Just One Night (The Kingston Family 1)

“You were there? At the hospital?” Her mom sounded surprised.

“Yes. Actually I was in the room with Aurora when she gave birth.” As Jordan spoke, she braced herself for a negative reaction.

“I don’t understand. Wasn’t there someone from the family who could have been with her? You aren’t family.”

Ouch. “I’m well aware. And if I wasn’t, you certainly remind me of it often enough,” she snapped.

Her mother sighed. “Honey, I’m not trying to be mean. I’m just reminding you of your place. One day the man you call your best friend is going to find a woman to marry, and where will that leave you?”

Jordan flipped the bread and did her best to breathe and not let her mother’s words get to her, but it was hard after spending the night in Linc’s bed, sleeping in his arms.

“Can we talk about something else?” she asked.

“Sure. Did I tell you the fire alarm went off in my building the other night? We all had to go outside, and I was wearing my robe…” Her mother went on with her story, and Jordan murmured the requisite mmm-hmms while she spoke.

By the time she hung up, her good mood had been ruined by her mother’s judgmental assessment of her place in Linc and Aurora’s life. It only served to reinforce all the negative thoughts Jordan already held about why they could never be together long-term and why she needed to be better about guarding her heart.

Chapter Eight

“Jordan, hold my calls,” Linc said as he exited his office. “I’ll be holed up in the conference room with Brian. No interruptions.”

“Got it!” She turned her attention back to work.

In the two weeks since she’d slept with Linc again, they’d fallen back into their normal routine, working during the day, occasional dinners together, and yes, he’d taken her to Ocean Prime for lunch as promised, but he’d been a total gentleman. She had a hunch he was letting her deal with her feelings and come to the conclusion he wanted. That they made sense together, at least sexually. Or maybe he was willing to go back to being her best friend. Whatever the reason, she was concentrating on the present.

This weekend was the baby shower Chloe had planned at the country club the Kingston family belonged to. Jordan had never been comfortable at the club during the times she’d been invited to events there, but thankfully she didn’t have to attend often. She wasn’t intimidated by the clothing, handbags, and shoes the women there owned, but they made sure to let her know her designer choices weren’t up to their standards. If not with words, then with a sneer or a distinct way of looking her over and finding her lacking. Especially the women in Linc’s family’s social circle.

Although this was a party in a separate room, the rest of the club was open to members, so Jordan was prepared to run into the women who resented her friendship with Linc and always had.

After a morning of work, Jordan decided to eat at her desk today. She wasn’t in the mood to go out. Linc was still meeting in the conference room with Brian and a private investigator who he’d hired to look for Wallace. The man was still missing.

Linc also had upcoming meetings with banks and lenders to cover the money needed for the deal with Beck. Anything not to lose a portion of his beloved company to the man he had long-standing issues with.

She walked to the kitchen, pausing to say hello to Suzanne and some of the other women who worked in the office. After taking her yogurt out of the refrigerator, she returned to her desk to find a female with long jet-black hair and a fitted dress tapping her foot impatiently in front of Jordan’s desk.

As she drew closer and she saw the woman’s profile, Jordan recognized the visitor. Angelica Winston, Linc’s ex. One Jordan had never gotten along with, not for lack of trying on her part.

Jordan strode around her desk before acknowledging the clearly impatient woman. “Angelica.”

“Jordan. I’ve been waiting,” she said, pursing her red lips in annoyance.

Settling into her seat and placing her lunch on the desk, she met the woman’s gaze. “I wasn’t aware you had an appointment.”

She straightened her shoulders. “I shouldn’t need one. I knocked on his door but he didn’t answer. Just let him know I’m here,” she said.

“Please would be nice,” Jordan muttered. “Linc is in a meeting, and I have no idea when he’ll be out.” Ignoring the woman, Jordan opened her yogurt container and picked up her spoon.

Angelica cleared her throat. “Again, if you would do your job and tell him I’m here, I know he’ll come out to talk to me.”

As she spoke, Linc approached his office from behind her. “Angelica, what are you doing here?” Linc asked, sounding tired from the day he’d already had.