Just One Night by Carly Phillips (fiction book recommendations txt) 📕

damp and slicked back from his face, his tanned skin and the light scruff of beard he left made her heart jump. Stupid. He was her boss and her friend. She had to forget last night.

“Hey.” She walked over to him.

“Hi.” His eyes raked over her briefly before catching himself and focusing on her face.

Ignoring her pounding pulse, she asked, “Are you hungry? We could order up, you know, in case Austin calls.”

He nodded. “Good idea.”

“Okay, what are you in the mood for?”

Before he could answer, the phone in his pocket rang. He raised an eyebrow and pulled his cell out, glancing at the screen and nodding at her.

He answered the call. “Hello? Austin? Good to finally hear from you.”

Jordan shot Linc a pointed look and shook her head, silently telling him to be nice to the man.

He listened and began to pace the floor. “Yes,” he said, then more listening. “She’s what?” He came to a halt mid-stride. “And you didn’t think to mention it yesterday?”

Linc ran an agitated hand through his hair while Jordan wondered what had him so upset.

“Okay. Yes. Of course I won’t judge her. Jesus. You just took me off guard. I know how to handle myself,” he said, getting worked up again because Austin seemed to assume Linc would be a jerk to his new sister.

“And she knows my father … her father passed away?” he asked, then nodded. “Good. When can I see her?” Silence and then, “I’ll be there in thirty minutes. Text me the address,” he said and paused. “And thank you. I appreciate it.” He disconnected the call and let out a low groan.

Unable to ignore his distress, she walked over and put a hand on his shoulder. “What is it? What’s wrong?”

He turned to face her. “Aurora is pregnant.”

Jordan blinked, surprise filling her. “Isn’t she only nineteen?” She felt for the young girl, knowing what being pregnant and alone felt like. But she’d had Linc … and now so would Aurora.

“Yes. Austin wanted to prepare me before I saw her. Apparently he worried I’d say something to upset or hurt her. Like I’m an asshole,” Linc muttered.

“He’s looking out for her. Isn’t it good that Austin has her best interest at heart?”

He nodded. “It’s just hard to deal with the guy. He’s got an attitude.”

She couldn’t control the smirk lifting her lips. “And you don’t?”

He let out a laugh, his first since sometime yesterday, breaking the lingering tension. “You’re right. I should be grateful to the man and his family.”

“What did he say about thirty minutes? Will she see you now?” she asked.

“Yes, and we have to get ready. It’s a twenty-minute car ride from here.”

He sounded excited and she was happy for him, but she was about to deflate his high. “Linc, this is a big deal. I think you need to see Aurora alone and not overwhelm her with people. I can meet her the next time you get together.”

He stilled, his surprise obvious. “What? Why? Aren’t you here to be my backup? Or is this because of last night? I thought we were fine. I want you to come with me.”

Of course it was about last night. She’d spent the day reminding herself of the reasons they needed to go back to the way things had been between them before sex. And going with him now, making herself seem like she was a part of his family when she met his sister wasn’t a good idea. But Jordan had also meant what she said about not overwhelming the young woman.

Jordan forced a smile. “It’s about you and Aurora. You two need to meet and bond. No outside influences. I’ll be here when you get home and we can talk all about it.” She glanced at him and knew he understood.

“Okay. You’ve got a point,” he reluctantly admitted. “I’m going to go get changed.”

And she was going to order up dinner and wait for him to return so he could fill her in. Because that’s what best friends did.

*     *     *

Linc found himself in the parking lot of a garden apartment with catwalks overlooking parked cars. According to Austin, Aurora was staying with Willow James, his brother Braden’s girlfriend … sort of. Linc hadn’t asked for an explanation.

He shut the engine, drew a deep breath, and headed into the building, took the elevator upstairs, and walked to the apartment number.

Holding his breath, he rang the doorbell. Seconds later, a man whose resemblance to Austin couldn’t be mistaken opened the door. With his dark hair and indigo-blue eyes, he was definitely a Prescott.

“Lincoln Kingston?” Braden asked.

Linc inclined his head. “Braden Prescott?”

Braden nodded, extended his hand, and they shook, each with a strong grip.

“Call me Linc,” he said.

“Come on in, Linc,” Braden said, stepping aside.

Linc entered, his gaze immediately finding his sister and not because her pregnant belly stood out, though it did. Her hair fell over her shoulders, blonde hair similar to Chloe’s, long and draping down her back. She wore a light blue maternity top and stared at him in awe.

Braden spoke, breaking their intense study of each other. “This is Willow James, my … the woman Aurora’s been living with recently.” Braden extended a hand toward Willow, and she gave Linc a smile and a wave.

He nodded, grateful to her for taking Aurora in. “A pleasure to meet you,” Linc said.

“And this is your sister, Aurora Michaels.”

Aurora still stared at Linc wide-eyed. No way he could miss the mix of wonder and fear in her eyes and expression.

As if drawn to her and the family resemblance, he walked over and placed his hand beneath her chin. “You have our eyes,” he said and pulled her into his arms for a brotherly hug.

As Linc stepped back, he noticed Braden had joined Willow and wound his arm around her waist. Whatever was going on between the two, it was obvious they had a connection, which reminded Linc of Jordan, and he wished she could share this moment with him.

He understood why she wouldn’t want