Lost and Found (16 page)

“
Shall I go by your house
and pick you up a suitcase of clothes?”

He laughed. “No. I took care of all
that. You might leave me a small corner of yours to carry it all
back in though.”

She didn’t say anything.

“
Darcy, above all else, I
want you here because I miss you. Us being apart is no way to start
a relationship.”

She dropped her shoulders, releasing
the tension that had built up in them.

“
You really miss
me?”

“
I know it probably sounds
crazy since we’ve only known each other a week, but it’s
true.”

She figured she was smiling like a
fool, but she had needed to hear it. “My mother always told me it
wouldn’t matter how long I knew a man, when you knew he was the
right one you knew.”

Ed chuckled. “My grandmother would say
the same thing.”

“
I’m still old fashioned
enough though. I’m going to book myself a room.”

“
I wouldn’t have it any
other way.”

She knew he meant that too, or he
would have stayed the other night—or asked to.

Darcy made the arrangements Ed had
asked her to make. She then headed home to pack up her
suitcase.

She parked out back by the garage
where Christian’s car was parked. As she climbed down out of Ed’s
truck, she wondered if she should stay home. Maybe Christian would
need help.

Then she laughed at the thought. She’d
never known a family that swarmed around anyone who needed help as
much as the Kellers did. He’d be fine.

But, before she headed down to pack
up, she’d check in on him.

As usual, the back door was unlocked.
She tapped on it as she opened it.

“
Christian, can I come in?”
she called out.

“
Yeah, come on in. We’re in
the front room.”

We’re
? She hadn’t seen another car. But, sure enough, when she
walked into the front room, there was Tyler sitting with Christian
playing Xbox.

“
You look like you’re
feeling better,” she said.

“
Yeah, just bored. Tyler
had the day off so we’re playing baseball—sorta.”

Tyler was focused on the game, and
when he’d scored a home run, he jumped from his chair with a
holler.

Darcy laughed. She’d seen boys play
games like this, but these were grown men.

“
Sorry, Darcy, I was
concentrating. How are you?” Tyler asked.

“
I’m good. I’m heading to
Saint Louis.”

Christian looked up at her. “You’re
going out there to be with Ed?”

She bit down on her lip.
“Yes.”

“
I’ll say it again. He’s a
lucky man.”

“
But what about you? I feel
bad leaving you here.”

Christian shrugged. “Why? I’m well
taken care of.”

Tyler jumped up again. “And
I thought
you
were
some kind of baseball player. Look at that score.”

“
You’d better go,”
Christian said. “I have to school this boy.”

They all laughed and Darcy turned to
walk away, but something made her turn back when Tyler began to
talk smack to Christian. There was something very familiar about
him. He was blond and fair like his father, but that wasn’t the
familiar part. She couldn’t quite touch on it, but there was
something.

Darcy stared at her suitcase and
mentally counted the items. It was a business trip after all, not a
vacation. Trying to decide if a swimsuit was necessary was a waste
of time.

She closed the case and hauled it out
of her room. Food at the airport was horribly expensive, so she
decided to make herself a sandwich. At the moment, her living
expenses weren’t very high, but the need to save money was going to
be very important. She was rather enjoying driving Ed’s truck, and
it wouldn’t be long before she’d want a car of her own.

An hour later, she was in the truck
and headed to the airport. She’d just merged onto the highway,
which had her jumpy, when her cell phone rang.

Darcy growled. She reached next to
her, and with one hand, she dug through her purse until she found
her phone.

“
Hello.”

“
Hey, honey, it’s
Daddy.”

Darcy sighed. “Hi, Daddy. How are
you?”

“
I’m good. I got your
message this morning. I went to breakfast with Pete and
Greg.”

“
Coffee crew,
huh?”

“
They keep me
sane.”

She didn’t like that, but she knew it
was true.

“
So, what were you calling
for?”

Darcy focused on the road ahead of
her, trying not to let her emotions take over.

“
I was just missing you and
thinking about mom.”

“
Everything is okay? Your
job is good?”

“
Everything is wonderful,
Daddy. I’m actually on my way to Saint Louis right now to meet my
boss.” Why did she say it that way?

“
You be careful. I’m not
fond of you being away from me, but now you’re
traveling…”

And that was why she’d said it that
way. “Daddy, I’m fine.”

“
Your boss is a nice
man?”

Darcy smiled. “He’s the
best.”

Her father growled. “You’re not ready
to come home yet, are you? I still don’t see why you had to go to
Nashville to work. You know, Pete’s son…”

“
Daddy, I’m fine. I don’t
need a job from Pete’s son or anyone else. I landed a great job,
and I’m very happy.”

“
I worry about you. You
know your mother would have been sick over you moving.”

Darcy’s hand was tightening on the
steering wheel. If they’d only told her the truth to start with,
she wouldn’t be worrying her father.

“
It’s time for me to spread
my wings.”

“
You’re always welcome to
come home.”

Darcy took her exit and started toward
the airport. “I know. Daddy, I have to go. But remember, I love you
very much.”

“
Take care of
yourself.”

Darcy hit the button on her cell phone
and tossed it back into her purse. Her father had a hard time
expressing his true feelings. But even though he never ended his
phone calls by saying he loved her, she knew he did. Darcy pulled
into the parking garage and began to search for a spot that was big
enough for Ed’s truck.

***

Ed rubbed his eyes and then leaned his
head back against the couch in his hotel room. He’d forgotten to
get Darcy’s itinerary, and he hadn’t been able to reach her on her
cell phone. She was probably in flight.

He’d wanted to be at the airport when
she arrived. He owed her that much.

It looked like their stay
in Saint Louis might last at least three more days. He’d rather
spend time with her without the interruption of getting this build
back on track, but he had to remember she
was
his assistant.

He was walking a thin line between
keeping it professional and losing his mind. There had been no
choice but to have her fly out to meet him. Sure, she could have
done everything he needed her to do from Nashville, but the truth
was he couldn’t focus.

There had never been a time when a
woman had seemed so perfect in his life, and the crazy part was he
didn’t really know her at all.

His grandmother had always said that
when the right woman came along he’d just know it, but he’d never
believed it.

And what was it about her? Why this
woman who ran into him and then blamed him? But that hadn’t been
it. There had been more on her mind than just finding a job. Fate
had put her in his path, but why?

He lifted his head and stood from the
couch just as there was a knock on his door. It was probably
Valerie. They’d discussed getting a bite, but he’d wanted to try
and get a hold of Darcy first.

Ed pulled open the door and was more
than pleasantly surprised to find Darcy standing on the other side.
She was dressed in a simple, black dress with a shawl draped over
her arm. Her makeup was fresh, and her smile slightly
seductive.

“
You owe me a dinner, and
if they play music, you owe me a dance, too.”

“
You look
beautiful.”

“
Thank you.”

“
How did you know where to
find me?”

“
Valerie, who by the way
says she has plans for dinner already.”

He laughed. “I’ll bet she does.” Ed
reached for her hand and pulled her though the door.

As soon as she was in front of him, he
shut the door, pressed her up against it, and his mouth came down
on hers.

She moaned as his tongue found hers,
and his heart beat kicked up. Any other woman—any other time—he
might forget his gentlemanly promise and carry her to the bed only
a few feet away. But this was different. This was Darcy, and there
was time. Time to kiss. Time to caress. Time to wait.

Ed ran his finger down her throat and
then followed with his mouth. He could feel her pulse beneath his
lips. Her heart was racing as fast as his. Her breath was in his
ear, and her fingers gripped tightly to the back of his
shirt.

It wouldn’t take much persuading.
She’d give into his needs as a man, this much he knew. But he
couldn’t—wouldn’t—do that.

Ed nuzzled his face into her neck and
felt her body quake against his.

“
Oh, I did miss you,” he
whispered in her ear.

She gasped for a breath. “I missed
you, too.”

“
It’s a good thing you got
your own room. This is truly a test of my good
behavior.”

She chuckled in his ear and then
pressed a kiss to his ear. “Ed, I’m not a virgin. You don’t have to
worry about that.”

He pulled back and gazed into her dark
eyes. “I’m not worried about hurting you. I’m more focused on
keeping you.”

“
Oh,” she said on a
sigh.

“
I have never felt this way
about someone. I don’t even really know you, but…”

“
I know.” She smiled. “I
know.”

Ed sucked in a breath. “Let’s go to
dinner. Suddenly my head is swimming.”

“
I could use a decent
meal.”

Ed sat in the booth across from Darcy
in the restaurant in the hotel. It wasn’t a five-star
establishment, but it wasn’t some downtown dive either.

She was glad she hadn’t missed him by
the time she got to the hotel, cleaned up, and met him in his room.
Her phone had died during the flight. She was just glad it had all
worked out.

Once their order was taken, Ed reached
across the table for her hand. “How was your night last
night?”

She chuckled. “Eventful. So you don’t
let people drive your truck?”

Ed’s brows narrowed. “Who told you
that?”

“
Your dad.”

“
You were with my dad last
night?”

Darcy smiled. “And your mother,
brother, Aunt Simone, and Uncle Curtis too.”

“
I leave town and they
invite you to spend time with them?”

She laughed then covered her mouth
with her hand to stifle it. “No. Christian tore a muscle in his
leg.”

Ed’s face tightened in concern, and he
leaned in over the table. “He’s okay? No one called me.”

“
Relax. He’s fine. They
knew you were busy.” She took a sip from her water glass. “Curtis
says if he does it again he might need surgery. But he was in good
spirits when I left today, and Tyler was keeping him company. They
were playing baseball on Xbox.”

That made Ed laugh, and he relaxed
back into his seat. “That’s the second time he’s done that. The
first one cost him his chance at major league.”

“
I think he’s upset about
it, but he seems to be taking it in stride.”

Ed nodded. “You seem to have spent
more time with my family in the past week than I have in
weeks.”

“
That’s not my
fault.”

Ed held his free hand up in defense.
“I know. I’m sorry.”

“
I was at first, too. But
now I’m not. I love your family, and it’s given me some
peace.”

“
My family gives you
peace?”

“
Yes.” She grinned. “I was
so mad when I found out I was adopted that I almost didn’t even
speak to my parents for a year. Then when my mother got sick, I was
mad that she was sick. Don’t get me wrong. I took care of her, but
I was mad.”

“
I remember being mad. I
was mad because it wasn’t fair to me that she was sick.”

Darcy dropped her shoulders.
“Exactly.” They did have a lot in common. “Anyway, I never had
anything like you do. I had mom and dad, and that was it. You have
this enormous family who cares for each other and takes in strays.
I feel like I belong there.”