“That’s a funny place for a family tattoo.”

Clara sat back with her smile and looked her over. “Not if you’re the picture-perfect professional, and you don’t want anyone to see it, no matter what.”

“So it’s hidden, but there?”

“Right.”

Oh, now she knew she’d have to see it.

She looked down at her phone and noted the time. “I should get back upstairs. I have a conference call meeting with Ed and Zach.”

“I certainly don’t envy you. But tell him and Mary Ellen hello.”

“I will.”

“Isn’t she the nicest person you’ve ever met?”

“She’s taken very good care of me.” She gave some thought about asking about her. “She and Zach were never a couple before he met your aunt, were they?”

“Mary Ellen and Zach?” The question made her laugh. “No.”

“They’re just very comfortable together.”

“They should be. I think they’ve worked together for thirty-some years. Mary Ellen was there when Zach got his first desk. They grew up in the company, if you will. But he’s always collected nice women as his dearest friends. Aunt Simone was his best friend from boarding school in Paris.”

Darcy narrowed her eyes. “Best friend? Did they date?”

Again, Clara laughed. “No. He never wanted anything to do with her in that sense. It was almost like he knew Regan would come along.”

“Fall into his lap.”

“Ah, you do know the story.”

Yes, she’d become very familiar with it.

Clara reached out her hand and covered Darcy’s. “I’m glad you ran into Ed. I look forward to having you for a sister.”

There was a lump forming in Darcy’s throat now. She wanted that too—almost too much.

Darcy sat at the table with Mary Ellen and Zach. When the call came through and she heard Ed’s voice, she did her best to contain the emotions it brought to the surface. She missed him—terribly.

They discussed current builds, new builds, and a design change to the one in Saint Louis. They laughed about the bad Chinese food brought to the site and how the foreman ate six chocolate doughnuts each morning.

When business was over, Zach stood. “Well, Ed, we’ll see you in a few days. But I’ll let you talk to Darcy before you hang up.”

He gave her a smile and then led Mary Ellen out of the room, and they shut the door behind them.

“I miss you.” The words rushed out of her mouth.

“I miss you, too.”

“I had coffee with Clara today at lunch. Just by chance. She walked into the Starbucks.”

“You didn’t spill anything on her, did you?”

They both laughed, but she leaned in to the speaker and whispered, “I know you have a tattoo.”

“I sure do.”

Okay, well, he wasn’t hiding it. “I’ve never seen it.”

“I keep my boxers on when you’re around.”

“I know. You’re quite the gentleman.” She looked around as if to check that they were alone. “I want to see it.”

There was silence for a moment. “I’ll show it to you.” He was very matter-of-fact. “But it’s not going to change anything.”

She smiled, even alone in the room. “I wouldn’t expect it to.”

“You know, you’re a part of that family.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, in time, I want you to be.”

She’d fought that damn lump in her throat and now tears stung her eyes. “You do?”

“I think you need a Keller tattoo. Besides, your family is just as important. You’ll always belong to your family, and well, you’ll always belong in mine.”

That was it. The first tear ran down her cheek, and she brushed it away quickly. “When you get home, we may have to look into that.”

He agreed and they ended their phone call, but Darcy sat alone in the conference room and collected herself.

Ed Keller wanted her forever. She was ready.

Chapter Sixteen

The phone call that had come in on the morning Ed was expected home had completely ruined Darcy’s mood. With the changes they’d approved in Saint Louis, he was going to need to be out there for a few days and fly from there to Miami.

It would be another four days before she saw him, and she didn’t like the arrangement.

“I’ll be home soon,” he assured her.

“I don’t mean to be so silly about it, but…”

“It’s okay, Darcy. Trust me, I don’t want to be here either.” He let out a long breath. “My mom called and wants to have you over for dinner. She wasn’t sure if you’d accept.”

“Of course I’d accept.”

“I told her as much. So Christian is expecting you to give him a ride over tonight.”

Darcy laughed. “My mother and father used to do this. You know, she’d wonder what he was thinking, so she’d ask me and I’d find out.”

“It’s much the same in our family, only there are many more of us.”

“It’s a good thing I’m not shy.”

“You can’t be in this family.” There was a brief silence before Ed spoke again. “You haven’t given any more thought about finding your birth parents, have you?”

“No.” She was quick to answer. “I am who I am, and without my mom and dad, I wouldn’t be me. Besides, what’s to find? My dad told me that my birth mom died. Case closed.”

“You didn’t mention that before.”

Darcy tapped her fingers on her desk. “It’s not important anymore. It was what brought me to Nashville, and the rest has been fate.”

“Well, if you ever change your mind…”

“I won’t, but thank you.”

“Enjoy your evening with my family.”

Oh, she missed him something terrible. If she were more impulsive, she’d fly to Miami and meet him, but she wasn’t like that. “I’ll see you in a few days.”

Ed had hated to deceive Darcy like he had, but it was all going to be worth the element of surprise. Now he sat in the showroom of an exclusive jewelry designer that his Aunt Simone had set him up with in Miami.