“How is the boy?”
Jordin smiled. “He’s happy. His mother will have supervised visitation every other weekend once she completes rehab.”
Her father nodded in approval. “That child’s happiness and safety is what is most important.”
She agreed.
A slender woman strolled into Etienne’s office without knocking.
“Good morning, Aunt Rochelle,” Jordin greeted.
A flash of annoyance crossed her father’s face. She knew that he only tolerated Rochelle out of respect for his brother. His sister-in-law was a great attorney, but otherwise a selfish and inconsiderate person.
“Hello, dear,” Rochelle responded. “You were on my mind last night, Jordin. I’m really surprised that you haven’t gotten married already. You’re pretty enough and I know how much you love children—”
Jordin quickly rose to her feet, and cut her off by saying, “I don’t want to hold you up so I’ll leave so you can talk with Dad.”
“Hon, can you drop these off with Ryker?” Rochelle asked, holding a thick folder.
“Sure.” Jordin cast a look of sympathy at her father before exiting his office. Her aunt had a good heart but she was snobbish, opinionated and very protective of her children. When Ryker and Garland first got married, her interference almost ruined their relationship.
Jordin walked briskly down the hall to where Ryker’s office was located. “These are from your mother.”
“Hey, did you know that Ethan is back in town, cousin?” he inquired when Jordin set the folder containing legal documents on his desk.
She felt a warm glow flow through her body and responded, “No, I didn’t know he was here. Have you see him?”
He shook his head no. “Garland and I ran into Chandler Morris last night while having dinner. He told us that Ethan was moving back permanently.”
“That’s great news about Ethan,” she murmured. “I’d really like to see him.”
Ryker didn’t blink when he looked at Jordin and broke the news. “Then you’ll be thrilled to know that he’s moving his corporate offices here, as well. His office is in the building on the corner.”
Jordin’s heart sang with delight. “Now that I know where his office is located, maybe I’ll drop by with a gift to welcome him back to Charleston, and then I’ll fuss him out for not keeping his promise to me.”
Ryker gave her a knowing smile. “Why am I not surprised?”
She folded her arms across her chest. “I’m going to forgive him because he has always been my best friend. I can’t wait to see Ethan again.”
“I understand. I’d like to see him as well.”
“We can go there together,” Jordin suggested.
Ryker shook his head no. “I’m sure you’d like to have some time alone to get reacquainted with Ethan.”
Her smile broadened in approval.
“Oh, before I forget, the girls want to spend some time with you this weekend,” he announced. “What’s your schedule like?”
“I don’t have anything special planned. Why don’t I come get them Friday after work and keep them until Sunday? You and Garland can have some couple time.”
“You don’t have to do that.”
Jordin met her cousin’s gaze. “I want to do this. I love spending time with Kai and Amya.”
“Maybe you can explain to them that while they have the same birthday, they are not twins. They know that you and Jadin are twins as well as my dad and your dad.”
She laughed. “They are just trying to figure all this out.”
“Garland and I tried to explain that they are not twins because they have different mothers.”
“Ryker, they are only four years old. Amya never knew her biological mother—all she knows is that Garland is her mom. She is also the only mother Kai has known. When they are older, they will understand that they were switched at birth and how it worked out in the end.”
“Happily-ever-after,” Ryker murmured.
Jordin broke into a smile. “I love seeing you so happy.”
“I love Garland more and more each day. She is a wonderful wife and mother.”
“You complement each other.”
“I’ve always felt that way about you and Ethan,” Ryker told her. “Remember how you two used to finish each other’s sentences?”
Jordin chuckled. “Yeah, we did do that.”
“When you see him, don’t forget to give him my regards.”
“I won’t. Thanks for the heads-up on Ethan,” Jordin said as she headed toward the door.
Although she was happy to hear that her best friend had returned, troubling thoughts assailed her. Ethan’s back and he didn’t even try to contact me. Eleven years have gone by and no word from him. Why didn’t he keep his promise?
* * *
Jordin had such a warm, loving spirit and she was always smiling. Ethan loved her sense of humor and the sense of freedom she seemed to have in her life. Not only was she beautiful but she was intelligent as well. There had always been an undeniable magnetism between them, which probably explained why he was sitting in a parked vehicle across the street from the law firm, watching as she and Jadin walked to the bistro located on the corner.
Coward.
Ethan had missed her greatly but was unsure of the best way to approach her, especially after he hadn’t bothered to stay in contact with her over the years. He knew that in deciding to move back to Charleston, they would run into each other eventually.
But as strong as his attraction was to Jordin, Ethan knew that he could never act on those feelings. A relationship other than friendship between them could never work because they were from two very different worlds. But also because love was not a part of his plans for the future. He was focused on his company and didn’t have the time or the inclination to deviate from the driving force that had been guiding him since college.
Ethan pulled up the collar of his jacket and turned the key in the ignition. He drove to his hotel. The home he purchased would not be ready for another two weeks.
He sat down in the living area of his suite and picked up the television remote. Jordin was still at the forefront of his mind. He considered calling her at the office, but decided to wait until he found the right words to say to her.
Ethan tried watching TV, but when he couldn’t find anything to his liking; he gave up and reached for a magazine on health and exercise trends.
He was interrupted an hour later when his friend Chandler called.
“How did your interview go?”
“Okay,” Ethan responded. “It’s just not something I enjoy doing. I’m thinking of hiring someone to handle publicity.”
“Have you talked to Ryker or Jordin?”
“Not yet,” he answered. “I’ve been so busy with the gym...”
“You might as well know that I told Ryker you were in town.”
“That means that Jordin knows as well,” Ethan uttered. “She was going to find out eventually, I guess.”
“Her knowing is not