Five Dates with the Billionaire - Alyssa J. Montgomery Page 0,76
he knew—all he’d worked for and built up—for her. Especially when there was a chance that, if the plan worked, this entire nightmare that had been her life for the last ten years might finally come to an end.
‘I love you,’ she told him. ‘Please understand. This is something I’ve got to do for me, as well as for us.’
May God protect me.
Chapter Twenty-four
Time had never passed so slowly for Mia.
Every second stretched interminably as she sat with Connor waiting until ten to five. That’s when she’d make her way down to the foyer.
Tick. Tick.
She couldn’t possibly need to use the restroom again, it was simply her nerves stretched tight and that damned clock sounding like a dripping tap.
There was so much she wanted to say to Connor and time was running out.
She planned the sentence before she said it. She practised it over in her head in the hope that she wouldn’t cry, then began, ‘The days we spent in Venice were the happiest days of my life.’
He kissed her temple. ‘I’m glad. But we missed sightseeing in Paris. When this is over I’ll take you back to Paris and we can walk along the banks of the Seine and watch as the Eiffel Tower lights up at night.’
It sounded wonderful, but all she could do was nod as a huge lump of anguish clogged her throat. God but she prayed they’d have a chance to share those experiences.
Tick. Tick.
‘Violet…’ Hell. She should’ve practised this sentence in her head first, too. She swallowed hard. ‘I love Violet and Stanley as though they’re my grandparents. I’m so grateful for ev-everything they’ve…’
‘Shh.’ He pulled her more firmly against him, but she didn’t enjoy it as much through the bulk of the bulletproof vest that was safely concealed underneath her oversized shirt.
‘But… But, make sure they know.’
‘They know, Mia.’ His hands held her cheeks and he pulled back to look at her. ‘You don’t have to do this, darling. I don’t want you to do this.’
Biting down on her lip, she looked away and willed herself to find strength.
She knew this terror.
She’d felt it when her mother had died and she’d hidden in the laundry scarcely daring to breathe in case Giovanni found her.
Connor’s hands trembled and she looked back up at him. ‘You’re shaking.’
‘I’m not good at dealing with situations I can’t control,’ he told her.
His words gave her fortitude. She wanted to be strong for him—to ease the anxiety etched in the lines bracketing his mouth and the furrow between his brows. ‘I’m looking forward to Paris.’
‘And returning to Venice. Next time we’ll go and see the glass factory,’ he added. Tick. Tick.
Mia looked back up at the clock. ‘It’s time.’
‘Don’t go.’
‘You know I have to.’
He closed his eyes and let his forehead lean against hers. ‘You’re the bravest person I know.’
‘And you’re the most handsome, caring man I’ve ever met.’ She could no longer dam up the tears in her eyes, nor keep the waver from her voice.
Just as she’d tried to pull herself together for him, Connor summoned up a smile for her. ‘I’m glad arrogant, conceited and egotistical aren’t the words you use to describe me now.’
He was so pale it was difficult to credit he’d only enjoyed some time in the sun in Barbados a little over a week ago.
She leaned forward and brushed her lips over his. ‘I love you.’
He swallowed hard. ‘I love you too.’
‘Walk me down to the lobby?’
‘Try to stop me.’
Uncaring of the attention they attracted as they made their way down to the entrance of the building, they held each other’s hands like they never wanted to let go.
‘Right,’ Carlisle said when they reached him in the lobby. ‘Now you’re here we’ll stop the lifts.’ He waved his hand at somebody. ‘Whatever you do, Mia, don’t look up. Walk out of here like you do every other day. One glance up and you could blow the whole thing.’
Her breath out was unsteady.
I can do this.
Walk out. Don’t look up.
Walk out like I’ll be walking back in tomorrow—same as any other day.
Oh shit! What am I doing?
But one look at the man beside her shored up her resolve. She was doing this for her future with Connor.
She was also doing it so her mother’s killer would finally face justice.
‘Are you certain it’s necessary for her to stop a few yards from the exit and dig her phone out of her handbag?’ Connor demanded.
‘It’s necessary.’
‘I’ll be fine, Connor.’ Despite his tan, he looked