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

The first alarm went off on her phone. She shut it and glanced down, seeing a dark line. Fuck!

“Well?” Chloe sounded closer.

“Give me a minute!” Jordan breathed in and out, and finally the second one went off.

She knelt down and this time she saw a plus sign. Closing her eyes, she wanted to cry. Not needing the other one, she turned off her last alarm, scooped up the tests, and walked out, tossing them in the trash.

With Chloe and Aurora surrounding her, she washed her hands, stalling before facing them.

Finally she spoke. “I’m pregnant.”

Chloe and Aurora stared at her with wide eyes, clearly stunned.

Before they could say a word, Jordan continued. “And you cannot tell anyone. I’ll talk to Linc in my own time and in my own way.” They’d planned to be alone after the concert. That gave her a couple of days to come to terms with the situation, and she’d have to find the courage to tell him then.

“Promise me,” she said, meeting each of Linc’s sisters’ gazes. Could this be more awkward?

“Yes, of course,” Chloe said, biting her lower lip. “Jordan, I don’t know what to say. I don’t know how you feel. I…” Trailing off, she merely pulled Jordan into a hug.

Once she released her, Aurora did the same.

Then Chloe grasped Jordan’s hands. “Linc loves you. Everything is going to be fine.”

Jordan forced a smile. Love wasn’t a word they’d ever used, and she didn’t kid herself about the future. She’d done this before, and nothing had been fine. She didn’t anticipate things going any better now.

*     *     *

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