Five Dates with the Billionaire - Alyssa J. Montgomery Page 0,45

as she looked at him. ‘I don’t believe so. You’re American or Canadian, aren’t you?’

‘New York born and bred.’

He may have been born and raised in New York, but she knew his heritage was Sicilian and his ties to the New York Mafia ran deep.

‘I’ve never visited your country.’ It was true. She’d been a resident, not a visitor.

Oh, please go away! Her pulse at the base of her neck must be visible. It was pounding so strongly it was reverberating through her skull.

‘Strange. I never forget a face.’ He scratched behind his ear. ‘You definitely remind me of someone.’

Mia could do nothing to prevent her nervous swallow.

‘They say everyone has a double,’ Connor put in.

‘Yes. That’s what they say.’ He smiled, but it didn’t reach his cold, snake eyes.

The second Mia reached up to touch the pendant at her chest she knew she’d made a mistake. The subconscious gesture she often made when she was under stress landed her in more hot water as Lou’s gaze dropped to her chest. ‘That’s a most exquisite pendant. An emerald I believe?’

No. No. No.

Her mother had worn this pendant almost constantly.

Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.

She should never have touched it.

She should never have worn it with this outfit.

The only thing she could do now was to try to bluff her way out of it.

‘It’s gorgeous, isn’t it?’ But her fingers covered it rather than offering him a closer look. ‘When I saw it at the Hampstead Heath markets, I simply fell in love with it.’

‘It’s very strange.’ His voice was casual as he shook his head, but his eyes narrowed. ‘Even your pendant seems familiar.’

Mia forced a laugh. ‘Not so strange. I’m told it’s a popular replica of an antique piece.’ She shrugged. ‘I was so disappointed. I thought I may have stumbled across a genuine treasure but no such luck.’ She continued to finger the piece as she spoke, trying to make it look as though the action was done absent-mindedly while really preventing him from getting a closer look at it. ‘The jeweller I took it to for valuation said it’s worthless. It’s a mass-produced copy of a Georgian lover’s knot—worth very little, but I still love it. Are you a collector of antique jewellery?’

‘No.’ There was an edge to his voice. ‘Yours caught my eye and I swear I’ve seen it before.’

She manufactured a puzzled look and tried to breathe evenly while her heart cramped. ‘There’s a good chance you have. As I’ve said, it’s quite a popular design.’

‘Excuse me, signore.’ A waitress hovered, waiting for Lou to move so she could serve the desserts.

Lou moved to let the waitress set the dishes down, but he didn’t walk away.

Mia resisted wiping at the perspiration which gathered at her hairline.

‘It was nice talking to you people. Lou Correlli’s the name.’ He extended his hand to Connor first.

No, Connor! Whatever you do, don’t tell him your name.

‘Connor Stewart.’

Shit.

Then it was Mia’s turn. Stomach roiling, she had to accept Lou’s handshake, praying he wouldn’t notice the clamminess of her hands. ‘I hope you enjoy your stay in Venice, Mr Comelli.’

‘Correlli,’ he corrected. ‘I’m sorry, I didn’t catch your name.’

‘Mia.’ Connor had already called her by her first name, but there was no way she was giving Lou her surname as well.

‘Enjoy your sweets,’ Lou told them before he turned back to Mia. ‘It’s going to bug me all night now until I remember who you remind me of.’

‘Interesting to know I may have a double.’

Even as Lou turned and continued his journey towards a table at the back of the restaurant, fear bubbled up in her like a hot spring and she couldn’t help but watch him move off.

Thank God. Giovanni wasn’t at the table Lou sat at, but that only afforded Mia brief relief.

What if Lou realised it was her mother he was thinking of?

Shit.

What the hell would she do if he realised who she was? Change her identity again and walk away from this life as well? Walk away from Connor?

Oh, stop it! It’s not like you have a future with Connor. You’re going to have to walk away from him sooner or later.

But it would need to be sooner now Lou had seen her with Connor.

Clasping her hands together in her lap, Mia tried to pull herself together.

There was nothing for it. She would have to break things off with Connor tonight. She couldn’t risk putting him in jeopardy.

She cursed inwardly.

So much for her changing her appearance. Even with the change