Free Billionaire by Design (A BWWM Romance) by Tiana Cole, BWWM United Page B

much more than business.
    They rode for fifteen minutes with conversation flowing freely along the way. Despite her initial burst of nerves, she found herself quickly at ease in his presence. Her confidence, which had never been shaken by a man before, had now returned. Laughter radiated from the back seat as they playfully bantered, enjoying each other’s company as the town car weaved through the city.
    Arriving at the restaurant, Jenna wasn’t surprised to find it was one she’d never heard of before. As a transplant from New York City, and a broke one at that, she’d never experienced Tucson’s fine dining and rarely ventured into the business district.
    Zane helped her out of the car and guided her inside where her senses were immediately overcome with the sights, smells, and sounds of Italy. As she would quickly find out, Primavera was a five-star restaurant known for its wealthy clientele. It was where the city’s socially elite gathered to feast on authentic Italian cuisine, and its lavish interior was unlike anything she’d ever seen.
    The decor was immaculate, its stone walls adorned with artwork she knew was expensive. The lighting was low, adding an almost romantic ambiance throughout the restaurant, and Sicilian music played softly in the background.
    She went from a sense of welcome to a feeling of dread as she surveyed the mobbed dining area located to the left of an impressive full bar. The city’s most prominent businessmen and women sat feasting on Primavera’s pricey courses, all of them dressed to the hilt. She glanced down at her dress, suddenly self-conscious in her choice of attire, and she could feel her face grow flushed as the hostess approached them.
    “Zane Talbot, reservation for two,” Jenna heard him tell the woman as she continued absorbing the restaurant’s atmosphere. She knew New York City must have restaurants as nice as this, but she’d never had a chance to experience any of them.
    “You look gorgeous,” he whispered to her as the hostess guided them to a private table in the far corner of the dining room. He’d sensed her concern, and the sincerity in his reassuring words instantly soothed her. She followed closely by his side as they crossed the busy floor.
    “Thank you,” she whispered back, unsure if Zane could even hear her over the low roar filling the restaurant.
    Seating them at their table, the hostess pleasantly informed them that their waiter would be with them shortly before disappearing back to her station by the restaurant’s entrance. Jenna was left sitting at a candlelit table across from a rich, handsome man she hardly knew but was undeniably attracted to.
    “What do you think?” Zane asked eagerly while studying Jenna’s face for a reaction.
    “This is too much,” she replied with an awestruck smile as she continued to soak in the restaurant’s decor. Their table was slightly recessed from the rest of the room, and she had a feeling he’d paid a lot of money to have it arranged that way. It was draped with a white tablecloth, and a small floral arrangement sat beside the tall, red candle. Although she couldn’t smell them over the restaurant’s savory aroma, she could tell the flowers were real.
    “I seriously can’t get over how beautiful you look,” he grinned as he looked her over.
    “I’m so underdressed,” she said with a quiet nervousness. “I feel like everybody’s looking at me.”
    “Oh, stop.” His smile widened and his mesmeric blue eyes lit up. “Seriously, you look amazing. Belle of the ball!”
    “I’m wearing all black,” she commented while looking down at her outfit. “I look like I’m going to a funeral. Why did I wear this? Ugh. Stupid.”
    “You’re ridiculous,” Zane teased. He’d placed a hand over his mouth, and his chest heaved as he silently laughed in amusement. “Hey, maybe this date will be the death of you!” he moved his hand to comically blurt.
    Jenna couldn’t help but giggle. He seemed to