Five Dates with the Billionaire - Alyssa J. Montgomery Page 0,23
still had the same soul.’
‘I’m no Cinderella and it would be dangerous for you to think otherwise.’ She couldn’t let him buy into Violet’s fairytale.
‘Dangerous? I don’t think so.’ He frowned. ‘You’ve mentioned safety a couple of times. What are you afraid of?’
Discovery.
Death.
She looked across at Connor and saw he was waiting for her response as though he cared. Digging deep, she reminded herself that no matter what Violet had planned, there could be no relationship in her future.
Not with Connor.
Not with anyone.
No relationship built on lies could endure.
‘Everyone has fears.’ She shrugged. ‘But I’m no longer worried about spending time with you.’
‘You’ve given up on the idea of me having a personality transplant?’
She couldn’t help but grin. ‘Yes.’
‘I’m glad to hear it.’ His tone was casual, but his eyes still held questions.
Avoiding those questions, her gaze dropped to his mouth. Instantly her pulse accelerated and fluttered at the base of her neck and inside her wrists.
‘If you weren’t my employee, Mia, and if you were the sort of woman who might accept a short-term relationship, I’d be tempted …’
She was tempted too.
‘I have no intention of resigning from my job any time soon.’
The note of regret in her voice was obvious and he looked sharply at her but Mia signalled to the waiter that she was ready for dessert.
It was good Connor wasn’t intent on trying to turn their four days into a fling because it would be impossible for her to resist the man she’d had dinner with this evening. When Connor Stewart turned on the charm, the only hope any woman had to resist him would be to invest in a chastity belt and throw away the key.
But who in their right mind would want to resist him?
Chapter Nine
Mia’s steps were light as she walked through the sumptuous Aman Canal Grande Hotel to meet Connor. During the flight over—when he hadn’t been busy on his laptop—the mood between them had been relaxed and she couldn’t wait to explore Venice with him.
Violet and the stylist had overridden all Mia’s arguments and packed stylish new outfits which made the most of her figure. Today’s three-quarter length navy pants and off-the-shoulder white shirt with a gold, red and blue insignia were very classy and looked so good, Mia had given into a wave of recklessness.
Slipping off the manacles of her self-restraint, she’d swept her hair into a loose ponytail instead of confining it into a bun. She’d even decided to shove her spectacles into her tote bag and opted to hide behind her more fashionable sunglasses. A fizz of satisfaction had burst through her veins as she’d regarded herself in the mirror. A little flame flickered with the hope that Connor would find her too attractive to resist.
But, as she reached the foyer, she realised that making the most of her looks had been a mistake. She was drawing too much attention. Too many admiring male glances.
Head down, she continued out onto the covered jetty at the front of the hotel.
I’m in Venice and I’m safe. Nobody is going to recognise me here.
‘Buongiorno bellissima signorina.’ The doorman greeted her with a flirtatious wink. ‘Would you like me to arrange a gondola or water taxi for you?’
Her hands were clammy and she wished to hell she’d remembered how much comfort there was in blending into the shadows.
‘Buongiorno,’ she replied automatically. ‘Not yet, thanks. I’m waiting for my… friend.’
With an almost wolfish smile, the man said, ‘He is very lucky.’
‘I didn’t say it was a man.’
He smiled broadly. ‘You didn’t have to signorina.’
‘Oh.’ Feeling horribly out of her depth she moved further down the jetty.
Dressing like this had been a mistake. A terrible mistake.
She could always use the hair elastic and wind her hair into a bun again rather than a ponytail, and once her lipstick had worn off, she wouldn’t re-apply it.
Would that be enough to stop attracting attention? Mia kept her gaze firmly focused on the canal. She watched a vaporetto passing by and saw that the public waterbus was filled with tourists, many of whom had cameras pointed in the direction of the famous hotel.
Sully!
Mia’s eyes widened and her hand flew to cover her mouth as she gasped.
Surely not?
Her gaze zeroed in on a man whose attention was on the facade of the hotel.
No!
Resisting the urge to run back inside, she turned quickly and put her head down, pretending to look for something in her bag.
Perspiration beaded her upper lip and her heart punched against her rib cage.