Page 35 of Dr. Billionaire
Mark moved his hand to the hem of Jenna’s dress and slid it underneath, then up her thigh to the pair of satin black panties she was wearing.
“I might have to make you take these off for me at dinner,” he said gruffly.
Jenna swallowed hard, squirming in her seat. Then she pushed his hand away. “Mark! I need to focus on being a supportive friend tonight, and also making a good first impression on Scott. That’s plenty to think about without any extra distractions.”
Mark chuckled, withdrawing his hand and placing it back on the steering wheel.
His Tesla glided to a stop in front ofCarluccio’s, an upscale Italian restaurant downtown. A valet dressed in a crisp uniform hurried to open Jenna’s door, and she stepped out, smoothing the skirt of her dress. Mark came around the car and put a hand on the small of her back, guiding her toward the entrance.
The hostess, a mature woman of understated beauty, greeted them warmly. “Good evening, Dr. Peterson, your table is ready. Please follow me.”
Jenna was still getting used to Mark being known everywhere he went. It was hot in a way, but sometimes it made her feel a bit… invisible.
They were led through the large, dimly lit dining room, passing tables with real candles on them until they reached a quiet corner where a man she assumed to be Scott was already seated. The neighboring tables were unoccupied, perhaps by design.
Jenna felt instantly intimidated, which she hadn’t been expecting. It didn’t help that Scott was just as strikingly handsome as Mark, though in a different way. He had thick, chestnut hair, his face was angular with a chiseled jawline, and he had deep-set dark eyes. His build was athletic, with broad shoulders and muscular arms similar to Mark’s, though when he stood she guessed he was an inch or two shorter.
“Scott, good to see you,” Mark said as they approached the table. The two men shook hands while Jenna gave Scott a polite smile.
“Jenna, lovely to meet you,” Scott said, shaking her hand. “Please, have a seat.”
“Thank you.” Jenna slid into the upholstered chair across from Scott. A waiter appeared and began pouring sparkling water into crystal stemware. Mark settled in next to Jenna and picked up his menu.
“The osso buco here is excellent,” Scott remarked. “But you really can’t go wrong with anything on the menu.”
“Sounds amazing,” Jenna said. She looked around, finally relaxing enough to take in the aroma of garlic and herbs and the soft classical music playing from hidden speakers. The waiter came by with a basket of warm bread and a plate of what looked like pesto mixed with olive oil.
“So who’s the extra guest?” Scott asked, nodding to the empty chair beside him.
“Oh, my friend Chloe. She’s had a bit of a rough few days, so I invited her along. Thanks for being so flexible about that.” Jenna smiled at Scott.
“No problem, the more the merrier,” Scott replied. “We should get some wine, right?” He flagged down the waiter who was carrying a basket of bread to another table.
“You need to be drunk to put up with us, huh?” Mark teased.
“Nah, it’s a celebration!” Scott looked at Jenna. “You’re the first girl Mark has actually introduced me to in years. It’s like he’s embarrassed of me or something.”
“Well, I’m hoping she’ll be around for a while,” Mark said, reaching to hold Jenna’s hand under the table. “So don’t scare her off.”
Scott chuckled and shook his head.
The waiter arrived and Scott began talking wine-speak at him, pointing to the drink menu and going on about oakiness and whatnot. Mark squeezed Jenna’s hand, and she gave him a small smile. Scott was easy to talk to, at least. She settled back in her seat and reached for a piece of bread.
The hostess made her way back over to their table, and Jenna glanced up to see Chloe straggling along behind her, looking like a shadow of her typical vibrant self. There was a rawness to her expression, a hint of redness around her eyes that suggested recent tears.
Jenna’s chest tightened with concern as she watched her friend take a deep breath and plaster on a brave smile. Chloe gave a small wave, her hand trembling slightly, as she walked over to their table. She greeted everyone with, “Sorry I’m late, guys,” and slid into the seat next to Scott.
“Hey, Chlo,” Jenna said softly, trying to catch her friend’s eye, but Chloe was already turning her attention to Mark and Scott,making small talk as if nothing were amiss. Jenna forced a smile, knowing she could get Chloe to open up later, away from prying eyes. For now, she tried to focus on the easy banter flowing around the table.
“So who was the more outgoing one in high school?” Mark asked, and Jenna snorted.
“Chloe by far. She was pretty much the only one I talked to. Actually, that’s still the case,” she said, smiling at Chloe.
Chloe was avoiding eye contact with her, though, and Jenna couldn’t help but notice her forced smiles were becoming fewer and farther between. Maybe inviting her to dinner with two men she didn’t know had been a bad idea. It was clear she was still hurting. She had probably needed a girls’ night, and Jenna had royally screwed that up. It was too late now, though.
Luckily, both men appeared completely oblivious to the rising tension at the table, and Mark began recounting a humorous anecdote from his last trip to Europe. Jenna and Scott laughed along with him, but then Chloe’s voice cut through the laughter, sharp as broken glass.
“Must be nice,” she said, her tone laced with bitterness. “Not all of us can jet off to Europe on a whim. Some of us have to work for a living.”
