“Cara!” Colin’s hand on her arm stopped her, and he tried to pull her toward him for a hug, but she stumbled in the loose gravel.
She sniffed back the rest of her tears. “I just need a minute.”
“Do you want to go for a walk? Get away for a bit?”
Cara’s lips trembled, and she knew there was no way she was going to make it back to the house without everyone seeing her.
“I’m sorry. I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”
“I think you’re a lot like me,” Colin said, quietly. They walked farther down the path, away from the house toward the steps at the far end of the pool. The revelry from the party fell away until the only sounds that remained were faint laughter and the rustle of something small scurrying in the underbrush. They climbed the short stairs and strolled farther down the gravel lane passing the manicured hedges and flowering bushes on either side.
Cara tipped her face toward the moon and breathed deeply through her nose. She was in love with him. But it didn’t matter if he never healed from the scars of his past.
“We both believe in the fairy tale,” Colin continued, picking up the previous conversation. “Even when it looks like it won’t work, we still believe. Once you meet the person of your dreams, you have to do whatever it takes to keep them. Be willing to risk everything.”
Colin’s words pierced through her. He was right. She had never told Wes how she felt. If she told him outright, would it make a difference?
Oh god! What if I’ve missed my chance?
Tears flooded her eyes, and Colin instantly looked alarmed. He put his arms around her and pulled her into his chest. “It’s okay. You don’t need–”
“Cara!” Declan’s deep voice reached her through the darkness, his large, familiar outline illuminated in the moonlight. In two quick strides, he crossed the distance and glared at Colin.
“What are you doing out here in the dark?” He peered down at her face and then turned to glower ferociously at Colin, who backed up immediately, his hands held up.
“We were just walking,” he stuttered. “I should get back to the party.”
Her brother pulled the pocket square from his suit jacket and offered it to her. Cara dabbed at the corners of her eyes. “Am I a mess?”
“Puffy, but not terrible.”
“Such a flatterer,” Cara said dryly, but her brother’s no-nonsense familiarity helped her regain her equilibrium.
“What’s going on?” Declan cast another suspicious look after Colin.
“Nothing. Seriously. I’m just exhausted and drank too much, too fast on an empty stomach. It made me weepy.”
Declan frowned. “That’s not like you. You shouldn’t be out here alone. It could be dangerous. Where’s the hacker? Isn’t he supposed to be here?”
“I wasn’t alone. I was with Colin. Wes is talking to a friend, and my stalker is an ocean away.”
“What friend? He knows someone here?” Declan narrowed his eyes.
Cara looked at the ground. “Melody. She’s the model I rented the house from. He came with me so that he could talk to her.”
“It was necessary to come to Italy to do that? Cara, what’s really going on?”
“He thinks he’s in love with her.” Cara’s voice cracked.
Declan’s expression was unreadable, but he looped his arm through hers. “His loss. Let’s go find some food and some of the alcohol you’ve been hogging. I’m not getting through this night without a barrel of whiskey.” He shook his head in disgust as they reached the periphery of the party. “I don’t know how I got roped into coming.”
“Because your mom couldn’t.” Cara’s lips quirked, and she cuddled into his arm. She appreciated Declan’s attempt to distract her.
“Oh, yeah.” He pretended to be exasperated. “Moms, they’re the worst.”
“Where were you?” Wes rushed toward them the second they cleared the last line of tall cypresses. “Are you okay?” He gave a quick glance at Declan looming at her side. “I looked for you and you were gone. I thought you were going to wait by the bar.”
“You were so worried you left her alone at a party, knowing she has a stalker?” Declan’s voice could have frozen an icicle, but Wes merely narrowed his eyes looking from Declan’s violet eyes to Cara’s matching pair.
