Actually, with her sun-kissed skin, sexy dress, cascading curls, and smoldering crimson lips, she could easily blend in as one of the locals, she thought with a grin as she slipped into a pair of metallic strappy sandals.

But unlike her first time at Music on the Rocks, now Annie had the good sense to pop a pair of flip-flops into her handbag for the long walk back up from town later.

Or maybe she’d just treat herself to a taxi, depending on how the night went.

However, the club was definitely in her plan tonight, and Annie was going to dance the night away, enjoy herself, and put her latest rejection out of her mind once and for all.

She grabbed her handbag and tottered happily downstairs, smiling as she recalled that old maxim about how to get over one man by getting under another.

Well, maybe she’d do that, too.

Annie hurried outside into the courtyard, and was still smiling when she noticed someone standing under the lemon trees in the golden evening sunlight—a hunky vision even in silhouette—gazing out to the water.

And when he turned in her direction, she saw his eyes widen automatically at the sight of her, his nostrils flare, and his hooded gaze unashamedly travel hungrily up and down her body.

This is interesting...

The air was electric and the pull completely irresistible as Annie moved across the courtyard.

“Well, hello there, handsome.”

It seemed fate was smiling on her once again.

Chapter 43

Then

The warm Mediterranean wind blew gently as Colette waited for Luca’s arrival at their latest meeting spot.

It was her last night in Italy—she was flying out of Naples tomorrow evening—and he had promised to show her how he felt and to make his intentions known before she went.

In the meantime, he had left another of his romantic notes at the villa, setting out a place and time to meet this evening.

Colette was feeling confident. She was pretty certain he was going to confirm that this meant much more to him than just a summer fling. She meant more.

This evening she was dressed in a flowing red summer dress, and the skirt danced around her legs and caressed her calves. It was a halter-style that tied at the neck, and the sash tickled her back as she waited, like a soothing hand comforting her. She checked her watch to see that it was almost eight o’clock. Just in time.