Charming Italian jerk (8)
I believe the answer is:
romantic
'charming' is the definition.
'italian jerk' is the wordplay.
'italian' becomes 'Roman' (Roman is an example).
'jerk' becomes 'tic' (I've seen this before).
'roman'+'tic'='ROMANTIC'
(Other definitions for romantic that I've seen before include "Imaginative or amorous" , "Amorous, showing loving feeling" , "Relating to love" , "Sentimental" , "Passionate" .)