Five Dates with the Billionaire - Alyssa J. Montgomery Page 0,42
the kiss, his mouth hard and hungry as his tongue laced with hers. Mia moulded herself against him and gave into the mounting passion between them. It swamped her senses and almost made her forget why she’d started kissing him in the first place.
Drowning in the sensuous enchantment, it was easy to focus on Connor and the need he aroused. The kiss went on and on, his hands firm and urgent against the small of her back, pulling her closer. She was in no doubt of the physical effect she had on him.
When he eventually pulled away, they were both breathing raggedly and Mia’s head was spinning while her body ached for more.
For a few seconds, all she could do was look into Connor’s eyes. Then, her gaze flicked behind him and she was relieved to see the men had walked straight past them, still deep in discussion.
What was Sully doing in Venice?
A chill shot through her.
If he was here, did that mean Giovanni was here too?
‘That was spontaneous,’ Connor said against her ear. ‘I think I could grow accustomed to spontaneity.’
‘Let’s go back to the hotel and order room service.’ She needed to be off the streets of Venice and safely out of sight.
‘You’re a shameless hussy,’ he teased, ‘but tonight I’m not giving in to you—not until we’re in Paris, anyway.’
Thank God we’ll be in Paris tonight!
‘Why don’t we go straight to the airport and try for an earlier flight?’
Connor brushed his lips over hers again. ‘As much as I’m tempted, you haven’t been to Venice until you’ve eaten at this restaurant. The traditional Venetian cuisine here is sumptuous and there’s an excellent view of the Grand Canal.’
‘There’s an excellent view of the canal from our hotel, too.’ Even as she pushed the point, she told herself to calm down. There was no need to panic. Sully was heading in the opposite direction. She’d be safe enough at the restaurant, then she’d be off to the airport.
Besides, Sully wouldn’t expect to see her in Venice and she looked so different from the teenager he’d known.
‘Hm. I’m beginning to regret selling my private jet,’ Connor said close to her ear. ‘If I still owned it, we’d be making love all the way to Paris.’
‘It was fabulous you deliberately reduced your carbon footprint.’ She shot one last look over her shoulder to make certain Sully continued away from them. Trying to banish him from her mind, she focused on Connor. ‘I was even more impressed when I heard you donated the money from the sale towards the Amazon reforestation project.’
‘Careful, or I might think you’ve decided to join the fan club you spoke of only a few nights ago.’
‘You’re right. We couldn’t have that, could we?’
Had it only been a few nights ago?
So much had changed over the last few days.
Her most cherished fantasy had come true, but seeing Sully had burst her bubble of happiness. Awful scenarios pounded through her head. The anxiety made acidic bile churn in her stomach and she wasn’t sure how she’d manage to eat a thing.
Mia placed one foot in front of the other, trying not to give Connor any hint of how wound up she was.
‘This is it,’ Connor announced. ‘The best food in Venice.’
Thank God.
Mia couldn’t get inside fast enough and even as they were shown to their table, her gaze flew around the restaurant making certain she was safe. There’d be no relaxing now until they were on the plane to Paris.
It was a terrible twist of fate that Sully was in Venice.
Giovanni’s personal bodyguard rarely left his side. And she remembered Giovanni saying once that he’d never been out of America. He’d boasted that New York was his city—his empire—and he had no desire to leave it.
Besides, in New York he was protected. It wouldn’t make sense for him to leave his territory and expose himself to the possibility of a hit from another Mafia gang. If he travelled anywhere, it would hardly be to Italy where other Mafia families were in control.
Once they were seated, they looked at the menu. Stomach still roiling, Mia decided to skip the main meal and only have an entrée and dessert. Connor did the same.
Order placed, Connor reached across the table and took her hands in his. ‘There’s something I want to ask you.’
‘Ask.’ The word was a whisper. She wasn’t sure she’d want to answer—particularly if she had to lie about her past again.