Just One Night (The Kingston Family 1)

Friendship. Wallace had done it all for friendship and to help Linc’s father retain his dignity. Under these circumstances, how could Linc hold him criminally responsible?

“I’m not pressing charges,” he said. “You took care of my father, albeit in an extremely stupid way.” But Linc couldn’t keep him on. Not when he couldn’t trust the man’s judgment or decision-making. “Just resign and we’ll call it even.”

“Thank you.” Relief suffused Wallace’s voice. “I can’t imagine not being able to easily see my boys.”

Linc knew his wife had passed away a couple of years ago, but he had adult children here in the States. “Wallace, just come home. I’ve got to go.”

“Goodbye, Lincoln. Thank you.”

Shaking his head, he disconnected the call. How his father had inspired such loyalty was beyond Linc’s understanding.

But business and his father were the last things Linc needed to be concentrating on. His focus should be on much more important matters. Like convincing Jordan of his feelings and sincerity.

As he drove, he considered everything he needed to say. Thirty minutes later, he pulled up in front of her parents’ modest home. He hadn’t been here before. Not because Jordan had been embarrassed, but they’d both decided it was better not to upset her mother by pushing their friendship in her face when she so clearly disapproved.

He climbed out and made his way up the walk and faced the doorbell with dread. Dealing with Tamara Greene wouldn’t be easy.

Before he lifted his hand to ring, he saw movement of the drapes on the side window, and then the door opened and Jordan’s mother stood in the entry. Obviously she’d seen him first.

Tamara wore a pair of jeans and a peach-colored blouse. With her blonde hair and blue eyes, she reminded him of a slightly harder version of her daughter.

Growing up, he’d always liked her. She’d been good to him, making sure he and his siblings had cookies and milk after school and even helping with homework if his mother wasn’t around. In fact, she hadn’t become gruff and abrupt with him until high school.

“Hello, Mrs. Greene.”

“Lincoln, it’s about time you showed up.” Instead of letting him inside, she stepped out to join him. “Now you listen to me, young man.”

He blinked, and since he wasn’t stupid, he did as she said and waited for her to speak.

“I always liked you. You were a good boy, respectful, and smart. It wasn’t until I realized my daughter had a crush on you that I knew I had to do something about your friendship. I couldn’t let her get hurt by … well, to be frank, people like your father and the country club crowd.”

Jordan had had a crush on him in high school? That was news to him, but he couldn’t deny the jolt of pleasure that hit him as he found out.

“I understand your feelings about my father,” he said. “But nobody else in my family has ever or will ever hurt Jordan.”

Tamara narrowed her gaze. “Except you.”

He winced because the truth stung. “I’m here to fix things.”

She settled her hands on her hips. “It had better be the right way, because no grandbaby of mine is going to be born without his parents being married. Not when they love each other like you and Jordan do.”

Shocked by her words, he cocked his head to the side. “How do you know how we feel?” Oh, Linc knew he loved Jordan. He’d had the entire ride here to put his feelings into words as he figured out what he would say to her, and love was at the center of his argument.

“Best friends, my ass,” Tamara muttered.

He bit back a laugh. He’d always liked her bluntness.

“Nobody spends the amount of time together you two do without having real feelings,” she went on. “Now I admit I’m still worried, but given the situation, I’ve decided to trust you. Now good luck getting my daughter to do the same.”

She stepped aside and gestured for him to come in, and he followed her into the small entryway.

“I’m going to convince her to hear you out. I suggest you figure out what you’re going to say,” Tamara said.

Linc stared at her retreating back, marveling at the woman’s honesty. She didn’t hold back and he respected that.

He made his way into the family room to his left and walked around, looking at the family photos on the mantel and the shelves while he waited for Jordan.

* * *

Jordan sat on the bed in the room she’d shared with her sister, wearing an old tee shirt of her dad’s and a pair of her mother’s sweatpants. Her hair was wild from the spray she’d used to hold the waves she’d made last night for the concert. And despite having washed her face and used a ton of makeup remover, when she’d brushed her teeth, she’d noticed she still had black streaks beneath her eyes. Lovely.