Just One Scandal (The Kingston Family 2)

He smiled. “I could tell how you felt when I saw you two together.” He drummed his fingers on the counter and lines appeared on his forehead, letting her know his mind was drifting back to worry about his own family.

Before she could come up with another topic of conversation, he spoke. “So what else have you been doing to keep busy while I’m at work? Have you gotten out of the house at all?”

She forced a smile. Like Aurora, she didn’t want Beck to be concerned about her, so she placated him the best she could. “I’m keeping busy,” she said vaguely, and when she caught the disappointed look in his eyes, she knew she had to elaborate. She just wouldn’t include telling him about her contest entry.

“I did the same things as usual. I watched television, read a book, and checked out social media, ignoring the gossip sites. And no, I didn’t go out. There’s nothing I really need right now.”

She hated being part of a family that generated interest, but wealth tended to do that. Although Linc and Jordan’s engagement had hit the media, her pregnancy was still under wraps, and they planned on an intimate ceremony soon. They hadn’t wanted to upstage Chloe’s wedding by marrying quickly.

“I get ignoring the gossip shit. Nobody deserves to be put under a microscope.” He glanced away then asked, “Are you okay? About what happened with the wedding?” It was the first time he’d asked her about her emotional state, and she couldn’t help but be honest.

She ran her finger around the rim of her mug. “I’m sad about losing the life I thought I wanted. I’m not upset about Owen. I’m better off without him.”

He grinned. “Glad to hear it. That’s an important distinction to make. It’ll help you heal quicker.”

She nodded.

“What about going back to work for Linc? Wasn’t your honeymoon a week?” he asked.

“Two weeks. Nobody expects me back yet.” And now that she’d entered the contest, she wanted to perfect her submission.

“Aren’t you getting bored at home?” He took a drink of his coffee, and her gaze was drawn to his soft-looking lips. Lips that had kissed her with talent and expertise, arousing her beyond belief.

“Chloe?” he asked.

Caught staring and knowing what she’d been remembering, she shook her head and hoped she wasn’t blushing. “I’m fine. Taking some rest and relaxation is good for me. Just like a honeymoon, huh?”

The ring of Beck’s phone interrupted any possible reply.

Shooting her an apologetic glance, he answered, obviously eager. “Mom. What’s going on?”

Chloe gripped her mug tight as he listened to whatever his mom had to say, praying for good news. She couldn’t decipher much from the grunts and uh-uhs she heard.

“Okay, Mom. I get it. I love you and tell Dad the same. I’ll check in later.” He listened some more and then said, “I’m fine. I swear. I’ll talk to you soon.” He disconnected the call and met Chloe’s gaze, his own expression somber.

“Well?”

He expelled a deep breath of air. “They found some polyps and sent them out for biopsies. We have to wait for answers.”

She nodded. “Okay, so no news is good news, right?”

Jaw set, he shrugged. “I guess we’ll see. I’ve learned not to trust what a doctor promises. You never know what will happen.”

She narrowed her gaze, wondering what had made him so wary and distrustful of the profession. “Isn’t your brother a pediatrician?” Beck had mentioned it sometime this past week.

He nodded.

“I know it’s not the same thing, but why don’t you see how he feels about the news?” She hated seeing him so upset.

“Thanks for trying to help. I think I’m just going to change and head to the gym to work out. I’ll feel better after I beat on something.”

She watched him go, worried about how withdrawn he’d suddenly become.

* * *

A couple of days passed during which Beck waited and angsted over getting his father’s results. Everyone tried not to talk about it, but the shadow hovered over everything Beck felt and did. He spent a lot of time in the gym, punching a bag, trying to relieve his frustration that cancer could be something his family had to deal with again. At the thought, the old fear over what that meant rose inside him again.

Back at the apartment, he often caught a worried look on Chloe’s face as she stared at him, sensing his distress. Why didn’t he just tell her he’d lost his sister to cancer, the same disease he feared losing his father to? Because he hated talking about it. When he thought or spoke about the past, the pain came back as if it were new and just as raw.

He’d rather focus on other things he could control, and after another few days of Chloe’s moping around the house, he intended to do just that. He hoped Linc liked surprises, because he was about to get a big one.