Just One Night (The Kingston Family #1) - Carly Phillips Page 0,23

asked, obviously serious.

He laughed. “Well, it’s mine. Pepperoni. How about you?”

“Mushroom and onions. It’s been a treat when I had extra money in my pocket.” She blushed. “Coffee or tea?” She was getting into the game.

“Coffee. Milk, no sugar. You?”

“Chamomile tea with a drop of milk and sugar. It’s been a lifesaver with the heartburn this last trimester.”

He remembered when Jordan had been pregnant. Before her miscarriage, she’d begun craving ice cream. She’d practically lived on pints of it until … she’d lost the baby. He shook his head, shocked those memories had come back to him.

He recalled staying with her overnight, hugging her as she cried, and swearing, given the chance, he’d beat her ex senseless.

But Jordan’s past wasn’t relevant now. The memories, however, reminded him of how solid and valuable their friendship was. Which meant he’d done the right thing by telling her they couldn’t act on their attraction again.

“Linc? I said favorite color. Is something wrong?” Aurora asked.

He shook his head. “Sorry. Blue. Yours?

“Yellow.” She laughed as the door opened and Willow stepped back inside.

“Am I interrupting?” she asked, shutting the door.

Linc rose to his feet. “Not at all. We were just getting to know each other. Aurora, would you like to spend the day at the hotel tomorrow? You can meet my assistant and best friend, Jordan. We’ll go shopping or hang out, whatever you prefer.”

She nodded. “Sounds amazing.” She pushed herself up from her seat. “Thank you for looking for me. And not giving up until you found me.”

He stepped over and hugged her as best he could around her big belly. “You’re family.”

He said his goodbyes, they exchanged phone numbers, and he promised to pick her up in the morning. Then he headed back to his hotel, where Jordan would be waiting.

* * *

Jordan heard the lock open and Linc push open the door and walk inside.

“Jordan?” he called out.

“Right here.” She’d stretched out in the sitting room on the sofa with an ottoman in front of her. On the television was an old comedy she’d been trying and failing to pay attention to.

Pushing herself to a sitting position, she pulled a blanket over her lap and waited for him to join her. He walked in, looking drained but also happy, and her heart skipped a beat.

“So how did it go?” she asked. She’d been dying to know the whole time he was gone, alternating between kicking herself for staying back at the hotel and telling herself she’d done the right thing.

He settled into a chair near the couch and smiled. “She’s a great kid. Definitely overwhelmed, with the pregnancy, her life at the moment, and now a new family to wrap her head around. But she seemed open to spending time with me. In fact, I’m picking her up in the morning and bringing her back here so we can all hang out and get to know one another.”

“Oh! That’s so amazing. I’m so happy for you!” She leaned forward in her seat. “Do you think she’ll come back to New York with you?” Jordan knew how important it was to Linc to have his family together.

He rubbed his hands on the top of his jeans, drawing her attention to his strong thighs. “I think it’s possible. If she’s comfortable with us and relaxes a lot. I said we’d stay for a week, and she was good with my decision.”

A week. In this suite with Linc, tortured by their close proximity and all she couldn’t have. Of course, she’d be around him if they were home and in the office, but there was something different about Linc in a suit, hot as he was, and this casually dressed Linc sleeping in the room next to hers. Showering while she imagined him naked, water dripping down his skin. Wearing a bathing suit, his chest bare, muscles flexing as she tried not to shamelessly stare.

“Sounds great!” Her voice came out tight and thready. “I’m looking forward to meeting her.” At least that much was true.

She would enjoy getting to know his new sister, and Jordan wondered what kind of changes Aurora would bring to the Kingston family.

* * *

Linc left the next morning to pick up Aurora. Jordan stayed in the room, getting ready for the day. They were each doing their best to find their normal footing with one another after their incredible night together, and it wasn’t easy. The current awkwardness had never existed before, and he hoped Aurora’s arrival would be the