Do not make the editor hunt for the hero or heroine. Try to keep in the main character s point of view. Capture, Captivate and Convince your reader this character is someone to care about. Someone she d want to know and possibly even be. As Robert McGee said, Character is story.
Story is character.
This has never been truer than in a romance. Give your reader an idea about where and when this event is taking place. This is how you captivate your reader. The external conflict should be initiated as soon as possible while the internal should be at least hinted at, if not introduced. Can you see and feel the setting.