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something I’ve
done wrong, please let me know,” she said as she handed him the
file.
    “ You’re done?”
    “ Mr. Keller, I take my work
seriously.”
    “ Call me Ed.”
    “ Mr.…” She let out a
breath. “Eduardo, I…”
    “ No. Just call me
Ed.”
    Darcy dropped her shoulders. “Ed,” she
paused on the name. “You had a phone call while you were on a call.
Ms. Simone Keller.”
    “ Ah, what did she
want?”
    “ To remind you of the
benefit on Saturday night.”
    Ed slouched in his seat. “Damn, I
forgot all about that.”
    “ She sounded
French.”
    That made him smile. “She is. Ever
hear of Pierpont Oil?”
    “ Sure.”
    “ She’s the
heir.”
    Darcy nodded slowly and narrowed her
brows. “But her last name is Keller. Relative of yours?”
    “ My aunt.”
    “ Oh, I remember that name.
John mentioned her.”
    He blew out a deep breath. “Do you
have a nice dress?”
    Darcy’s expression changed, and her
cheeks turned red. He’d seen that face. Somehow he’d triggered her
anger again.
    “ Why do I need a nice
dress? Am I not dressed appropriately?”
    “ Simmer down. I thought I’d
take you with me on Saturday.”
    “ Are you asking me to go to
this benefit with you as a guest? Or are you ordering me as an
employee?”
    Well, she did have a point. Perhaps
this was why he didn’t have a woman in his life. He sucked at
subtly getting his point across.
    “ I’d like to ask you to
accompany me to the benefit on Saturday.”
    “ Then ask me.”
    Wow, she was a piece of work. “Darcy,
would you please be my guest at my Aunt’s fundraising gala on
Saturday?”
    “ My calendar is empty. I
would love to be your guest.”
     
    Darcy was more than a little surprised
to find furniture in her apartment when she returned home. Oh,
she’d expected a ratty couch and a folding chair, but she had a
fully furnished apartment!
    There was a leather couch with a
matching chair in the living room. In the center of the room was a
coffee table, complete with a hearty cactus plant.
    A stand with a decent TV sat against
the wall. She now had a kitchen table and even a real bed. This
family was amazing.
    She’d gone upstairs to at least thank
Christian, figuring he had some part in it, but he wasn’t home. How
was she supposed to thank this family?
    Perhaps she’d see them all at the
fundraiser on Saturday.
    A few hours later, after having had
her first real meal in her new home, she heard the door close
upstairs.
    With fresh cups of coffee in her
hands, one for her and one for Christian, she started up the
outside steps to his door.
    Once she was there, with both hands
full, she decided the only way to knock was with her foot. She
gently kicked the back door.
    Christian must have been upstairs by
the time she knocked because she could hear him stomp downstairs
and through the kitchen. When he flung the door open, he was
standing there in nothing but a towel, which thankfully was wrapped
around his waist.
    Her mouth went dry and she tried to
swallow, but it only choked her instead.
    When she could, she looked up into his
eyes and smiled. “I was being neighborly and brought by a cup of
coffee. But I can see you’re very busy, so I’ll…”
    “ Come in. I’ll only be
three minutes.”
    She stepped into the house, and he
closed the door behind her.
    “ Have a seat.” He pointed
to the kitchen table.
    Christian hurried away, and Darcy sat
at the table. This wasn’t really what she’d had in mind when she
wanted to say thank you to his family. But he was comfortable, and
so she sat and waited.
    He was right. He’d only needed three
minutes, and he was showered, dressed, and seated in front of
her.
    “ I hope it’s still hot. I
could go get a fresh one,” she said as he lifted the mug to his
lips.
    “ It’s good.” He took a sip.
“Ah, you’re a weak coffee drinker, huh?”
    “ Weak?”
    “ More like tea than coffee.
But good.”
    She nodded. Her own father used to say
that, didn’t he?