Gotta love a big brother who defends you no matter what, even against his best friend.

My desk phone rings, knocking me from my morose thoughts, and I pick it up, surprised to hear Sharon’s voice. “Ivy, I have a huge favor to ask of you,” she starts.

“Sure.” I grab a pen, ready to take notes in case I need to. Sharon talks fast, and I feel like I’m constantly scribbling across a notepad when I talk to her in the hopes I’ll remember what to do. “What’s up?”

“I have a client coming by in fifteen minutes and there’s no way I can be there in time to meet him. Could you do it for me? I hate to ask this of you but I don’t have a choice. I’m stuck in traffic, and I already had a late start back to the office.”

“Sure. Who are you meeting with?”

“Matthew DeLuca. Have you heard of him?”

“What? Of course I have. He and my brother are good friends.” I’m in shock. Why would Matt want to meet with Sharon? Why wouldn’t he meet with me? If this has anything to do with the winery, I’m almost offended. I heard rumors he was going to refurbish it. I totally wanted to check it out and see what exactly needs improving.

Not that I want to be in the same vicinity as Archer . . . do I?

Of course you do, you lovesick idiot.

“Well, perfect. Ought to be easy for you to talk to him and find out what he’s looking for since you know him so well.” She rattles a few other facts off to me before she hangs up. I settle the phone in its cradle, surprise still coursing through my veins.

Okay, now I’m irritated. Why didn’t he reach out to me first? I’m so calling Matt and chewing him out for not wanting to meet with me.

Of course, seeing Matt will also remind me of Archer and that will hurt. It especially hurts because Matt was the one Archer said all of those horrible, hurtful things to about me. He witnessed our entire argument, the reason why we fell apart.

I hate that. But I’ll need to face him sometime, so it may as well be sooner rather than later.

Within minutes I hear the front door buzzer. The entrance is kept locked during the day so we don’t have any strange people busting in uninvited. I stand, smoothing my hands down my skirt as I exit my office and enter the lobby, only to stop short when I see who’s standing on the other side of that door.

It’s not Matt.

It’s Archer.

Stiffening my spine, I stride toward the door, stopping just in front of it. “Go away,” I tell him, knowing he can hear me.

He slowly shakes his head, looking so devastated, so sad, he’s breaking my heart.

Stupid, too-soft heart.

“I can’t go,” he says. “Not until I talk to you, Ivy.”

“I don’t want to hear what you have to say.”

“Too damn bad. If you don’t let me inside, then I’ll just tell you everything through this stupid glass door.”

Stubborn ass. “Where’s Matt? I thought the appointment was with him.”

“He made the appointment so I could come see you.” He pauses and takes a deep breath. There are dark circles beneath his eyes, his cheeks are covered in stubble despite him being impeccably dressed in a gorgeous suit, and his hair is mussed. As if he’s run his hands through it repeatedly. “Though he really does need your help, Ivy. That winery of his is a disaster.”

I love that he’s such an admirer of my talents, but it still doesn’t change the fact of what he did to me. And how much it hurt. Maybe I overreacted, but so what? I need to be protective of my heart when it comes to Archer. “So you’re lying again. Using Matt to see me.”

“You won’t take my calls, you won’t answer my texts. What do you expect me to do?”

“Leave me alone?” I suggest.

He’s still shaking his head. “I can’t do that.”

“Why not?”

“Because I’m in love with you.”

My heart cracks wide open. “I don’t believe you.”

“It’s the f**king truth.” He grabs the handle of the front door and yanks on it, making the glass rattle. “Open the damn door, Ivy, so I can tell you this sort of thing face to face.”

“We are face to face.”

“I feel like I’m in goddamn prison, talking to you through the glass.” He glares at me, his mouth thin, and I almost want to laugh.

Almost.

I should not open that door. Everyone I know would urge me to tell him to screw off. I don’t need his trouble. And he’s full of trouble.

But he’s also fun . . . and sweet and lovable and sexy and smart. He claims he’s in love with me.

I’m in love with him, too.

So I jumped to the worst conclusion, but would anyone blame me? Archer doesn’t have the best track record when it comes to women. I wanted to believe he was in love with me, but I was scared. Afraid he’d bail on me after the two weeks we were together because that was our original deal, right? Two weeks. Next thing I know I’m ready to turn it into a lifetime and that’s scary.

Maybe I overreacted because I was scared to commit too. Neither of us is perfect.

And then there’s that stupid bet Gage told me about. Why didn’t Archer mention it from the start? I wouldn’t have cared. Those three are always making ridiculous bets with huge payouts. They’re ridiculous. The bet is ridiculous.

Yet he kept it from me like some deep dark secret. Doesn’t he know I’m used to their behavior by now? And I still love him for it?

He’s watching me, his dark eyes looking so haunted I automatically reach out and hit the keypad, punching in the code that deactivates the alarm and flicking the lock so the door can open. Next thing I know he’s rushing in, rushing me, and I’m in his arms, being clutched so tight I can hardly breathe as my face is pressed against his chest, breathing in his familiar, delicious scent. He buries his face against my hair, his entire body trembling, and it’s like I can’t help myself.

I wrap my arms around his solid warmth and close my eyes, savoring being in his arms again.

“I’m sorry,” he murmurs against my temple just before he kisses it. “I f**ked up and I’m sorry. Will you ever forgive me? I need you to forgive me, Ivy. I need you in my life. I feel lost without you.”

Tears threaten. Of course. When do they not threaten lately? “I’m sorry too.”

“For what?” He sounds stunned.

“I overreacted. I blamed you and made such a big deal about the bet being a secret but maybe . . . maybe I was scared too.” I pull away slightly so we can face each other. It feels so natural, so right, having him here. Touching me, looking at me with all that love and emotion shining in his eyes. It gives me hope. “If you’d been honest about the stupid bet from the beginning, I wouldn’t have cared.”

He frowns, his brows drawing down. “Really?”

“Archer. I know how you guys operate. I would’ve helped you win that million dollars if you’d let me in on the secret.” I so would’ve. Not anymore though.

Nope. Now I’m ready to throw him to the wolves and make him pay up.

“I’m an idiot,” he says with a sigh. “Your brother said so too.”

“You talked to Gage about me?” I’m in shock.

“I wanted his blessing.” His face turns solemn, his dark brows drawing together. “Considering I’m in love with his sister, I had to clear the air between us and make sure I had his approval.”

“And do you?” I hold my breath for fear of my brother’s reaction.

“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 until realization 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.”