Billion Dollar Mistake: An opposites attract billionaire romance: (The Lincolns Book 1)

Chapter 10

His eyes hold mine. Dark, deep, and thoughtful. I suddenly can’t find my words. But I called out for him. Why?

When he left the room, Bentley dismissed me, and I knew it was a sign to speak to Jeremy. But now that he’s here in the flesh, a few steps away, wearing an impeccable designer suit and a wicked smirk, I’m wordless.

“Nova?” he pushes.

It helps. The fog in my brain lifts, and I manage to stammer, “I-I wanted to talk to you again.”

He raises an eyebrow, a silent challenge in his gaze. “You did? So the broken phone wasn’t on purpose?” he probes, his smirk taking on a more curious tilt.

“It wasn’t on purpose. I enjoyed our conversations,” I assure him.

For a moment, he remains silent, his expression shifting. Panic swirls in my chest, wondering if I said something wrong until his words silence it.

“So did I.”

Relief washes over me, but the words still hang in the air. We both have admitted we like to talk to each other.

Is that all it is?

It’s all that it should be…

I won’t be buying a new phone for a while, so keeping our chats going is impossible. He’s too busy to exchange emails with me so I won’t even bother mentioning it. The reality of the situation settles in, and I reluctantly have to accept that it”s over.

“Are you headed down?” I ask in a weak voice. Unable to hold back the disappointment seeping out of my words.

“Yeah, but hang on,” he says as he walks past me. I don’t move, just twist to watch him stride across the floor, eating up the space in the room so easily with his long legs. He stops by reception where she hands over a bag. I frown. And I can’t lie, a rush of jealousy mixed with curiosity strikes me. What’s in the bag?

He turns around and walks back until he’s standing in front of me.

He gestures forward. “Let’s go.”

I should tell him not to order me around, but his tone is surprisingly gentle.

I still don’t know what’s in the bag and it’s twisting me up, but it’s not my business. I force myself to move forward and forget about it.

We’re silent as we wait by the elevator, which isn’t a long wait. Inside the elevator, his rich woodsy scent surrounds me. I lick my lips and try to taste it. It’s intoxicating just like him. Seeing him online made my heart flutter. In real life, my entire body is fluttering.

“You’re headed home now?” I ask, and I wish I didn’t because it sounds so pathetic, even to my own ears. Like where else would he be going at 6 p.m.

His head tilts down to look at me. “Yeah. You?”

Staring into his eyes has me spilling the truth. “Yeah. Nothing else to do.”

“No boxing?”

I shake my head. I’m surprised he remembered even the small details about me.

“Not visiting your parents?”

I swallow the guilt because now with no phone I can’t do my check-ins with them. “I visit Friday to Sunday and call in between.” I bite my lip before exhaling slowly. “Well, I used to...”

He dips his chin but doesn’t say anything. He presses the lobby button on the elevator.

But we don’t move. Another minute later, he presses the button again.

Nothing happens.

“We haven’t moved,” I mutter, my chest tightening, and it feels like I’m suddenly breathing through a straw.

He presses the emergency button.

“It’s okay. We’ll be out soon,” he says, his voice trying to soothe me. There’s no one else in here. I’m alone with him for the first time and this is what happens.

My pulse speeds up as the lights in the elevator flicker. My skin is dampening with perspiration as realization dawns on me: we could be stuck in here for hours.

I take slow deep breaths. I don’t want to have a panic attack with him here. I’m not claustrophobic, but the panic rushing through me is from my fear of death.

“It’s alright. They won’t be long.” His voice sounds far away, but the touch on my arm brings my thoughts to focus on him and not the situation we’re in.

When he drops his hand away, I want to protest, but he hands me a bag, cutting off my line of thinking. “This is for you.”

I take the bag with a shaky hand and a puzzled expression. I look at him. He nods. Encouraging me.

I open the bag and see the familiar packaging. A brand new box of my lipstick and the latest iPhone box.

I blink rapidly and blurt out, “You bought these for me?”

I reach in and grab the box and see the word brAVE and it’s the exact damn shade. How did he know?

“Yeah, I broke your lipstick—” he says.

“Not my phone,” I reply, turning the box in my hand still in a state of shock.

“No, but I needed to put my number in somewhere. I thought if I waited for you to buy it, I wouldn’t see you again.”

He wants to see me again.

“I can’t take this.” I hold out the bag.

He shakes his head.

“You can. I’m not taking it back.”

My brain hurts. It can’t handle all this niceness. I’m not used to it. I’ve never had a guy be this thoughtful well…ever.

Yet, this man buys me two expensive gifts. I’ve seen the Rolex on his wrist but still. Surely, he wants something.

“What do you want?” I ask, lowering the lipstick box back in the bag.

I glance back at him. His forehead wrinkles. “What do you mean?”

His face is close to mine. His hand back on my arm. Does he know I need that right now?

I close my eyes, trying to shut out the intensity of the moment, as the weight of unspoken desire hangs thick in the air. When I open them again, I find the strength to say, “Everyone wants something.”

His gaze is fixed on me. “I don’t.” He softly murmurs with dilated pupils. “Well, I want to talk to you.”

“You could have bought me a second hand one. Not the one that’s only just been released.”

“I can’t have it breaking on you.” His words carry a tone of urgency and sincerity.

“Sure,” I playfully quip, a smile tugging at the corner of my mouth. My eyes drop to his lips, and I can’t help but add with a chuckle, “If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you were trying to get into my pants.”

“Why would I need to buy you a phone to do that?”

“I don’t know,” I say. I’m becoming delirious the longer I”m in here.

His finger touches my chin and tilts my head back. Our eyes hold once again. “I need to talk to you, remember?”

“Talk to me.” I wink.

He shakes his head as a deep chuckle leaves his chest. I find myself wanting to lean in and kiss him. Kiss him with those lips that like to talk to me. When was the last time a guy wanted to do that?

A long time.

And as crazy as it sounds, I believe him.

Opening the lipstick as a distraction. I swipe some on my lips and rub them together. I feel like myself again.

A camera flashes the instant I turn to Jeremy.

I scrunch up my face. “What are you doing?”

“Taking a photo.”

“Why?” I ask. As new butterflies swarm my stomach.

“I want your new phone number in my phone.”

“You needed my face to do that?”

His eyes bore into me, and I don’t expect his next word to be so calm and direct. “Yes.”

A shiver runs up my spine. “I still have the SIM at home. I’ll keep my old number.”

“I’ll save your picture to your name.”

“Well then, I need a photo of you too. It’s only fair.”

“I don’t do photos.”

I roll my eyes. “Isn’t that supposed to be my line?”

“No. Your face is so…” He trails off, rubbing his jaw, and looks away. I want to beg him to look at me and continue.

“So?” I press, needing his answer.

“Delicate. Exquisite,” he says and turns to face me. His eyes move slowly over my face. I can’t understand what he’s thinking. He’s so hard to read.

“And you”re handsome so I need a photo too.”

He smirks. “You think?”

I roll my eyes but my cheeks heat. “Stop fishing for more compliments. You’re not getting them.”

“Was worth a shot.” His voice drops low and the way he”s staring at me sends tingles down my spine.

After a moment, I reach inside the bag and grab the box. The elevator is obviously stuck, and we need to wait for help. He rang the emergency alarm, so I may as well distract myself. I try to open it, but it’s too hard to do it standing up so I lower myself to the floor. I open the box and begin setting it up.

He stands next to me, but must get sick of waiting because he crouches down to sit beside me. “This is a first,” he mutters, diverting my attention.

I’m waiting for the phone to be set up. I see his thin lips and deep frown between his brows and a giggle slips out of me. He’s a good distraction, making me feel calmer than I did when we initially found ourselves stuck.

“Never been on the floor before?” I tease.

He looks over at me. His dark gaze becomes narrowed and glazed. “Oh, I love being on the floor, specifically on my knees.”

“Then what”s the problem?”

Is he insinuating what I think he is?

How often has he done that? Why do I want that right now? Sex was fine with my previous two partners––enjoyable even. But a guy going down on me has never been something I’ve enjoyed; it was way too awkward and clumsy. But with Jeremy, he’s a man. He’d be strong yet reassuring. I bet sex with him would be amazing because I’m attracted to him. He’s devastatingly handsome and kind and Jesus…Now that I think about it. When the hell did I last have sex? It’s been a damn long dry spell if I’m thinking of him doing unspeakable things to me right here in this damn elevator.

“I’m in my suit.”

“Can’t ruin the suit.” I snort.

“I don’t care about the suit. I have plenty more,” he argues.

I roll my eyes. “Of course you do.”

“Nova, suits aren”t comfortable.”

I’ll tell him what’s not comfortable. How hot it is inside this stupid elevator. I know I should be freaking out, but part of me is hoping we get stuck here together all night long.

I blink at him. Then a smile splits my face. “Glad I don’t have to wear one.”

“No?” His eyes run over my navy skirt and jacket. I know he thinks I’m wearing a suit but I’m not. The scrutiny of his gaze intensifies the unease settling within me.

“They’re not pants,” I argue, shuffling to sit up, as the tension in the confined space of the elevator grows palpable.

“Same thing. Are you comfortable right now?” he asks, his gaze unyielding, and I resist the urge to fidget.

He knows I’m not.

“No. Are you happy?” I challenge him as I look into his eyes. Still needing to tilt slightly to hold his gaze. “No.”

“No?” I repeat baffled, the air growing heavier with each passing moment.

“I want you comfortable.”

I’m trembling as I peer around the elevator. “It’s not going to happen in here.” Panic continues to pulse through me. “Aren’t you afraid of dying?”

“Seriously? You want to talk about that while we’re stuck in an elevator?”

“I need to talk before I have a panic attack in here.”

Without warning, his hand reaches out to grab my waist and he gently pulls me to sit between his legs. “Lean back on me,” he instructs, and I cautiously follow suit.

His touch guides me until my back is pressed against his chest. His heart is pounding hard into my back while mine feels like it’s on a damn treadmill. I exhale and watch him add my photo to my number on his phone then save it.

I grab the phone he bought me and swipe it open. His hand slips from my waist to my hip. Holding me there.

When I”m ready to add his photo, I lift the phone, and he holds out his other hand blocking the view. I take the photo and a couple more, but he’s not letting me get a clear picture of his face.

“Just let me have one,” I moan. My eyes drop to his pink lips and automatically my tongue sweeps over my bottom lip as my eyes move back to his heavy ones. He’s reading my face, and as if there is a magnet between us, I’m drawn to him. The room feels hot and heavy. My body moves closer to his, at the same time he moves his head down and his eyes lock with mine. This close, his scent overwhelms me. My heart is thumping inside my rib cage like I’ve been boxing for an hour. I’m about to touch my lips to his, when a loud deep voice booms outside the elevator. “Are you two okay in there?”

I close my eyes briefly before calling out, “Yep.”

“Stay calm. We’ll get you out,” the stranger says.

I slip out of Jeremy’s embrace, dusting off my skirt as I straighten up. I feel movement behind me as Jeremy rises. Goosebumps erupt across my skin as Jeremy”s heavy breath tickles the shell of my ear as he whispers, “I wish he didn’t. Because I’ve been thinking about fucking you in this elevator since the moment we walked in.”