Keira’s eyes fell to her feet with shame. Had it been unfair of her to jump to such conclusions, to lump Cristiano into a category based on shaky information? She chewed her lip, ashamed that she’d taken Vanni’s words at face value. She wondered why Cristiano hadn’t refuted him at the time instead of letting her believe him.

“How long ago did it happen?” she asked, feeling small and like she had been thoroughly put in her place. “The divorce, I mean.”

“It was finalized at the beginning of the year,” Cristiano said. Keira could hear the pain in his voice. “We’d been about to buy a house in Verona, her hometown. Instead, I found myself back in Florence with my family. One minute I was an adult about to embark on a life with my wife, the next I felt like a little boy again, back under my parents’ roof. And even worse, my divorce happened at the same time my younger sister married.”

“How awful,” Keira murmured.

Though it was unpleasant to see Cristiano so sad, Keira couldn’t help but feel relieved. If there was no wife in the picture, something might happen between them after all.

But no sooner had she thought it than Cristiano spoke again, his next statement dashing her hopes entirely.

“After my divorce many of my friends—male and female alike—wanted me to be happy, to have new experiences and meet new people again. But I have sworn off love. The divorce broke my heart. Now, I do not enter into relationships so easily, despite what you may have been led to believe. I only spend time with women who I can see myself marrying, and since I will never do that again, I have sworn off relationships entirely.”

The statement struck Keira straight in the chest, like a dull thud. There was nothing in the future for them after all. Just some flirting over dinner? Some giggling after drinking too much wine?

She folded her arms defensively, no longer hurt about his wife but instead about him having sworn off love. Then she considered whether it might actually be for the best. She herself was sworn off love; her heart was still bruised from the loss of Shane. Her goal with Cristiano had only ever been to have some fun, and she was certainly experiencing that.

“I’m sorry for overreacting,” Keira told Cristiano. “I should have given you a chance to explain.”

“It is okay,” he said. Then he smirked at her cheekily. “A bit of jealousy is a good sign.”

Keira finally let herself relax. She laughed, glad the tense moment was over.

“Can we go back for our food now?” Cristiano asked her.

Keira frowned with surprise. “I don’t think they’ll want us back. We ordered three courses then left!”

“I spoke to them and asked them to give us a little time,” he said.

Keira let her mouth drop open. “You were that confident you’d talk me around!” she exclaimed, laughing.