“So sorry about that,” Colette was saying as she tried to distract Kim’s guests from the scene Annie was making. “My friend has had some bad news.” She couldn’t believe that Annie had ended up coming all the way back here to just get trashed and make a fool of herself on Kim’s big night.

Some things never changed.

“Is she OK?” the couple she was speaking to asked with some concern.

“She’ll be fine. My husband is taking care of her now. Please do go and enjoy the party,” she urged as she tried to divert their attention from the villa to the main party area back outside. The entire courtyard and terrace had been turned into a reception hall, and even the poolside was hosting guests for the evening. “Can I get you another drink or anything?” she asked the couple, who didn’t seem to be getting the hint. Their eyes kept glancing in the direction of the villa.

The last thing she wanted was for Kim to get word of this, especially with all the pressure she’d been under lately.

“That would be lovely,” the woman answered. Colette didn’t remember their names but Kim had introduced them earlier. They were some wealthy hoteliers from Denmark. The husband was into racehorses.

“Have you seen the pool area?” she asked as she led them back across the courtyard. Along with champagne trays, a bar had been set up poolside to keep the guests well-supplied with beverages.

Hors d’oeuvres were being passed around by the waitstaff and, despite the last-minute catering issue, there seemed to be a plentiful supply of food and drinks.

“Not yet,” the man replied.

“Let me show you,” Colette insisted with a winning smile. Annie was in good hands with Ed. He’d take care of her. She just wanted to be sure that any unpleasantness the couple had witnessed was thoroughly erased before she left them.

Once she was sure the mini fire had been put out, she headed back up toward the house and was just ascending the steps to the courtyard when she saw him again. She attempted to walk past but he stopped her, reaching out to touch her arm lightly.

“Luca,” she said tightly, as her cheeks automatically flushed.

He smiled. “I see you still blush easily.”

“It’s warm tonight,” Colette replied, as she forced herself not to meet his gaze. He still looked the same, exactly the same. As if he hadn’t aged a day since the last time she saw him, the day they swam together at Fiordo di Furore.

Right before he dumped her.

Luca seemed to search her face for something. What? She didn’t know.

“I was hoping you would be here tonight,” he replied.

She fidgeted, unsure what to say to this. “What are you doing here, Luca? I didn’t realize you and Kim were close.”