“Annie?” Colette’s voice appeared out of nowhere then, and she turned to find her friend and her husband standing a few feet away, staring at them.

Great. From Colette’s point of view it probably looked like she was coming on to Luca. Annie moved away from him again, forcing herself to straighten up as she tried to fix her hair.

“You’re late,” she scolded, and slapped a smile on her face as she looked from Colette to Ed.

“Buonasera, Colette,” Luca greeted calmly, and the raw emotion in his voice made Annie’s attention immediately turn back to him.

His dark eyes were staring at Colette as if she were the most incredible thing he’d ever seen. Then she turned and looked at Ed. He was staring at her, too. Both of them still under her spell, even now, Annie realized sadly as she freed herself from Luca’s lingering arm and teetered across the courtyard.

“Wait, let me help you,” Colette said, once Annie had raised her from her obvious stupor.

Even through her champagne-fueled haze, Annie could tell that the sight of Luca had affected her friend. She was certain Ed wasn’t going to like that.

Sure enough, Colette’s husband hurried after her as she went to lead Annie back inside the villa.

One moment Annie was navigating treacherous cobblestones in her high heels, and the next she was being flanked by her friend and her friend’s husband.

“I’m fine on my own,” she complained, swatting them both away.

“I don’t think so,” Ed insisted, rather roughly tucking Annie’s arm into his, leading her inside and away from other guests while Colette followed.

“Better make sure Kim doesn’t see this,” he urged his wife. “I’m sure she’d be very upset to see someone making a scene.”

“Oh, yes,” Annie spat. “Of course Kim wouldn’t want anything ruining her perfect night. Perfect husband, perfect child, perfect life...”

Annie’s raised voice was now drawing the attention of some guests nearby. Colette was quick to urge Ed on while she went back to perform damage control.

Same old Colette, always trying to fix things.

Annie glanced sideways at Ed. She hadn’t planned on him seeing her like this.

She was a mess and she knew it. A drunk, raving mess, and she couldn’t be sure what she would or wouldn’t say under the circumstances. She needed to get away from him.

“What are you doing?” he questioned through gritted teeth. “You said you wouldn’t be here.”

“And why shouldn’t I be here?” she shot back. “These are my friends.”

“You know why. And causing trouble won’t help.”

“I’m not a troublemaker,” Annie slurred, insulted, as Ed ushered her into what was once the old dark living room toward the rear, but was now a refurbished relaxation area. She slumped into the nearest chair.