Five Dates with the Billionaire - Alyssa J. Montgomery Page 0,25
my gosh!’ She sucked in a huge breath as the men guided her onto the plush red velvet seat.
‘Are you alright, signorina?’ Vincento asked.
‘Yes, thank you. Just a bit breathless.’
The cause of her breathlessness stepped into the gondola and sat beside her. ‘The idea is to see the Grand Canal from the gondola,’ Connor said with a smile. ‘The hotel has a pool if you really want to go for a swim.’
Feeling all sorts of foolish, Mia laughed along. ‘I’m sorry. I should warn you that I’m a bit accident prone.’
‘Hm. As one young tennis player can confirm, right?’
‘Yes,’ she responded sheepishly. ‘I should never have told you that story. You’re going to tease me unmercifully about it, aren’t you?’
‘Guaranteed!’
Oh dear. Connor’s smile made her heart flip every time.
She turned her head to look up at the gondolier. ‘Venice has turned on spectacular weather for us, Vincento.’
‘But of course, signorina. Venice has always the beautiful weather.’
‘Of course it does,’ she agreed with a broad smile.
‘Sit back and stop flirting with Vincento,’ Connor said lightly. ‘You’re supposed to enjoy the scenery.’
Flirting? Hardly. Mia was quite certain she didn’t know how to flirt. But she sat back anyway, wanting to enjoy the postcard perfect shots of life on the Grand Canal.
But…oh! When she reclined, Connor’s body was hard up against hers and she was acutely aware of his muscular thigh and the strength and heat radiating from it.
As her mouth dried, she wished she’d brought a bottle of water with her from the hotel.
‘You are from England, no?’ Vincento asked as he powered them along with smooth strokes.
‘Yes,’ Connor answered.
‘Your first time to Venice?’
‘I’ve been here before, but it’s Mia’s first visit.’
‘Then I play tour guide for you, signorina.’
It was fantastic to ride down the Grand Canal and have the native Venetian speak proudly of his heritage. He pointed out various buildings and the Moroccan influence on the architecture of some of them. Once or twice she even managed to stop focusing on the feel of Connor’s body next to hers—for all of about ten seconds.
‘Why are all the gondolas black, Vincento?’ Her question was as much out of needing to distract herself from her awareness of Connor as it was from genuine curiosity.
‘Not all are black but all working boats must be black. Years ago, Venetian families spent very much money to have the most beautiful gondolas. Too much was spent and the Venice Senate passed a law in 1562 forcing all gondolas to be painted black. Today…’
Mia didn’t take in the rest of his explanation because Connor shifted and put one arm around her shoulders before he leaned to whisper in her ear, ‘I hope you don’t mind. I wouldn’t tell a Venetian, but it’s a bit cramped in these things.’
Most Venetians weren’t built with shoulders so broad they’d pass for rugby players. Was it a convenient way of avoiding cramp? Mia kind of hoped Connor was looking for an excuse to sit closer.
No. He’d made it clear he wasn’t going to pursue an affair with her.
Even if he doesn’t mean anything by it, why not enjoy it? Why not relax and pretend I’m in Venice with my lover?
Another gondolier in his trademark striped top, red sash and white straw hat overtook them. As he passed he made a comment to Vincento in rapid-fire Italian and both men laughed heartily.
‘This is fantastic,’ she told Connor. ‘There’s so much atmosphere and elegance in this city. I’ve got to admit I’m glad Violet insisted we come.’
Vincento said, ‘Venice is very romantic city, si?
‘Si,’ Mia agreed.
‘My friend who go past, he tell me I should sing for you.’
She was surprised. ‘I thought the gondoliers didn’t sing—that we’d need to hire a singer and accordionist for that.’
‘You are in luck! I am one of few who sing.’ He proceeded to burst into song.
When he finished the tune, Mia applauded. ‘Well done, Vincento!’
He paused mid-stroke and took a slight bow. ‘Ah, but I should have explained. There is a fee for my singing.’
Mia and Connor both chuckled in wry amusement.
‘Of course there is,’ Connor agreed.
‘That was traditional Venetian love song and the fee is my passengers must kiss as we pass under next bridge.’
Mia had thought he meant an extra monetary fee. Her amusement ended at the mention of a kiss and she looked at Connor uncertainly.
Holding one hand up, he sent her a cheeky grin and said, ‘I promise I didn’t pay him earlier to say that.’