Chapter 28
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Archer loved the words coming out of Elton’s mouth, loved the picture they painted in his head and the man he’d be sharing that picture with, but he was struggling to make his dream scenario fit with reality. “I need you to explain. I need to understand what I’m hearing and how it’ll work.”
“I skipped the middle, didn’t I?” Elton dipped his chin, the blush slashing across his cheeks more enticing than the food in front of them.
Archer curled a finger under his chin and lifted his face, wanting his gaze back, wanting Elton to understand that nothing about his confusion was doubt over his feelings; it was merely confusion over the logistics.
“I loved the end, I want that too, but I need to know how we get there. Can you tell me now?”
“I can,” Elton said with a smile so bright it could have powered this leaning building.
That somehow grew impossibly brighter as he told him over dinner about the Talley Foundation, about the organization and recruitment efforts he, Aidan, and Nic had undertaken since the spring, about the position each of them would hold and the work they would do, and about the careful, precise, and coordinated way they would have to leave their current jobs in order to protect each other and the Foundation going forward.
But that all signs pointed to it being very soon.
“This is incredible.” Archer laid down his fork and knife. “I’m proud of you. All of you.”
“And I’m proud of you too,” Elton said, so fast that Archer didn’t have time to rehash doubts over his own efforts.
“Whether it’s the winery, the restaurants, or your homes, you and the Rosins invite people in.
Talley, Price, and I, the others we’ve recruited, we can use our resources to protect that, to protect others who are just trying to live their lives and their truth, including being with the ones they love. ”
Like Archer wanted to be with Elton, in that idyllic picture he’d painted earlier. “And will the Foundation be based here in San Francisco? Will you?”
“Technically.”
Archer fought to stop his smile from falling. He’d endured the past months of long-distance thinking that something good, something more settled would come in the future. As much as he’d come to love Elton, he didn’t want to lose any more time with him.
“Practically,” Elton was saying, “I was hoping to sell this place and live at the vineyard with you. There’ll be some travel, but nothing like—”
That was all Archer needed to hear, the last piece of the puzzle, the picture of their future together complete.
Wanting to kiss and seal it into place, Archer levered up and over Elton’s lap, straddling him and slamming their mouths together.
Indulging in the first of what he hoped were many kisses that didn’t have to end.
Elton did, however, end this one, using his hands on either side of Archer’s face to hold him back just far enough to meet his gaze again. “I love you, Archer, and if you give me the chance, I want to be your partner. I want to be your relief too.”
“In all the ways?”
“I told Aidan and Nic we were kinky, and we toasted with mini ball caps of caramel corn before they made me drink cheap champagne from a can.”
“You poor baby,” Archer said, laughing, before he tipped forward again, pressing his forehead against Elton’s. “I love you too, and I’ll be by your side, at home and whenever the Foundation’s executive director needs his partner on his arm.”
“Always, but on one condition.” He shoved a hand in his pocket—and came out with a ring that he lifted between them.
That took Archer’s breath away. A wide gold band etched with grape leaves.
“That you’re on my arm as my husband. That we get married as soon as we can, right there,” he said, pointing toward the photo in the foyer that Archer had lost countless minutes staring at earlier.
“In my favorite place I’ve ever visited. ”
Archer closed his hand around the band, then his arms around the fantasy man that had come back into life, that had brought him out of his shell and bettered his reality, that had brightened his future and made him sigh with relief. “There’s nothing I’d rather do.”
Did you miss Archer or Elton in earlier books?
Blue Plate Special: Archer first appears in this age-gap romance featuring Noah and Ezra
Trouble Brewing: Elton first appears in this M/M romantic suspense series featuring Nic and Cam
Reviews are an invaluable tool when it comes to spreading the word about great reads. Please consider leaving an honest review for Sigh of Relief on your favorite review site.
Thank you for reading!