But no matter how hard she hugged, it didn’t ease the ache in her heart. She’d miss the passion and the excitement, the wonderful anticipation she felt all day long while thinking about the evening ahead. But mostly she’d miss the quiet moments, when she curled into his body and listened to him breathe.
Darcy glanced around the room, searching for anything else Kel might have left behind. Her gaze stopped at a small item on the nightstand. She frowned as she recognized the incomplete chocolate heart, wrapped in blue foil, from Sinfully Sweet. “I guess he wasn’t looking for romance after all,” she murmured.
More chocolate was exactly what she needed now. “It’s going to take a lot more than half a chocolate heart,” she muttered.
She carefully unwrapped the heart. Inside, she found a small piece of paper. Darcy unfolded it and squinted to read the message. “
Darcy crawled off the bed, the heart and its little message clutched in her hand. She grabbed Kel’s pillow before heading to the door. If she spent any more time in the room, she’d drive herself crazy. The sooner it was cleaned the better.
Before summoning the elevator, Darcy picked up the house phone that sat on the sofa table in the small lobby. Olivia answered at the front desk. “Hi, it’s Darcy. Can you let housekeeping know that the Bennington Suite is empty? Have them send someone up to clean it as soon as possible.” Darcy paused. “Has Mr. Martin left yet?”
“He just walked out a few seconds ago,” Olivia replied. “I could probably catch him if you’d like. He may be waiting for the valet to bring his car around.”
“No,” Darcy said. “That’s fine.” She dropped the phone in the cradle, then pushed the elevator button.
When she reached the lobby, she went directly to her office, Kel’s pillow still tucked beneath her arm. Olivia gave her an odd look as she passed, but Darcy kept her gaze fixed in front of her. So what if her whole staff was talking? A woman had a right to enjoy herself every now and then.
When she reached her office, she found Amanda sitting at her desk, her feet up on the edge. “I saw him leave,” she said, sending Darcy a sympathetic smile. “Are you all right?”
“Of course,” Darcy said, trying to sound cheerful. “I’m fine. I knew we only had a week and this works out perfectly. I didn’t have time to think about what I was going to say or do. It was just a nice, quick good-bye. And now my life can get back on track.”
“And that’s it?” Amanda asked.
“Yeah.” Darcy paused. “He’s been traded to Atlanta so he’ll be leaving San Francisco. But he said he might call me someday.”
Amanda scoffed. “That’s all he could manage?”
“This was just a physical thing between us, nothing more. Neither of us wanted any strings.”
“Sell that story somewhere else ’cause I’m not buying it. I’ve watched you this past week and you’ve been so happy. When Kel is around, you just…glow. This guy is meant for you, Darcy, whether you’re willing to admit it or not.”
Darcy sat down in one of her guest chairs. “You really think so?” She placed the pillow on the chair next to her and at Amanda’s inquiring frown, Darcy smiled sheepishly. “It smells like him,” she admitted.
“I rest my case,” Amanda said.
Darcy set Kel’s chocolate on the desk and cracked it into smaller pieces, then handed a piece to Amanda. “All you need is love,” she said. “That’s what the message was inside. Do you think that’s true?”
“Yes,” Amanda said. “I do believe that.” She placed a piece of the chocolate in her mouth. “All you do need is love. And great sex. And two bathrooms and separate vacations once a year. Also a dependable hairdresser, a good gynecologist, and a mother-in-law who lives at least a thousand miles away and-”
“Stop! I think you’re missing the point.”
“You know what my message said?” Amanda asked. “Nothing.”
“It was blank?”
“No, it just had the word ‘nothing’ on it. I didn’t find that particularly encouraging. Is that a question or an answer or just a mistake?”
“It must be a misprint.”
“Or somewhere out there is a guy who has a matching ‘something’ message. I just need to search for a man who has a confused look on his face. What did yours say?”
“I don’t know.” Darcy stood and retrieved her purse from the top of her credenza. She rummaged through the contents, then finally dumped everything on top of her desk. “Here it is,” she said, handing it to Amanda.
Amanda unwrapped it and pulled out the tiny piece of paper inside. “You want me to read it?”
Darcy nodded and watched as Amanda unfolded the message. Her friend gasped softly, her eyes going wide, then quickly refolded the message. “You don’t want to see this.”
“What does it say?”
Amanda’s lower lip began to tremble as she stared at the message and her eyes flooded with tears. “It’s silly and sentimental.” She brushed a tear from her eye, then quickly stood.
“What?” Darcy said. What could the note possibly say that would bring such a reaction from Amanda?. “It doesn’t say ‘something,’ does it?”
Amanda shook her head. “No. Kel Martin and I did not win a romantic dinner at The Delaford.” She smiled ruefully. “It says-” Her voice wavered and she laughed softly, then handed Darcy the paper. “Go ahead. Read it.”
“‘All you need is love.’ That’s the same as-” Darcy stopped short. “Oh, my God.”
“This is just so corny,” Amanda said, tears streaming down her face. “Don’t mind me, this kind of thing turns me into a complete sap.”
“It’s a match,” Darcy said, slowly standing. “What does that mean?”
“You win a romantic dinner for two at The Delaford!” Amanda cried.
“No, no,” Darcy said. “That’s not what it means.” She stared at the two pieces of paper. Suddenly, it all felt so right, loving Kel, wanting a future with him. But how could that be? Two silly little pieces paper and she could see them growing old together. “This is ridiculous. This doesn’t mean anything.”
“It means what you want it to mean,” Amanda said.
“And what do I want it to mean?” Darcy asked as she scooped up the contents of her purse and stuffed it all back inside.
Amanda reached out and grabbed her hand. “I think you know.”
Darcy looked at her friend as tears filled Amanda’s eyes again. Tears suddenly flooded her own eyes and a few moments later they were both crying. “I have to go,” Darcy said.
“You have to go,” Amanda replied.
“I have to talk to him.” Darcy raced around the office gathering her things. “I have to find Kel and tell him how I feel.”
“And how do you feel?” Amanda called as Darcy ran toward her office door.
“I’m in love,” she said, laughing through her tears. “Am I crazy?” Darcy shrugged. “I am. But I don’t care.”
When she got to the front desk, she quickly punched up Kel’s registration, then grabbed a pen and scribbled out his address and phone number.
“Darcy, where are we meeting? Do you have the budgets for me to review before we get started?”
Darcy glanced up to see her father approaching. Sam Scott had that impatient look on his face, one that usually ended in him giving her a stern lecture on proper business practices. “They’re setting up in the Pacific Room,” she said. “I’m not going to be able to make the meeting, but Amanda will get you a copy of the budget. She’s in my office.”
“Where are you going? You can’t just leave me with this.”
Darcy circled the counter and threw her arms around her father’s neck. They never really hugged-her father wasn’t a very demonstrative man-but Darcy couldn’t contain herself. She felt as if she could fly. “Daddy, I want a seat on the board. And I want you to promise you’ll make me a vice president within the next five years. And if you don’t agree, I’m going to quit.”
He opened his mouth to reply, but Darcy shook her head. “You know I’m good at this, Daddy, and you’d be a fool to let me go. And I know you’re not a fool. You’re not going to find anyone more loyal or devoted than I am. So I’d suggest you just nod your head and agree to give me what I want.”
