She still hadn’t worked up the courage to issue her ultimatum, even though she’d decided exactly what to say. Darcy wanted a seat on the board immediately and a promise that she would be next in line for a vice presidency at corporate headquarters. And if Sam Scott didn’t agree, then she was prepared to walk away. In addition, she’d decided she should tell him the truth about Kel-that their relationship had been over before it had ever started.

Things had been so easy between her and Kel over the past week. It had almost made her believe that they could sustain a real relationship. But since her father had arrived, things had begun to go bad. Maybe it was the impending end of their little “arrangement” that had set them both on edge, but they couldn’t seem to be together without an argument arising.

She tipped her head back and sighed deeply. This was what she’d wanted, proof that the attraction they had was passing at best. Proof that she’d made the right decision to put her career first.

Tonight would be their last night together and she’d have to make it special. Tomorrow would be Valentine’s Day and they’d say good-bye to each other for good. A sharp stab of regret pierced her heart and she pressed her hand to her chest. It would have been nice to have a Valentine for once. But Darcy knew better than to get caught up in silly romantic fantasies. Still, she did have feelings for Kel and, to her dismay, they were beginning to feel a lot more like love than lust.

Was she falling in love with him? Kel had touched her body like no other man had, but he’d also managed to touch her heart. He was sweet and funny and honest, all the qualities she wanted in a man. Yet she couldn’t quite believe that he wanted her as much as she wanted him.

Darcy reached out and rapped on the door, then gathered her courage. Maybe it was time to risk her heart. What’s the worse that could happen-he’d leave? He was already planning to do that.

The door swung open and Darcy looked up at Kel. He was dressed and toting his garment bag and a small duffel. “Darcy. I was just coming down to talk to you.”

Her gaze darted back and forth between his face and the bags he carried. “You’re packed?”

Kel nodded. “I’ve got to go home. There’s just so much going on and I really can’t think here. I’ve got calls to make and meetings to schedule.”

Darcy swallowed hard and tried to control her emotions. Was this how it would end, in the hallway, he going one way and she going the other? “You’re going to Atlanta then?”

“Yeah, I think I am.”

She gnawed at her lip, trying to calm the whirlwind of thoughts in her head. “I-I just wanted to say a few things before you left.”

He waited, but Darcy couldn’t decide exactly how to begin. “Everything happened so fast between us,” she said. “Sometimes I wonder if things could have been different if we…” Darcy let her voice trail off. It was silly to think of what might have been. “I had a wonderful time,” she said. “And I’m glad we met that night in San Francisco, and that we met again in the candy shop.”

He reached out and took her hand, drawing her into the room. His garment bag slipped to the floor and Kel pulled her into his arms and kissed her. He lingered over her mouth, his tongue teasing at the crease between her lips. When he pulled back, his gaze met hers. “Will you miss me?” he asked.

Darcy felt tears pressing against the corners of her eyes. She laughed softly, brushing a stray tear off her cheek. “Of course I will. Gosh, why am I crying? It’s not like you’re leaving for the moon. We might run into each other again someday.”

“I’d like that,” Kel said. “And maybe, just to make sure, I could call you and we could figure out a time and a place to meet.”

Darcy laughed softly. “Wouldn’t that be a date?”

“Yeah,” Kel said with a slow grin. “I guess it would be.”

“Well, I think that would be a sensible thing, just to make sure we don’t accidentally miss each other.”

Kel kissed her again, molding her mouth to his as his hands furrowed through her hair. “All right, that’s the plan. Someday, I’ll just give you a call.”

“You’d better get going,” Darcy said. She didn’t want to weep in front of him and the emotion clogging her throat was making it difficult to talk.

“Will you walk down with me?”

Darcy shook her head. “No, I think I’m going to stay here. I wouldn’t want to make a fool of myself in front of my staff. You never know what I might do to get you to stay a little longer. I have been known to tear off my clothes in your presence.”

“All right then,” Kel said. He brushed one last kiss on her lips, then opened the door. “See ya, Darcy.”

“See ya, Kel,” Darcy replied.

She watched as the door swung shut, then stood frozen in place for a long time, willing herself not to chase after him, to accept the fact that he had gone. When she was sure she wouldn’t follow him, Darcy walked into the bedroom and flopped down on the bed.

They’d spent so much time in this spot, she mused. But without him, it was just an ordinary bed. Darcy grabbed his pillow and held it over her face, inhaling his scent. There would come a day when she wouldn’t be able to recall this smell. “I’ll just take this with me,” she murmured. She sat up and hugged the pillow.

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. “All you need is love. Yeah right. Without a man, love is pretty much useless.”

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.”