Читать книгу Only For You - Jacquelin Thomas, Jacquelin Thomas - Страница 11

Chapter 3

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.”

“How about I give you a call tomorrow night?”

She broke into a smile. “I look forward to talking to you then.” Ethan glanced over at Jadin and added, “It’s good seeing you again.”

“Same here,” she responded.

Ethan gave Jordin a quick hug, and then hugged her sister before leaving them to enjoy their shopping.

“You were right,” Jadin stated. “Ethan is very handsome and so muscular.”

“I told you...”

“He seems a little distant though.”

“Really?” Jordin asked. “I don’t think so.”

“Be careful, sis.”

“I don’t know why you and Dad dislike Ethan so much. He’s never done anything to anyone in our family.”

“I can’t speak for our father, but I personally have nothing against the man,” Jadin stated. “I just know that your feelings run pretty deep where he is concerned and I don’t want to see you get hurt.”

“That’s just it, Jadin. I don’t have anything to worry about where Ethan is concerned. He is a good person.”

“I don’t doubt that. I’m just not sure he cares for you as much as you care for him.”

Jordin eyed her sister. “I know what I’m doing.”

“I hope so,” Jadin replied. “I really hope so.”

Her sister never took the time to really get to know him when they were younger. She decided to change the subject by saying, “I’m picking up Amya and Kai this evening.”

“Oooh. I haven’t seen them in a couple of weeks.”

“Why don’t you come by tonight?” Jordin suggested. “We can make it a real girls’ night.”

“Michael will be back today. We’re going to have dinner together. If it’s not too late afterward, I’ll try to swing by to see them.”

Jadin and Michael had dated in law school. While she did not care for the man personally, Jordin was careful not to interfere in her sister’s relationship. She only wished her sister would give her the same respect.

* * *

Ethan pulled up to a stoplight and waited patiently for the light to change. He felt guilty. He should’ve called Jordin by now, but he kept putting it off. He hated avoiding her, but for now, Ethan felt it was for the best.

He felt the tiny hairs on the back of his neck stand up.

Ethan glanced out the window, his eyes landing on a pretty woman sitting in the car next to him. She smiled at him and gave a little wave.

He returned her smile out of politeness.

The light changed and Ethan was on his way. He harbored no regret at not getting her name and number. He had no time for romantic relationships.

Ethan pulled into a parking space fifteen minutes later. He got out of the car, grabbed a stack of documents and headed to the entrance of his new gym.

The manager was in his office when Ethan walked inside.

“Hey, Walter,” he greeted. “I wanted to touch base with you about the grand opening. Here are copies of the new ads coming out this week.”

Walter scanned through the pages. “Nice...”

“Are the showers fully installed?” Ethan questioned.

“All of the bathrooms and showers are all ready to go. The childcare center is almost complete. The painters should be here later today.”

“Looks like everything is right on schedule.”

Walter nodded. “The uniforms are due to arrive tomorrow.”

“What about the member T-shirts? When are they supposed to come in?”

“By the end of the week. I spoke to Allen and he can send us some if we need them sooner.”

Allen was the gym manager in Virginia. Ethan met him when he was a trainer at another company. Allen was the first employee Ethan hired to work at his first gym. He became a manager three years later.

Ethan left the gym two hours later to meet Chandler at a restaurant for dinner.

“I can’t believe I let you talk me into moving back to Charleston,” he stated after they were seated in a booth with a view of the waterfront. “You know when I left this town—I vowed never to return.”

He and Chandler had been best friends since kindergarten. Ethan had corresponded with him a few times over the years, but they had talked more frequently in the past six months.

“This is about business,” Chandler responded. “You have to admit that your new facility is the talk of the town right now.”

“I could have continued running my company from Virginia.”

“It was time for you to come home, Ethan. You and I both know it. You have a lot of unfinished business here.”

“We’ll see.”

Chandler laid down his menu. “Is your house going to be ready on time?”

Ethan nodded.

“What do you think of the office space?” Chandler asked. “The moment I saw the property listed, I felt like it was perfect for you.”

Ethan chuckled. “You know me well. The building is perfect. I did find it interesting that my office is so close to the DuGrandpre location.”

Chandler did not respond, but also did not bother to hide his amusement. “Have you spoken with Jordin yet?”

“As a matter of fact, she came to see me at my office last week,” Ethan said. “You didn’t have anything to do with that little meeting, did you? How did Jordin know where my office was located in the first place?”

Shrugging, Chandler responded, “I haven’t spoken to Jordin in months.”

“How about Ryker?”

Chandler grinned. “Well, I did run into him and his wife one evening.”

“And you told Ryker I was back, right? I knew that Jordin and I would eventually run into one another but I didn’t think it would be so soon. I wasn’t prepared.”

“Sounds like fate intervened.”

Ethan shook his head no. “Not in the way you’re thinking, Chandler. I can’t deny that it was good to see her, but things are different between us now.”

“In what way?”

“In every way that matters,” Ethan stated. “Truth is that she’s always been out of my league. I was just too stupid to realize it back then. No matter how much money I have, I will never be good enough for Etienne DuGrandpre’s daughter. Her father tolerated our friendship, but I got the feeling that he did not want our relationship going further than that.”

“That may have been true back then, Ethan,” Chandler responded. “Jordin’s old enough to make her own decisions. I don’t think you should give up on her so easily. I know how much you care for her.”

Ethan shrugged in nonchalance. “Her father never cared much for me though. Anyway, I’ve got too much baggage, Chandler.”

“I don’t think she’d allow her parents to pick her husband. Jordin’s much too independent for that.”

“I don’t know...” Ethan uttered. He scanned his menu, trying to decide on what he wanted to eat.

His mind traveled back to Jordin. One of the qualities that attracted Ethan to Jordin was her genuine smile, which seemed prominently on display at all times. Her once shoulder-length hair was in a short bob. She wore no makeup outside of lipstick. Still, he found her incredibly sexy.

* * *

“How was your weekend with the girls?” Jadin inquired on Monday morning. “I couldn’t come by because Michael and I had a serious conversation about our relationship.”

“We had such a great time,” Jordin responded as she prepared a cup of hot tea. “Kai and Amya missed you though.”

Jadin poured coffee into a black mug. “I’ll have to see if I can set up a movie date with them or something.”

“I’m sure they would love it.”

Jordin picked up a plate containing fresh fruit and a bagel. “The more time I spend with those little girls, the more I want to have children of my own. I can’t wait to be a mother.”

“You’d definitely be good at it,” her sister responded.

She studied her sister’s face. There was a hint of sadness behind Jadin’s eyes. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine.”

“I know you, sis,” Jordin stated. “You mentioned that you and Michael talked—is everything good between you two?”

“He’s been offered a job with a large law firm in Beverly Hills.”

She met her sister’s gaze. “Is he going to take it?”

Jadin nodded. “He wants me to go with him.”

“What did you say?” Jordin couldn’t imagine her sister being thousands of miles away from her, but she would never try to stand in the way of Jadin’s happiness.

“I told him that I couldn’t. I could never do that to Dad. He’s always drilled the importance of the DuGrandpre legacy.”

“Dad also wants you to be happy, Jadin. I’m sure he would understand.”

“I’m not moving to California,” she stated. “Michael understands my reasons why and while he isn’t fond of the choice I made—he understands why I can’t go.”

“Yet you seem somewhat sad.”

“I love Michael and I’m really going to miss him.”

“Well, at least you can visit him.”

She shook her head sadly. “I told him that I thought it was best to just be friends. I don’t want Michael to feel obligated in trying to maintain a long-distance relationship.”

“You just said that you love Michael,” Jordin stated. “Why would you break up with him?” Deep down, she was thrilled because she suspected he was nothing more than a ladies’ man. Jadin wanted to get married, but he always used the excuse that he wasn’t ready.

“It’s for the best, sis.”

“For you or him?”

Jadin met her sister’s gaze. “For both of us. We are DuGrandpres, Jordin. Our grandfather started this company from the ground up here in Charleston. I am proud of our duty to make sure his legacy is carried on. You remember how upset Granddad and Uncle Jacques got when Aubrie decided to become a chef?”

“Her father eventually accepted her decision,” Jordin pointed out. “Granddad is still not happy about it though.”

“Deep down, Uncle Jacques is not completely okay with it either.”

She had to agree. It really hurt her uncle when his only daughter chose not to follow in her family’s footsteps. Jordin glimpsed the longing in her sister’s eyes. She knew that as much as Jadin wanted to be with Michael, she would never choose him over her family.

Despite her mixed feelings where Michael was concerned, Jordin did not necessarily agree with Jadin’s unwavering loyalty to the family. It was time for her sister to selfishly consider her future with the man she loved. “Think of your own happiness for once.”

“I always thought that you didn’t care much for Michael,” Jadin stated, “yet you are telling me to follow him to California.”

“I don’t believe he’s the man for you,” Jordin explained. “However, it is not my right to stand in the way of your happily-ever-after.”

Jadin met her gaze. “I suppose you would like for me to do the same where you’re concerned. Right?”

“What are you talking about?”

“Ethan.”

“This isn’t about me or Ethan, Jadin. We are talking about you and Michael.”

“So if Ethan wanted you to leave the firm—would you?”

“I would consider his request,” Jordin confessed.

“You would put a man before the good of our company...our family legacy?” Jadin questioned. A look of disbelief crossed her face.

“Our legacy is woven into the fabric of this beautiful city, sis. I am a DuGrandpre by blood and nothing will ever change this,” Jordin stated. “However, I also deserve to be with someone who loves me. I want to create a legacy with my husband for our children. I would think that you’d have the same desires.”

“The DuGrandpre name is a burden we have to bear, Jordin. We can’t take it lightly.”

“You sound like Granddad,” she uttered in response.

“Granddad told us how he was threatened by a group of racists when he started the law firm. The original office was burned to the ground, but our grandfather didn’t give up. Our company was founded on his blood, sweat and tears, Jordin.”

“I know all of this, sis. I wouldn’t do anything to tarnish our history, but I have the right to live my life on my own terms—we all have that right, Jadin.”

“I’m afraid we are never going to agree on this subject,” she responded with a sigh.

“Jadin, I don’t disagree with you. I just believe that I can have a life of my own without bringing dishonor to my family. Aubrie has a very successful restaurant—this is an extension of the DuGrandpre legacy and there’s nothing wrong with it. Our legacy reaches far beyond the law firm.”

Her sister remained silent.

“I know you are beyond loyal, Jadin, and it’s a wonderful quality. I am also loyal to this family and our company, but I am not going to give up on marriage and a family,” Jordin stated. “No one requires this of us.”

“I disagree.”

“Well, I intend on living my life on my own terms, Jadin, and I suggest you do the same. If you don’t...you may one day regret it.”