Page 34 of Make Your Move

“Have fun,” I tell him as he walks over to the door that leads to the foyer. Nash looks back at me and smiles before giving Lincoln a dirty look.

My brother disappears from the living room, and I hear him collecting his things from the foyer. The silence stretches between Lincoln and me. I look at the TV, my eyes staring at thescreen without me actually paying attention to anything that is playing. Instead, I’m acutely aware of Lincoln and only him.

The front door opens and quickly closes as Nash leaves the house, leaving Lincoln and me alone.

I can feel his eyes on the side of my face before I look at him. Our gazes collide instantly.

“Well, it looks like it’s just you and me tonight.”

I swallow roughly, nodding, feeling a heat creeping up my neck. I’m not nervous around him, but I swear it’s like my brain and mouth have disconnected from one another. “Looks like it.”

“Let’s do something, Nova,” he says as he turns to face me. His face lights up at the prospect, and the anticipation rolls off him in waves. “What do you want to do?”

“You don’t have plans?”

Lincoln shakes his head at me as a smile dances across his lips. A playfulness dances in his irises, but there’s something else burning within as he stares directly through me.

“I’m all yours tonight.”

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

NOVA

Standing in my bedroom, I look at myself in the full-length mirror that is propped in the corner of my room, giving myself a once over. The black-heeled boots reach my knees, covering the lower half of my legs. My cream-colored sweater dress flares out around the bottom of my thighs, exposing a small sliver of skin between my shoes and my dress.

There’s a moment of second guessing that happens. A moment where I feel like I need to change my outfit completely. When Lincoln asked if I wanted to get dinner, specifically labeling it as not a date, I didn’t hesitate to say yes, but now I’m wondering if perhaps I should have.

He gave me an hour to get ready. He didn’t specify where we are going, and he didn’t mention anything about the dress code. What if what I’m wearing is too much? Or what if it isn’t dressy enough?

“Time’s up, Nova,” Lincoln calls from the other side of my door as he knocks on it. “You have sixty seconds, and then I’m coming in there.”

“Just hold on,” I tell him, blowing out a breath of frustration as I fix my hair around my face. A few unruly curls broke free from the French braid. I look over my makeup once more.Although it’s soft and subtle, I don’t want to walk out with any marks from the mascara on my face.

“Twenty seconds, Nova.”

I roll my eyes at him, although he can’t see me, and I reach for the doorknob. The metal is cool beneath my hand, and I slowly turn it and pull the door open. Lincoln’s eyes meet mine first, and I watch his expression transform immediately.

The smile on his face vanishes as his jaw falls open. A shallow breath escapes him, his eyes raking down the length of my body. His nostrils flare, and his jaw tightens as his gaze begins its ascent before reaching my face again.

“I changed my mind. We’re not going anywhere.”

My eyebrows pull together, and I lift my upper lip in distaste. “What? Why?”

“Because I don’t want to share you with anyone else’s eyes.” He pauses, his throat bobbing as he swallows hard. “Fuck, you’re beautiful.”

My heart crawls into my throat as I take in his appearance. He’s wearing a pair of black pants and a tan-colored sweater. His hair is a neat mess of waves hanging just above his dark eyebrows.

“Come on,” he says softly as he holds his hand out to me. I look down at his palm before looking back up at him. “As much as I want to keep you locked away in here tonight, I have other plans for us.”

I slide my hand into his and let him lead me down the hallway, down the stairs and out the front door. He’s quiet as he walks me through the front yard and pauses to open the gate for me. I step through, releasing his hand, and we walk side by side to his car parked along the street.

Lincoln lengthens his stride so he reaches the car before me and pulls open the door. It’s not out of character for him, asLincoln Matthews has always been the gentleman, but it still has the butterflies fluttering in my stomach either way.

“Thank you,” I say softly, smiling up at him just as he winks and closes the door. I watch him as he walks around to his side, and he’s quiet as he climbs in. He turns on the engine, buckles his seat belt as I do the same, and then we’re moving down the road.

The soft sound of music plays in the background, and I can’t quite make out the words. It’s connected to Lincoln’s phone, so I look at the screen to see what song it is.

“Are you going to tell me where you’re taking me yet?” I ask him as I glance over and look at him.

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