Just One Night (The Kingston Family 1)

“I know,” she whispered.

“But I finally understand why. I was so insistent on not wanting to lose what we shared that I was blind to what we actually were. To what we are.” His blue eyes were dark, his voice laced with sincerity, his gaze warm and full of what she thought was hope.

“And what is that?” she asked, her voice thick. Her heart rate picked up speed, and she felt the rapid beat in her chest.

His dizzying smile nearly brought her to her knees.

“We’re best friends.” He cupped her face in his hands and held her gaze with his. “Soul mates.” He brushed his lips gently over hers. “And very much in love,” he said, sealing their mouths together.

She kissed him, falling into their desire. He smelled so good, and now she did push herself up and settle in his lap, facing him and wrapping herself around him like she’d been dying to do earlier. His erection settled against her sex, and she moaned, their tongues sliding against each other, the kiss going on for a long while, until she broke their connection.

They still had more to discuss. “You’re saying you love me.”

“Yes, Jordan. I love you,” he said in a deep, honest voice.

She bit down on her damp bottom lip, then asked, “And what if I wasn’t pregnant?”

He grinned. “Then I’d knock you up as soon as possible. Now isn’t there something you want to tell me?”

Although she loved his answer, they had one more thing to talk about. “Not yet.” She cleared her throat. “We both know I have issues with how I fit into your world. Things my mother said, that Angelica said, and how people at that club look at me.” She shook her head. “I’ve always been able to handle it because I was an outsider, but I don’t want to put you in the middle. Not to mention, what will your mother say? She’s always been nice to me as your friend, but as your girlfriend?”

His unexpected laughter had her stiffening.

“Relax,” he said. “I’m not laughing at you. I had a long talk with my mother already, and she had the perfect way to help me convince you that you are one of us. And to hell with what anyone else says or thinks.”

He shifted her up and slid his hand into his front jeans pocket, fishing around and returning with something in his closed hand.

“Do you remember my grandmother Cecile?” he asked.

She nodded. “Your father’s mother. Of course. She was your favorite grandparent.” Jordan recalled the times he’d spend with his grandma and tell her all about their talks whenever she saw him next.

“Well, she gave my father a diamond to set into an engagement ring for my mother. And unlike their marriage being awful, my grandparents loved each other very much. I forgot about them in light of my father’s behavior and my mother’s misery. But from now on, I choose to focus on the good this ring caused, and my mother offered it to me to give to you.”

He opened his hand and revealed a large diamond ring Jordan used to see on his mother’s finger, and she let out a gasp. “Linc!”

“We will have this reset especially for you, but first…” He lifted her by her waist and slid her to the sofa.

Taking her by surprise, he lowered himself to one knee. “Jordan Marie Greene, will you marry me?”

He’d apologized and proved himself in all the ways that mattered to her. And there was nothing she wanted more than to spend the rest of her life with this man who was, as he’d said, her best friend and soul mate.

“Yes. Yes!” she squealed, laughing.

“Sorry but I’m not putting this setting on your finger. We’re starting out with good juju. As soon as we can, we’ll have it reset.” He rose to his feet and slid the ring back into his pocket.

Jordan had no problem with his plan.

“By the way, I would have asked for your parents’ permission, but your mother already told me no grandchild of hers would be born without us being married. And while you were getting ready, she told me your father would approve.”

Jordan groaned. “If you hadn’t already come here with the ring in your pocket, I’d kill her.”

“I heard that!” her mother called out from way too close by.

Both Jordan and Linc laughed.

“She really did a one-eighty about me,” he said, speaking low.

Jordan sighed. “She wasn’t able to keep us apart all these years. When she heard I was pregnant, her blinders came off.”

“Well, I’m glad. I’d rather have her on our side. Now can we go? I’d really like to consummate this engagement,” he whispered.

Popping up from the couch, she stood and grasped his hand. “Take me home. Now.”

“Anything you want,” he said and she knew he meant it.