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Excerpt:
“Is this the place?” Annabel blurted out as she doubtfully eyed the entrance to Le Petit Bistro – the restaurant where they were supposed to have dinner.
“Yes, this is it.” Lilly nodded cheerfully. “According to Simon the food here is top notch.”
Annabel nodded, swallowing her misgivings: the shabby façade of Le Petit Bistro did not look promising to say the least, but then the fact that the place had a crooked stoop leading to its entrance, peeling paint and a doorway that was barely wide enough for a person to walk through, did not mean that it could not have good food.
“I can guarantee that the food part will be excellent – Simon knows his restaurants!” Lilly announced as if reading Annabel’s thoughts. “Don’t let the modest appearance throw you off – in Paris
Annabel ducked as she followed Lilly inside, hoping that at least the kitchen was not as small as the rest of the place.
Once inside, Annabel was blown away by the character of the place – it was unlike anything she had ever seen. The restaurant interior looked like a grotto: oval-shaped space with stonewalls, but that was where the simplicity ended, giving way to surprisingly formal atmosphere. The restaurant had no more than seven tables, but each table was lined with a crisp linen cloth and set with distinguished crystal ware. Vases with orchids of different varieties adorned the nooks of the stone walls. Already several parties were seated and Annabel noticed that all men were wearing tuxedos and women were dressed in evening gowns. Annabel nervously smoothed down her dress: it was not an evening gown by any merit, but it was still dressy enough – she had worn it to some really fancy social events for work and she was glad of her choice of attire.
The waiters and the maître d’ were dressed in tuxedos as well; the maitre d’ was about to ask them for their reservation when Simon got up from his seat at the bar and walked toward them.
Just as Simon approached them, Annabel’s attention was drawn to a dark-haired man who had been occupying the bar stool next to Simon’s and was now heading in their direction with a diffident expression on his face.
That must be my blind date, Annabel thought, her heart in her mouth, as she absentmindedly reciprocated Simon’s greeting. Lilly had been right – Etienne was handsome: he was of average height, no more than five nine, but well built, with a muscular torso that Annabel could spot from beneath his tailored jacket. His longish, coal-dark hair made his dark brown eyes look intense, which together with his perfectly straight nose and sensually curved lips made Annabel knees buckle. She did her best to steady herself, which was difficult to say the least, as she raked her mind for a witty remark to the stunning stranger. Annabel secretly patted the heart-shaped pendant on her neck, thinking that perhaps Madam Aurora’s charm did have some power after all.
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Marie Astor is the author of contemporary romance novels Dance Me to the Stars, On the Rim of Love, and Lucky Charm, and a collection of short stories A Chance Encounter and Other Stories.
Marie’s latest contemporary romance novel, Dance Me to the Stars, has been selected in the first round of entries in the General Fiction category in the Amazon Breakthrough Novel contest this year.
Currently, Marie is working on her next novel – a first installment in her romantic suspense series.
Websites and Social Media:
Twitter: @marieastor
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Books by Marie Astor:
- Dance Me to the Stars – a contemporary romance about finding one’s perfect match.
- On the Rim of Love – a contemporary romance about the unexpected power of love.
- Lucky Charm – a humorous contemporary romance about love, luck and friendship.
- A Chance Encounter and Other Stories – a short story collection about love and everyday life.
Thanks for being in Marie's tour!
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