Just One Night

by Carly Phillips

  To show up here now wasn’t in character. He was self-contained and kept his emotions to himself, even when he was upset. But she’d never seen him quite as worked up as he’d been about his new sister, Aurora, and her past, growing up in foster homes while he and his siblings had wealth and comfort.

  After folding the blanket she’d pulled over herself, she laid it onto the couch before heading to the door, reaching it just as Linc knocked.

  She opened it to find him standing, one arm on the doorframe, a sexy vision with his white dress shirt unbuttoned and tie hanging loose around his neck. His silky black hair was mussed from running his fingers through the strands, and a day’s worth of scruff graced his gorgeous face.

  But his eyes drew her attention most. Devastation looked back at her from his blue gaze with a darker ring around the outer edges.

  “Hey,” he said, and she caught the whiff of whiskey on his breath.

  “Come on in.” She stepped back and he entered, brushing past her and leaving her with a hint of his cologne in his wake.

  After closing the door, she followed him into her living room. “I’d offer you a drink, but it smells like you’ve had enough.”

  Without replying, he threw his body onto the couch she’d been sitting on, choosing her favorite side and he knew it.

  “Talk to me,” she said, joining him on the cushion next to his and crossing her legs in front of her.

  “I’m pissed at my father.” He leaned back and groaned.

  “I know.” She’d spent enough time in their large house growing up.

  Enough to know Kenneth Kingston hadn’t been a man to be emulated. A man of power? Yes. A kind, caring parent to the children with his wife? Not so much. But a worse husband and definitely a horrible human to the daughter he’d abandoned. Now Linc was left to pick up the pieces.

  “Does your mother know about your half-sister?”

  He shook his head. “And who do you think has to tell her?”

  Linc was close to his mother, as were all his siblings. Despite how long she’d known Melissa Kingston, who liked to be called Melly, Jordan couldn’t read her. She’d seen Melly be stern and she’d seen her kind. She’d never treated Jordan badly and had allowed her to come to the house and do homework while her mom finished her day of work. And unlike Mr. Kingston, she never gave Linc a hard time about their friendship, for which Jordan was grateful. One thing was certain. The woman hadn’t deserved for her husband to cheat on her.

  “You’ll handle it,” she said, putting a hand on Linc’s shoulder.

  He pulled her closer until she leaned against him, her head in the crook of his arm. His body was warm, he smelled good, and she did her best to ignore the tingle of awareness inside her. Linc liked to hang out, to snuggle and watch a movie or just talk. Their friendship consisted of everything she’d want with someone she loved deeply except sex and the intimacy that came with it.

  So as she sat with his arm around her, comforting him in silence, she ignored the scent of his cologne, masculine and sexy. She tried not to focus on the hard muscled body she leaned against, but it wasn’t easy.

  She couldn’t lie and say she’d never wanted a relationship with Linc, but those days were over. When she was younger, she’d had a crush on him, but her mother had caught on quickly and warned her about their different status in life and how ultimately Jordan didn’t fit into his world.

  Those words had crushed her young heart, but since her mother cleaned their home, they ultimately made sense, and Jordan had forced herself to focus on being Linc’s friend. Eventually, he’d gone to college, the cost fully covered by his family. She had student loans. She’d gotten a job in human resources for a company she’d liked while he’d attended business school.

  But maybe she’d read too many romance novels, because her first year out of college, she’d met a hot guy at a bar. Collin had been attentive, taken her number, and called her the next day. They’d begun dating, and she’d quickly learned he’d come from a wealthy family who made their money in hedge funds.

  The relationship turned serious fast, but she never met his family, and she’d begun to feel like he was hiding her from his parents. After all, he’d already met hers. And like with Linc, Jordan’s mother was wary thanks to Collin’s family’s wealth, but since she didn’t work for them, she hadn’t harped on the issue.

  Then Jordan had missed her period and a test proved she was pregnant. And Collin Auerbach had panicked and handed her money to get rid of the problem. Much like Linc’s father had apparently done to one of his mistresses, as she now knew.

  Jordan had thrown him out, ripped up the check, and the man she’d thought she’d marry got engaged to an oil heiress six months later.

  As for Jordan, a month into the pregnancy, she’d experienced terrible cramps and heavy bleeding and lost the baby. The pain of remembering always hurt. And who had been there for her? Linc. He’d helped her with her grief and was there as she’d picked up the pieces of her broken heart.

  After Linc had graduated business school, he began working at Kingston Enterprises, and he’d all but begged her to become his personal assistant. Something his father hadn’t been happy about because she was the help’s daughter.

  This time she understood she’d never be good enough for anyone with wealth. Fine. She didn’t want the upscale, hoity-toity kind of life anyway. She just desired a normal existence with a job she enjoyed, a man she loved, and eventually a family of her own.

  She’d taken the job at Kingston Enterprises, refusing to give up a great opportunity because Linc’s father was an asshole. Besides, the older man’s office had been a long hall away from Linc’s. Once she’d been hired, she’d rarely seen him. And she and Linc had fallen into a special work dynamic. She’d be a fool to think about him as anything other than her boss and friend.

  A friend she treasured and didn’t want to lose by adding sex to their relationship. No more wealthy men for her. Plus she saw the kind of women Linc dated, the type of families they came from, the approval his mother gave those women, all proof her own her mother’s words still held true. Jordan wasn’t in his league and didn’t belong there.

  “I need a plan,” he said, speaking up out of the blue.

  She’d actually thought he’d fallen asleep.

  “Do I go meet my sister? Or do I let it go because knowing the truth about her father might be too painful for her?” His words sounded slurred, and he was obviously in no position to talk tonight.

  “I think we should discuss this in the morning. You need a clear head to make those kinds of decisions.” She pushed herself off him and rose to her feet.

  “Stay with me,” he said, and when she glanced at him, his lips were set in a little-boy pout.

  This was the Linc not many people saw. The vulnerable man beneath the businessman he presented to the world. “You need sleep. Do you have a car waiting?” she asked because he used a driver to get around the city.

  “I sent him home.” He stretched his feet out on her couch, and she realized he was settling in for the night.

  “Kick off your shoes,” she said. No way could he sleep on the couch in his work clothes.

  He did as she instructed, and his black dress shoes fell to the floor.

  “Now take off your tie and shirt so you’re comfortable.”

  “Bossy,” he muttered and began to undo the buttons. He worked his way down, revealing his muscled chest and defined abs from time with a professional trainer. He shrugged out of the shirt, struggling with the buttons on the cuffs, but he managed to release them.

  Swallowing hard, she took the shirt and tie from him and put them aside, planning to hang them up so they didn’t wrinkle even more. He’d need them to wear home in the morning.

  Despite herself, she couldn’t help but stare at his naked chest. It had been years since they were kids swimming together in his family’s pool, and the man in front of her now was a far cry from the boy he’d been.

 
How could she look at him and not drool? “Do you want to wash up before you settle in for the night?” she asked in a husky voice.

  She reached out a hand to help him to his feet, and without warning, he pulled her forward. She tumbled, twisting herself so she landed on top of his hard body.

  “Linc, what are you doing?” She lifted herself up, intending to climb off him when a firm arm around her back locked her in place.

  “I need you,” he said, his voice full of longing.

  His words took her off guard. Heart pounding, she looked up, and his gaze, hazy with alcohol but no less compelling, met hers. Everything inside her twisted with need. Need for this man and everything he was.

  “Kiss me, Jordan.”

  A moan escaped her throat because she wanted desperately to press her lips to his. She stilled, her heart debating with her mind.

  Just as she decided to make light of the moment, to treat it as a joke, he cupped the back of her head, and with a little pressure from his hand, her mouth met his. Sparks flew through her body, the warmth and feel of him utter perfection. She sighed, wanting to get closer, and in response, his tongue pushed past her lips and curled around hers.

  Unable to stop herself, she slid her hands into his hair and deepened the kiss. His breath tasted malty from alcohol, but nothing mattered except the feel of him devouring her mouth. His other hand slipped beneath the back of her shirt, his large, warm palm covering her skin. Her nipples grew tight, and she rubbed herself against him, enjoying their closeness.

  The sound of her phone ringing penetrated her consciousness, popping the desire-filled bubble she’d been in, and brought her out of her fantasy moment. Reality came crashing in, and the reality was, Linc would never cross this line sober. She shouldn’t have crossed it at all.

  Ignoring the call, she pushed herself up, breaking their connection. With a groan, he met her gaze. “I’m not sorry,” he said.

  But he would be in the morning. If he even remembered the kiss. She shook her head, knowing she would never forget.

  She stepped to the other end of the sofa, picked up the blanket, and as she draped it over him, a light snore escaped his parted lips.

  She gently tucked the knitted covering around him, and because he was sleeping, she leaned down and pressed her lips to his forehead, closing her eyes and savoring his warmth and masculine scent.

  Then, with one last glance at the man on her couch, she picked up his clothes and headed to her room alone.

  Chapter Two

  Sunlight streamed through a window, waking Linc. With a groan, he rolled over and nearly fell off what he quickly realized was a couch. Opening his eyes slowly, he took in his surroundings. Jordan’s living room, he thought, and the events of last night came back to him in too vivid detail considering how shitty he felt after overindulging—talking to Xander about their newfound sister, drinking too much, and ending up here.

  Not a surprise. Jordan would always take care of him, and she had, as helping him undress and covering him with a blanket so he could sleep had proved.

  He was grateful to have her in his life.

  Kiss me, Jordan. His words came back to him, floating through his brain. He closed his eyes and recalled gripping the back of her head, pulling her toward him, and kissing her.

  He let out a groan. This was why he didn’t like to drink. Any loss of control unnerved him, and last night it’d led him to break his most meaningful vow. But the taste of her had been sheer heaven. And despite his drunken state, he remembered how right she’d felt on top of him, her feminine curves pressing into his harder body, and her sensual scent surrounding him.

  He lowered his hand and pushed his palm against his aching cock. No way would he embarrass her this morning. Not when he had to apologize for his behavior last night. The last thing he wanted was to lose the woman he leaned on in so many ways.

  He pushed himself to his feet and looked around for his shirt. Not finding it, he folded the blanket and set it on the couch before hitting the bathroom. He took care of business, washed up, rummaged through her cabinets, and even found a new toothbrush to use.

  From there, he headed to the kitchen and made himself a cup of coffee in her Keurig, and when he heard the sound of her walking to the bathroom, he prepared a mug for her, too. He added some almond milk and sugar the way she liked it and waited.

  After a few minutes, she joined him in the kitchen. His gaze fell to her soft cotton sweats and a tank top in a buttery yellow. The material clung to her curves, the outline of her breasts and her perky nipples a sight he forced himself to look away from. For safety’s sake, he turned toward the counter to hide the evidence of his thickening arousal.

  “How are you feeling this morning?” she asked over a yawn.

  “Not too bad. I borrowed a toothbrush.” He picked up the coffee he’d made and turned to hand it to her.

  “You mean you took a toothbrush. No such thing as borrowing one,” she said, her gaze not meeting his.

  Shit.

  She accepted the mug and breathed in the smell. “Mmm. Thank you.”

  “It was the least I could do. Want to sit?” He tipped his head toward the small kitchen table nearby.

  She nodded and walked ahead of him, giving him a different view, this one of her ass jiggling in the sweats. He tipped his head and prayed for strength, then joined her at the table, pulling out a chair and straddling it so he could face her. Even makeup free, she was beautiful.

  “Last night you wanted to discuss what to do with the news about your sister,” she said, both hands wrapped around the mug as she took a sip. “I suggested we wait until this morning when you were more coherent. Do you want to talk it through now?”

  He knew she was directing the conversation so they didn’t have to discuss them. He placed his cup on the table and forced himself to look at her. “About last night. I shouldn’t have kissed you.”

  The more he replayed the moment, the more he felt like the man he despised and had promised himself he’d never be like. How many women had his father pushed himself on? Women who worked for him and deserved respect?

  She hesitated before answering. “You were drunk and I wasn’t. I shouldn’t have let things happen between us.”

  He shook his head, refusing to allow her to shoulder the blame. “I started it and I’m sorry.” Sorry he’d put her in an uncomfortable position. But he couldn’t regret the kiss, because now he had the memory of it to hold on to.

  “Don’t give it another thought,” she said tightly.

  He couldn’t read her expression, wondered if he’d somehow hurt her feelings, and searched for something to say to ease things between them.

  “Are you hungry?” she asked. “I can make an omelet?”

  He shook his head. “Not yet.” His stomach wasn’t ready for food. “But thanks.”

  “So … about your sister,” she began.

  As subject changes went, it was the right one, and he drew a deep breath. “I want to meet her.” He made the sudden decision. “In fact, I want to talk to Xander, Dash, and Chloe, and then I want to give her the inheritance she deserves. And if she agrees, I want to bring her home with me.”

  Jordan blinked, obviously surprised. “I thought you were worried that, by meeting you and seeing everything you have, Aurora would discover and resent everything she’d missed out on growing up.”

  “I was. I am. But I have the power to change the rest of her life for the better, and I intend to.”

  A slow smile lifted Jordan’s lips. “That’s the Linc I know. Okay, so what’s the plan?” she asked.

  “We’re going to Florida to meet my sister.”

  “We?” she asked, her voice rising.

  He nodded. “You always have my back and I have yours. And this isn’t something I want to face alone.”

  She cupped her hands around the coffee mug again, lifted it, and took a sip, obviously stalling while she thought about his request. “What about taking Chloe? You know she�
��s upset and would want to come with you.”

  Considering he had no idea how Aurora would treat them, he didn’t want to put his sister in an awkward position until he was sure of their welcome. “I want to protect Chloe. Once we know how Aurora feels about us, I’ll let them meet.”

  Jordan’s expression softened but she didn’t reply immediately.

  “Are you really going to make me beg?” he asked in a teasing voice he knew would get to her. “Because I will. I want you by my side when I meet my new sister.”

  She rose from her seat. “Are you finished with the coffee?”

  He nodded and she scooped up the mug.

  “How long are we going for?” she asked, and he released the breath he’d been holding. At least she wasn’t going to let his actions last night get between them going forward.

  “For as long as it takes to convince Aurora she has family who want her.” He paused. “Jordan?”

  “Yes?”

  “You’re really coming?”

  Her gaze locked with his. “Have I ever not been there when you need me?”

  “No. You’re my rock.” Though he’d been given a taste of her, he still wasn’t about to lose her or screw up their relationship by mixing sex into the equation. No matter how much he wished he could.

  * * *

  After leaving Jordan’s, Linc headed home to shower and clean up before going to see his mother. Since there’d been no way to adequately prepare her for the news about his father’s bastard daughter, he’d just called and told her he wanted to come for a visit. His mom lived an hour from the city on what his father had liked to call the Kingston Estate, a pompous way of describing the family home in Brookeville, set on four acres of land.

  Of course, his dad had kept an apartment in the city he’d used as a place to sleep when he worked late or, as Linc presumed, a way to sleep with his mistresses without his wife finding out. Wanting nothing to do with his father’s illicit love nest, Linc had put the apartment on the market within a week of the man’s death.