Just One Night (The Kingston Family #1) - Carly Phillips Page 0,66

let out a long, wailing sound and Linc cringed. “Your father was my best friend. I would have done anything for him, and when he got his diagnosis, he was devastated,” Wallace said.

“I wouldn’t know. He didn’t confide in me.” If anything, Kenneth had kept Linc at arm’s length, and since Linc never wanted to be close to him, he hadn’t cared.

The dementia had been a blow, but Linc never wanted his father to get sick or die.

“Your father knew how you felt about him. Hell, he even understood. You all put Melly first. He got that. But the business was Kenneth’s baby.” Wallace paused. “And as much as he wanted his oldest son, the only son who cared about Kingston Enterprises as much as he did, in the business? He was envious of your success and worried he’d be seen as weak once he began showing more signs of his illness.”

Linc put his signal on and took the next exit. “So what did you do?”

“Some creative accounting and I moved money around. I opened a separate account for Kenneth to use to make deals. It allowed him to feel in control and like the king of real estate he used to be. It let him avoid lenders and people who’d notice his diminishing abilities.”

Linc shook his head, surprised Wallace’s underlying rationale had been friendship, not greed. But Linc knew how much his father owed Beck, and even Kenneth had realized he’d needed collateral. So where was Wallace in all this?

“You have to believe me,” the other man said. “I never thought Kenneth would make a deal without my knowledge. Or be crazy enough to offer Beckett Daniels a piece of the company if he couldn’t come up with the money.”

Linc groaned. “So what’s your plan? To hide out in the Maldives for the rest of your life?”

“Unless you don’t plan on pressing charges. I don’t know what I’d be liable for but…” Wallace’s voice trailed off, giving Linc time to think.

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