“I’ll get some clothes there, and I can buy a toothbrush at the hotel.” He opened the folder she’d handed him. “Good, this is the hotel closest to the site, right?”

“Just across the street.”

He nodded in a way that she knew she’d done a good job.

She looked at her watch one more time and realized that the last bus toward her house had left ten minutes ago. There was no way she was going to ask him for a ride home at this point, but she wasn’t going to mention not having one either. When he’d gone, she’d call Christian and see if he was available.

“I really should have had you book yourself on this flight,” he said as he shoved files into his shoulder bag. “I could use you to keep things straight.”

“I’ll be here when you need me, and I can make sure everything on this end runs smoothly and that you’re not bothered by petty things.”

For the first time in hours, Ed looked up at her and the thin hint of a smile formed on his lips. He set down his case.

“Come here.” He held his hand out to her.

Darcy moved around the desk and set her own notebook next to his bag.

Ed took her in his arms and pulled her close to him. She could hear his heart beating in his chest. He didn’t want to have to deal with the trauma that awaited him. She could tell by the way he held her in his arms.

He smoothed his hand over her hair. “I’m going to miss you. It’s crazy that in the past few days I’ve only had a few moments with you.”

“It’s not like you’re going to be gone forever.”

“Yeah, but I’d like to have gotten in a lot more kissing.”

Darcy sighed against his chest as he chuckled.

Ed leaned back and placed his finger under her chin. “When I get back, I just want to wrap you in my arms for an entire weekend. We can turn off all our phones, lock the door, and never come out.”

“I like that.”

He leaned in and brushed her lips with his lightly, and then again, but this time he deepened the kiss.

Ed lowered his hands and wrapped his arms tightly around her waist as she lifted her arms around his neck.

This was a moment she’d bring back into her thoughts when the man who was her boss snuck through and ruined the image of the man she loved. This delicate, dreamy, mind-blowing kiss would be her go-to thought when she needed him and he wasn’t there.

Ed rested his forehead against hers. “Do you think you’re okay to drive in Nashville?”

Darcy’s head was still swimming, but she opened her eyes and looked up at him. “I suppose so. Why?”

“Drive me to the airport. Kiss me again like that before I leave.”

That was it. There was no more indecision on whether she loved this man or not. Darcy McCary was head over heels in love with Eduardo Keller.

Darcy pulled up in front of the house at nearly ten o’clock. Letting go of Ed had been one of the hardest things she’d ever done. There was a truth that he’d have to travel with his job—a lot. She was going to need to get used to him not being with her.

As she turned off the engine to his truck, she noticed that the house was fully illuminated. Three more cars were parked in front, and she could see people moving about.

She let out a sigh. She was tired. Hopefully Christian wasn’t having a party.

She climbed out of the truck and was headed toward the house when the front door opened and Simone stepped out.

“Darcy, I’m glad it’s you. I thought maybe Ed had missed his flight.”

“No. I took him to the airport. Is everything all right?”

Simone crossed her arms over her chest and walked down the front steps. “The downfall of being married to a doctor.” She nodded to the house. “Christian tore a muscle at practice, and Curtis came by to check it out.”

“Don’t they have team doctors for that?”

Simone laughed. “Yes, but Curtis is very protective of his nephews and his niece. You’d think they were all his children, even if they are grown adults.”

Darcy couldn’t imagine such a network of people rallying around one person. Even when her mother was dying, it was only her and her father there to take care of her.

Simone touched her arm. “You should come in and say hello.” It, however, wasn’t just a suggestion. Simone took her arm and led her into the house.

Christian leaned back in the recliner while Curtis sat on a chair next to him, wrapping up his leg.

“Hey, look who came to my party,” he said, obviously having had something to numb his pain.

“Are you okay?”

“Happens all the time.” He smiled, and his eyes glossed over.

A moment later, Christian’s mother came from the kitchen with a glass of water and a sandwich on a plate.

“Hello, Darcy.”

Darcy felt her palms began to sweat at the thought of Ed’s mother talking to her. The other night it had been fine—but now things were different.

“Hello, Mrs. Keller.”

“Oh, you can call me Madeline.” She smiled and turned to Christian. “Here, eat this before those pain meds make you sick.”

The front door opened, and Carlos Keller walked in. “Curtis, just cut it off. He doesn’t need it as a catcher.”

“Funny, Dad.”

Carlos gave a nod in Darcy’s direction. “Hey, Darcy.”

“Hello, Mr. Keller.”

He walked over next to her and put his arm around her shoulders. “You can call me Carlos.”

She only smiled as he walked toward his wife and gave her a kiss on the cheek.

“Okay, I think that’ll do it.” Curtis stood from his seat and stretched his back. “You know, if you do that too many times you’re going to need surgery.”

“Great. Nothing like not making it to the show and hurting this bad.”

“Crybaby.” Curtis laughed and headed to the kitchen.

Darcy smiled. This was probably a very serious situation to Christian, but the family dynamic was amazing to her. She couldn’t get over the serious and the silly banter being mixed together and each person participating. Her parents were always very serious people. Everything was always so planned and thought out. This family came together, all in separate cars, at ten o’clock at night, and it seemed that no matter what there could be humor and love.