Up above, the sky was blanketed with stars; constellations she had never seen before lay painted like a canvas above her. It was all so beautiful, truly like something out of a fairy tale.

Minutes later, Luca joined her on deck, placing a mouthwatering plate of food before her.

“If you were to leave your father’s business, would you want to become a chef?” she asked as they ate. “You really could, you know.”

He smiled a little as he sat across from her. “I don’t think that’ll happen any time soon.”

“But if it did. Would you?” Colette sipped her wine.

“Probably,” he replied. “But I doubt I could.”

She sensed his wistfulness. He truly did want to do something else with his life, but commitments were holding him back.

The chicken was tender and juicy, the vegetables crisp and perfectly seasoned, and the pasta was perfectly al dente.

“Another masterpiece,” she sighed and sat back, unable to eat another morsel. She shivered a little, beginning to feel the late-evening chill off the water on her bare skin beneath her off-the-shoulder top.

“Your approval is always appreciated.” He smiled as he cleared the table.

A minute later, a warm blanket slid over her shoulders. “Come,” Luca said as he gently took her hand and led her to the front of the boat. Once there, he took another blanket from where it was draped around his own shoulders, and arranged it on the bow of the boat. “After you.”

Colette lowered herself onto the softness of the blanket, and looked up in wonderment as she lay down beneath the sky.

“It is beautiful, isn’t it?” he commented as he joined her.

“It’s incredible.”

“You’re incredible.”

“Oh, stop it,” she replied automatically, as a fresh blush painted her cheeks.

“Why do you have such trouble with me saying these things to you?” Luca questioned as he raised his head and propped it up on one arm to look at her.

“I’m just...not used to it, I suppose.”

“You should be. You should have people telling you every day how wonderful you are.” He put a finger beneath her chin and turned her face back toward his.

“But I’m no one special,” she insisted.

“Yes, you are, and I think you could be even more with the right person.”

Colette swallowed hard. “And who would that be?”

“Me.” He leaned closer, and this time Colette didn’t turn away. She kept still, caught between nerves and excitement, as his face hovered over hers and then finally their lips met.

His kisses were sweet, tender yet passionate, and it wasn’t long before her hands were touching his face, and she wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him closer. Their kisses quickly grew deeper and more urgent, and Colette’s body screamed for his, unable to believe she could want anyone—or anything—as much as she did in that moment.