Linc shot Xander an amused grin, and they headed over to greet their brother. When he got busy working, not even a bomb going off could interrupt Dash’s creative process. Although his mother had told Linc that Dash had come by to meet Aurora and Linc was glad.
“Hey!” Dash said, coming up and pulling first Xander, then Linc into a one-armed hug.
“Look who dressed up for the occasion.” Xander patted Dash on the back of his partially unbuttoned white collared dress shirt.
His sleeves were rolled up, revealing his tattooed arms. Linc enjoyed his brother’s different style, the opposite of his own conservative attire. Including the tight black jeans, unripped thanks to club rules, and black Nike Air Jordans.
“Tell me you missed me,” Dash said, laughing.
“Go away. Say hello to your mother,” Linc muttered.
Ignoring the stares all the women shot his way, Dash made his way across the room and hugged first their mom and then Aurora and Jordan before turning his attention to the baby.
Family, Linc thought. His meant everything to him.
* * *
Jordan sat next to Linc at a table with Xander, Dash, Chloe, Melly, and Aurora, the family closing ranks and making a statement for their new sister and her baby. Also joining them were Braden Prescott and Willow James, who’d remained close with Aurora. The couple had gotten engaged at the last dinner they’d all enjoyed together in Miami and were clearly happy now.
Aurora had been brought to tears more than once during the lavish day, and Melly had introduced the young girl to all of her friends, who’d fawned over the baby and brought very expensive gifts.
Jordan had been on the receiving end of various looks, mostly from Chloe’s friends. The women in Melly’s age bracket tended to ignore her, but the women closer to her own age? They’d either scanned her from head to toe, cataloging her clothing and appearance, turning up their noses and glancing away, or shot her annoyed glances.
Jordan had no doubt they resented her position next to Linc. She’d overheard more than one group of women discussing his lack of a girlfriend and potential availability, despite Jordan sitting beside him, his hand occasionally brushing her shoulder or twirling her hair. Even when she’d tried to inch her chair away.
Aurora had raised an eyebrow at what she’d seen and grinned widely. Melly had been too busy to notice, but Jordan’s stomach had been in knots worrying about upsetting his mother on such a special day. Who knew how she would react? She was fine with Jordan being a friend of the family, but she couldn’t imagine Melly would approve of the maid’s daughter being involved with her oldest son.
Despite her nerves, Jordan had enjoyed Aurora’s baby shower, probably more than her brothers had, considering all the baby games Chloe had arranged for everyone to play. Traditionally men were not invited to a shower, but with this also being Aurora’s introduction to their friends, Chloe hadn’t adhered to custom.
When she’d handed out baby pins and made everyone pin one on their shirt, including the men, Jordan nearly choked at the look on Linc’s face. Chloe had then instructed everyone not to say the word baby. If anyone heard another person utter the word, they could take that person’s pin. The person with the most pins won a prize.
Jordan had to admit it was endearing watching the Kingston brothers endure games from Don’t Say Baby to Dirty Diapers, in which a variety of candy bars were placed in newborn-sized diapers and people had to guess what kind of candy they were eating. Even Jordan had nearly gagged at the idea, shocking herself at how nauseous she’d become.
By the time food was served and Faith Dare’s cake pops brought out to each table, Jordan was exhausted. For a woman who worked eight- to ten-hour days, she was surprised a party had wiped her out so badly. She also needed to use the ladies’ room.
Glancing at Linc, she said, “I’ll be back in a few minutes.”
He nodded, standing as she did and pulling out her chair. Such a gentleman, she mused.
As she rose, Aurora stood up as well. “I’ll go with you,” she said and turned to Willow. “Will you watch Leah?” The baby had been sleeping quietly in her car seat in the chair next to Aurora.
“Of course.” Willow smiled and put a hand on the back of the chair where the baby slept.
Jordan followed Aurora out of the room, then pointed her in the direction of the ladies’ room. She passed the main dining room, where normal lunch activities were going on, and the loud chatter sounded as they walked by.
Once inside, she and Aurora closed themselves in their own stalls. Jordan was quick, then washed her hands before heading to the outer sitting area. She placed her bag on a shelf below a wall-to-wall mirror and pulled out her lip gloss.
Glancing in the mirror, she was shocked by how pale she appeared. She didn’t have blush with her, so she had no way to put life back in her cheeks. With a sigh, she opened the gloss stick and applied it to her lips, as the sound of women’s voices and laughter alerted her to incoming women.
They entered, continuing to talk to one another, and Jordan grasped her purse and stepped aside to wait for Aurora.
“Jordan?”
She turned at the sound of her name and forced herself not to visibly cringe. “Angelica. Hi.”
“I take it you’re here for Linc’s new sister’s baby shower. My mother is there, too.” Her fake smile grated on Jordan’s nerves.
“Yes, I saw your mother.” Carol Winston was a good friend of Melly’s. They all ran in the same social circles.
Angelica’s friends disappeared into the other room, and Aurora had walked in, standing behind Jordan.
Jordan had no intention of introducing them. “Well, it was nice to see
