Jordan waved at him. Then he put his head out the window and said,
“I’m gonna need some help.”
Bennett strolled over and saw that Jordan had a beautiful star-shaped red-and-white potted plant on the front passenger seat. The sight of them made something crash inside Bennett. Jordan seemed to know instinctively that plants were always a good bet for making a good impression, and he knew that his mom would love the new plants.
“Get the drinks?” Jordan asked.
Bennett nodded and got the case of Guinness and the bottle of wine in a fancy gift bag while Jordan locked the door, pocketing the keys as he went. The front door opened and Reverend Kincaid stood waiting, his hands in the pockets of his dark jeans.
“Hey, Dad!” Bennett gave his father a one-armed hug and turned to Jordan. “This is Jordan O’Leary. You remember him? He was Chandler’s best man.”
Bennett deliberately did not address the question of who Jordan was to him. He didn’t want to start down a road he wasn’t sure he knew the way on. That introduction said nothing his dad didn’t already know, without offering any new information.
“I do remember him,” his dad replied with a smile, his eyes on Jordan. “Welcome to our home, Mr. O’Leary.”
Jordan’s smile made Bennett’s heart roll over, like a dog begging for a belly rub.
“Thank you, sir, but it’s Jordan. “Only my students call me Mr. O’Leary.”
Reverend Kincaid ushered them into the warm house. Bennett glanced at Jordan, who was standing awkwardly by the front door, his cheeks red with the cold and probably a bit of embarrassment.
“Let me take your coats, boys,” his dad said.
Once they’d left their coats with his father, Bennett spoke. “Come on. Let’s take these through so I can introduce you to Mom.”
Jordan followed him, with his dad bringing up the rear. In the kitchen, Mrs. Kincaid had just closed the wall oven’s door and turned at the sound of their footsteps.
“Ah, boys! Right on time!” She stepped forward to hug Bennett, then smiled at Jordan. “You must be Jordan. Welcome to our home!”
Jordan’s dark eyes glowed with an emotion that Bennett couldn’t read as he smiled at Mrs. Kincaid.
“I was told that you like wine, ma’am, and that your husband likes Guinness, so I brought some for each of you.”
Bennett put the bottles he carried on the table and watched as his mother melted. He could almost see it happening. Jordan went right on talking, oblivious to his effect on her.
“I wanted to give you something for the house, as well, so I brought this plant.” He indicated the pretty plant in the pot he held in his hands. “Where would you like me to put it?”
“Just over there on the windowsill, please.”
Once he had placed it where she indicated, Jordan stepped back. Bennett could feel the anxiety pouring over him.
“That’s a very thoughtful gift, young man. What made you choose this plant in particular?”
Jordan’s cheeks heated, making Bennett wonder what was going on.
“I wanted to get you something pretty and not necessarily traditional. These were the prettiest ones in the flower shop, and because I know nothing about flowers, I went with that.”
“Well, those are bulbs, which means they will come back next year.”
“What’s it called?”
“It’s an amaryllis. Now, I will always think of you when I see it,” Mrs. Kincaid said.
Bennett and Jordan laid the table and just as Bennett went to fill a pitcher with water, his brothers and his baby niece arrived to hearty greetings, including hugging and back slapping. Jordan was also introduced to each of them, and Bennett watched as Aidan eyed him speculatively. He knew his older brother was thinking hard, trying to put together whatever was pinging his radar.
“You’re Chandler’s friend, aren’t you? The one his little sister obviously adores,” Aidan eventually said with a sly grin and a watchful look in his eyes.
“Chantal’s a hoot,” Jordan agreed with a smile, “and she can be a female Dennis the Menace, but mostly she’s a sweetheart. Honestly, she’s a good kid and real smart. Mac is very proud of her, as he should be.”
“You’re fine, Jordan,” Aidan said approvingly. “And you don’t need to worry about us. We’re harmless enough.”
He chuckled as he said it and Jordan laughed in response. Bennett wasn’t sure exactly what had just happened, but Jordan didn’t seem bothered, and Aidan was less watchful than he’d been minutes before, so he let it go.
Mrs. Kincaid’s voice interrupted them “Everyone to the table, please.”
Bennett and Jordan sat