* * *
Jordan didn’t know how she made it through the week, coming in to work every day and hiding the news of her pregnancy from Linc. She was sure fear and panic were written all over her face, but as he was busy with business deals, he didn’t seem to notice.
The private investigator had located Wallace, who’d taken a private jet owned by a friend to the Maldives, which lacked an extradition treaty with the United States. He’d jumped through hoops to hide his tracks, but Linc hadn’t been interested in how the CFO had accomplished his disappearing act. He wanted to talk to him and understand what had been going on with his father in his final days.
Now Jordan stood in her bedroom, trying to find something to wear to Madison Square Garden for tonight’s concert. She took out her favorite pair of tight dark-washed jeans and slid them on, wriggling her lower body as she pulled them over her thighs and tried to button them around her waist.
They’d always been snug, but she still had to convince herself the tightness as she lay down on the bed to button them was normal. And not the result of her pregnancy.
She chose a light blue silk top with a low-cut V-neck and loose sleeves, tucking in the front and letting the back and sides hang over the jeans. A pair of black over-the-knee boots laced up the outer sides completed the outfit.
Standing in front of the full-length mirror behind her door, she took in her appearance, knowing she wouldn’t be wearing tight clothes for much longer. Her hair hung long over her shoulders and her makeup was done.
Grabbing her black leather jacket, she was as ready as she’d ever be to deal with telling Linc he was going to be a father. She was so nervous and worked up, she doubted she’d be able to pay attention to the concert.
Linc picked her up with Max driving, as usual. His eyes lit up when he saw her, but she couldn’t find comfort in the fact that he found her attractive. Not when so much more was at stake.
Linc was in a good mood as they drove to MSG, and she tried to put everything out of her head until later. On the way, they chatted, making small talk.
“Will Chloe’s fiancé be there tonight?” she asked.
Linc frowned. “No. Concerts are too loud for him. Pussy,” he muttered under his breath.
She couldn’t help but laugh. “I have a question. Would any man be good enough for your sister?”
He leaned back against the seat. “I take the Fifth.”
She laughed. Soon they pulled up at the Garden. Linc helped her out and kept an arm secure around her waist as they pushed past the crowds and headed to the private entrance to the VIP suites. The family had backstage passes, and their tickets were for a box high up in the arena. The actual VIP event was scheduled for after the show for a select group of people allowed to hang out with the band, including family and close friends.
Once inside the box, she said hello to everyone, doing her best to avoid Chloe’s and Aurora’s curious stares. She was actually glad when Linc made his way over to Aurora and hugged her tight. Jordan trusted the young woman not to spill Jordan’s secret.
While waiting for the opening act, she walked over to Xander, who had poured himself a drink.
“Hi there,” she said.
“Hi, yourself. Can I get you something?” He gestured to the bar.
“Club soda would be great.”
He filled a glass with ice and handed her the cup. “So. What’s happening in your life?” he asked.
“I think I’d rather know about the life of a famous novelist,” she said, deflecting and turning the subject to him.
He shrugged. “Just writing my next book and talking to the director and producer about the next movie.”
“He says modestly.” She nudged him with her shoulder. “Who’d have thought the Kingston brother who went off to join the marines would end up being a world-famous thriller writer.”
His eyes turned darker. “Writing lets me deal with things without actually having to talk about them.”
Every sibling had found their own way to deal with Kenneth Kingston’s affairs and painful behavior. Xander’s had been to get as far away as he could. No one knew what had happened when he was overseas, but when he returned, he became more of a loner who put his emotions on the page.
“Well, I’m proud of you. In fact, I have an entire bookshelf devoted to your books. Someday I expect you to come sign them.” She lifted her cup and took a sip of her bubbly drink.
“It would be my pleasure. Invite me over any time.” He winked at her, and she laughed, just as Linc joined them, slipping an arm around Jordan’s waist.
“What are you trying to get her to invite you to?” he asked Xander.
“Jordan wants me to sign her X. Kingston collection, and I told her I just need an invite.” Xander grinned.
“Just make sure I’m there when this Bozo shows up.” Linc pulled her closer and his fingers wrapped nearer to her belly.
She jerked away in panic. “I think I hear the opening act.” She turned to the big window overlooking the arena, and sure enough, as if she’d conjured them, the band was on stage, the sound of their guitar and drums growing louder.
The warm-up band played, and by the time they finished, the crowd was stamping their feet and calling for The Original Kings to come out.
Dash, as the lead singer, commanded the stage. Jordan had seen him evolve over the years, from a young boy performing in random bars to the man and star performer he was now. She put her problems away, letting herself sing, clap, and dance to the music, losing herself and her problems.
Linc was by her side, enjoying watching his brother with all the pride of an older sibling. His hands often came to Jordan’s shoulders, his lips settling on her neck, causing shivers of awareness to ripple through her in the dark room, lit only by the lights of the band. Her nipples grew tight and desire lit a flame inside her. God, she wished relationships were as simple as moments like they shared tonight.
When the lights came on, everyone was on a high from the performance, and they were talking loudly because their ears were ringing from the blaring sound of the music for the last couple of hours.
They made their way downstairs to the room where the band’s meet and greet was to be held. People from all the boxes and those who’d won tickets courtesy of music stations and online sites waited for their time with members of the band.
Everyone talked over each other, and Jordan was uncomfortable with the crowds, needing air. “I’m going to find a chair and sit,” she said in Linc’s ear because it was the only way for him to hear her.
“Let’s go into the outer room. It’s quieter there.” He grasped her hand and led the way.
She followed, working their way past the groups of people until they found the door and stepped into the outer connecting room. The sounds immediately dimmed, and she could hear herself think again.
She pressed her palms against her ears and patted them hard. “My God. This night has been insane!” She knew she was still talking too loudly and laughed.
“I like seeing you happy like this.” Linc looked at her intently, his stare steady.
God, he was gorgeous. She loved that he hadn’t shaved completely, the scruff of beard on his handsome face so appealing.
Suddenly she remembered what she had to tell him, and she sobered, feeling the grin on her face dimming. Before she could react, a male voice called her name. Thinking it was one of the Kingston brothers, she turned, shocked to see Collin Auerbach, her ex, walking up to her, a pregnant woman by his side.
Bile rose up in her throat, and Linc, who had met Collin years ago when she’d started dating him, slid a steadying arm behind her back.
But she wanted to handle this herself, without Collin knowing his presence brought back painful memories. Or that he affected her at all, and she pulled away to stand on her own. She knew that if she wasn’t pregnant now, she wouldn’t be thrown by his presence at all.
He strode up to her, looking every bit the preppy guy she’d kn
own, with his light brown hair and caramel eyes, wearing slacks and a long-sleeve shirt. His outfit was too conservative for a concert. His wife, in her black pants and fitted maternity top, looked at her curiously. She clearly had no idea who Jordan was.
“Jordan! It’s been a long time,” Collin said.
It hadn’t been long enough as far as she was concerned. She treated him to a forced smile. “Collin. I didn’t think concerts were your thing.”
“They’re more Naomi’s. She loves The Original Kings and I got us box seats. She’s dying to meet Dash Kingston.” His gaze came to Linc’s.
The two men didn’t run in the same circles, so they hadn’t met up since the early days of Collin’s relationship with Jordan. But from Collin’s expression, he obviously recognized him.
“Aah, you two are still close, huh? And Dash Kingston is your brother. What do you say you get us to the front of the VIP line? You know, for an old friend?” He let out a laugh, as if he truly meant what he said.
“You have got to be kidding me. How about I escort you out?” Linc asked through clenched teeth.
Jordan put a calming hand on his arm. She did not want a scene.
“Collin? What’s going on? Are you going to introduce me?” his wife asked.
“Yes, Collin. Why don’t you introduce us?” Jordan asked with sugary sweetness in her tone.
“And while you’re at it, why don’t you give her the history of your relationship?” Linc said the one thing sure to send Collin running.
And it worked if his panicked expression was anything to go by.
“Honey, let’s go. The line is long and I’m not feeling well.” He glared at Linc, then turned to Jordan. “I thought enough time had passed that we could be civil.”
“Never,” she said through clenched teeth.
He grabbed his wife’s hand and pulled her away, heading out of the room, Naomi complaining the entire time because he’d promised her she’d meet Dash Kingston.
Jordan let out a long breath and shook her head. “I swear to God, of all the nerve.” It wasn’t like Collin didn’t know what had happened with her pregnancy, either.
About a month after she’d lost the baby, she’d sent him an email letting him know because she sensed it was the right thing to do, no matter how much of an asshole he’d been. She hadn’t heard back. She’d been young and stupid and here she was again. Pregnant by a man who she knew had concerns about having children and whose life she worried she wouldn’t fit into long-term.
“Hey, are you okay?” Linc asked.
She forced herself to meet his worried stare. “I’m fine and he’s still an asshole.”
“There you guys are!” Aurora walked over with Chloe beside her. “Hasn’t tonight been incredible?”
Jordan smiled. “It has been.” A wave of dizziness washed over her, and she barely held herself up with the heels of her shoes wobbling a bit.
She shot Chloe a nervous look, and she must have seen something in Jordan’s expression that told her what to do. “Linc, come on. Want to introduce you to someone.”
He grumbled but nodded. “Fine. I’ll be right back.”
As soon as he turned his back, she glanced at Aurora. “I need to sit down.”
Looking concerned, Aurora looked around and pointed toward two chairs in the corner. “Come on.”
Aurora waited as Jordan sat down, grateful to be off her feet. Her head spun and of course the nausea rose with it.
“Can I get you something? Maybe a drink? Club soda? Water?” Aurora asked.
“Maybe some club soda.” The bubbles might help settle her stomach.
Aurora smiled. “I’ll be right back.”
Jordan leaned her head back against the wall and closed her eyes. A few minutes and maybe all these symptoms would go away.
“I’m back.”
Jordan heard Aurora’s voice, but she kept her eyes closed, not ready to deal with the dizziness.
“When I was pregnant, I lived on sour sucking candies to help the nausea. You should try those,” Aurora said.
“You’re pregnant?” Linc’s voice had Jordan’s eyelids opening fast. He stood behind his sister, his eyes huge in disbelief.
If Jordan’s stomach was churning before, there were no words for what she was feeling now. “Linc–”
“Oh, God, I’m sorry!” Aurora’s eyes filled with tears. “I didn’t mean for him to overhear.”
“It’s okay. Honest.” She sought to reassure the young woman. Meanwhile, Linc still stared at her, shock clearly not allowing him to process what he’d heard.
Aurora shook her head. “I’m going to… I guess I’ll just go.” She spun around and headed back into the VIP room.
With no choice but to face things head on, Jordan rose to her feet.
“You’re pregnant,” Linc said again, his voice hard.
At his harsh tone, she began to panic, breaking into a sweat, the dizziness worse. “I was going to tell you tonight.”
“How?”
She blinked at the question. “Excuse me? I would think you could figure it out yourself. Maybe that ancient condom we used the first time?”
A muscle ticked in his jaw and all her fears rose to the surface. Another man who couldn’t handle the reality of getting her pregnant. Hadn’t she just seen Collin and his pregnant wife? Jordan was good enough to fuck but not good enough to stand by when things got tough.
And as Linc’s silence went on, her mother’s words came back to her:
You aren’t family. I’m just reminding you of your place. One day that man you call your best friend is going to find a woman to marry, and where will that leave you?
“Shit,” he muttered, running an agitated hand through his hair.
She stiffened. “Don’t worry about it. This baby isn’t your problem. I’m not your problem,” she said, desensitizing herself the same way she had all those years ago with her ex. “Even if you wrote me a check like Collin or your father, I wouldn’t take it.” She barely recognized the robotic voice coming out of her mouth, but sounding numb was better than showing him her pain.
Her words seemed to jolt him out of his state of shock. “Jordan–”
She didn’t stick around to hear what he had to say. She brushed past him and ran out the door.
Chapter Eleven
Chloe dragged Linc to meet a friend of hers who it turned out he already knew and disliked. A guy who tried to push an investment on him, here. At his brother’s concert. Annoyed, Linc told the man to call him at the office to make an appointment and walked away, heading back to the spot where he’d left Jordan and Aurora. He’d be sure to tell Jordan not to put the man through when he called.
As Linc crossed the room, he realized the women weren’t where he’d left them, but he caught sight of Jordan sitting in a chair, eyes closed, her head tipped back against the wall. He strode toward her just as Aurora stepped in front of Jordan, her back to Linc, a cup in her hand.
“When I was pregnant, I lived on sour sucking candies to help the nausea. You should try those,” Aurora said to Jordan.
Jesus fuck. She was pregnant?
“You’re pregnant?” Shock blanked out all common sense, and he blurted out the question.
Jordan’s eyelids flew open, her gaze meeting his, panic etched across her features. “Linc–”
“Oh, God, I’m sorry! I didn’t mean for him to overhear,” Aurora said, her voice shaking.
“It’s okay. Honest,” Jordan said in an attempt to soothe his obviously distraught sister.
But Linc didn’t glance over. His attention remained on Jordan as he waited for her to deny it, to tell him he’d heard wrong or misunderstood.
“I’m going to… I guess I’ll just go.” Aurora spun around and headed back into the VIP room, leaving them alone.
Jordan rose unsteadily to her feet.
“You’re pregnant,” Linc said. Again, he heard the harshness in his tone, but all he could think about was the fact that k
ids were the last thing he’d ever wanted or planned.
She nodded. “I was going to tell you tonight.”
“How?” If he had to name one thing he was careful about, it was using protection.
“Excuse me?” she asked, straightening her shoulders.
If looks could kill, he’d be dead on the spot.
“I would think you could figure that one out yourself. Maybe that ancient condom we used the first time?” she reminded him with no lack of sarcasm.
Son of a bitch, he thought, clenching his jaw. He’d been so hot, so eager to get inside her he hadn’t cared what kind of protection he’d used as long as he was covered.
How the fuck did he process this? He’d been fifteen when he’d discovered his father was cheating. Seventeen when the man had slapped him on the shoulder and said, “Always wrap up, son. You don’t want to end up with a kid you don’t want,” before Linc went out on a date one night. Not to mention finding out about Aurora about a month ago. But even before he learned his father had gotten his secretary pregnant and abandoned the baby, Linc had promised himself he wouldn’t bring kids into the world. Never wanted them to end up miserable like he and his siblings had.
“Shit,” he said louder than he should have, running a frustrated, angry hand through his hair.
“Don’t worry about it. This baby isn’t your problem. I’m not your problem.” Jordan’s voice brought him back to the present.
He’d never seen the blank look on her face before, and a sudden rush of fear ran through him. A different kind of fear than when he’d overheard she was pregnant with his baby. He simply couldn’t get ahold of all his emotions. They were too big. Too panic-inducing.
“Even if you wrote me a check like Collin or your father, I wouldn’t take it,” she spat.
Oh, shit. Her words shook him to his core, and he realized exactly what his reaction had done. “Jordan–”
She looked past him and rushed for the door. A large group of people was entering, but she managed to barrel through them, and though he attempted to go after her, the crowd of fans here to see the band was too big, too rowdy.
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