Chapter Ten
Linc
I arrive at Beck’s place of business and go through the same routine as last time before I’m escorted back to talk to him. Although I’ve planned to have the money I owe wired today around the same time as this meeting, I want one last conversation with the man.
I knock and walk in, coming face-to-face with my one-time friend. “Beck.”
“I was just notified you wired the money.” Beck rises from his seat behind the desk. “Guess we’re in business.”
I incline my head. “Apparently we are. But you didn’t succeed in grabbing a part of my company.
Despite using an older man’s weakness to try and do it.
” I won’t come out and admit to my father’s illness, but Beck must have realized something wasn’t right when Kenneth Kingston put up a piece of the family company as collateral in the deal.
Beck shrugs. “You win some, you lose some. But for your information, I had nothing to do with your father’s choices.”
Not about to let him off the hook easily, I step toward him. “You could have given me a heads-up and chose not to. You also dragged out the information for your own enjoyment. Can’t say I appreciate either choice.”
Beck shrugs. “And I can’t say I care.”
“Great.” I refrain from rolling my eyes. “With that settled, keep Brian, my CEO, updated on anything having to do with this deal. I don’t want to be blindsided again.”
Better to let Brian deal with the actual purchase and subsequent renovations and leasing.
Beck and I might kill each another if we have to work together directly.
And since it’s Beck who’s involved, I won’t turn it over to someone more junior.
To be safe, I want someone I trust implicitly handling it.
“Whatever you say.” Beck takes his seat again, obviously finished with the conversation, which is fine with me.
“Let’s try and stay out of each other’s orbit from now on,” I say before turning and walking out, letting the door slam behind me this time.
* * *
Jordan
I work all morning without a break because I’ve promised Aurora we can go shopping for post-maternity clothes.
Melly has done so much for her, furnishing the baby’s room, supplementing accessories and clothes that she didn’t get at the shower.
But when it came to her own wardrobe, Aurora wanted someone closer to her own age to join her.
Aurora is coming to the office to meet up with me and Chloe for a girls’ afternoon.
I took off the day after the baby shower, as Linc offered, and returned the next day.
For the most part, I’m feeling better except for an occasional bout of light-headedness and nausea.
I assume I have a lingering virus, or as a migraine person, I attribute the symptoms to my condition and go about my days.
I’m looking forward to shopping with the two girls today, and by the time Aurora arrives, I’m ready to go.
The young woman walks up to my desk, an excited smile on her face. “Did you hear the cool news?”
I shake my head. “What’s up?”
“Dash and the band are performing at a special charity event this Saturday night and we’re all going! Melly asked the nanny her friend’s daughter used if she could babysit for Leah and she said yes.” She vibrates with excitement and I’m thrilled for her.
“That’s amazing. I know you’ll have fun.” I smile. “Now how about I call Chloe and we get going?”
“You’re going, too! I spoke to Linc on the way here, and he said you would both be there.” Aurora bounces on the balls of her feet.
“Oh!”
“Sorry,” Linc says, as he comes up behind his sister. “Everything came together for Dash and the band this morning, but I was tied up with an appointment and didn’t get a chance to tell you. But we’re going on Saturday night.” He walks past me, stopping outside his office door.
What’s with this we stuff, anyway? “It sounds like a family event to me.”
I glanced at Aurora, who’s watching us with interest.
“Aurora, honey, why don’t you go find Chloe? I’ll be with you in a few minutes. I want to talk to your brother.” I push myself up from my seat.
“Oh. Sure.” Aurora spins and heads to the other side of the office where Chloe works. She’s been here before and learned who sits where.
Once she’s gone, I walk around my desk, put a hand on Linc’s back, and prod him toward his office. Once inside, I shut the door behind us.
“If you wanted alone time, all you had to do was say so,” he says with that sexy grin I can’t resist.
When I took the day off from work, he had a nearby delicatessen send chicken soup and sandwiches over for me to eat.
He wanted to come by, but I needed sleep, not to mention distance, and he agreed to let me rest. And on my return, he was on his best behavior, not pushing our relationship, and I was grateful for the reprieve.
“What’s going on?” I set my hands on my hips and cock my head to one side.
“Tell me you don’t want to see The Original Kings in person?”
“Of course I do, but—”
He shrugs. “No buts. We’re going. And Jordan? Now that you’ve had a week to recuperate and you feel better, after the concert, we’re going to talk about us. We’ve danced around what this is long enough.” He gestures between us.
I draw a deep breath and mentally acknowledge the need for us to have that conversation. The time has come. Me pulling back and giving in only to pull away again is giving us both whiplash.
Maybe what I need to do is let our relationship happen and run its course, which I believe it would. Probably not for me, because I’d become emotionally invested. In truth, I already am. But I’d go into this knowing we don’t have a future, and I’d eventually have to nurse a broken heart.
Still, if I make it clear to him I understand the parameters, sex only, when things end, we can go back to the way things were before.
Decision made, I hope I can handle it. Meeting his gaze, I nod. “Okay. We’ll talk.”
He raises his eyebrows, surprise etching his features. “Good.”
He looks like he wants to say more, to ask me questions, but he’s said we’ll discuss things on Saturday night, and I’m not going to do it in the office. “Well, I need to go meet up with Chloe and Aurora. You’re okay by yourself this afternoon?” I ask.
He grins. “I’ll be fine. Are you coming back to the office today?” he asks.
“Doubtful. I think we’ll be out till after five. Chloe has shopping plans.” I use a quote gesture with my fingers.
His sister has laid out a day, beginning with lunch and keeping us hopping from store to store.
He laughs at my description. “Got it.”
I turn to leave, and he hooks an arm around my waist, pulling me against him and, before I can react, sealing his lips over mine.
I’ve missed this and return the kiss, opening my mouth for him and letting his tongue swirl inside. He nips my lower lip and licks the sting, the hint of pain causing me to moan and inch closer. My sex clenches and need pulses through my body, making me wish we weren’t in the office.
But for a brief moment, I let myself go. I wrap my arms around him and indulge. The kiss is wet and hot, everything I dream about when I think of Linc. Until a knock sounds on the door.
Before we can fully pull apart, Chloe walks in, Aurora bumping into her as she comes to a sudden halt. “Oh, shit. Sorry!” Chloe exclaims.
My face flames and I bury my face in Linc’s chest.
“Ever hear of knocking?” Linc’s arm wraps tighter around me.
“It’s an office, not a bedroom,” Chloe shoots back, a sister arguing with her brother. “But I am sorry, Jordan.”
I pull myself together and step away. “It’s fine. We shouldn’t have been…” I cut off my explanation and shake my head. “Are you ready to go?” I ask the women.
“We are.” Chloe steps back, and Aurora, who has already inched out of the doorway, waits for us by Jordan’s desk.
I glance at Linc and speak quietly, so only he can hear. “I know you don’t want anyone to think of you behaving like your father. We shouldn’t have been making out in the office,” I say, taking partial responsibility even though he started it.
He strides over and places his hands on my shoulders. “My father cheated on my mother. I’m with someone I care about. Totally different. Now go have a good time and stop finding reasons to worry.”
I nod, manage a smile, and head out for the day.
* * *
At lunch, Chloe and Aurora chat while we eat.
Suddenly dizzy and nauseous, I pick at my salad.
They’re talking about the stores they plan on checking out first, but I’ve tuned them out.
The minute the waitress placed the Cobb salad in front of me, bacon bits and the strong smell of cheese had my stomach churning.
“Jordan? Are you okay?” Chloe’s voice calling my name catches my attention, and I shake my head to clear my mind. “Yes, sorry. What were you saying?”
Both women look at me with concern.
“You haven’t eaten anything, and you spaced out for most of our conversation,” Aurora says. “What’s wrong?”
I sigh. “I haven’t been feeling great. I think it’s a silent migraine.” I read up on them earlier today, wondering if I need to make an appointment with a neurologist. Usually my migraines are painful with throbbing in my head. This is different. All the other symptoms without the pain.
“What’s a silent migraine?” Chloe asks, taking a sip of her club soda, her engagement ring twinkling as the sun in the window bounces off the large diamond. “I’ve never heard of one.”
“I actually had to look it up myself, but since I get painful migraines and what I’ve been feeling has similar symptoms, like nausea and light-headedness and a general blah feeling without the head pain, there’s a good chance that’s all it is.
” I shrug and take a small sip of my own club soda, hoping it will help settle my stomach.
Aurora leans in closer. “Nausea, huh?”
“Yep.”
“And you’re light-headed?” she repeats.
“Again, yep.”
The young woman narrows her eyes. “Very tired?”
I think about how I’ve been feeling. “Well, yes.”