Chapter Four #3
I rise to my 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 nods. “Sounds amazing.” She pushes herself up from her seat. “Thank you for looking for me. And not giving up until you found me.”
I step over and hug her as best I can around her big belly. “You’re family.”
I say my goodbyes, we exchange phone numbers, and I promise to pick her up in the morning. Then I head back to the hotel, where Jordan will be waiting.
* * *
Jordan
I hear the lock open and Linc push open the door and walk inside.
“Jordan?” he calls out.
“Right here.” I’m stretched out in the sitting room on the sofa with an ottoman in front of me. On the television is an old comedy I’ve been trying and failing to pay attention to.
Pushing myself to a sitting position, I pull a blanket over my lap and wait for him to join me. He walks in, looking drained but also happy, and my heart skips a beat.
“So how did it go?” I ask. I’ve been dying to know the whole time he’s been gone, alternating between kicking myself for staying back at the hotel and telling myself I did the right thing.
He settles into a chair near the couch and smiles.
“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!” I lean forward in my seat. “Do you think she’ll come back to New York with you?” I know how important it is to Linc to have his family together.
He rubs his hands on the top of his jeans, drawing my 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 our close proximity and all I can’t have.
Of course, I’d be around him if we were home and in the office, but there’s something different about Linc in a suit, hot as he is, and this casually dressed Linc sleeping in the room next to mine.
Showering while I imagine him naked, water dripping down his skin.
Wearing a bathing suit, his chest bare, muscles flexing as I try not to shamelessly stare.
“Sounds great!” My voice comes out tight and thready. “I’m looking forward to meeting her.” At least that much is true.
I’ll enjoy getting to know his new sister, and I wonder what kind of changes Aurora will bring to the Kingston family.
* * *
Linc
I leave the next morning to pick up Aurora.
Jordan stays in the room, getting ready for the day.
We’re each doing our best to find our normal footing with one another after our incredible night together, and it isn’t easy.
The current awkwardness has never existed before, and I hope Aurora’s arrival will be the icebreaker Jordan and I need.
Aurora is chatty on the ride to the hotel, asking questions about New York, the city, where I live, and whether the rest of the family is as eager to meet her as I am. I assure her they are.
Jordan joins us for breakfast at a table in the restaurant located off the main part of the lobby. We approach the table, and Jordan greets us with a smile. She rises and steps forward to say hello to Aurora.
As she stands, I take in her outfit. A cute ruffled skirt hits above the knee, revealing her long legs, a pop of hot-pink polish looks bold and cute on her toenails, and a white tank top hugs her curves.
I drool at the sight of her, her hair pulled off her face with a headband, putting my focus on her bright pink lips. I groan and shake my head, wondering if she’s torturing me on purpose or if I’m just now noticing every little appealing thing about her.
“Aurora,” I say, my hand lightly on her back. “This is Jordan Greene, my … best friend and personal assistant.” I nearly stumble over the description and can’t figure out why when the lines have always been so clear before.
“Jordan, my sister Aurora.”
“I am so happy to meet you,” Jordan says, pulling Aurora into an awkward hug due to the size of her belly.
When Aurora pulls back, she has a wide smile on her face, obviously thrilled with the warm welcome. “Same here.”
“Let’s sit.” Jordan gestures to the chairs and they each settle into one. “I thought you’d be more comfortable indoors with air conditioning than outside in the heat.”
Aurora nods. “I hate getting hot and sweaty, especially now. I’m so uncomfortable.”
“I can only imagine.” Jordan smiles, and only I know Aurora’s comment has brought up painful memories.
Jordan really has no idea what it’s like to carry a baby to term and feel the things my sister now does, and I understand Jordan’s unexpressed pain.
“So what does everyone want for breakfast?” I ask, determined to lighten the subject.
Aurora opens the bound menu and scans the page, her eyes widening before slamming the book closed.
I shoot Jordan a concerned glance, and she gives me a slight shrug.
“Aurora? What are you having?” I ask.
She swallows hard. “Umm, just a glass of orange juice. I’m not really hungry.”
“But you told me in the car you were starving.”
Jordan clears her throat. “Well, I am hungry and I can’t decide what I want. If I order pancakes and scrambled eggs, will you share them with me?” she asks Aurora.
His sister’s eyes light up. “Are you sure?”
“Definitely.” Jordan shuts the menu. “Linc? What are you having?”
“A vegetable omelet and bacon,” I say, wondering what I’ve missed.
“I’ll be right back,” Aurora says, rising from her seat and heading toward what looks like the restrooms in the back.
I glance at Jordan. “Can you explain?”
She nods. “The prices on the menu freaked her out, and she didn’t want to order anything.”
I narrow my gaze, my stomach churning at the possibility Jordan is right. “How did you know what was wrong?”
A soft smile lifts her lips and she leans forward. “Because I remember the first time you insisted I come with you for lunch to some fancy place you usually went with your family. I took one look at the menu and said I just wanted French fries.”
I still, recalling the day clearly. “I believed you,” I say, horrified by my privilege and ignorance.
“You had no reason not to.”
I shake my head, suddenly understanding so much more about Jordan’s take on my life and our different upbringings.
“At least now I have an idea about what to look out for with Aurora. I don’t ever want her feeling uncomfortable.” As I meet her stare, regret fills me. “I never wanted you to feel that way either.”
She reaches out and curls her fingers around my hand. “You can’t control everything, Linc. No matter how much you want to. Or how much money you have. As for Aurora, some things are going to take time.”
I let out a frustrated groan, but before I can reply, Aurora returns to the table and we enjoy our time together. We take a walk down the beach and talk before I return her home.
The rest of the week passes quickly, including the football game.
Braden manages tickets for me, Jordan, and Aurora, and we all have fun.
Eventually Aurora agrees to come to New York with us.
She understands how much easier her life will be around family and people determined to help her both emotionally and financially.
As much as she loves the Prescotts and Willow, Aurora has a deep-seated need for family.
Another plus, Aurora and Jordan form a fast bond, and I’m glad Aurora will have someone she already knows and likes to rely on once in New York. But what’s good for Aurora isn’t helpful to me. Having Aurora to focus on means Jordan is able to avoid dealing with me and our relationship.
And I have no idea what to do about it.