She closed her eyes after hanging up. Usually, he called her only every few days, but his calls had become more frequent since she’d arrived in Portugal. Which was unfortunate because Dad’s earnestness could only be taken in small doses.
After a quick shower, she changed into her favorite pair of dark skinny jeans and added a thin cardigan over a gauzy top and chunky necklace. She pulled her hair into a low ponytail and applied some light make-up. It was only breakfast, and dressy casual was probably fine.
In truth, the dress code caused her some anxiety. Before the trip, Vanessa had read blogs on river cruises and social procedures aboard five-star ships. Despite her reluctance, being prepared made more sense. Her lack of knowledge would probably appall some of her fellow passengers but, at this point, Vanessa could only hope they wouldn’t see right through her inexperience.
What about the captain? Did he know this was her first time on a cruise? How much had Grandfather told him?
She glanced at the full-size mirror behind the door one last time. Much better than this morning when she’d seen the captain near the bridge. The key-card went in the front pocket of her jeans.
She was ready to face the day…and Captain Romano.
*
Click here to buy your own copy of Meet Me At Sunrise.
Romano Family Book 4:
Keep Me At Christmas (a Romano Family novella)
Can the magic of the season keep them together beyond Christmas?
When Luciana Romano arrives in Manhattan, her plan is to complete her consultation job at the museum so she can return home to her family in time for Christmas. But when a blizzard grounds all flights, she finds herself stranded. The Wyman family offers her a place to stay, and she accepts their hospitality. But the unexpected attraction between her and the quiet, good-looking son makes it hard to want to leave.
Jack Wyman is stuck. Managing the family’s Italian café is not what he’d planned to do with his life, but his sense of duty won’t let him quit. When his grandmother invites a Portuguese woman to stay with them, Jack feels something he hasn’t felt for a long time: hope. He knows he shouldn’t get close to Luciana since she’s leaving as soon as the airport opens, but he can’t help himself. Yet as the magic of the season begins to work on them, he wonders how he can let go of the woman who’s awakened his heart.
When I wrote Meet Me at Sunrise, I knew there was more to Afonso Cortez and his story. Afonso has had a hard time and when he meets Catarina, she’s trying to rise from the lowest point in her life as well.
How could they not find happiness together? They’re perfect for each other.
Of course, their journey is a hard one, and it wasn’t less easy for me to write their story, but I’m glad I kept at it, and truly hope I’ve made them justice.
My thanks to Laura for being the greatest alpha reader and liking Afonso and Catarina from the beginning; to Michele for helping me straighten the story when the first version wasn’t as good as it could be; to Lori, for her suggestions and for the interior formatting for the paperback book; and to Haley, for catching all the little things I always miss.
I’m glad for friends and professionals who help me turn my very rough drafts into the kind of stories my characters deserve. Thank you!
And thank you also to all the readers who’ve fallen in love with the Romanos!
Nem que outras coisas mudem, começamos e acabamos com família.
Other things may change, but we start and end with family.
Lucinda Whitney was born and raised in Portugal, where she received a Master’s degree from the University of Minho in Braga, in Portuguese/English teaching.
She lives in northern Utah with her husband and four children. When she’s not reading and writing, she can be found with a pair of knitting needles, or tending her herb garden.
She’s the author of The Secret Life of Daydreams and One Small Chance: a novella, her LDS romance series named A Love Story from Portugal. Love Me At Sunset is the third book in her new Romano Family series.
Please visit her website at lucindawhitney.com for more information and news.
Copyright © 2017 Lucinda Whitney
All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
This book is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or actual events, is entirely coincidental.
Edited by Michele Paige Holmes and Haley Swan
Cover design ©2017 Steven Novak
Published by Lange House Press
Ebook edition released in October 2017
ASIN: B0753W9Q31
Love Me At Sunset (Destined for Love: Mansions) Page 22