“Linc, you know you’d do the same thing if Austin showed up in New York claiming someone you cared about was his long-lost sister.”
The soothing sound of her voice along with the sweet aroma of her floral scent acted as a balm, and the tension riding him eased. Her words calmed him and allowed him to think clearly, and dammit, she was right.
“Fine. We’re staying at the W Hotel. Your assistant has my number.”
“I’ll be in touch.” Austin stood and walked them to the door.
Linc waited until they were outside in the parking lot before letting his temper go. “Who does he think he is?” He clenched his hands into tight fists at his sides, wishing he’d given in to the impulse to take a swing at Austin Prescott with his arrogant I know best attitude.
Jordan smiled and shook her head, and all the anger seeped out of him.
“You’re right.” He gave in to her knowing grin. “I would do the same thing if the situation were reversed.” He pulled the car keys out of his pocket. “I just don’t have to like it.” He pressed the button on the key fob and opened the passenger door, waiting as she slid in.
Resting a hand on the top of the windshield, he leaned down. “I’m very glad you came with me.”
She tipped her face toward his, her pert nose with freckles wrinkling as she looked up at him, the sun on her skin. “You know I always have your back.”
Just as he’d always had hers. So if he needed her now, she would be there.
No questions asked.
* * *
After leaving Dare Nation, Jordan let Linc brood on the way to the hotel. He needed to get his frustration with Austin Prescott out of his system, and she hoped the convertible ride to the hotel cleared his head. They had time to kill while they waited to hear from Austin, and she refused to let Linc spend all his time making business calls and working. Not when the sun shone outside and they were right near the beach.
They checked in and headed up to their suite. As she stepped inside, the nine-foot ceilings and glass balcony with a view of the ocean struck her first, along with the teal and white décor. A large television was mounted on the wall, and she knew there were two bedrooms, one with a king-size bed, the other with a queen.
“This is gorgeous,” she said, walking to the windows and looking at the white sand and blue water.
“It is.”
A knock sounded on the door, and Linc let the man with the luggage inside. He set their bags in their respective rooms, not without an argument about Linc wanting her to take the king and her insisting she was fine with the smaller bed. Linc tipped the man, and he left them alone.
“Do you want to take a walk?” she asked, hoping to keep Linc distracted.
He nodded. “Sounds great. Let’s change and get comfortable.”
A little while later, they were strolling on the sidewalk. She took in the shops. High-end clothing boutiques, trinket stores, and food places lined the street. Her sundress and flat sandals were comfortable, and her hair lifted off her back and shoulders from the light breeze.
Linc walked beside her, sexy as always in his sunglasses and a pair of khaki cargo shorts paired with a light blue collared tee shirt.
“I love the seasons in New York, but I can’t say this sucks,” she said, glancing up at him.
“Far from it.” He grinned and she knew he’d finally unwound.
They walked another few blocks in silence and he spoke again. “You know, when I was telling Austin about my father, I had this thought. I didn’t always hate the man. When I was younger, I actually looked up to him.”
“I think that’s normal,” she mused. “Most little kids idolize their parents, and then they become human beings, with flaws and imperfections. Just like us. And we decide whether any of those traits are things we can’t accept.”
“Makes sense. I drew a hard line at cheating. Hurting my mother. I thought those were the worst things Dad could do until he died and I found out he was a man with a secret he never should have kept.”
She nodded. “And you’ll never be able to ask him why.”
“It’s more like I can never ask him how. How could he abandon his own child?” He let out a disgusted grunt and they kept walking.
A gelato store was on the corner and she stopped. “Want to get ice cream?” At the thought, her stomach growled.
“Love some. Come on.” He held open the door and walked to the counter.
After ordering cones, a mint chocolate chip for him and a chocolate cookie dough for her, they headed outside and were lucky enough to score a small table with two chairs.
They settled in, and she licked the cone, closing her eyes and moaning at the delicious taste. “God, I love ice cream.” She darted her tongue out and slid it over her upper lip to capture the remains.
A low rumble sounded in Linc’s throat, and their eyes locked in awareness. Those blue eyes darkened, taking her off guard. He’d never looked at her with sensual awareness before. She didn’t count his cloudy drunken gaze. His intense stare focused on her lips, and her body responded, her nipples puckering, and arousal trickled through her veins. Considering her tight dress, he couldn’t miss her reaction, and she had no way to hide the evidence.
His eyes slid downward, zeroing in on her chest. Mortified, her cheeks burned, and she took a deliberate bite of the cone to distract herself.
An intense, sharp pain shot to her forehead, and she squeezed her eyes shut tight. “Brain freeze!” she cried, her hands pressing hard against her temple, poking herself where the stabbing continued.
He pulled his chair over to hers. “Are you okay?”
She glanced at him through slitted eyes. “It hurts.” Since she was a migraine person to begin with, brain freeze was ridiculously painful and sometimes didn’t subside as quickly as it did for other people.
He took the cone from her hand and placed it in the extra cup the girl behind the counter had provided, doing the same with his.
Concern on his face, he held out a hand. “Come here.” He pulled her against him, and she rested her head against his shoulder, closing her eyes as she waited for the pain to subside. He pressed his fingers gently into her forehead, massaging the aching spot.
She drew a deep breath and inhaled his familiar and arousing woodsy scent, allowing herself to relax into him.
“Better?” His arm tightened around her.
She nodded, forcing herself to sit up and slide her chair away from his. “I am. Thanks.” She blew out a long breath, ignoring the residual pain.
“Do you want any more?” he asked.
She looked at the cone melting into the cup and shook her head. “No.” After the unexpected searing pain, she was wary of eating more. She felt guilty about the wasted dessert but knew she wasn’t going to risk a real migraine by putting something cold into her mouth.
He rose to his feet and scooped up the uneaten treats, tossing them in the nearby trash. “Come on. Let’s go back to the hotel. I have to make some calls and you can lie down for a little while. This isn’t a business trip, and if I need anything, I can always let you know.”
She nodded. “Sounds good.” She could use the break for her headache. The sharp pain had subsided but left a dull throb in its place. And she also needed a breather and time alone, away from Linc and his heady presence.