Tour romantic and elegant Rome with us and Denysé Bridger in her book Bella Signorina.
Blurb:
In one of Rome’s trendiest caffè’s, Bianca comes to dance, and escape the loneliness that haunts her world. For many weeks she's been watching a special man, a handsome, charming stranger who dances, flirts, and leaves alone. Bianca is not anxious to fall in love, and yet…. Something about the enigmatic Stefano has captivated her heart, and she is drawn to him in spite of herself. When she finally gathers her courage to ask him to dance, little does she know her entire world is about to change.
In one of Rome’s trendiest caffè’s, Bianca comes to dance, and escape the loneliness that haunts her world. For many weeks she's been watching a special man, a handsome, charming stranger who dances, flirts, and leaves alone. Bianca is not anxious to fall in love, and yet…. Something about the enigmatic Stefano has captivated her heart, and she is drawn to him in spite of herself. When she finally gathers her courage to ask him to dance, little does she know her entire world is about to change.
Excerpt:
They come to dance and find romance in via Roma
In every bar a sweet guitar and sounds of laughter
Café Rosati was crowded again, as it was most summer nights. Bianca Marino closed her eyes and sighed inwardly, absorbing the cacophony of sounds and emotions that pulsed all around her. Only an hour before closing, but the energy that permeated the café made you feel like a lifetime could be packed into a single hour.
Or a single dance, with the right partner.
The ambience here was unique, even in Rome. People from all walks of life socialized with no discrimination. Glittering diamonds adorned graceful bodies, the cars outside were worth a king’s ransom, and every designer in the country was well represented by the fashions on display.
But it wasn’t the wealth or the fashion that had kept Bianca coming back to this particular café night after night. The pull was the beautiful young man who turned up toward closing time. A tingle woke at the back of her neck, and for just a moment, she savored the sensation and let it fan outward, washing over her senses like a caressing whisper until it became a tremor of excitement. Then she opened her eyes and turned, instinct bringing her gaze to the precise spot where he now stood at the bar.
Her look drifted, brushing over him with the adoring sensuality of a lover’s touch. He was almost six feet tall. His short, dark hair was perfectly coiffed and combed, but one stubborn lock refused to stay in place, perpetually falling onto his forehead. His smooth, lightly tanned skin was flawless, his dark blue eyes sharp and observant. He had long fingers, artistic hands that moved with casual grace as he spoke. His physical presence wasn’t imposing, yet an energy around him made it impossible to pull your gaze away once you’d noticed him, as though music pulsed through his veins, an integral part of his life’s blood that touched everyone he looked at, as well as everyone who looked at him.
Tonight he wore the mix of easy elegance and style she’d come to expect. Dark, tailored pants, snow-white shirt, polished shoes, his jacket was on the bar. Around his neck was the glitter of gold, a simple cross that fit him as naturally as everything else. Gold watch on the left wrist, ring on the right hand, gold rope bracelet on that wrist. He laughed at something that was said and turned to order a drink.
Bianca hugged herself for a moment, and wondered if tonight would be the night she stopped looking and actually spoke to him at last....
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Don't forget our next stop tomorrow: Smith Mountain Lake, Virginia with me writing as CJ Elliott at Juniper Bell's blog!
