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 to overwhelm his sister, but he sensed there’d been more to her choice not to come. She was pulling away.
“Let’s go sit,” Willow said and led them to her small living room.
Linc didn’t know how she and Aurora shared the space. It had to be cramped, and he couldn’t see a pregnant woman sleeping on what he assumed was a pullout sofa. Which meant Willow took the couch and had given Aurora her bedroom. He’d noticed one closed door and the bathroom beside it.
They all looked at each other, and Linc knew he needed to break the awkward silence, but before he could speak, Aurora began peppering him with questions.
“How many brothers and sisters do you have?” she asked. “I mean, do I have? Are they all in New York? What does everyone do?” Unable to lean forward with her large belly, she smiled and sat back in the club chair she’d chosen.
Grateful for her enthusiasm and curiosity, he replied. “I’m the oldest and I run the family company. I’m sure you’ll learn a lot more if you decide to come work with me.”
“Me?” she said on a squeak. “But I don’t have a college degree! I barely graduated high school. And I just started learning office work at Dare Nation. Plus I live in Florida.” Panic seemed to raise her voice, but Linc wanted her to know she was welcome at home. In fact, he wanted her there.
“Why don’t you let me tell you some more about the family since I have the distinct feeling you’re missing key information?” Realizing she had no idea who Linc’s siblings were, he threw a curious glance Willow and Braden’s way.
Braden shrugged. “I didn’t want to freak her out all at once.”
“What’s going on?” Aurora asked.
Linc’s low chuckle had her opening her eyes wide. “Our brother Xander is an–”
“Xander Kingston. The suspense writer! And he makes movies!” Aurora nearly yelled. “No way!”
“Yes way.” Linc grinned. “And Dash is a rock star.”
Aurora’s eyes were so wide he couldn’t help but laugh.
“And Chloe is our sister.”
Aurora blinked, tears in her eyes. “I have a sister,” she whispered, and Linc’s heart swelled because Aurora’s having a sister was more important to her than her new brothers’ fame.
“How is this my life?” she asked in obvious awe.
Anger at his father rose inside him once more. “It should have been your life sooner. I’m sorry for what my father did, but the minute I found out about you, I began looking. I just couldn’t find you until you took a legitimate job that gave me a lead,” he said, wanting her to know he hadn’t abandoned her the way Kenneth Kingston had.
She shook her head. “I don’t understand why you care? I’m an illegitimate child of a man who didn’t want me. Aren’t you embarrassed by my existence?” she asked softly, her pale skin flushing with her words.