“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.
He wanted nothing more than to spare her pain. “I think you’ll find we Kingston kids are resilient, and we protect our own. I’m glad you’ve had support lately,” he said, glancing at Willow and Braden. “But do you have plans for once the baby is born?”
“No,” she whispered. “I don’t have health insurance yet, although Bri said she’s submitted the papers. And I didn’t know what I’d do about work and someone to watch the baby. I don’t have my own apartment. I’m staying here and Willow’s been sleeping on the sofa.”
She confirmed his hunch, and he hoped Braden grabbed on to that woman, because she had a big heart and was obviously important to him.
Aurora continued. “I can’t bring a baby home with me because it’s not fair to her–”
Linc glanced at Willow in surprise. Had she put a limit on her generosity?
But Willow shook her head. “Aurora, you can stay until you figure something out. I told you that.”
Aurora’s damp gaze met hers. “And I appreciate it but we both know this arrangement can’t really work. And I can’t afford my own place…”
Linc hated how upset she was getting, but before he could react, Willow jumped up from her seat.
She walked over to Aurora and put a hand on her shoulder. “Shh. Calm down, please. Getting worked up isn’t good for you or the baby.”
“Can I get a word in?” Linc asked.
All eyes turned his way, and though they might not like what he had to say, he intended to lay it out for them anyway.
“We have a variety of solutions in New York. The family estate where my father used to live still has loyal staff who were always good to us growing up.” Though he hadn’t run the possibility of Aurora moving in there by his mother, he couldn’t imagine her turning down someone in need. Especially since she hadn’t seemed to blame Aurora for what her husband had done.
“We own apartment buildings around Manhattan,” he continued. “Each of us has a trust fund, and I’m working on getting yours set up to atone for how you grew up and everything you’ve lacked your entire life.” He’d already spoken to his siblings about this.
Aurora, to his surprise, started to cry, and he realized he’d overwhelmed her. Something he hadn’t planned on doing. He was used to making his plans and, yes, getting his way.
Willow continued to comfort her, and Braden shot him a look mixed with surprise and slight annoyance.
“Can you give her time to process?” he asked. “As much as everything you’re offering is the answer to her prayers, she needs to adjust to her new reality.”
Linc wanted an answer now, but he understood that wasn’t going to happen.
“I realize you want what’s best for her, but the few emotional connections she has are here,” Braden reminded him.
Linc hesitated, then nodded. Obviously he’d misjudged her attachment to the people here, and though he hated the notion of her remaining in Florida, he had solutions for that possibility, too.
Leaning forward in his seat, he glanced her way. “I could help you find an apartment, a nanny,
