Epilogue

R ain battered the wide windows in the Archers’ kitchen as Derek walked in to refill his and Chloe’s pint glasses. Rob was checking the ham in the oven for Christmas Eve dinner and turned when he heard Derek come in.

“You like that?” Rob asked, gesturing to the tap where he’d just hooked up his latest creation that morning. A dark amber with a little spice, it was unusual in its taste, but very usual in its excellence.

“It’s great,” Derek said. “So great that I think it might get Chloe drunk.”

Rob laughed. “Oops. She’s a smart girl. She’ll keep her head about her.”

“If she’s so smart, what in the world is she doing with me?” Derek asked, still amazed that she’d welcomed him back after he’d continuously behaved like an utter jackass.

“Improving you. Just let it happen, son.” Rob came over and clapped him on the back. “Emily’s been doing it for thirty-five years, and I have no complaints.”

“Oh, I definitely have no complaints and freely admit she’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me.” He finished drawing the second pint and gave Rob a serious look. “But your family is a very close second.”

“And I’ll take that ranking.” Rob beamed. He’d been overjoyed when Derek had announced that Chloe was moving in with him.

They walked back into the living room together where Chloe, Emily, Alex, Sara, and Hayden were chatting over their various drinks and a spread of hors d’oeuvres that could easily take the place of dinner. The rest of the Archer kids weren’t coming home for the holiday, but that made Derek less irritated than usual, with the exception of Kyle. He was overdue for a visit home, and if Derek had understood the importance of family before, its significance had only grown since he’d fallen in love with Chloe. Kyle didn’t know what he was missing.

Derek walked to where Chloe was sitting in a stuffed chair and reached down to massage her shoulder. She was laughing at something Hayden had said. Derek leaned down, “Care to steal a moment alone with me?”

She turned her head and looked up at him, her hazel eyes sparkling in the warm glow from the Christmas tree and the roaring fire burning in the hearth. “Definitely.”

“Excuse us for a sec.” Derek helped her to stand, handed her the pint glass, and led her from the living room. He took her downstairs to the billiards room.

“You wanted to play pool?” she asked.

“No. I wanted to thank you for introducing me to your parents this morning. I see what you mean about your mom.” Even over Skype, Derek could tell Barbara English was uptight. She’d commented multiple times on Chloe’s appearance—positively, but still critically—and had then grilled Derek about his background. That he was a CFO of a successful corporation had scored him major points, as had the backdrop of the call—his well-appointed loft.

The Englishes had been tentative in their congratulations upon hearing that Chloe and Derek were living together, but Derek had soothed their fears when he’d secretly called them back a couple of hours ago and shared his master plan.

“I brought you down here to ask you something very important.” He bit his tongue to keep from laughing. He’d planned this down to the last detail.

She set her beer on the edge of the pool table. Her eyes widened and he could see the wheels turning in her mind. It was Christmas Eve, they were head over heels in love, and he’d brought her somewhere private to ask a question. There was only one thing going through her mind—just the way he wanted it. “You did?”

He nodded. “Uh-huh. Turns out Uncle Ted wants to retire, and Rob wants you to be Archer Pubs’ new artist.”

“What?” The tone of her question was equal parts happy surprise and unexpected shock. While she liked the question, it wasn’t the one she’d expected.

Derek stifled his smile. “The hours will be flexible, so you can still teach at the school. Granted, you’ll have to travel a bit to paint the actual spaces, but I’ll come along, if you like.”

She stared at him. “Oh. Um, sure.” She shook her head and Derek almost felt sorry for her. Almost. “I’d love to. I mean, thank you, I'm thrilled.” She smiled and he knew she really was thrilled beneath her bewilderment.

“So about that pool game . . .” He walked over to the wall and picked up a cue. “Why don’t you get the balls?”

She continued to stare at him. Then her brow wrinkled and she pursed her lips. “You want to play pool? Now?”

“Sure, why not?” he asked, inflecting as much innocence into his tone as he could.

“Okay . . . I guess. Why didn’t you invite the others to come with us?” She fished three balls out of the center pocket on her side. Then she moved to the corner and Derek held his breath. She reached into the pocket and frowned. When her hand came out, she was clutching a box. Derek still managed to keep himself from grinning like an idiot.

“Derek, what is this?” She looked at the box in her palm and then raised her gaze to his.

He moved around the pool table and kneeled in front of her as she opened the lid. The 1.2-carat oval diamond he’d bought in Portland three days ago winked up at her as she gasped.

“Derek!”

“Isn’t that what you were expecting when I brought you down here?” He let the smile into his voice and onto his face. “I never, ever want to disappoint you again.”

She lifted her gaze from the diamond and looked at him, tears swimming in her magnificent eyes. “It’s beautiful.”

He reached up and took the ring, then set the box on the edge of the pool table. “Chloe, you’ve changed my life in more ways than I ever could have hoped. You’ve given me friendship, support, love, and most of all—a home. I’ve never felt that so completely before, not even here, but with you, I feel that anything is possible. That everything is possible. Will you be my wife?”

She wiped a tear from her cheek. “My mother is going to freak.”

“Your mother approves.”

She gaped at him. “You asked her?”

“And your dad, of course. They were much more at ease with our living arrangements knowing that we were going to be engaged.”

She gave him a skeptical look that he knew was patently false. “You were that sure of my answer, huh?”

“I was . . . hopeful.” Something he’d never been before. “But don’t leave me hanging. You accepted the job faster than you’re accepting me.”

“Yes, yes, a million times yes!” She grinned.

He took her left hand and pushed the ring onto her finger. She tugged him to stand and threw her arms around his neck. After a short, but heated kiss, she pulled back. “Do the Archers know?”

“Not yet.” He’d wanted to savor the surprise of telling them in person—with Chloe. “I wanted all of my family together when I told them.”

“Then let’s go do it,” she said, clasping his hand.

He let her lead the way, but stopped at the base of the stairs and drew her back for another kiss. “I love you, Chloe. Thank you.”

“For what? Loving you? Couldn’t help it, I’m afraid.”

“But you know what I mean, right? That you’re my family? My home?”

She moved to the bottom step of the stairs so she could look him squarely in the eye and cradled his face in her hands. “We’re both home now.”

Want more Archers and Ribbon Ridge? Grab Get Lucky, featuring Sara Archer:

After a hot one-night stand with her old high school crush, Sara isn’t sure she wants to hire him to oversee the renovation project she and her siblings are undertaking. But she’s outvoted, and now she and Dylan must fight their sizzling mutual attraction or agree to be friends with benefits. When their secret affair starts to become something more, they will have to overcome family drama and emotional trauma to pursue a love that was only in their dreams.

Ribbon Ridge is a fictional town based on several cities and towns dotting the Willamette Valley between Portland and the Oregon Coast. It’s pinot noir wine country, very beautiful and picturesque, and a short drive from where I live. My brother actually dwells right in the heart of it in a tiny town with no stoplights. There is, however, an amazing antique mall in an historic schoolhouse (and apparently seven Pokestops).

Would you like to know when my next book is available and to hear about sales and deals? Sign up for my VIP newsletter which is the only place you can get bonus books and material such as the short prequel to the Phoenix Club series, INVITATION, and the exciting prequel to Legendary Rogues, THE LEGEND OF A ROGUE.

Join me on social media!

Facebook: https://facebook.com/DarcyBurkeFans

Facebook group: Darcy’s Duchesses

Instagram at darcyburkeauthor

Pinterest at darcyburkewrite

And follow me on Bookbub to receive updates on pre-orders, new releases, and deals!

I hope you’ll consider leaving a review at your favorite online vendor or networking site!

I appreciate my readers so much. Thank you, thank you, thank you .