Chapter Nine
Linc
I pick up Jordan and drive us to the club near my mother’s house.
She looks gorgeous in a fitted navy dress gathered at the waist and flared out beneath.
Throughout the car ride, I’m enveloped by her delicious scent, and arousal winds its way through my veins.
If we didn’t have a party to go to, I’d put up the privacy divider and slide my hand up her dress and find out what she’s wearing underneath.
Instead I look out the window and attempt to focus on the scenery we pass so when we arrive my cock isn’t tenting my pants and on obvious display.
She makes small talk and I do as well. She clearly wants things to feel normal between us. Since she has a big day ahead of her, dealing with the club atmosphere and my entire family, I decide not to push myself on her beforehand. After is another story.
Finally Max pulls up at the club, and we slide out of the car. “I’ll bring the gifts in,” my driver says.
I press my hand behind Jordan’s back as we walk up the stairs, and hold the door open as we step inside.
“Are you okay?” I can’t stop myself from asking.
She nods. “Why wouldn’t I be? I know everyone at the party, and your brothers and Chloe always make me feel welcome. Plus I love Aurora. There’s no reason to worry about me.” Her smile reassures me.
Whatever Chloe thinks about Jordan not fitting in, she appears confident and ready. “Then let’s go,” I say.
My sister has reserved a private room, and when we enter, the décor stands out.
On the tables, pink, silver, and white balloons are tied together, encircled with matching flowers around the base of each centerpiece.
White cloths with pink liners cover the tabletops, surrounded by white chairs with huge baby-pink bows.
Jordan sees Aurora across the room and immediately heads in her direction. She hugs my new sister and then turns her attention to Leah, who is snuggled in a car seat carrier. Bending down, Jordan lifts the baby into her arms and holds her against her chest, supporting her head with her hand.
It isn’t the first time I’ve seen her hold the baby, but in the hospital, I was worried about Jordan’s emotional state. Right now I’m concerned with my own. At the sight of her cradling the infant, my chest feels heavy, and a lump settles in my throat, while a panicky feeling takes hold.
I’ve definitely had issues with the notion of having kids, thanks to my father’s behavior and how it impacted what my siblings and I saw and heard growing up.
“What are you staring at?” Xander asks, walking up beside me and cutting off anything else I was about to consider.
I glance at my brother. “Nothing. How have you been?”
Xander shoots me a curious glance. “What’s going on?”
I shake my head, not about to get into a conversation about feelings even I don’t understand. And not at a place where someone could overhear.
“I’m good. Talking to the studio about the filming of my next project.” He shrugs. “Hanging in. You?”
I groan. “Busy at work. Dad left some issues that have recently come to light. Wrapping up those loose ends hasn’t been easy.”
“Son of a bitch,” Xander mutters. “Sorry to hear that.”
“I’ll get it sorted.” I glance around the room, taking in our mom and Chloe, who both catch my gaze and wave from where they’re talking to their friends.
Chloe has invited people her age, and my mom has included her acquaintances, giving Aurora an opportunity to meet a lot of people at once.
“I’m really proud of Mom,” I say. “What other woman would take her husband’s illegitimate child in and treat her like her own?”
Xander shakes his head. “None that I know of. Just another reason Dad was an ass.”
“I’m here! We can start the party!”
I look toward the front of the room, where the familiar voice came from, to find Dash standing in the doorway, a grin on his face. Making an entrance, as usual.
I shoot Xander an amused grin, and we head over to greet our brother. When he gets busy working, not even a bomb going off can interrupt Dash’s creative process. Although my mother told me that Dash came by to meet Aurora, and I’m glad.
“Hey!” Dash says, coming up and pulling first Xander, then me into a one-armed hug.
“Look who dressed up for the occasion.” Xander pats Dash on the back of his partially unbuttoned white collared dress shirt.
His sleeves are rolled up, revealing his tattooed arms. I enjoy my brother’s different style, the opposite of my own conservative attire. Including the tight black jeans, unripped thanks to club rules, and black Nike Air Jordans.
“Tell me you missed me,” Dash says, laughing.
“Go away. Say hello to your mother,” I mutter.
Ignoring the stares all the women shoot his way, Dash makes his way across the room and hugs first our mom and then Aurora and Jordan before turning his attention to the baby.
Family, I think. Mine means everything to me.
* * *
Jordan
I sit next to Linc at a table with Xander, Dash, Chloe, Melly, and Aurora, the family closing ranks and making a statement for their new sister and her baby.
Also joining us are Braden Prescott and Willow James, who’ve remained close with Aurora.
The couple got engaged at the last dinner we all enjoyed together in Miami and are clearly happy now.
Aurora was brought to tears more than once during the lavish day, and Melly introduced the young girl to all of her friends, who fawned over the baby and brought very expensive gifts.
I was on the receiving end of various looks, mostly from Chloe’s friends.
The women in Melly’s age bracket tended to ignore me, but the women closer to my own age?
They either scanned me from head to toe, cataloging my clothing and appearance, turning up their noses and glancing away, or shot me annoyed glances.
I have no doubt they resent my position next to Linc. I overheard more than one group of women discussing his lack of a girlfriend and potential availability, despite me sitting beside him, his hand occasionally brushing my shoulder or twirling my hair. Even when I tried to inch my chair away.
Aurora had raised an eyebrow at what she saw and grinned widely.
Melly was too busy to notice, but my stomach was in knots worrying about upsetting his mother on such a special day.
Who knows how she would react? She’s fine with me being a friend of the family, but I can’t imagine Melly would approve of the maid’s daughter being involved with her oldest son.
Despite my nerves, I enjoyed Aurora’s baby shower, probably more than her brothers did, considering all the baby games Chloe arranged for everyone to play. Traditionally men aren’t invited to a shower, but with this also being Aurora’s introduction to their friends, Chloe hadn’t adhered to custom.
When she handed out baby pins and made everyone pin one on their shirt, including the men, I nearly choked at the look on Linc’s face.
Chloe then instructed everyone not to say the word baby.
If anyone heard another person utter the word, they could take that person’s pin.
The person with the most pins won a prize.
I have to admit it was endearing watching the Kingston brothers endure games from Don’t Say Baby to Dirty Diapers, in which a variety of candy bars were placed in newborn-sized diapers and people had to guess what kind of candy they were eating.
Even I nearly gagged at the idea, shocking myself at how nauseous I became.
By the time food is served and Faith Dare’s cake pops brought out to each table, I’m exhausted. As a woman who works eight- to ten-hour days, I’m surprised a party has wiped me out so badly. I also need to use the ladies’ room.
Glancing at Linc, I say, “I’ll be back in a few minutes.”
He nods, standing as I do and pulling out my chair. Such a gentleman, I muse.
As I rise, Aurora stands up as well. “I’ll go with you,” she says and turns to Willow. “Will you watch Leah?” The baby is sleeping quietly in her car seat in the chair next to Aurora.
“Of course.” Willow smiles and puts a hand on the back of the chair where the baby sleeps.
I follow Aurora out of the room, then point in the direction of the ladies’ room. We pass the main dining room, where normal lunch activities are going on, and the loud chatter sounds as we walk by.
Once inside, we close ourselves in our own stalls. I’m quick, then wash my hands before heading to the outer sitting area. I place my bag on a shelf below a wall-to-wall mirror and pull out my lip gloss.
Glancing in the mirror, I’m shocked by how pale I appear. I don’t have blush with me, so I have no way to put life back in my cheeks. With a sigh, I open the gloss stick and apply it to my lips, as the sound of women’s voices and laughter alerts me to incoming women.
They enter, continuing to talk to one another, and I grasp my purse and step aside to wait for Aurora.
“Jordan?”
I turn at the sound of my name and force myself not to visibly cringe. “Angelica. Hi.”
“I take it you’re here for Linc’s new sister’s baby shower. My mother is there, too.” Her fake smile grates on my nerves.
“Yes, I saw your mother.” Carol Winston is a good friend of Melly’s. They all run in the same social circles.
Angelica’s friends disappear into the other room, and Aurora walks in, standing behind me.
I have no intention of introducing them. “Well, it was nice to see you, but I need to get back inside.” I turn toward Aurora, but Angelica taps my shoulder and I spin back around. “Yes?”
“Since we’re both here, I thought I’d give you some advice. You know, woman to woman?” Angelica says, fake kindness oozing from her voice as she twirls a long strand of her black hair around a finger.
Oh, this ought to be good, I think. “Aurora, why don’t you go ahead, and I’ll meet you back inside.”
“That’s okay. I’ll wait.” She steps up to my side.
Angelica looks at her but doesn’t spare her a thought, her gaze zeroing in on me. “You’re not his type. You know that, right?”