They still had more to discuss. “You’re saying you love me.”
“Yes, Jordan. I love you,” he said in a deep, honest voice.
She bit down on her damp bottom lip, then asked, “And what if I wasn’t pregnant?”
He grinned. “Then I’d knock you up as soon as possible. Now isn’t there something you want to tell me?”
Although she loved his answer, they had one more thing to talk about. “Not yet.” She cleared her throat. “We both know I have issues with how I fit into your world. Things my mother said, that Angelica said, and how people at that club look at me.” She shook her head. “I’ve always been able to handle it because I was an outsider, but I don’t want to put you in the middle. Not to mention, what will your mother say? She’s always been nice to me as your friend, but as your girlfriend?”
His unexpected laughter had her stiffening.
“Relax,” he said. “I’m not laughing at you. I had a long talk with my mother already, and she had the perfect way to help me convince you that you are one of us. And to hell with what anyone else says or thinks.”
He shifted her up and slid his hand into his front jeans pocket, fishing around and returning with something in his closed hand.
“Do you remember my grandmother Cecile?” he asked.
She nodded. “Your father’s mother. Of course. She was your favorite grandparent.” Jordan recalled the times he’d spend with his grandma and tell her all about their talks whenever she saw him next.
“Well, she gave my father a diamond to set into an engagement ring for my mother. And unlike their marriage being awful, my grandparents loved each other very much. I forgot about them in light of my father’s behavior and my mother’s misery. But from now on, I choose to focus on the good this ring caused, and my mother offered it to me to give to you.”
He opened his hand and revealed a large diamond ring Jordan used to see on his mother’s finger, and she let out a gasp. “Linc!”
“We will have this reset especially for you, but first…” He lifted her by her waist and slid her to the sofa.
Taking her by surprise, he lowered himself to one knee. “Jordan Marie Greene, will you marry me?”
He’d apologized and proved himself in all the ways that mattered to her. And there was nothing she wanted more than to spend the rest of her life with this man who was, as he’d said, her best friend and soul mate.
“Yes. Yes!” she squealed, laughing.
“Sorry but I’m not putting this setting on your finger. We’re starting out with good juju. As soon as we can, we’ll have it reset.” He rose to his feet and slid the ring back into his pocket.
Jordan had no problem with his plan.
“By the way, I would have asked for your parents’ permission, but your mother already told me no grandchild of hers would be born without us being married. And while you were getting ready, she told me your father would approve.”
Jordan groaned. “If you hadn’t already come here with the ring in your pocket, I’d kill her.”
“I heard that!” her mother called out from way too close by.
Both Jordan and Linc laughed.
“She really did a one-eighty about me,” he said, speaking low.
Jordan sighed. “She wasn’t able to keep us apart all these years. When she heard I was pregnant, her blinders came off.”
“Well, I’m glad. I’d rather have her on our side. Now can we go? I’d really like to consummate this engagement,” he whispered.
Popping up from the couch, she stood and grasped his hand. “Take me home. Now.”
“Anything you want,” he said and she knew he meant it.
* * *
In the last two weeks, Jordan’s life had changed. She accepted her place in Linc’s life and let go of old insecurities, while he embraced their relationship publicly and enthusiastically, including the fact that he would become a father. Though Jordan worried about miscarrying, a trip to the obstetrician assured her she was healthy and there was no reason to anticipate a problem.
Now she sat in Linc’s SUV with a scarf wrapped around her eyes as they headed … somewhere he didn’t want her to see.
“Come on, give me a hint?” she asked after who knows how long listening to the radio, him humming, refusing to talk, and keeping her in suspense.
“Nope.” But the car came to a stop and he shut the engine. “But you can take off the blindfold now.”
She eagerly pulled off the silk scarf and blinked as she adjusted to the sunlight. When she gazed out her side window, a brand-new house set back on a massive plot of land came into view. It was a gorgeous brick Georgian-style manor home that rivaled the Kingston Estate in size and surrounding property.
“Where are we?” she asked, her mouth going dry.
“Ready to go in and take a look?” he asked, restarting the engine.
“That’s not an answer,” she informed him.
“It’s a house.”
She shook her head. “It’s more like a mansion or an estate that five families could live in,” she said, panicking as she realized what was happening.
He shrugged, taking it all in stride. The massive house, the acres of land. This was all normal to him.
“We’re having a baby. We need the room.” He put the car in drive and headed down a tree-lined road before turning onto a long driveway leading to the house.
Overwhelmed, Jordan curled a knee under her and twisted toward him. “Linc! You’re going crazy. In the last two weeks, you moved me into your place, got me out of my lease, pulled off a huge dinner for both of our families, and bought and demanded my ring be sized and ready in twenty-four hours! Now we’re looking at this massive house for sale? No. Just no!” she said, her voice rising.
He placed a calming hand on her knee. “Okay, I thought you might hyperventilate when you got a look at this place.” He reached into the side of his seat and pulled out papers. “What about any of these?” he asked in a soothing voice. “They’re more reasonable. We can work up to the estate.”
Rolling her eyes, she accepted the Realtor pages and used them to slap him on the arm before looking through the contents and relaxing at the more realistic places for them to live.
“I agree we need more space,” she said. “But no more giving heart attacks, okay?” It was one thing to adjust to becoming a Kingston, another to buy this land and house.
Thank goodness he’d anticipated her reaction and had given her options. In the end, another two weeks after they started looking, they agreed on what Jordan still thought was a massive home not far from his family estate. The location satisfied his mother’s need to be near her soon-to-be grandbaby and was only a half-hour drive for Jordan’s parents.
Since Linc wanted to do some renovations on the house, Jordan convinced him to let them stay in the city until she was seven months pregnant, giving her time to adjust to their new normal without making so many changes at once.
As for getting married, neither one of them wanted to upstage Chloe, so they decided to wait until after his sister’s wedding next month. Jordan wanted a small, intimate ceremony, and Linc seemed happy to keep the event to their families only.
Tonight, he was at the gym in the building, doing his workout, and Jordan had decided to cook dinner. She’d gotten used to his kitchen, and he’d accepted that she didn’t want a housekeeper handling every meal. Although she had to admit, after long workdays, it was nice to come home to a fully prepared dinner that wasn’t takeout or delivery.
Jordan wasn’t the world’s best cook but she could handle some basics, and she’d made them lasagna and garlic bread. Leaving it to cool a little, she went to change into a silky lounge set before Linc came back home.
* * *
Linc finished his workout and made his way to the penthouse. He needed a hot shower, and then he looked forward to sitting down for dinner with his soon-to-be wife. Since the day in her mother’s house when he’d apologized and bared his soul, he’
d done everything he could to make Jordan happy and prove to her they had what it took to last forever.
At times, she thought he was moving too fast. More often he didn’t think they were going fast enough. He wanted everything with her and he wanted it now. But he was learning the fine art of compromise. If it were up to him, he’d buy her the world. She didn’t seem to want anything more than his love and a lifetime together, and that was only one of the things that made her so special.
He opened the door and let himself inside, kicking off his sneakers near the door. The delicious aroma of garlic wafted through the apartment, and he went in search of Jordan. She wasn’t in the kitchen, though dinner sat cooling on the counter.
He strode through the apartment and into the bedroom in time to see Jordan standing in a bra and panties, a light blue silk outfit laid out on the bed.
He took in her sexy profile, her long hair hanging over her shoulders and the barely visible swell of her belly holding his baby.
A desire so strong he couldn’t contain it rushed through him. “Jordan.”
She jumped at the sound of his voice and turned toward him. “I didn’t hear you come in.” Her gaze swept over him, and her eyes darkened with a need he recognized.
“You like me sweaty,” he said in a gruff voice.
A teasing smile lifted her lips. “I like you any way I can get you. But I’m sure you’re hungry, so if you want to jump in the shower, I’ll get dinner on the table. I have to get dressed,” she said, reaching for her shirt.
“Don’t.” He was starving, but not for food. He knew Jordan had spent time cooking, and he had every intention of eating whatever she’d prepared, but first he wanted to devour her.
He stalked toward her, catching her expression the minute she realized his intent. Her baby blues opened wide, and with a tempting smile, she unhooked her bra from behind. It slid down her arms, revealing her gorgeous breasts, which were slightly larger and a lot more tender than they’d been before.
He stopped in front of her, waiting as she hooked her fingers into the band of her panties and pulled them down her legs and kicked them aside.
She stood before him naked, beautiful, and all his.
He pulled his shirt, lifting it from the back collar and sliding it over his head and arms, tossing it across the room. He took care of his shorts, boxers briefs, then socks next.
Before she could react, he grabbed her around the waist, and together they toppled onto the bed. He came over her, making certain not to crush her in any way.
With his eyes on hers, he raised himself up, his cock settled at her entrance. She was wet for him, as she always was. “I love you, soon-to-be Mrs. Kingston.”
Her smile lit up his life. “And I love you, Mr. Kingston.”
As soon as he heard the words, he eased himself inside her, groaning at the perfection of her slick heat as he took her completely.
Afterwards, they lay in each other’s arms, his hand settled on her belly. He was grateful for everything they’d found and finally recognized in each other.
“I don’t want to move, ever,” she said, curling deeper into his side.
“You don’t ever have to.”
Epilogue
One Month Later
Over one hundred and fifty guests filled the main room of the country club. White flowers lined either side of the aisle, and up front a beautiful white and gold arch stood where the couple would be married.
Jordan sat in the front row, waiting for the double doors to open and for Chloe’s wedding to begin. Linc and his brothers were gathered in the entry room, looking handsome in their tuxedos. The bridesmaids and Chloe’s maid of honor were waiting as well. Though Chloe had wanted to add Jordan to her entourage, Jordan declined, wanting Chloe to have her closest friends standing up for her. Besides, since Linc was walking his sister down the aisle, Jordan truly didn’t mind being with the rest of the guests.
Word had spread about Jordan and Linc’s engagement, in no small part because his mother had insisted a formal announcement be mailed out. Jordan knew it had been Melly’s way of openly welcoming her, and she was grateful.
Glancing at her phone, she realized it was past the time when the wedding should have started. She smoothed her hand over the designer dress she’d had to have let out at the waist, because one morning she’d woken up and discovered she no longer had indentations on either side of her stomach. Excitement rippled through her as she settled her hand on her barely there belly.
Suddenly the doors she’d been watching began to open, and everyone rose to their feet, only for the wooden doors to slam shut again.
People began to whisper, then talk, asking each other what was happening. Jordan wondered herself and sent Linc a text.
Jordan: What’s wrong?
A few minutes passed and his answer came.
Linc: Can’t find the groom. If he shows, I’m going to kill him before my sister can ruin her life with that son of a bitch.
Jordan rose to her feet. Ignoring the people calling questions after her, she rushed up the aisle and out the doors to find Linc and his siblings. Chloe had her mother and friends to calm her.
Someone needed to talk the Kingston brothers down.
Who rescues the jilted bride?
Don’t miss Beck and Chloe’s story next in JUST ONE SCANDAL
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About the Author
NY Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today Bestseller, Carly Phillips gives her readers Alphalicious heroes to swoon for and romance to set your heart on fire. She married her college sweetheart and lives in Purchase, NY along with her three crazy dogs: two wheaten terriers and a mutant Havanese, who are featured on her Facebook and Instagram. The author of 50 romance novels, she has raised two incredible daughters who put up with having a mom as a full time writer. Carly’s book, The Bachelor, was chosen by Kelly Ripa as a romance club pick and was the first romance on a nationally televised bookclub. Carly loves social media and interacting with her readers. Want to keep up with Carly? Sign up for her newsletter and receive TWO FREE books at www.carlyphillips.com.
Table of Contents
Cover
Title Page
Copyright Page
About the Book
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Epilogue
About the Author
Just One Night Page 18
