Linc tugged her into him and she didn’t try and pull away.
His mom smiled and was soon sitting with the infant in her arms.
“Have you thought of a name?” Linc asked.
Aurora shook her head. “Not yet. I figured I had more time.”
“It will come to you.”
Melly cooed at the baby and eventually looked up. “Jordan, come. You should hold her, too.”
His mother had no idea about Jordan’s past or her miscarriage, had no idea this might be bringing up painful emotions for her.
“Mom–”
“I’d love to,” Jordan said, pulling out of his embrace. She took the chair next to his mother, and they carefully transferred the infant.
He watched her every move as she gently held the baby, cradling her in her arms and cushioning her head. With one hand, she moved the pink swaddling away from her cheek and looked at her tiny face.
Tears pooled in Jordan’s eyes and only Linc knew why. Only he understood the depths of both her personal pain and her joy for Aurora.
A lump rose to his throat as he studied her, and he made a decision. As soon as Chloe and Xander arrived, he was taking Jordan home. And not back to her apartment as he felt certain she’d insist he do.
She’d been there for his sister and he’d be there for her now.
* * *
By the time Jordan and Linc were in the car on their way home from the hospital, Jordan was both mentally and physically exhausted. Linc seemed to understand, because he let her sit in silence on the drive and process her feelings.
Holding Aurora’s hand during the entire birth had been both exhilarating and draining. The emotional impact of watching something she hadn’t gotten to do, and then cradling the baby? At this point she was numb.
She must have fallen asleep, because she woke to the sound of the car slowing, and she sat up, assuming they’d reached her apartment.
“Are we at my place?” she asked.
“Thanks, Max,” Linc said, opening the door.
He hadn’t answered her question, but she slid out and accepted his hand, letting him pull her out … in front of his building.
“Wait. Why didn’t you take me home?” She dug in her heels.
Literally.
She was still wearing pumps after a day at work, and she’d had them on for much of her time at the hospital. To say she was ready to keel over was an understatement.
“Because you had a long day and you shouldn’t be alone.” Linc placed a hand on her lower back to guide her inside.
She blinked up at him. “Did you think about asking me?”
“Nope. I thought about taking care of you. Let’s go.” He nudged her forward.
With a groan, she went along to his apartment, at this point not caring where she got off her feet as long as she did just that.
Once he let them inside, she turned. “I’m going to take Aurora’s old room.”
He raised his gaze. Then without warning, scooped her into his arms and walked toward his bedroom. “I said I wanted to take care of you, so let me.”
Too tired to fight, she wrapped an arm around his neck to steady herself and held on until he lowered her onto his bed. She immediately kicked off her heels and groaned in relief.
He strode to his massive walk-in closet, which had drawers as well as hanging room, and returned with a gray tee shirt, and she accepted it gratefully.
“I’ll leave a toothbrush and towels in the bathroom. You can do what you need to while I order us something for dinner. Unless you’d rather go to sleep?”
“Pizza,” she said at the same time her stomach let out a very unladylike growl. Laughing, she folded her arms over her belly. “A large one please.”
He laughed and nodded. “I’ll be in the living room.”
Grateful for the privacy, she scooted off the bed and headed for the bathroom, where she changed into his shirt, which was huge, hung to her thighs, and smelled like his laundry detergent. Of course, it reminded her of him, and she lifted it to her nose and inhaled deeply. She splashed cold water on her face and washed up as best she could, borrowing his deodorant and brushing her teeth.
She had no idea if he expected her to sleep in his bed, and she was too tired to deal with the question now. In fact, she was too tired to fight it later. All she wanted was a full stomach and a comfortable bed.
The pizza arrived quickly, and she ate it equally fast, not the least bit embarrassed about the three slices she devoured because it was Linc. And he’d never judged her before.
Once they finished, she stretched her hands over her head and yawned. Too late, she realized the action pulled the shirt against her braless breasts.
His gaze zeroed in on where her nipples pushed against the soft material, and his eyes dilated with awareness and need. “Why don’t you go lie down?” he asked in a gruff tone. “I’ll be there in a little while.”