Just One Night (The Kingston Family 1)

“I will, Mom. Thanks.” He let out a relieved breath. He wasn’t worried about his siblings, especially since their mother was now on board with him bringing Aurora home and making sure she had the money she needed to start the life she should always have had.

He said goodbye and settled back in his car, pulling out his phone, which had buzzed in his pocket a few times while he was with his mother.

Texts were waiting for him.

Jordan: Private plane booked. Flight plan filed. Takeoff at seven a.m.

Jordan: Sanctuary Suite booked at W Hotel in South Beach. I still think it’s unnecessary. Scale down and I’ll stay in a regular room.

Jordan: I booked us for a week. Can always extend.

Jordan: Rental car taken care of as well.

He grinned at her professional perfection and typed back.

Linc: Check on the plane. No dice on scaling down. You’ll stay in the suite’s extra room. My driver will pick you up for the ride to the airport. Don’t mention the words Uber or taxi.

Jordan: Fine.

Linc: That’s no way to talk to your boss.

Jordan: No, but it’s how I talk to my best friend. Later. I have work to do.

With a smile still on his face, he headed back to the office to go over paperwork on the Central Park deal.

* * *

Jordan packed a bag, not worrying about stuffing everything in a carry-on. If Linc was going to take the corporate jet, she could bring a big bag if she wanted to. Though she’d been with Linc on the plane before when they traveled for business, she’d never gotten used to the luxury.

She zipped her suitcase and set it by the front door, then she grabbed her favorite blazer and slipped it on. Her cell rang, the screen flashing the concierge number downstairs. She picked up and asked the morning person manning the desk to tell Linc’s driver she’d be right down.

She locked up her apartment and headed downstairs to find the driver standing by the open car door.

“Hi, Max,” she said.

“Good morning, Ms. Greene.” He inclined his head, his silvery gray hair slicked back with gel. He’d been working for the Kingston family for as long as she could remember. “Nice day for a flight,” he said.

The sun shone above them and clear skies meant no turbulence. “Yes, and I’m grateful.”

He took the handle to her luggage and walked around the back of the town car to put the suitcase in the trunk as she climbed into the back seat, where Linc waited. In no time, Max had settled in the front, and they were off to the airport.

“Good morning, sunshine.” Linc faced her, eyes covered in aviators that only added to his sex appeal.

Since their kiss, she couldn’t deny her attraction to him was stronger than ever. “Good morning.”

She took in his white dress shirt, standard wear for him, but today his sleeves were rolled up, revealing his muscular forearms. Thanks to a dedicated workout schedule, he was well-built and solid.

And the scent of his woodsy cologne? Oh, she liked how good he smelled. In fact, she wanted to bury her face in his neck and savor him up close and personal. Again.

She swallowed hard and ignored her body’s reaction, happy her light blazer covered her now perky nipples.

“I’m dying for a cup of coffee,” she said, smiling as if everything were normal. Before she’d kissed him, she’d put these thoughts so far into the back of her mind they hadn’t impacted her daily.

Now though, every time she saw Linc, something about him turned her on.

“We can get some coffee on the plane.”

Coffee. Right. She forced her mind back to the mundane and nodded. “I would have had a cup this morning, but I was running late.”

“That’s not like you,” he said, looking at her with concern in his eyes.

She shrugged. “I didn’t know what to pack.”

Because she was staying in the suite with Linc. First she went back and forth over what nightclothes to put in the suitcase, and then she couldn’t decide if she needed a nice dress. Were they going anywhere, or did he plan to hang out with his sister? In the end, Jordan had packed everything she could think of.

He chuckled. “Now you sound like Chloe.”

“Are you saying indecision is a female thing?” she challenged him, because she was hungry, uncaffeinated, and irritated with herself for the sudden attraction she felt for her best friend.

He held up his hands. “Whoa. I’m kidding.”

“Sorry. I think I just need a nap on the plane.” She was about to lean back and close her eyes when her cell rang. A glance at the screen showed Mom, and she let out a groan.

“Something wrong?” Linc glanced over as she sent the call to voicemail.

“No, it’s my mother and I don’t want to take the call.” She stuffed her phone back into her purse.