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yesterday.”
    “No way. Really?” Shayne looked at Julia, who nodded.
    “I know, right?” Julia said. “You noticed too, huh?”
    “Noticed what?”
    Shayne sat down on her bed and slid her legs under the covers, then she started to braid her long hair.
    “You should see how he looks at you. It’s like you’re the sun and he’s been waiting for you all winter long.” She clapped her hands together, reached for her bag, and pulled out a tablet. “Oh! I like that. I gotta write that down.”
    “Shayne’s a writer,” Julia said. “A poet.” Then she looked at me and paused. “She’s also right about Asher.”
    I was still shaking my head. “We spent one night talking on a train and he saved me from that guy in the bar. We’re friendly, that’s all.”
    Shayne looked up. “He saved you?”
    I nodded as Julia said, “The same guy from last night was all over Skye.”
    “Hmm,” was all Shayne said.
    I let that hmm hang there in the air until I couldn’t stand it any longer, realizing Shayne wasn’t going to say any more unless I asked.
    “What’s ‘hmm’?” I finally said.
    “Maybe he wasn’t,” she said.
    “Wasn’t what?”
    “Saving you. Maybe he was really protecting his interests.”
    I looked at them in silence, then turned my head and stared up at the ceiling. God, what if they were right? What if he had been protecting his interests? I couldn’t do that. I wasn’t ready for that—getting involved with someone. I’d just barely broken off my engagement and run out on the wedding that was supposed to take place a few days from now. And besides I was traveling for three months—it wasn’t exactly the prime time to start a relationship. We’d be going our separate ways eventually.
    And I didn’t want a rebound guy—that had never been my style.
    So now I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t want Asher getting the wrong idea—he seemed like a great guy, and I didn’t want to lead him on. I’d have to be upfront with him the next time I saw him, so we’d be clear from the start.
    I was not getting involved with anyone. Not even a little.

six

    J ulia and Shayne were still asleep when I got up the next morning. We hadn’t ever talked about sightseeing together, so I just decided to head out alone. I didn’t want to assume I could hang out with them, and then make things awkward if they’d rather not.
    There was a display of maps and brochures by the front desk. I put my backpack down on the floor next to it and looked it over. I’d glanced at this briefly yesterday, but hadn’t really looked at all the historical sites Rome had to offer. I was just reaching for a brochure when Asher spoke from behind me.
    “The Forum, huh?”
    His hair was wet and curling at the edges, he had on a deep blue t-shirt and shorts, with his pack slung over his shoulder. He was kind of cute first thing in the morning…and I was not going to start thinking things like that. I didn’t want to be interested in him, I just wanted a friend.
    He nodded at the brochure in my hand.
    “Mind if I tag along?” he said. “If I’m going to have Twice the Fun, I think I’m going to need some help.” He raised an eyebrow at me, his blue eyes twinkling. “I don’t mind being your Plan B if you don’t mind being mine.”
    I grinned and shook my head. “I don’t mind at all.”
    “Well, then,” he said, offering his elbow, “ andiamo! Let’s go.”
    I slipped my backpack on and gawked at him. “You speak Italian?”
    “Of course,” he said, looking mock-outraged. “What kind of lame-ass American tourist do you take me for?”
    I narrowed my eyes at him. “How much Italian do you actually speak?”
    He laughed. “Just enough to get by.”
    “So then you’re just a half-assed American tourist.”
    “Ah, quick witted and a smart ass,” he said as we started walking down the street. “My favorite combination.”
    Asher was the perfect touring companion. Seriously, if I’d been looking for