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“I told you I wanted you.”
“I remember that.” She recalled how much it hurt, too.
“Well, I was trying to say that I want you. All of you.”
He leaned forward and took her clasped hands between his. “Willow, I’m in love with you, too.”
She wasn’t sure which one of them moved first, but suddenly his lips were on hers, and she was melting into him. Her fingers slid from between his hands, and they snaked up over his shoulders to nestle in the hair at his nape.
Gentle, warm kisses deepened, and she found herself trying to climb into him, both coming up on their knees. This was what she’d always been looking for. Him. She fit herself to him, wanting more, needing more and losing her ability to care that they were inside a play tent.
Finally, he sat back again. “I don’t know about you, but my knees are killing me. And since I was about to peel your clothes off in a place where our daughters might one day have tea parties together...”
She chuckled as she sat back, this time stretching out her sore legs. “Yeah, me, too.”
Again, he reached for her hands.
“I know I’ve asked you this before.” He hesitated, clearing his throat. “Twice. And then I took the offer back when you said yes. But there’s a question I’d like to ask.”
“Go ahead.” She wasn’t sure how she’d even pushed the words past the lump clogging her throat. This was what she’d waited for, and it was finally here.
“Marry me, Willow. Not because it makes sense that we should be together to raise our beautiful girls, though it absolutely does. And not because we’re so compatible in bed.”
Asher paused to trace his gaze over her like a caress that began at her scalp and ended at her pointed toes. When she shivered, he grinned.
“Though that’s true, too. We know the difference between real and fake now, and what we have is real. Be my wife because you love me as much as I love you.” He licked his lips and stared into her eyes. “Well?”
“Yes. And don’t you ever take that offer back.”
She leaned in and kissed him again and again.
He gasped for breath. “I want to adopt Luna, too, and, if you’re willing, I’d like you to adopt Harper.”
“I want to do that, too. I’ll love your daughter as if she’s my own.”
He started to kiss her again.
“Wait. I want you to know that I don’t mind if you choose to keep your last name since I know you’ve had a problem with mine. Do whatever makes you happy.”
“You make me happy, and I now associate that name with you, so I’ll be happy to be a Colton.”
A smile spread on his lips.
“Oh. One more thing. There were two more times when you were interrupted. After the fire and at the hospital. Both times, I think you were talking about me, and each time you said ‘my’ and stopped. What did you almost say?”
She smiled. “Oh, that’s easy. Both times, it was the same, but I wasn’t ready to say it yet. My love.”
His eyes appeared extra shiny before they closed, so he could press his lips to hers once more.
Someone outside the tent cleared her throat.
“Speaking of interruptions.”
He pulled away and then backed out of the tent. She followed him out.
Her cheeks burned as she found Genevieve and Marlowe sitting on the outdoor sofa, holding Asher’s daughter and hers. The tray of lemonade had been relocated to the table next to where they sat. The two women tittered, possessors of an inside joke.
“It’s good to see you both again.”
