“You’re really good at it,” I said. “Both the teaching and the doing.”
He stood, holding his mouse in his left hand and his wallet in his right. “You should go. It’s pretty late.”
I glanced over at my task list. There was still plenty to do. But I was exhausted.
“We’re visiting the site tomorrow just to check a few things before we stay over next week.” Lincoln kept his gaze on his backpack and spoke far too quickly. “It’ll be a good opportunity to see the processes. It’s a greenfield project.”
Was he as nervous as I was to be alone together?
I followed suit and shoved everything into my backpack. “Absolutely, I’ve looked at those plans. It’s such an interesting concept. You designed the entire thing, right?”
He shifted on his feet, an awkward but bashful smile curled onto his mouth. “Um… Yeah.” He walked over to the doorway. “Anyway, I’ll send you the details as soon as I get my laptop back on. But I am in a bit of a hurry.”
I followed after him. “Fun plans?”
My pathetic little heart stilled in the seconds that passed.
He sighed, then smiled, and I couldn’t figure out if it was a chore or something fun. “Yeah, it’ll be fun.”
“A date?” I squeaked out as we reached the front door.
My body curled in on itself as I cringed. It seemed I really couldn’t control what came out of my mouth anymore.
His eyes widened, and he let loose a short laugh. “No, no. I’m heading to a friend’s place. We’ll probably play some games.” He scanned his fob to unlock the door and gestured for me to walk ahead of him.
I stepped outside and the night air cooled my heated cheeks. Dammit, if my cheeks were this hot, could he see it? I spun awayfrom him and froze. My stomach jolted with discomfort and annoyance as a familiar black Mercedes stood parked right outside the building.
Without thinking, I stepped backward, wanting nothing more than to retreat into the safety of the building. But I slammed into something hard.
“Elizabeth?” Lincoln’s hand gripped my shoulder, steadying me.
I turned around and looked up at him, but his gaze was fixed above my head.
“Is that the guy who has been bothering you?” he asked in a low, threatening grumble.
“Um, yes.”
I was ready to push past Lincoln and rush upstairs. I could use the emergency exit at the back.
But Lincoln’s warm palm dropped to my waist. His fingers pressed into my side with intent, but it was gentle. All he did was shift me to the left.
Lincoln squeezed past me and walked straight up to the car. He tapped on the window hard enough to make me flinch.
“Who are you?” Lincoln asked. Not in the voice I was used to, but in another, deeper, firmer voice. The one that had all the engineers scurrying out of his path.
Alistair lowered the window and glanced between Lincoln and me. Even in the dim lighting, I could see that laser focus in his eyes that had always made me uncomfortable.
Lincoln looked over his shoulder and met my gaze for a second before turning back to Alistair. Whatever he’d read on my face had him growing in size and authority as he said his next words: “Stop pestering her, or I’ll call the police.” His voice was low and gravelly, filled with a threat even I believed he’d act upon.
“I’m not doing anything wrong, Mr. Carden,” Alistair’s voicebroke through the quiet night. “I’m here to chat with Ms. Gordon-
Bettencourt.”
Lincoln blew out a harsh breath, misting up the side of the car. He pressed his hands on the open window and leaned inward before whispering, “Consider this a warning and leave her alone.”
Alistair, who had retreated within the car, locked eyes with me then and threw me a knowing glance that said,I’ll tell him about this.
Within a second, he was gone, leaving me trying to steady my breathing while Lincoln straightened. For a moment, he just stood there, watching the Mercedes blend into the night. When he turned around, the angry energy was still alive around him, making his black curls seem wilder.
