Just One Scandal (The Kingston Family 2)

“Lunch,” the waiter said, approaching them with plates in his hand.

He served them while Chloe and Linc silently watched. She was waiting for them to be alone before she finished this private conversation.

Once her ahi tuna was in front of her and Linc had his burger, she glanced at him. “I need you to answer me.”

“No. It sounds like Beck cares about you,” Linc said, and she knew what that admission cost him. “One more thing. I know I’ve said it a million times, but let me say it once more. I just want what’s best for you.” He drew a deep breath. “And if that’s Beck, I’ll deal. I’ll do what I can to make things right with him. For you.”

A lump rose to Chloe’s throat. Pushing her chair back, she walked to Linc’s side of the table and wrapped her arms around his neck. “Thank you. I love you, Linc. And your being willing to do that for me means everything.”

He hugged her back. “I love you, too.”

She sat back down and picked up her fork. “The thing is, you’re not going to have to accept Beck in my life long-term. He has no intention of ever falling in love or getting married. Not that I’m thinking of marriage,” she rushed to assure Linc. “But what we have is temporary. After that, time will tell if we can remain friends.”

Linc studied her in silence for so long she squirmed in her seat. “What?” she asked him.

“His sister died when he was eighteen, right before he left for college. I know that fucked with his head. It was just another reason he didn’t give Jenna what she wanted back then, although I doubt he realized it at the time.”

She nodded. “That’s the problem. He’s holding on to his pain, not willing to let anyone get close except the family he already has.”

“Seems to me you’ve already gotten that close.” Linc picked up his burger. “Are you going to let him push you away?”

“Oh, my God, Linc, are you really trying to convince me to keep Beck in my life?” She opened and closed her mouth in complete shock.

A grin lifted his lips. “I promised Jordan I’d get over myself and stop being an ass. On the ride here, I realized she was right. I want you to be happy.” He shrugged. “Now let’s eat. We can talk more over dessert.”

After the long discussion with Linc and the reminder of how little Beck wanted from her, Chloe barely tasted her salad. She did, however, indulge in an after-lunch dessert drink, a Salty Caramel, consisting of Ketel One, caramel, cream, and Madagascar vanilla cream.

In the end, Linc didn’t push for more conversation, and she was grateful. She’d gotten what she needed from her brother, his support, and acceptance, of a relationship with Beck. Linc bent for her and she loved him for it.

The question remained, could she get Beck to bend, too? Time would tell.

Chapter Ten

The night after Chloe’s lunch with her brother, she’d opened up to Beck over dinner. According to Chloe, Linc had told her everything about his falling-out with Beck, without minimizing the fact that he’d slept with Beck’s girlfriend. Chloe had defended him, mentioning how proud she was that he’d accepted his role in the breakup of their friendship.

As much as it galled him, Beck appreciated the man’s candor and acceptance of responsibility. Linc had also revealed Beck’s role in the business deal with their father, but when Chloe had asked her brother if Beck had known their father had dementia at the time, Linc admitted Beck hadn’t been aware. It had been a transaction, pure and simple. With a little satisfaction on Beck’s end thrown in, but Chloe didn’t seem to hold that against him.

Although Linc still wasn’t happy about his sister’s friendship with Beck, apparently he’d promised to find a way to deal with it in a better way. Another point for her Linc Kingston. Despite his personal feelings, which Beck had to admit had diminished since seeing how much Linc cared for his sister, Beck was grateful he hadn’t given Chloe a hard time. And since Beck didn’t have to deal with Linc personally, all was well.

For the rest of the week, the specter of his father’s surgery hovered, and he kept busy with work. Since Chloe had moved in, he’d been neglecting the hands-on part of the business, and though his higher-up people could handle it, he’d spent the time catching up. He was aware of the fact that he’d stopped paying as much attention to Chloe and transferred his focus to his business, but it was necessary on many levels.

Work needed him.

His family needed him.

And Chloe shouldn’t get used to his complete attention.

That didn’t mean he ignored her at night, and she seemed to accept and maybe even understand the withdrawal that was obvious to both of them. Beck needed space while he dealt with the upcoming surgery and whatever the results might be, and Chloe gave it to him. She also provided warmth and caring in bed.