She smoothed her skirt, then walked across the room. “Hello, Daddy,” she said, bending down to kiss his cheek. “Hello, Mr. Martin.”
Kel tapped his finger on his cheek, a silent invitation for her to kiss him as well but Darcy sent him a murderous glare. The last thing she needed was Kel making friends with her father. “I’m sorry I’m late, Daddy, but I got caught up with a problem out on the golf course.”
Her father smiled at her, then indicated a chair across from him and right next to Kel. “That’s all right, Darcy. Mr. Martin was keeping me company, telling me how much he’s been enjoying his stay. He said you’ve been particularly attentive to his needs. That’s exactly what I like to hear. A hands-on manager is the key to a successful hotel. Every detail must be attended to, don’t you agree, Darcy?”
Darcy cleared her throat, trying to ignore the feel of Kel’s thigh as it brushed up against hers. “Of course, Daddy. I think you’ll find that our attention to guest service is always our number one priority. I have some figures on return visits that I know you’d like to see. Why don’t we go to my office-”
“Not now,” Sam said. “Kel has asked me to play a round of golf with him this morning. He’s got a tee time at nine.”
“But we’re going to be busy today. I have so many things to go over with you. We have some very important items to discuss.”
“That can wait,” Sam said.
“Yes, that can wait,” Kel said. “How often to I get to play golf with my best girl’s dad?”
“Your what?” Darcy said, her voice rising to a slightly hysterical pitch.
“Kel told me you two have been spending some time together,” Sam said. “I’m glad to hear it. It’s about time you started thinking about your future.”
“Kel and I are not dating and he is not my future,” Darcy insisted. “We barely know each other.” She sent Kel another look, then stomped on his foot beneath the table. What was he doing, dishing out silly stories to her father? “And about my future. I have some good news. I’m going to be buying a house.”
“So, Kel, how have you enjoyed your stay so far?” Sam asked, ignoring Darcy’s revelation.
“It’s been great,” Kel said. “As I said, Darcy has been very attentive. I have had one little problem though.”
“You have more than one,” Darcy muttered.
“Not a problem, a complaint,” he corrected.
“You should take your complaints to guest services,” Darcy said, pasting a smile on her face.
“I could call guest services, but I think you’re better prepared to help me,” Kel said. “You see, I’m having a problem with my shower.”
“Maintenance will take care of that. I’ll send them right up to your room.”
“Maybe
“Is it leaking?”
“Nope. That’s not it.”
“Hasn’t it been cleaned properly?”
“It’s quite clean. But every time I get in the shower I think, this is really huge. It’s just too roomy for one person.”
“You want me to get you a room with a smaller shower?”
“No, I don’t think that’s it. But I’m sure you’ll figure out what’s wrong and get it fixed.”
“Funny,” Sam said. “I never thought the showers were too big. Darcy, maybe you should look into that.”
Darcy felt heat rising in her cheeks. She reached beneath the table and pinched Kel’s thigh as hard as she could.
“Ow!” Kel cried.
Sam frowned. “What is it?”
“Cramp,” Kel said. “I get them all the time when I don’t sleep well.”
“Is there something wrong with your bed?” Sam asked. “Darcy, maybe you ought to check on Kel’s bed, too.”
“There’s nothing wrong with his bed,” Darcy said. The words were out before she realized how they sounded. “Not that I know anything about his bed, personally. Just in general, all our beds are fine.” Darcy stood, her legs bumping up against the table as she rose.
Her father reached out to steady his water goblet, sending her an impatient glare. “Aren’t you going to order some breakfast?”
“I have a lot of work to do. I’ll catch up with you later, Daddy. After your round of golf.” She turned to Kel. “Could I talk to you for a moment? I just want to make sure I get your tee time right.”
Darcy strode out of the restaurant into the lobby and waited for Kel to join her. When he did, she grabbed his hand and dragged him toward her office. “Exactly what do you think you’re doing?”
“Having breakfast with your dad. He’s a great guy. Quite a character. And what a businessman. He gave me some good tips on investing.”
“That’s not what I meant. You told him we’re dating.”
“Well, we are. Kind of. We could be if we didn’t spend every waking moment in bed together.”
“We are not going to date,” Darcy said. “We had an agreement. This was only supposed to last a week. It’s just sex, not a relationship.”
His expression sobered. “Come on, Darcy, you know that’s not true. It’s not just about sex. Maybe it was in the beginning but not anymore.”
“I’m not looking for a relationship, Kel,” Darcy said. “Don’t you see? That’s why it’s so good between us, because we aren’t making plans for our future. We can just be who we are in the present.”
“And what would change if we started making plans?”
“Everything,” she said. “I want you to go back into the restaurant and tell my father you can’t golf with him this morning. And I want you to tell him we aren’t really dating and we’re just friends.”
“Are you sure about that, Darcy? What’s your gripe with your dad?”
“What’s going on between you and me is none of my father’s business. And what goes on between me and my father is none of your business.”
He shook his head. “You’re wrong.”
“If I’m going to have a relationship with a man, I want it to be my idea, not my father’s. He’s been running my life for as long as I can remember. I’ve never been good enough for him, no matter how hard I tried. He wants me to be just like my mother.”
“And you don’t want that?”
“Don’t get me wrong. She’s a lovely woman, but I’m not her. She was satisfied to live in a little corner of my father’s life. She’s never had anything of her own. I want to make something more out of my life, and that doesn’t include marriage and a family.”
“What’s wrong with marriage and a family?” Kel asked.
“Nothing.” She sighed. “I’m just warning you, don’t get too close to my father. Before you know it, he’ll have us married and producing a grandson every few years.” She paused, trying to contain her frustration. “I’m good at my job. I’m really good and I deserve a shot to run this company someday. And I’m going to do whatever it takes to make him see that.”
Darcy turned and walked toward her office. She hadn’t worked so hard these past two years to let a man show up and come between her and her future. Kel Martin would walk out of her life in two more days and she would go on as she had before. But even as she said the words to herself, Darcy’s conviction wavered. Somehow, she sensed that her life would never be the same again.
DARCY STOOD in the tee box of the second hole, staring out at the fairway. “I don’t golf,” she insisted. “I’m not any good at it and I would think that should be clear to you by now. It took me thirty-seven swings to get this far.”
“Strokes,” Kel corrected. He smiled to himself as he watched her struggle with the club. This may not be the relaxing afternoon he’d hoped he and Darcy would enjoy, but at least he’d achieved his goal. After all, he’d tricked Darcy into coming along with him.
Sam Scott had planned to join Kel, but at the last minute had to take a conference call. He’d insisted Darcy
