The Rose He Showed Off Is Putting Down Roots in a Garden of Her Own novel Chapter 98

Finally realizing he was making a fool of himself, Zane let out an awkward laugh. "I should have made Jasper come. He loves this kind of stuff."

Elara stared at the ridiculously romantic two-seater boat and gave a tight, forced smile. "Your assistant chased Seraphina to the pool. I highly doubt he wants to be out here rowing a boat with me."

Zane fell silent.

Elara held out her hands. "Zane, let me do it."

She had zero desire to play the gondolier in the pitch black, but she didn't have a choice. This billionaire clearly wasn't good at everything.

Zane looked at her, his eyes brimming with quiet admiration. At this moment, she seemed even more captivating than when she was commanding a boardroom with a laser pointer.

"You really are incredible, Elara."

If you weren't Zane Whitaker, I'd kick you into the water right now, she thought viciously.

"Just seizing the opportunity to serve, Mr. Whitaker," she replied dryly.

The pavilion was in the dead center of the lake, and the rowing left Elara slightly breathless.

"Let me take over," Zane offered.

Elara refused flat out. She wasn't risking him capsizing them in the dark.

When they finally bumped against the pavilion's docking platform, Elara told Zane to step out first.

Zane hesitated, instinctively wanting to let the lady go first, but Elara was exhausted, annoyed, and dangerously close to shoving him.

She swallowed her irritation. "Zane, please, don't stand on ceremony. It's pitch black, no one is watching."

Zane fought back a smile, realizing her private, unfiltered personality was incredibly entertaining.

The pavilion was designed with a poetic, old-world aesthetic, aptly named the "Heart of the Lake." Beside it sat an open-air enclosure draped in sheer mosquito netting, designed for guests to stargaze.

Inside the netting were plush, reclining daybeds. Zane pushed aside the sheer curtain and smiled. "After you."

Elara gave a polite nod and stepped inside, thinking it was just the two of them anyway—no need for formalities.

Zane thought letting her go first was the gentlemanly thing to do, but...

"Ah!" Elara shrieked.

The netting trailed heavily on the wooden floor. Zane's foot caught in the fabric, and he pitched forward, tackling Elara directly onto the daybed.

Elara was completely paralyzed with shock.

Did he deliberately orchestrate a trip to an isolated island in the middle of a lake just to jump her?!

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