Spark to Flame — Karen Booth

'Spark to Flame' is a 30 page short story set against the stunning backdrop of Florence, Italy. Think of it as an hour-long romantic escape.

Liza Fellows needs a break from every path she's on--career, life, and especially love, so she travels to Italy to regroup. On her first day away, she spots an unbelievably handsome man with a sketchbook in a cafe. Suddenly she's craving cappuccino, and a chance to stare at her mystery man, like crazy. She assumes the only familiarity they'll ever share is her ogling him while he's drawing. Antonio has far more in mind. When their spark turns to a flame, can he get Liza to see all they could be?

'Spark to Flame' is a stand-alone contemporary romance, with a happy-for-now ending. It originally appeared in the now out-of-print anthology, Foreign Affairs.