“I know,” Colette admitted, with more than a hint of embarrassment. “But maybe I’m just imagining things. Maybe that call really was nothing to worry about—a business call or something.”

“At that hour of the night, though?” Annie mused skeptically. “Weren’t you guys out there well after dark? I mean, it’s possible, of course, but it’s also just as possible it was something—or even someone—else...”

Colette looked so crestfallen that Annie felt like a heel and realized that she should really keep her thoughts to herself.

Kim obviously felt the same way—staring daggers at Annie now, she put a comforting hand on Colette’s arm. “Sweetheart, I think that maybe Annie is trying to suggest that you should take a step back from this whole thing for a bit, just to be sure. It’s not that we’re saying that Luca’s playing a game or anything. We’re not. It’s just that maybe you should take your time on this?” she assured her.

Colette twisted her hands in her lap. “OK, but if there is someone else...then maybe I’m no better than he is.”

“What d’you mean?” Kim asked.

“I mean, I’ve kind of...met someone else in the meantime.” She peeked up from beneath her long lashes.

Annie yelped. “Holy feck, what? How the hell have you managed to snag yourself another fella?”

Colette’s face contorted in confusion. “It’s not like that,” she continued and Annie’s mind almost exploded when she told them about a guy she’d bumped into at the jewelry shop in Sorrento the day before.

She had to smile. How in God’s name did innocent little butter-wouldn’t-melt Colette manage to get two fine things chasing after her in a matter of weeks? Clearly, she and Kim were all wrong about Colette needing to sex-up her look; she was doing just fine without them!

“He was really nice and as we were saying goodbye he asked for my number,” she explained. “So I gave it to him. He was so nice. And we’ve been texting a little, and now he’s asked to meet up again for a coffee. He’s really sweet... Totally different to Luca.”

“That’s why you’re confused,” Annie stated, as the revelation hit her. “This other guy is paying attention, whereas Luca’s MIA and it’s got your mind questioning.”

“That’s the problem, you see. I’d feel bad for spending time with someone else—even as friends,” Colette said.

“But remember these Italian guys are very charming. You’ve got to be careful,” Kim cautioned.

“Ed—that’s his name—is not Italian, though. He’s a tourist, like us.”