The Billionaire's Gentle Rescue (The Sisterhood) by Elizabeth Lennox

to continue expanding your line and image.”
     
    “My own stores?”
     
    Having an exclusive store was her dream but she’d never imagined having that possibility in real life. It was such a fantasy, but the expense had always been prohibitive so she’d never thought of something that wonderful in real life.
     
    Throughout the rest of the meal, she tried to focus, but her whole mind was considering the dream of owning her own shop, filled with only her designs.
     
    By the time the panna cotta arrived, she had no idea what she’d eaten or what was discussed. As she looked up, she saw the amused expression on Marco’s face, but wasn’t sure what he’d said, or she’d said, to put it there.
     
    “I think we’re done,” he said, chuckling softly to himself. He quickly paid the restaurant bill, then stood up, putting a hand to the small of her back as he led her through the tables of the restaurant, stopping occasionally to speak with someone, greet another, simply nodding acknowledgement to others.
     
    Zoe’s mind was slipping back and forth from the dream of owning her own shop, to watching Marco joke with acquaintances, introduce her and move about. It was something of a shock when she felt her black coat slide up her arms, and even more of a surprise when Marco’s hands lingered on her arms, sending shivers of awareness throughout her entire system. Glancing up in surprise, she saw that Marco was watching her carefully and although she tried to hide her reaction to his touch, he saw it, touched her again and she couldn’t hide it the second time.
     
    Stepping back, she looked down and took a deep breath, but his scent, that spicy, masculine deliciously “Marco” scent invaded her mind.
     
    “Let’s go,” he said and led her out to the darkness.
     
    “I’ll catch a cab,” she said, trying to pull away but he stopped her, bringing her closer instead.
     
    “I’ll drive you home,” he countered and a sleek, black Maserati pulled up, the valet jumping out and running around to the sidewalk and adeptly slipping Marco’s tip into his pocket, then vanishing.
     
    “Really, it’s okay. I can get home on my own.” She really didn’t want to ride in a car that small with Marco right next to her. And she didn’t want him to walk her to her door.
     
    “Come along,” he said and since several others were walking up the sidewalk looking at them curiously, Zoe gave in and allowed him to help her into the passenger seat of the low slung vehicle.
     
    Unfortunately, when he slipped in next to her, it was just as bad as she’d anticipated. He was such a large man that his shoulders took up most of the available space. She tried to lean towards the passenger side window but it didn’t really help a whole lot. She inhaled sharply when his knuckles rubbed slightly against her outer thigh as he shifted gears. He looked at her curiously, but she forced a smile, trying to pretend as if nothing was wrong.
     
    “Nice car,” she said when they’d pulled away. She was desperate to break the silence in the car.
     
    “So now you want to talk?” he asked, a chuckle coming from deep in his chest.
     
    “What do you mean?”
     
    He easily maneuvered around the heavy traffic, his hands confident on the wheel. “I mean, you didn’t hear a thing I said during the whole meal and now you want to discuss my car.”
     
    “I heard you,” she defended, although she knew she was lying.
     
    “You heard nothing after I mentioned the expansion of your line with your own store. Admit it, I got you with that idea.”
     
    Zoe flushed and looked out the window. “I’ll admit that it’s every designer’s dream to have a store exclusive to her own work. But it’s improbable.”
     
    “Why is that?”
     
    “Because shops with that kind of inventory have more than one designer. They have an entire team that develops accessories, shoes, purses. All those things which I’m not interested in