Zio stands on a ladder hanging lantern lights from the trees in the backyard. He placed extra tables under the stretching branches, with white linens and lantern centerpieces.

I look up Antonio. "What are you doing?"

"Your nonna is crazy. She has invited the neighbors over for a party tonight, and she is forcing me to hang these lights."

"She promised the band they would be safe here; she can't invite the neighbors. What if things get out of hand?"

A hardy laugh comes from my uncle. "Nipote, our neighbors are almost as old as this vineyard. Unless your friends have performed with Pavarotti, they are safe. Their biggest threat tonight will be Signora Luca's wandering hands."

I blow out a puff of air and shake the picture of an old lady groping Oscar from my head before entering the kitchen. Nonna stands over the stove with her back to me, so I tiptoe toward the stairs.

"Ariella, you spent all day in the orchard. You are just going to walk past and not offer to help me?"

"No...yes." I sigh and place the picnic basket on the table. "I just wanted to get a nap in."

"You were gone for hours. Why didn't you sleep then?" She turns to me, wiping her hands on her apron.

I fidget with the hem of my dress, and say, "Kade ended up in the orchard too, and we just hung out."

"I like Kade." She smiles and turns back to the stove. "Go wash your hands and help me. We are going to have many guests tonight."

"I heard," I groan.

Nonna dismisses me from kitchen duty an hour before our guests arrive, directing me to return in proper attire for the party. With no choice but to appease her, I select a white lace dress from my closet. With my hair and makeup done to Nonna's high standards, I reenter the kitchen. All the food is gone, and the sound of music and laughter comes from outside. I stop at the back door and take in the sight of the party.

The sun has set, leaving behind just a hue of pink in the western sky. Dozens of lanterns are lit in the trees and on the tabletops providing all the needed light. People are everywhere—talking, laughing and dancing. I step onto the patio only for several old men to rush me. They pull on my hands asking me to dance, and I politely decline. I skim the area looking for someone to rescue me, but everyone seems to be busy.

Antonio is in the middle of a toast with Oscar and Ridley. Seb and Nicky are slow dancing a little too close to some old ladies. The women's faces lit up with smiles as they hold on to the boys for dear life. Eagin is helping Nonna set up the food spread on a long table. I'm going to have to choose the least scary old guy and dance with him.

"Mi Scusi, onorevole colleghi." Kade wedges into the group of men, and I'm flabbergasted by his well-spoken Italian. He takes my hand, guiding me away from my admirers. "It would have been amusing to see you dance with one of those old men, but you looked like you were about to pass out. I wanted to make sure I got at least one dance with you tonight."

The way his large hand envelopes mine is distracting and I miss his warmth as soon as I let go. There is no way I can walk around a party hand in hand with him. I have a boyfriend, and my new friendship with Kade has me walking a fine line. Asher would blow a gasket if he knew we were talking.

"Those old guys wouldn't have been half as frisky as those old ladies getting their jollies with Seb and Nicky." I point to the two couples on the dance floor.

Kade laughs. "I don't know, Seb looks pretty happy right now."

I follow his gaze and take in his friend. Seb has the look of pure dread on his face. "You should go save him too." I playfully shove Kade in their direction.

He jumps back to my side and places his hand over his heart. "You want me to sacrifice myself? No way. I already met my savior quota for the night."

"Wow, just a little presumptuous, aren't we? My savior?"

We stop at a smaller round table set with dozens of wine glasses. He pours us both a cup and takes a sip. "Come on, Ariella. Don't deflate my ego. Those old guys were vicious. Who knows the unspeakable things they'd have done to you on the dance floor."

"They could have Dabbed with me, or we could have started a line dance. You're right; they could've done the Macarena," I say with pretend horror in my voice.

"All I am saying is they could have twerked you to death." He throws his hands up in the air.

We laugh only for Nonna to interrupt us. "Ariella, I want to introduce you to some old friends of mine."

"Si, Nonna." I follow her over to a group of women, but before I'm out of earshot, I look back at Kade. "Do you want me to offer you up as their twerking partner?"

He smiles and shakes his head.

The surrounding women ask a series of questions in Italian, and I do my best to reply with coherent Italian sentences. But my gaze keeps wandering to Kade.

His hands move in time with his words as he talks to Eagin; the wine in his glass splashing over the edges. The bright white of his thin button-up shirt is a nice contrast to his tan skin. He rolled the sleeves, showing off the tattoos on his forearms. Kade is more than handsome—he's really sexy.

I release a puff of air. What the hell am I doing? It's not all right to think that someone who is only a friend is sexy. I close my eyes and picture Asher, my super-sexy-blue-eyed-brown-hair-body-to-die-for boyfriend. He's charming and sweet too. In fact, Asher has a lot of the characteristics I'm appreciating in Kade. Maybe that is my problem. I miss Asher, and Kade reminds me of him in some ways.

After Nonna finishes talking with her friends, I follow her to the table with all the food where I'm to stand guard and make sure nothing runs out. We can't have a party fail. I smile and greet each guest as they spoon food onto their plates. I'm taken aback by the politeness of The Remnants. Most celebrities would think they are the guests of honor and proceed to the front of the line. All five of them stand back with Antonio and Nicky until everyone has gotten their meal.

Kade makes his way along the buffet line, selecting a bit of everything. Halfway down, he purses his lips and stares at his overloaded plate.

I rush to grab a plate and slide in beside him. "I got you. Tell me what else you want, Kade Edward."

"Who's the hero now?"

I shake my head, finish filling his second plate, and set it at the table with his friends.

I return to the line and prepare my dinner. Nonna slides in next to me with a smirk on her face.

"I know—you like Kade," I say before she can get the words out.

"He is a good boy, Ariella. You misread his problems."

"Well, he's failed to share with me, and all I have to go on are assumptions. You see things others can't see, and you seem to think you have Kade figured out, so what's his deal?"

"I just see what is there," she says and walks away.

Yoda Nonna strikes again. Damn, she's so annoying in the most lovable way.