated there for a few seconds. God, I’ve never wanted to kiss someone so badly in all my life. Not after just meeting, for Christ’s sake, and honestly…kissing isn’t really my thing. I find kissing way more intimate than sex.

“I have just the thing to help you relax,” she says.

“Oh…really.” I have to say I’m surprised that she’s going there so soon, but you won’t find me complaining.

“Yes, follow me.” She turns and walks toward the resort, turning once to look at me over her shoulder. She smiles when she sees that I’m following, and my stomach does that free-fall again…it’s the weirdest thing.

I’m not sure where this girl is leading me, but I’m beyond caring. I take her hand and let her guide me through the sandy paths of the resort.

“Where are you taking me?” I ask.

“Patience is a virtue,” she teases.

“Virtue is overrated.”

“Says the preacher man.”

I laugh. “Right. Preacher Man. Name’s actually Penn. What’s yours?”

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