Just One Night (The Kingston Family 1)

He raised an eyebrow and then it obviously dawned on him. “She’s not happy we’re going out of town together,” he guessed.

Jordan sighed. “That would be an understatement.” Although she and her mom had a great relationship, the one thing they disagreed about was her relationship with Linc.

“And she hates our close friendship.”

“Also an understatement,” she muttered.

“And your father? How does he feel about our friendship?” Linc asked.

She sighed. “At least he doesn’t concern himself with things that aren’t his business. To him, I have a great job and a good life, and those things make him happy.”

Her dad, Patrick, was an electrician who’d worked for the same company for years until he opened his own business. He had job security and he was happy. He let his wife ramble about her feelings, but he didn’t take sides.

“As for my mother, don’t get me wrong, she thinks you’re a great guy. She also thinks about things like station in life.” With a shrug, she said, “Me working for you makes sense to her. Our friendship? Not so much.”

He winced. “God, she reminds me of my father. At least in how she thinks money defines people. But it only matters what we think. And I know you’re good for me.”

Reaching out, he grasped her hand and held it tight, something he often did. Touching her hand, her back. All things she’d never allowed herself to notice before.

She smiled at him. “You’re good for me, too. Now let’s not discuss our parents’ old-fashioned views.” Even if they made some sense to her, too. “Let’s talk about your plans for once we arrive in Florida.”

He began tapping his foot against the floor of the car. “I want to go to the offices of Dare Nation.” Before she could ask about the office or why he’d want to go there, he explained.

“When I first found out about the paychecks, I hired a PI. He found Tiffany Michaels, the woman my father had been paying. She told him her daughter had gone to foster care after her mother died. Tiffany didn’t know anything more,” he said, his disgust obvious in his tone. “And after Aurora aged out of the system, any record of her disappeared. Then suddenly, out of nowhere, they got a hit on her name, a paycheck she cashed working for a place called Dare Nation.”

While he’d been talking, Jordan Googled Dare Nation on her phone. “A sports agency?”

Linc nodded. “Owned and run by Austin Prescott. He used to be a pro football player. I had the PI do some digging, and it turns out Aurora has been staying with a woman who is close to another Prescott brother and the rest of the family. So if I want to find out about my sister, I need to start with Austin Prescott, Aurora’s boss.”

Jordan nodded in understanding.

“I made an appointment to see him. I don’t want to spring myself on Aurora, so I’ll start with Prescott and see what he can tell me about my sister.”

The car stopped at a gate for Max to talk to a security guard. Linc handed over his ID and Jordan did the same, a necessity at Teterboro, the main private jet airport for New York City. The airport itself was located in New Jersey.

“We’ve arrived,” Max said as the car came to a stop in front of the main building.

“Thanks, Max,” Jordan said.

“Thank you.” Linc climbed out of the car and helped her out as Max pulled their luggage from the trunk.

They checked in at the desk inside and headed immediately out to the tarmac to board their jet.

Jordan didn’t know what awaited Linc when they reached Florida, but she was glad to be by his side when he found out.

Chapter Three

Linc braced himself as he and Jordan pulled into the parking lot of Dare Nation in the Ford Mustang convertible Jordan had rented for them. He appreciated both her practical and fun sides and enjoyed the convertible in the warmth of Miami. It was a nice change from New York, which still had cooler temperatures.

Jordan had enjoyed it as well, her face tipped up to the sun and the wind as they drove. Having her by his side calmed him, but the closer he’d come to their destination, the more rattled his nerves.

He turned off the engine and faced Jordan. “Ready?”

She treated him to a reassuring smile. “Whenever you are.”

Drawing a deep breath, he nodded and stepped out of the car, walking around to her door and helping her out.

A few minutes later, they were led to a desk where a beautiful woman with black hair and red lipstick sat.

“Can I help you?” she asked, looking from him to Jordan.

“We have an appointment with Austin Prescott,” Linc said.

“Mr. Kingston?”

He nodded. “And this is Jordan Greene, my personal assistant.”