“Nicely played.” Annie had high-fived her, when, mortified, Colette had told the others all about what she’d thought was a disastrous night out. “This Italian stallion has obviously met his match in you.”

She seemed to think that Colette was playing some kind of game but truly she wouldn’t even know where to start.

She just hoped Luca didn’t think the same. She was nothing if not honest and she didn’t believe in, or tolerate, deception of any kind.

But she was pleased her resistance hadn’t put him off and this time she decided if Luca tried to kiss her tonight she wasn’t going to stop him.

“The restaurant at the pier again?” she guessed, when he parked the car in the same location as before.

“Something like that,” he mumbled, as he got out and came around to open the door for her. He linked her arm in his. “Your chariot awaits.”

“Chariot?” she repeated, laughing, as he led her down to the water to where, this time, a small sailboat waited at the end of the pier. “What’s this?”

“Your chariot,” Luca said. He stepped on board and then held out his hand to her.

Colette giggled, amazed, as she joined him on deck. “Can you really drive this?” she asked dubiously.

He winked. “I would think so. She’s mine.”

“You have a boat? Why didn’t you tell me that before?”

“I just did.”

She watched as Luca cast off and stood in front of the wheel on the upper deck, guiding them out of port. Then she moved to stand beside him as the twilight spread out before them.

“It’s getting dark out there,” she commented as they pulled away from the reflections below the bay and further into the open waters.

“That’s what’s so wonderful about it,” Luca replied. “Out here the sky and the water become one. You can’t tell where one begins and one ends. It’s as if there is nothing at all but you and the universe.”

“You’re something of a philosopher, aren’t you?”

“Nothing of the sort at all,” Luca replied. “I just know what I like and I spend my time doing it. That’s why I brought you out here. Someone I like, to share in something I like.” His gaze turned on her as he spoke, and Colette felt a familiar flush rise from the tips of her toes all the way up her body.

“Can I take a look around?” she mumbled, keen to change the subject even though she was pretty sure he wouldn’t be able to spot her embarrassment in the darkness.

He smiled. “Please—go ahead.”

The boat, though relatively small, was rather spacious on the inside. A small galley kitchen was to the immediate left as Colette descended the stairs, and a food storage area on the right.