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“I do.” He smiles faintly, though his jaw is still tight. “I think he gets how much I love you. Thank God. Remember, I’m an idiot when it comes to this sort of thing.”
I nod in agreement. He so is. “You are. So am I. Maybe that’s why we’re so good together.”
His expression clears at my words. “I also really messed this up.”
“You definitely did.”
“You’ve never, ever been just Ivy to me.” He cups my cheek, his fingers drifting lightly across my skin. “You’ve become my everything.”
My heart flutters when he touches the corner of my lips with his thumb. “I’ve missed you.”
“I’ve missed you too.” Leaning in, he kisses me, breathing against my lips all the pent-up hope and love I’ve held deep inside me as well. “I love you, Ivy. So damn much it’s killing me not to have you by my side. I need you. I want you to be my partner in every sense of the word.”
“What do you mean?” My heart is beating so fast I swear it’s going to thump right out of my chest.
“Come live with me. Work with me. Start your own design business in Napa. Do you know how many calls I’ve taken since the opening, all of them asking about you? I could give you a ready-made client list.”
Pride suffuses me. I had no idea. “Including Matt?”
He chuckles. “Yes. He’s reluctant, but I’m trying to sway him. Cheap bastard.”
I laugh, feeling lighter than I have in weeks. “What about us?”
Archer sobers immediately. “I’m in love with you, Ivy. I want you by my side forever.”
“Forever?” I ask breathlessly.
“Yeah.” He kisses me again, deeper this time, my lips parting for his persuasive tongue. “Marry me, and we can go into business together. Bancroft and Bancroft,” he says after he breaks the kiss.
“Bancroft and Emerson?” I joke, though my head is spinning at his words and what they all mean.
“Baby, if you’re going to marry me, you have to take my name. I’m kind of old-fashioned like that.” He frowns. “I can’t believe I just said that. I sound like a macho ass.”
Laughing, I circle my arms around his neck and press my fingers against his nape, forcing him to kiss me again. “I loved that you just said that. I will gladly take your name, Archer. Though I’ll be the first Bancroft in Bancroft and Bancroft, I hope you know.”
“I don’t think so,” he murmurs against my smiling lips. “My first name starts with an A. Yours with an I. I’m afraid I’m first.”
“Shouldn’t you be polite? Ladies first, after all,” I tease as he pulls me in closer.
“I think I can do that.” He presses his forehead to mine, staring deep into my eyes. “I need to hear you say it, Ivy.”
“Say what?” I’m confused. Dazzled. Lost in his dark brown gaze, those golden flecks dancing with so much happiness.
He doesn’t say a word, merely continues to stare at me untilrealization slowly dawns. “Oh.” Tipping my head up, I kiss him. Softly. Reverently. “I forgive you, Archer.”
“I forgive you too, Ivy.” He’s smiling, knowing I’m teasing him, drawing it out. “And?”
“And I love you. So much, I thought I might die without you these last two weeks.”
“I feel the same way, baby. The same exact way. Don’t ever leave my side again.”
“I won’t. I promise.”
“Become just my wife. Nothing else. Just mine.” He’s teasing again and this time his words don’t hurt.
This time, his declaration fills me with so much love I know he’s the man for me.
“Only if you become just my mine too,” I say with a smile.
