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Jordin often wondered if Lydia was still with Rob, and if their life together was worth the price of abandoning her own child. It was obvious that Ethan was still angry with her for leaving him.
I would probably be just as angry if I were in his shoes, she thought. Despite his feelings, Ethan had decided to return home, and for that, Jordin was ecstatic.
* * *
The scent of Jordin was beyond description. The connection was still alive and sizzling between them. It had not been shattered by time apart.
He needed to get a grip, Ethan scolded silently, but it was hard to do because the floral perfume Jordin wore still lingered in the air, although she had already left his office.
She was no longer the gangly teenage girl he remembered; she had grown into a beautiful woman. Her walk still had a sunny cheerfulness. Ethan had always loved how Jordin’s features became animated whenever she discussed a subject she was passionate about. She had become more stylish and glamorous in her choice of clothing—a huge difference from the teenage girl with an obsession for Bedazzled denim jeans and T-shirts.
“You just missed your mother’s call,” the receptionist announced when he returned to his office.
“If she calls me back, just take a message,” he stated without emotion.
Lydia Holbrooke was the main reason Ethan briefly considered not relocating to Charleston, but he put aside his personal feelings in favor of a smart business decision. Besides, at the time, Ethan had no idea where she was. Resentment over her abandonment still filled his heart.
Ethan leaned back in his chair and let out a frustrated growl. Lydia being back in Charleston was indifferent to him. One thing for sure, he was not about to let her sabotage everything he had worked for in his life.
He was the result of his mother’s affair with a man who was engaged to another woman.
Despite Lydia’s pregnancy, his father’s fiancée decided to go through with the wedding, although she made it clear that she wanted nothing to do with Ethan. He and his mother were close until she met Rob Calloway. Rob was possessive and jealous. He didn’t want Lydia to spend time with her own child.
His mother always warned him of the dangers of drugs and alcohol, which Ethan considered hypocritical on her part because the man she was so in love with sold drugs for a living. In the end, she and Rob were arrested in Maryland for transporting drugs across state lines. His mother went to prison while he had to move to North Carolina to live with the father he barely knew.
His stepmother made it obvious that she was not happy with him being in her home. She did not want him around his siblings. His father apologized before sending him away to attend a military academy in Virginia.
He spent most of his holidays with the families of school friends, vowing never to return where he was clearly not welcomed. Ethan swallowed hard, forcing down the bitterness that threatened to spill out.
He leaned back in his chair to think. Ethan remained that way for a few moments, and then sat up. Instead of thinking of the past, his time would be better spent focusing on the future of his company.
* * *
Jordin hummed as she prepared a simple dinner of meat loaf and mashed potatoes. She checked her phone several times, hoping that Ethan had tried to contact her.
After she finished eating, Jordin cleaned up the kitchen before settling down for the evening. She felt a wave of disappointment that she had not heard from Ethan. It was clear that he wasn’t as eager to talk to her as she had imagined he would be. Jordin sighed, clasped her hands together and stared at them.
He had seemed happy enough to see her, however.
Jordin considered calling Ethan, but she had already made the initial contact—the ball was now in Ethan’s court.
She had always believed that Ethan had feelings toward her, although those emotions never bloomed into anything more than friendship. He hadn’t changed all that much outside of the huge chip on his shoulder. Jordin had done her best to put Ethan out of her mind over the years, but he held a permanent spot in her heart.
Her sister’s suggestion that he was possibly involved with someone came back to haunt her. Jordin could not imagine their friendship coming to an end because of his relationship with another woman. The idea of Ethan in love with anyone but her filled her with jealousy. Jordin had always believed he would come back to Charleston—back to her.
Chapter 3 (#u73d0c6ba-1f59-595d-b676-c83d4a99b120)
Jordin glanced over at the desk calendar in her office, sighing in frustration. Five days had passed and still not a word from Ethan. She continued to put off calling him. Despite her frustration, Jordin was determined to wait for him to make contact. In the meantime, she kept herself busy.
She and Jadin had made plans to spend the day shopping. Her sister was expected to arrive at any moment.
The doorbell sounded, putting an end to her musings.
Jordin opened her door fully expecting to see her sister. She gasped in surprise. “Austin...” She had no idea that her brother was already in Charleston, but seeing him at her door thrilled Jordin beyond words.
“Hey, little sister.”
“When did you get into town?”
“Thursday night,” he responded. “Can you pretend to be a little happy to see me?”
“Oh, I’m glad that you’re here,” Jordin replied. “I was just surprised to find you at the door. I was expecting Jadin and I thought you were her. C’mon inside.” She stepped aside to allow her brother entrance into her home.
“Good, I want to talk to you both.”
She studied his expression for a moment before asking, “Is everything okay, Austin?”
He nodded. “Yeah.”
The room enveloped in uneasy silence.
“I heard Ryker got married again,” Austin stated, breaking the quiet.
“He did,” Jordin confirmed, “and they have two beautiful daughters and another baby on the way. They recently found out that this one is a boy.”
“I’m happy for him.”
Another pregnant pause.
“Austin, I’m ecstatic to hear that you are joining us at the firm.” Jordin broke into a smile. “You have to know that it’s a dream come true for Dad.”
He did not respond.
“How is your mother?” she asked.
“She’s great.”
“How does she feel about your coming here and working with Dad?”
“She’s not thrilled about it,” Austin admitted candidly, “but it was my decision to make.”
“It’s really going to be nice having you around,” Jordin stated.
The doorbell sounded.
“This has to be Jadin,” she announced. She walked briskly across the hardwood floor and opened the door.
Her sister entered the house. “Are you ready to go?”
Jadin’s eyes strayed over to where her brother was sitting. “Austin, I had no idea you were here. When did you arrive in town?”
“I’ve been here since Thursday evening.”
“You’ve been in town for a day and a half and we are just now hearing from you. Why is that?” Jadin questioned.
“I spent yesterday looking for a place to live. I’d like to get settled as soon as I can before I start work.”
“Austin, what’s the real reason you came to Charleston?” Jadin wanted to know. “I know that it wasn’t just because you wanted to be close to Dad.”
“Actually, it has everything to do with him,” he responded. “I want to get to know Etienne DuGrandpre for myself. I need to see if he’s anything like my mother said.”
Jadin smiled at him. “I think that’s a smart decision.”
Jordin wasn’t so sure that she believed Austin. She clung to the idea that there was another reason for his coming to Charleston. One that he obviously wasn’t willing to share with his sisters.
“Well, I’ll head out since you two already have plans.”
“You’re welcome to join us,” Jordin stated, “but I have to warn you—we love to shop.”
He smiled. “Maybe next time.”
Jordin and Jadin each gave him a hug before walking out with him.
“Well, big brother is in town,” Jadin murmured as she settled into her sister’s car.
Jordin nodded. “Yeah, but I don’t think this is just about Dad.”
“So what do you think the real reason could be?”
“I have no idea,” Jordin responded. “My instincts are telling me that he also came to Charleston for another purpose.”
“Well, we will find out what his motives are in time.” Changing the subject, Jadin said, “Ryker told me that you went to see Ethan. How did that go?”
“Fine,” she answered. “I was so happy to see him. Sis, he is so handsome.”
“He’s always been nice looking.”
Jordin agreed.
Fifteen minutes later, they strolled through the doors of a downtown fashion boutique.
“I know that you really care about Ethan, but maybe you should keep some distance between the two of you,” Jadin suggested as she switched her purse from one shoulder to the other.
“It’s not like he came looking for you when he returned to Charleston.”
Her words stung, but Jordin kept her expression blank. “No, he did not contact me, but Ethan’s still my friend and I’m not going to abandon him. He’s been through a lot.”
“You can’t save him.”
She turned and met her sister’s gaze straight on. “I’m just trying to reconnect with my friend. That’s all.”
“I don’t think even you believe that,” her sister responded.
“Seriously,” Jordin uttered. “This is about friendship.”
Changing the subject, she asked, “What do you think of this dress?”
Jadin smiled and nodded in approval. “I love it.”
“So do I,” Jordin responded. She was glad to put an end to discussing Ethan. She and Jadin would never agree when it came to him.
After forty minutes in the store, they were finally satisfied with their selections. Jordin led the way to the cash register.
“I spent more than I’d planned, but I found some great buys,” she said, pulling out her credit card.
“There were some great items on sale,” Jadin agreed.
Purchases in hand, they headed to the exit door a few minutes later.
Jordin heard a familiar voice shortly after they stepped outside. She looked over her shoulder, then stopped in her tracks.
“Hello, ladies...”
“Hello, Ethan,” she and Jadin replied in unison.
He chuckled at their response. “Still doing the twin thing, I see.”
Jordin laughed. “Since we’re identical, I don’t think that’s ever going to change.”
Ethan’s smile warmed her.
“I didn’t expect to run into you,” Jordin stated.
“It’s Saturday and the day is beautiful,” he responded. “I thought I’d enjoy some of it.”
Jadin gave a slight nod. “It’s a really nice day.”
Ethan met Jordin’s gaze and said, “I’d planned to call you, but this was a really hectic week for me. I had to fly out to Arizona for business, and then Memphis for a conference.”
“I understand,” she murmured. Deep down, Jordin felt a measure of relief upon hearing the reasons why Ethan had not called. She was beginning to wonder if he was avoiding her.
“Do you have any plans for this evening?” he inquired.
“I’m having a girls’ night at my place.”
He laughed. “I definitely don’t want to interfere with that.”
Jordin chuckled. “No, you don’t.”
