Excerpt of California Wine by Casey Dawes

Oh, my.

Elizabeth’s eyes locked with a pair of the most intense blue eyes she’d ever seen. They belonged to a man with thick black hair to his shoulders, a strong aquiline nose, and high cheekbones. His smile was warm; his straight white teeth a sharp contrast to his light olive skin.

Why did Italy produce such heart-breakingly handsome men?

She looked down at the restaurant table and then looked up again. He was still staring, the smile even broader.

Maybe her daughter Sarah was right. Elizabeth should dine out more often, especially if the scenery was going to be like this.

The waitress brought her a salad and Elizabeth looked at it morosely. Was it possible to eat salad and not get some stuck in her teeth when a gorgeous man was staring at her? Or worse, drop a huge leaf of oily lettuce on her blouse, calling his attention to her less than abundant breasts?

But the salad looked so good…tiny red cherry tomatoes interspersed with baby carrots and radishes on a bed of mixed greens. She sighed and stabbed the nearest tomato with her fork.

The red orb escaped her plate and went bouncing off the table to land on the floor, rolled to the center of an open space, and sat there for only a minute before being squished by a waitress’ black shoe.

“Such a tragic end for a little tomato.” A rich masculine voice spoke near her ear.

She looked up into the blue eyes of the man standing next to her.

“Perhaps if you had not stabbed at it so viciously, it might have survived,” he continued.

She had to grin at his mock seriousness.

“May I join you?” he asked his hand on the chair.

She considered him. She’d intended to eat her supper alone, go upstairs to her room, run a hot bath, and relax with a good book.

He waited for her answer.

Suddenly, her plan seemed a lonely way to spend one of her last days in Italy. “Sure.”

He sat down next to her and a frisson of heat zapped her body. For the first time since her mother had died, life stirred in her heart. She put down her fork.

“My name is Marcos,” he said, holding out his hand.

“Elizabeth.” She shook. His palm was smooth and cool, and the long fingers fit the rest of his lean body. His touch electrified her skin.

“American? Yes?”

She nodded.

He grinned, looking as if he’d guessed a game-show answer correctly. “Are you here on business? Pleasure? Traveling all by yourself or is your husband with you?”

She took a sip of wine. Her best friend Annie had told her not to reveal too much personal information about herself when she was traveling. What could she safely tell her new acquaintance, a man she knew nothing about, other than he exuded masculinity?

He must have seen the suspicion in her eyes because he waved his hand and gestured. The proprietress of the hotel came over to their table.

“Is there something wrong?” she asked, a frown creasing her forehead. “Marcos, are you being a bother?”

“Nothing like that. I was only trying to assist the lady with her vegetables. They seem to be escaping.” Marcos pointed to the stain on the floor.

The woman snapped her fingers at the nearest waitress and pointed. Then she turned back to Elizabeth. “I am so sorry. Would you like me to bring you another tomato?”

“Another tomato? No, no, I’m fine.” Elizabeth stifled a laugh. “It’s nothing, really.”

She glanced at Marcos, who was holding his hand over his mouth. His eyes were sparkling with laughter.

“And him,” the woman poked a long fingernail into Marcos’ shoulder. “Is my cousin annoying you?”

“Uh…” Now was Elizabeth’s chance to get rid of him if she wanted.

Marcos’ eyes pleaded for a reprieve.

An impish spark rose in her soul. Why not have an adventure in the safe confines of the hotel dining room? Her trip was almost over anyway. Surely no harm could come from a little fun. Could it?

“No. He’s fine,” Elizabeth said.

“Bueno.” The hotel owner turned on her heel and left, muttering under her breath.

“Cousin?” Elizabeth asked. “She doesn’t seem at all like you. She’s very…”

“Serious?” He shrugged. “The women in my family tend to be fire-breathing dragons.”

A waitress walking past the table glanced in his direction and blushed. He fired off rapid Italian to her with a smile that would make any woman’s heart melt.

The waitress’ blush deepened. She nodded and hurried off to the coffee bar.

My, he was a flirt. She’d better tread carefully.