They hadn’t bothered with last names or even discussed why they were both alone in a hotel bar. It didn’t seem to matter at the time. All that mattered was getting out of their clothes and into each other’s arms as quickly as possible.
Once they’d accomplished that, the rest of the night had passed in a haze of desperate commands and electrifying sensations. He’d explored her body so thoroughly at first that she’d felt certain she’d go mad the moment he finally entered her. And when at last he did, Darcy had shattered with an intensity that she’d never felt before-or since.
Even now, after all this time, she could recall every single moment, the weight of his body against her hips, the warmth of his mouth, the sound of his voice, low and ragged as he exploded inside her.
She felt his fingers on her arm and Darcy blinked. “Are you all right?” he asked, bending closer to catch her gaze.
“Yes,” she murmured. “Of course.” She took another step to the side and a moment later, he was gone, just as he had been that morning when she’d found herself alone in his hotel room.
Darcy waited until she heard the bell on the shop door tinkle, then released a tightly-held breath, the lack of oxygen making her a bit dizzy. Amanda rushed to her side and grabbed her elbow. “Do you know who that was?”
“Yeah, I know,” Darcy said numbly. “Kel Martin.”
Amanda seemed taken aback. “I didn’t think you followed the Giants.”
“Everyone knows who Kel Martin is,” Darcy replied. He was always in the news, if not for his league-leading ERA, then for his colorful love life. According to the gossips, Kel favored leggy models, rising starlets and the occasional jet-setting heiress. Though Darcy was reluctant to admit it, whenever he appeared in a newspaper or magazine, she made sure to search the article for details and study the photo until she had catalogued every one of his handsome features all over again. He was a stranger to her and yet she felt as if they were still lovers, the memory of their night so vivid in her mind.
“He touched you,” Amanda said.
Darcy glanced down at her forearm, then rubbed her palm over the spot. The tingle seemed to have spread down to her fingers and toes. “Did he?”
“He’s very handsome,” Ellie Fairbanks commented. “Have you two met before?”
Darcy shook her head. “Why would you say that?”
The shopkeeper shrugged. “It seemed as though there was a…connection between you.” She smoothed her palms over her apron. “Well, I have your samples all ready. But you must try some of our other chocolates. Whatever tempts you will be my treat.”
“I’ll take some of that romance you were offering,” Amanda said. “What about you, Darcy? Are you in the mood for love?”
“I think I’ll stick with the truffles,” Darcy insisted.
Ellie wandered over to one of the display cases and Amanda trailed after her. As they discussed the merits of the various flavors, Darcy tried to calm her nerves. What was Kel Martin doing in Austell? Was he vacationing here or just passing through? Oh, God, could he be planning a stay at The Delaford?
Amanda hurried back to her side, a pair of truffles resting on her palm. She offered one to Darcy and, without thinking, Darcy popped it into her mouth. The creamy chocolate melted instantly, a hint of raspberry in the ganache center. A tiny groan slipped from her lips. If anything could make her forget her brush with the past, the truffles were definitely it. But it would take more than just one.
“Get me a half-pound of the raspberry and a half-pound of the mocha,” Darcy murmured. “And add five of those dark chocolate turtles and some of the coconut clusters. Then get whatever you want and we’ll start an account.”
Good chocolate was definitely better than bad sex. But how much chocolate would it take to forget her night with Kel Martin? Two or three tons?
Darcy had always known there was a chance she’d run into him again and she’d even fantasized about how it might go. But now that it had happened, Darcy cursed the decision to forgo dessert at the restaurant. Her life could have gone on normally had she never seen him again. But even as she thought it, Darcy knew it was a lie. No matter how much time passed, she’d never forget her night with Kel.
Ellie chatted with Darcy as she put their chocolates into a pretty red bag. Her husband, Marcus, appeared from the back room with another box filled with the pillow chocolates, embossed with the “D” of the Delaford logo.
“Before you leave, I have to give you one more thing.” Ellie smiled slyly then held out another basket, this one filled with pink hearts. “Choose one,” she said. Darcy plucked a heart out of the basket and Amanda took one for herself.
“There’s a message inside,” Ellie explained. “If either of you finds its match before Valentine’s Day, then you and the gentleman will win a romantic dinner at The Winery at The Delaford and one hundred chocolate hearts.” She laughed softly. “You have heard of The Delaford, haven’t you?”
Darcy turned the heart over in her hand. “What if no one finds their match? What are the chances of finding a complete stranger with the same message?”
“All lovers are strangers in the beginning, aren’t they?” Ellie replied.
Darcy tucked the heart into her purse. “I wish I had time for romance,” she murmured, turning for the door.
“Hey, I’ll give it a shot,” Amanda said. She caught up to Darcy and pulled open the door. “I really don’t want to spend another Valentine’s Day sitting at home in front of the television, trying to convince myself that I’m happier without a man. Here’s my Valentine fantasy: flowers and candy and maybe a pricey piece of jewelry. Spending the night in bed, making wild, sweaty love with a man who’ll at least pretend he’s a romantic for a day.”
“But the fantasy is always better than the reality,” Darcy murmured. “And sometimes it’s a lot easier on the heart.”
KEL MARTIN sat in his car across the street from Sinfully Sweet and watched through the windows of the Mercedes convertible as the two women left the store. His gaze fixed on the slender brunette and he pulled his sunglasses down so he could see her more clearly. Once she’d disappeared around the corner, he absently reached for the box of chocolates beside him and popped one in his mouth.
When he’d first looked into Darcy’s eyes, he’d been sure it was her. And then, a heartbeat later, he’d thought perhaps his imagination had been playing tricks on him. But once she’d spoken, all doubts had disappeared. That voice, so soft and captivating, was impossible to forget.
His thoughts drifted back to that night, to all the new and exciting experiences they’d shared. He’d had his share of one-night stands, but this had been different. It was as if their anonymity had broken down every wall between them, robbing them of their inhibitions.
They’d both felt completely free to test the limits of their desire. He recalled her words as he moved inside her, murmuring things that no woman had ever said to him before, making him feel as if he were the only man in the world who could pleasure her.
“Darcy,” he said softly. He’d never asked her last name, nor had he bothered with a phone number or an address before he’d walked away. At the time, he’d stupidly believed there would be others like her, women who could reach into his soul and take control of his body as she had. It was only later that Kel realized what they’d shared: pure pleasure, an almost mystical connection between their bodies and their minds.
He’d spent the past five years trying to find it again and Kel had come to the conclusion that it had been a moment lost in time. He raked his hand through his hair, groaning softly. They’d barely even spoken that night and yet every minute they’d spent together had been burned indelibly on his brain.
Kel had heard a lot of stories in the locker room, one wilder than the next. And he’d contributed his share of experiences to the discussion. But he’d never once talked about Darcy, never tried to put what they had shared into words. With her, it had been more than just a one-night stand.
All those years ago…At first glance, she’d seemed unapproachable. The bar had been nearly empty and she hadn’t noticed him at first. And when he had caught her eye, there hadn’t been any recognition.
At that moment, all Kel had wanted was a normal conversation with a woman-no baseball talk, no plastic smiles or casual caresses, no silly giggling over every wry comment he made. He had wanted something simple and easy. He’d never imagined the pleasures he’d been about to experience.
