“And if I don’t want to manage?”
“I’m sorry,” she said, but he could tell she wasn’t going to change her mind.
He pushed his fingertips into the pockets of his jeans. “I respect your decision.”
“Thank you.”
He moved to one side to allow her to enter her office. She set a tote bag on the desk. He hadn’t even seen it in her hand. She opened her desk drawer. “Are you going to stand there and watch me?”
“Tess.” Exploding into action, he reached around her and slammed the drawer shut. “Damn it, this is wrong. You can’t do this.”
He heard the edge of desperation in his tone, but there was nothing he could do about it.
She looked for a moment as though she was about to snap at him, but something in his expression must have caught her attention. She went still. ?
?Why can’t I do this?”
“The company needs you.”
She shook her head. “Not good enough.”
“I need you.”
Her expression didn’t change. “You’ll find another office manager. No one is irreplaceable.”
“You are,” he said roughly. “Maybe I could replace you here in the office, though I’d never find anyone as competent and dedicated. But I could never replace you in my life. I don’t even want to try.”
“Why, Scott?”
“Because I love you, damn it. I don’t want to lose you.”
The words echoed in his ears as she studied him in silence. He grimaced. He’d screwed up again. That was probably the least romantic declaration she’d heard since...well, since he’d made such a mess of proposing to her.
“I really am hopeless at this,” he muttered. “I can’t blame you for wanting to get as far away from me as you can, but I’m asking you to stay. If it means getting down on one knee—hell, on both knees—I’ll do it. Don’t give up on us, Tess. Don’t give up on me.”
She’d said she loved him. Had she changed her mind? Had she come to her senses?
She took a step toward him, searching his face intently. “You’ve really suffered the past two days, haven’t you?”
“Yes,” he admitted in a growl. “Hell, yes.”
Incredibly, she smiled. “Good.”
“Well, I’m glad that makes you so happy,” he grumbled.
She threw her arms around his neck so abruptly he staggered backward. He righted himself quickly, gathering her close. “Tess?”
She drew back just far enough to gaze fiercely into his face. “I don’t want to be married because we make a great team. I don’t want to be the one you choose because I’m practical and sensible and fit in well with your family. I don’t want you to marry me because I’m low maintenance or easygoing or understanding. I want the romance, darn it, just like any other woman. You don’t have to get down on your knees, but you’d better be willing to admit you don’t want to lose me. You’d damned well better fight for me if you want me.”
He studied her flushed face and wild eyes, utterly fascinated by this new side of her. How could he ever grow bored with Tess or take her for granted when she never ceased to surprise him?
“I’d fight dragons for you,” he said in growing wonder. “I’d give up everything I own to keep you, including this company. I’ll give you every material thing I own because none of that matters. You already have the rest of me.”
“Including your heart?”
“You’re the only one who’s ever had it. I was just too damned scared to admit it.”
Rising on tiptoes, she lifted her mouth to his. He kissed her thoroughly, intensely, pouring all the emotion she demanded from him into the embrace. All he wanted to give her.