“I know,” she cried. “I feel so stupid, believe me, for falling hook, line, and sinker for his nonsense that he cared about me and that I meant something to him. But it was all a lie, Ed. He didn’t care about me at all. He never did. How could I have been so stupid? I’m so stupid.”

“Oh, I’m sure he did care,” Ed soothed. “How could he not? You’re amazing. But I suppose these guys...well, you know, so many tourists come here all the time and...”

“I know.” She turned away, not wanting to hear it.

Now he held her to him and gently stroked her hair. “I’m sorry,” he whispered. “You deserve better, you know. So much better.”

“I’m not so sure about that. It really is my own fault for being so naive. But thanks for being so nice to me.”

She moved away from him now, a bit mortified by her behavior. Nice and all that he was, Ed didn’t really know her that well. They’d never managed to meet up for that coffee, and while they’d communicated a bit, it wasn’t as though he was a real friend, like Kim and Annie or anything.

“Let’s get you home,” he said eventually. “I’ll call a cab—you said your hotel was called Villa Dolce Vita?”

“It’s not a hotel, but you’re with your friends,” Colette protested.

“Doesn’t matter. And we’re sort of sick of one another by now,” he joked. “Honestly, I’d rather see you home safe and sound. And I really hate to see you upset. I can always drop you off and then pop back. Truly, they won’t even notice I’ve gone.”

“If you’re sure...” Colette just wanted to leave—to get away from this restaurant, this beach, and indeed Italy. And especially away from the memories of what she’d truly thought was a wonderful romance, but was in reality a complete lie, a sham.

She supposed, in a way, it was a good thing that tonight was her last. She’d had enough.

Colette was ready to go home.

Chapter 44

Now

Kim was practically bouncing off the walls as she waited for the council meeting to convene.

In the civic building, she sat outside and tapped her hand on her knee nervously.

“Take it easy,” Antonio comforted, as he laid his hand over hers and gripped her fingers.

Kim looked at him. She was so glad he was with her. If not for him she’d lose her patience and quite possibly her temper over this entire mess. She’d called numerous people up and down the coast, as had he, and every time she’d reached someone they’d told her there was nothing they could do to solve the problem of her licenses.

Bureaucracy was a bitch, but Italian bureaucracy was a whole different ball game.