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

Sweet Treats in the city, and with Willow and Braden coming to the baby shower, Chloe had obviously decided to bring Braden’s family into the mix.

“Sounds like you have everything under control,” he said, glad she was enjoying the preparation.

She nodded. “I definitely do,” she said, suddenly squirming in her seat, a habit left over from when she was a child.

Chloe had a tell and couldn’t lie worth a damn. “Okay, spill it,” Linc said. “What else is on your mind?”

She sighed. “I didn’t want to ask you this sooner because it felt wrong, what with Dad’s surprise passing and it feeling so soon.” She swallowed hard, clearly struggling.

Of all the siblings, Linc knew their father best because they’d worked together, but they hadn’t been close. And Kenneth hadn’t understood his writer or rock star sons. Chloe had looked up to him because he was their father, but as soon as she was old enough to catch on to their mother’s misery, she’d shut their father out, too.

“It’s okay. Whatever it is, you can say it.” Linc didn’t want her to feel she couldn’t come to him.

Twisting her hands in front of her, she forced herself to speak. “Dad was going to walk me down the aisle because it was tradition. But I’m closer to you anyway and now he’s gone.” She glanced up, her eyes watery. “Linc, will you walk me down the aisle?”

He smiled at his baby sister, who was clearly no longer a baby. Although he didn’t think Owen was good enough for her, the wedding was set, and Linc wanted her to be happy. “Of course I will.”

“Thank you!” She popped up from her chair and hugged him, nearly knocking him over in her exuberance.

“Did you think I’d say no?” he asked as she stood up so he could catch his balance.

“No.” She shook her head. “But I know how you feel about Owen.” Looking up at him with those familiar blue eyes, she all but dared him to say something negative about her fiancé.

He drew a deep breath and took a moment to phrase things so she didn’t get hurt. “I just want the right man for you,” he said.

“And Owen is that man. We have a lot of things in common. He makes me feel safe, and unlike Dad, he’s a good man who won’t cheat.”

Chloe seemed so damned certain and sincere, but Linc wasn’t sure. If she was marrying the man for safety’s sake, the tax attorney might fit the bill, but his vibrant sister needed so much more. He hoped she wasn’t making a mistake.

Still, he schooled his features and forced a smile. “If you’re happy, then I’m glad.”

Her shoulders dropped and she relaxed. “So who’s your plus-one for the wedding?” she asked as he lowered himself into his chair.

What a day to ask him when he was still reeling over Angelica’s unexpected visit. “I’ll be coming with Jordan.”

His sister rolled her eyes. “Of course Jordan is coming. She’s invited but who’s your date?”

He looked his sister in the eye and repeated his answer. “Jordan.”

Her eyes opened wide. “You and Jordan?” She shook her head as if she’d misunderstood. “Oh, I get it. You want to fend off all the single ladies. That makes sense. Smart, Linc. Very smart.” She laughed until she saw he was deadly serious. “Whoa. Wait. You and Jordan?” she asked again. “Does she know she’s your date?”

It was Linc’s turn to chuckle. “No, actually, she doesn’t.”

“Linc!”

“She doesn’t know she’s my date to Aurora’s shower either.” He shrugged but he had no plans to explain things to his sister. “I’d appreciate it if you’d let me work things out my own way.”

Chloe nodded. With one hand, she raised her fingers to her mouth and gestured that her lips were sealed.

“Good to know.”

“Okay, I need to get back to work. Behave yourself, Linc. I have a feeling you’re in over your head.” Chloe braced her hands on the desk and leaned in. “Jordan isn’t one of us. Not like you think.”

Narrowing his gaze, he asked, “What in the hell do you mean?”

“Listen.” Chloe sat back down in the chair, and he sensed a lecture coming on. “You and Jordan are best friends and always have been, but you’re a guy. And you don’t see what girls do. The way women in your social circle look at her because her mother was our maid. Jordan has access to you, and people in our world resent her.”

“Again, you mean other women resent her.”

Chloe nodded. “Jordan might dress in designer clothes, and she knows how to hold herself and behave at the club, but nobody sees her as anything other than the help’s daughter.”

Anger filled him at the truth of her statement. “What kind of bullshit is this our world?” he asked with quotes around the words.

Sure, her mother and his father believed they shouldn’t even be friends, but he’d had no idea there were more people who bought into the antiquated notion.

Chloe glanced down, her cheeks flushed. “It’s something insecure bitches use to distinguish themselves from smart, beautiful women like Jordan who make their own way in the world and do it well.”

At least his sister didn’t buy into social class distinctions. What a load of crap, and Linc ground his teeth in frustration.

“Jordan’s mother feels the same way. She’s always telling her she doesn’t belong with me. Not even as my friend.”

Chloe’s expression turned sad. “What about you? If you had to walk into a charity event or the club with Jordan on your arm, knowing what people would think and say, how would you feel?”

“Proud.” He knew the answer without thinking.

His sister’s smile was all the validation he needed. “Then go for it and I’ll be right by your side.” She came around and hugged him again. “Love you, Linc.”

“Love you back. Now go work.”

Chloe walked out and Linc glanced around his office. Chloe had given him a lot to think about when it came to Jordan. So much