STOLEN SMILE

CATERINA

"You can be the moon and still be jealous of the stars."

-Gary Allan

**************

"MAMMA, DOES THIS DRESS MAKE me look... easy?"

My mother sipped her cocktail with a straw, a crease forming between her brows. "Well, cara mia..... known very well." you did sleep with a man you couldn't have

"Mamma!" Audrey scolded.

There were few moments in my life when my mother and sister's roles
switched, but it had happened.

"I didn't ask if I was easy. I asked if I looked easy," I sighed.

The truth was, this dress was tight. And by "tight" I mean that I didn't try it on at the store and when I finally got around to putting it on it fit two sizes too small. But it was just too pretty to stay in my closet.

"You don't look easy, Caterina," Audrey assured.

Bradley sat next to her on the couch, his arm resting across the back. He gave my dress a cautious expression and scratched his jaw. "Well..."

"Ugh, just forget it."

I headed through the throng of people toward the patio area and pool. The chatter dissipated as I walked out the double doors and into a hot, still night. The terrace was empty; the only company tall buildings and their yellow lights filling the horizon.

I crossed my arms over my chest and glanced at the nighttime sky. "No stars," I said quietly. I had a feeling they would be visible at Jennifer's red brick house.

"Scorpius." The voice was cool.

Christian's presence brushed my side as he came to stand beside me. "Scorpius is there." He nodded to where my gaze was focused, with a flat gray sky staring back.

"And there?" I pointed a little to the left. A small smile pulled on his lips. "Aquila."

I had a feeling he could name every constellation and each star they were made up of. It suddenly felt like he was completely out of my league. Cop or not.

A sigh escaped my lips. My head was light, my inhibitions unhindered by the alcohol I'd consumed.

"Don't enjoy parties?" he asked.

"No, I do. Honestly, I'm shallow in that regard."

He laughed. The sound was deep and rough, and a shiver coasted down my spine. He even laughed like an Adonis.

"How do you know so much about the stars?" I asked.

"Grew up in an old farmhouse in Iowa. Sometimes there was nothing to do but stare at the sky. Got tired of not knowing what I was looking at."

"Well, that was a decent explanation, but it was a lie. Try again."

I blinked. That would have never come out of my mouth a year ago. I would have accepted the lie and moved on. Maybe I only needed to become an alcoholic for the courage to free myself from my childhood chains.

I saw the tiniest smile out of the corner of my eye. "Studied astronomy abroad. Wanted to impress French girls right into my bed."

"Even more unbelievable. Have you seen yourself?" With that face, this man wouldn't have to impress anyone.

Another smile. "How did you know the first one was wrong?"

"You're colder than the Arctic. You don't become that way in a friendly small town. That's city living, most likely on your own. No wonder you
found yourself on the wrong side of the law." Small shake of his head. "Heard a lot about you, Caterina Abelli. Can't say you're what I was expecting."