Annalisa lifted an eyebrow. "Must be because you're half American. I see nothing special in it. It's decrepit, that's what it is."
Carlina shook her head. "You only think so because you were born here. Isn't it fascinating to think how unique it is because it grew with time and was constantly adapted to changing needs? Another bulging room added here, another layer of paint there, peeling off again, revealing the bridge's age, and so making it irresistible?"
Annalisa eyed her. "If a bulging something and a peeling layer of paint is making me irresistible, then by all means, let's buy a pot of paint." She linked her arm through Carlina's and dragged her away from the stone wall. "Come on, get over your romantic moment. It's freezing, and even if you're enjoying your fling with poetry, that doesn't mean I have to get pneumonia."
Carlina followed her cousin with a grin. "I wonder what it takes to make you feel romantic."
"Easy." Annalisa looked like a smug cat. "A bottle of golden champagne, a brand-new pair of flaming diamond earrings, and a whirlpool with rose leaves."
"A whirlpool with rose leaves would get clogged up immediately."
Annalisa gave her sharp glance. "Now who's unromantic? Really, Carlina, I wonder about you. You start to rhapsodize over an old bridge that's falling apart and give me a cleaning woman's remark when it comes to whirlpools." Her high heels clattered over the uneven stone slabs. "Besides, they don't. I tested it."
Carlina stopped dead. "You tested it? Who has a whirlpool? And who was stupid enough to throw rose leaves into it? Don't tell me Tonio treated you to a day in the spa. It's not his style at all."
Annalisa lifted her chin. "Tonio is history. Has been for ages."
Carlina blinked. "You mean five days."
"How do you know?"
"Six days ago, he had dinner at our house, and it didn't look then as if he was history."
"Oh, well." Annalisa conveyed Tonio to the past with a careless shrug. "I fell in love. It's different this time." She turned away and crossed the street to reach the restaurant.
I've heard this before. Carlina followed her without a word.
"You don't need to be so disapproving," Annalisa gave her cousin a defensive glance. "He's older . . . and . . . and different. He's not a boy."
"Hmm." Carlina held open the door to Gino's restaurant. "Come on in. You can tell me all about it while we're having dinner."
Twenty minutes later, Carlina inhaled the aroma of the rabbit ragout with gnocchi in front of her. "Just the right dish for a cold winter night." She savored the first bite in silence and smiled. "The first bite is always the best, don't you think?” Her cousin didn't reply, but Carlina didn't notice, filled with happiness. “I guess it's because your taste buds are not yet used to the treat they get."
Annalisa sighed and continued to nibble on her lettuce leaf. "Don't tempt me."
"Why didn't you take the ragout as well?" Carlina frowned. "You're not too fat."
Her cousin clenched her teeth. "It has to stay that way. I have to be perfect."
Oh, oh. Carlina blew onto her ragout to cool it and slanted an inquiring glance at her cousin. "The new lover is very demanding?"
"He isn't." Annalisa speared a piece of lettuce with her fork. "But I have a plan. A big plan. That's why I won't take any risks." She took a deep breath. "I want him to marry me."
Carlina dropped her fork. "What?"
Annalisa finished her confession in a rush. "He's rich, and handsome, and . . ." she gave a wistful sigh, " . . . so experienced. After him, I can't ever go back to those young guys." Her face twisted. "Besides, he needs to settle down."
Her cousin swallowed. "Does he know that?"
"Not yet." Annalisa's face clouded. "I tried to give him a little hint, and he reacted a bit . . . strangely." She shook herself. "However, there are ways to overcome that. I don't believe him at all when he says it'll be over after the holidays. After all, he never met a girl like me before." She pushed back a strand of her red hair.
Something sharp pierced Carlina. A man rich and handsome, here for the Christmas vacation, her beautiful cousin with red hair . . . She gasped and sat up straight. "Don't tell me your lover's name is Trevor?"
End of Excerpt
Charmer's Death by Beate Boeker
also available as paperback
About the author:
Beate Boeker is a USA Today bestselling author with a passion for books that brim over with mischief & humor. Several of her contemporary romance novels were shortlisted for the Golden Quill Contest, the National Readers' Choice Award, the 'Best Indie Books' contest, and the RONE Award. In 2013, she hit the Amazon bestseller list in the category "international mystery & crime" with “Delayed Death”, the first in the series “Temptation in Florence”.
By day, Beate is a global marketing manager with a degree in International Business Administration, and her daily experience in marketing provides her with a wide range of fodder for her novels, be it hilarious or cynical.
Widely traveled, she speaks German, English, French, and Italian and lives in the North of Germany together with her husband and daughter.
While 'Boeker' means 'books' in a German dialect, her first name Beate can be translated as ‘Happy’ . . . and with a name that reads ‘Happy Books’, what else can she do but write novels with happy endings?
Contact Beate:
Website
http://www.happybooks.de
Newsletter – to learn about brand new-releases!
http://www.happybooks.de/newsletter
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https://www.facebook.com/pages/Beate-Boeker/153573758044433
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@BeateBoeker
Cozy mysteries by Beate Boeker
Delayed Death – Temptation in Florence #1
What do you do when you find your grandfather dead half an hour before your cousin’s wedding? You hide him in his bed and tell everyone he didn’t feel like coming.
Charmer's Death – Temptation in Florence #2
What do you do when your best customer seduces your beautiful cousin? You try to save the situation, but it becomes a little harder than planned when he’s found strangled.
Banker's Death – Temptation in Florence #3
When Carlina’s attractive cousin Valentino returns from Dubai to Florence, he quickly becomes the most unpopular member of the wide-spread Mantoni family. When he is murdered, only Commissario Garini is sorry because he has to investigate the Mantoni family once again.
Expected Death – Temptation in Florence #4
The family patriarch Uncle Teo has fallen in love, and the whole family hates her with good reason. Nobody is surprised when she's killed, but this time, the Mantonis are in for it, and one of them ends up in prison.
Contemporary romances by Beate Boeker
Mischief in Italy
A father-son conversation leads to unexpected results and manages to turn both their lives upside down.
A New Life
How often have you wondered if A New Life wouldn’t be fun? Circumstances force Anne to start again in Florence, Italy – with totally unexpected results . . .
It's Raining Men
Four cousins inherit one bedraggled umbrella to share and slowly learn about its magic (co-written with Gwen Ellery!)
Rent a Thief
Can you fall in love with a thief?
Stormy Times
Joanna is lost in a blizzard on her way home from a difficult foaling. Just one man can save her – but he’s strangely reluctant to come to her help. A Christmas romance.
A Little Bit of Passion
How much independence do you have to give up when falling in love?
Take My Place
A single mother sets up her own company and tries not to fall in love
Wings to Fly
Cathy tries to land the job of her life but an accident changes all her plans.
mptation in Florence Book 1)
Delayed Death (Temptation in Florence Book 1) Page 29
