Total pages in book: 68
Estimated words: 63415 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 317(@200wpm)___ 254(@250wpm)___ 211(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 63415 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 317(@200wpm)___ 254(@250wpm)___ 211(@300wpm)
He nodded, grateful to her for taking Aurora in. “A pleasure to meet you,” Linc said.
“And this is your sister, Aurora Michaels.”
Aurora still stared at Linc wide-eyed. No way he could miss the mix of wonder and fear in her eyes and expression.
As if drawn to her and the family resemblance, he walked over and placed his hand beneath her chin. “You have our eyes,” he said and pulled her into his arms for a brotherly hug.
As Linc stepped back, he noticed Braden had joined Willow and wound his arm around her waist. Whatever was going on between the two, it was obvious they had a connection, which reminded Linc of Jordan, and he wished she could share this moment with him.
He understood why she wouldn’t want to overwhelm his sister, but he sensed there’d been more to her choice not to come. She was pulling away.
“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.