Then
Colette wandered along the streets of Sorrento with a smile on her face and a spring in her step.
She’d never really been desired before. She’d never been anyone’s girlfriend either, though she wasn’t quite sure she was Luca’s yet.
She hoped so, especially after the other night.
It was entirely possible for a man like him to genuinely care about someone like her, wasn’t it?
She still had her doubts, but that wonderful evening they’d spent together on the boat had encouraged her to forget her misgivings and just enjoy the time they had together while she was here.
Her copper hair looked like flames as she glanced at her reflection in the passing store windows. Whereas before she would’ve frowned at her fair skin and freckles, these days, thanks to Luca, she had a greater appreciation for them.
The summer dress she wore—a recent purchase—came above her knees and hugged her neat waist. It wasn’t flashy or revealing, still pretty simple, but thanks to Kim and Annie’s style advice, a lot more flattering than anything she’d ever dreamed of wearing before.
“Ah, here we are,” Colette mumbled happily to herself as she peered up at a sign.
House of Gems was Mama Elene’s recommendation when—on a recent visit to the restaurant with Luca—she had asked the older woman for shopping advice. She said it was the best retailer to find quality jewelry at decent prices.
“Don’t waste your money in the tourist places,” the Italian woman cautioned.
The windows were filled with unusual displays that used everything from driftwood to coffee cups to enhance the appearance of the merchandise.
Inside, the floors were covered in green tiles that looked like marble. They may very well have been marble but Colette was clueless on the subject. Glass display cases dotted the cozy space, while shelves adorned the walls. Colette wandered past a case with a selection of rings and watches, further on toward the bracelets and necklaces.
She was hoping to find gifts for her mum and sister, as well as picking up something small to thank Kim and Annie for their advice, and as a memento of their time here. Onyx, opals, sapphires, and other gems Colette couldn’t identify, but certainly looked pretty, lined the display before her.
“Welcome, I’m Anastasia. How may I help you?” a pretty woman with black hair greeted in Italian.
Colette turned to her with a smile and cleared her throat a little before responding, also in Italian. “I’m looking for some gifts for some special people in my life.”
“For a birthday? Or other celebration?”
Colette shrugged. “Just a thank-you.”
Anastasia smiled. “You have come to the right place. We have everything you need for every reason.” She picked up a silver bracelet with a green stone in it. “Would your friends perhaps like something like this?”
Colette looked at the circles of green mounted in shining silver. It was beautiful, but she wasn’t sure it was Kim or Annie. She shook her head. “I don’t think so.”
Anastasia smiled and moved on to another piece, equally as beautiful, but still not quite what Colette imagined either of her new friends wearing. Kim was elegance personified, whereas something fun or quirky would work best for Annie.
A few minutes later, when guilt began to plague her for the amount of Anastasia’s time she was taking up when she still couldn’t find something, Colette asked the young woman in English to give her just a few minutes to look around. Everything was so beautiful, which was why she was having such a difficult time deciding.
She turned back to a display case.
“So much to choose from, isn’t there?” a male voice commented from beside her.
“Yes, but I just told Anastasia—” Colette looked up and the rest of the words got lost in her throat. Standing in front of her was one of the most attractive men she’d ever seen.
He looked down at her with his arresting eyes and smiled brightly. Colette was lost for words. This part of the world seemed to have a never-ending supply of appealing males.
He chuckled. “Sorry, but I don’t know Anastasia.”
She felt her cheeks grow warm. “You don’t work here, do you?” she realized, feeling stupid for not recognizing the accent.
“No, I’m afraid I don’t. I was just trying to pick out a gift for my mum when I overheard you talking and realized I wasn’t the only English-speaker in here.”
“You’re on holiday here?” she asked.
“Yes, though not for much longer, sadly. Hence the gift-buying. I’m not keen on souvenirs.”
“Me neither.” Colette smiled. “I’m looking to pick up something unique for my friends, but everything here is so lovely it’s hard to decide.”
“I’m Edward, by the way,” he introduced himself with a smile. “But please, just call me Ed.”
Colette studied his open face and smiled back. “Colette.”
“Pleased to meet you, Colette.”
He was charming and funny, and the way he looked at her made her stomach flop. This was incomprehensible. What could two lovely men like this one and Luca possibly want with her? It didn’t seem real.
“Could we perhaps make a deal?” he whispered conspiratorially.
“What kind of deal?”
“I’ll help you find something for your friends if you’ll help me choose something for my mum? Agreed?”
She smiled. He was nice and had a way about him that Colette knew she could trust him. What was the harm?
“Agreed.”
“Wonderful,” he answered. “So, tell me a bit about your friends and let’s see if we can’t figure this out between the two of us.”
“Well,” Colette began, “one is a fun-loving brunette who seems to have it all under control. She’s vivacious and creative, and can do things with hair and clothes that I could only dream of.”
“You came here together on a girls’ holiday?”
“No, actually.” Colette shook her head. “We’re staying at the same accommodation and just struck up a friendship. The one I just described is Irish, and the other’s from New York.”
“A New Yorker, eh. Tough-to-please ball-breaker type, I’d imagine?” he teased.
“Not at all, she’s lovely. Though she has expensive taste, judging by the clothes and accessories she has with her. She’s also very wise and loves to read.”
“So one is a feisty go-getter while the other is a wealthy nerd?” Ed mused with a mischievous glint in his eye.
Colette laughed. “Something like that.”
He winked. “OK. I think you’ve given me enough to go on.”
“And what about your mum?”
“Well, she’s in her mid-fifties but looks much younger. She’s been going gray for years, but masks it by getting her hair colored on a regular basis. She’s sophisticated and very sweet, a wonderful mother who is always there for her three children,” he mused. “She’s a giver, too—always keen to help others.”
“She sounds wonderful and would probably get along well with my own mother. She’s much the same.”
Colette walked back to a display she’d studied earlier and glanced over the necklaces, before selecting one with a trio of pearls set in gold and centered by a diamond dangling from a thin gold chain.
“Here,” she said, pointing to the piece beneath the glass. “That one. You said there were three of you?”
“Yes. And that is lovely. Sophisticated, too, exactly like my mother,” Ed replied. “Perfect choice.”
They both looked up to see Anastasia approach. “Any luck?” the assistant asked with a smile.
“I have,” Ed replied, “but my friend’s still looking.”
Colette looked at him in surprise. “Just like that?” she whispered. “Don’t you want to check the price first?”
He smiled. “I’m sure it’s fine. Hold on to this for me for a moment,” he instructed Anastasia. “I’m still helping my friend.”
Several minutes later, Colette walked out of the store with her purchases in hand and a smile on her face.
The selection had been much easier with Ed there to help her. And fun, too. She turned to thank him again as he stepped out the door behind her.
“It was my pleasure.” He grinned. “Like I said, us Brits have to stick together. Though I must say, I was impressed when you started chatting to Anastasia in Italian at the end there. I know a few words, but felt like such a clueless tourist compared to you.”
Colette laughed. “I studied the language at uni and it’s nice to get the chance to practice.”
They chatted more then about their respective educations and where they’d studied. As Colette suspected, Ed was the product of private education, which suggested he came from a wealthy upbringing.
Though their roots seemed miles apart, it was still nice to find common ground in their nationality.
“I better get going,” she said, shielding her eyes from the late-afternoon sun. The shops were getting ready to close for the afternoon. “It was nice meeting you, Ed. Enjoy the rest of your time here.”
“Very nice to meet you, too, Colette, and likewise. Perhaps we’ll bump into each other again before we leave.”