A New York Love Story (24 page)

“Wow…” Clover swallowed, with tears of joy in her eyes.

He seemed to misinterpret her reaction, and pulled her even closer. “Please, trust me. I'm not acting.”

“I believe you… it's that… it's too good to be true.”

“But it's all true. Ask my mother!”

“Your mother?!”

“Yes… she lectured me like she never has before! She couldn't see me staying home like a hermit, feeling sorry for myself. She even threatened to send you Zack as a gift, if I kept being so stupid…”

Clover giggled, somehow pleased to feel jealousy in his tone. “I should take that offer as a compensation for the two weeks of hell you gave me!”

Cade held her hands behind her back pulling her towards him, and before kissing her, he said, “I won't leave you any time to think about it!”

Clover opened her lips slightly as she melted into his kiss. She still couldn't believe it. She was afraid she would wake up from one of her daydreams and find herself in the snow, hugging a tree! But that warm strong body, that familiar scent, and the taste of those lips were too real to be just a fantasy.

They both opened their eyes at the same time, as they looked at each other. “You're the most unexpected gift I could ever ask for,” she whispered to his soft lips.

Cade pretended to feel relieved. “I'm glad to hear that, since I didn't have time to find a real present for you! I just arrived this morning and started to organize everything… but I have a little thing for you,” he put a hand in his pocket and took out a snow globe. Clover looked at it and burst out laughing. Inside the globe there was a Santa Claus in a bathing suit surfing big blue waves surrounded by green palms. On the wood base was written,
Merry Christmas from Los Angeles
.

“You didn't forget,” she whispered, holding the souvenir to her heart.

“I haven't forgotten anything, Clover,” he embraced her tightly. “However, I promise, I will soon have a real gift for you.”

Clover smiled, looking again at the thousands of little Christmas lights all around her. “Ok, this time I will forgive you!”

“There is another thing I need to tell you…” Cade pointed at his friend's house, where he was a guest just two weeks ago. “Philip had his alarm activated and we are under the surveillance of the security camera. It has filmed everything.”

Clover widened her eyes, “Everything?! Do you mean all my embarrassing slip-ups, my horrible look in the morning when I bring the trash out…?”

Cade laughed. “No! I asked him to activate it only for tonight.”

“Why?”

“Because this recording, if you agree, will end up in the hands of the journalists.” Cade's voice became husky, “I want everybody to know the woman I want for my partner, to share my life. It's going to create some major chaos, I warn you. There will be paparazzi lurking here every day and we will be followed for a while. Yet, gradually, they will lose interest and their curiosity will fade away – then we'll be able to have an almost peaceful life. I promise you.”

“Oh my god! I love Cade Harrison and he loves me… I think I'm going to faint.”

He went over to her to kiss her again. They remained in an embrace for a long time, surrounded by colorful lights and snowflakes. They could hear the bells chiming from afar.

Clover was over the moon. After all, the magic of Christmas hadn't disappointed her. Cade was in love with her and he would announce it to the whole world. She would pinch herself later to be sure she was really awake!

Then, all of a sudden she remembered something. “Cade?”

“Yes?”

“We need to edit out a part of the surveillance video before sending it to the papers,” she buried her face on his shoulder.

“Why?”

“You're not going to let the whole country know that I beat you up with my purse, right?”

Cade's laugh resonated through the quiet snow-covered street.

L
OVE AT FIRST SIGHT AT
C
HRISTMAS
!

This time is official: Cade Harrison is in love!

News has just arrived here at our newspaper this morning by the way of a surveillance video sent by an anonymous resident of Staten Island. The short film shows the Prince of Hollywood and the beautiful personal shopper swearing eternal love to each other!

The actor confesses to our readers, “At the beginning I was trying to divert the attention of the media so that Clover and I could have a little more time. We wanted to understand what was happening between us. She is not a woman hunting for publicity or fame, and I wanted to protect her. My success sometimes can make things difficult, especially at the beginning of a new relationship. Therefore, I hope that readers and fans will understand our desire for privacy and intimacy.”

However, judging from the video, Ms O'Brian seems to be pretty good at defending herself, even when armed with just a purse… “She didn't expect to see me there! She thought I was a burglar and she acted accordingly.” Cade Harrison laughed, recalling the episode. “Anyway, I think I probably deserved those blows. If nothing else, because I waited for two long weeks before confessing that I love her.”

So, the most desired and courted Hollywood bachelor seems to have become unavailable. He is the forbidden dream of enthusiastic fans and gorgeous celebrities… how did the charming, red-headed
girl-next-door
succeed where all the others have failed?

Harrison gave us an answer: “Clover is a unique person. She is the most beautiful, sweet and honest woman I've ever met. She is an outspoken and funny creature who makes me laugh like nobody else does. I hope to make her happy for the rest of our lives.”

While Cade Harrison has spoken openly and without restrain about his feelings for the mysterious red-head, Clover O'Brian's discretion and sense of privacy made our work more difficult. Yet, after following her for several days around the streets of New York, we succeeded in obtaining a comment about this romantic encounter.

“Cade's love is the most magnificent Christmas gift I could ever receive,” Ms O'Brian said, as she kept on walking. “It still feels impossible that he has really chosen me. My wish is to live our love without interferences and I hope it will last forever. And… since you are here,” she added, before running away, “Please, write and tell everyone that from now on I would prefer that no fan would expose her butt to be signed by him. Thank you!”

 

 

 

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I've imagined this moment for half of my life, and now that I find myself here, in front of the fateful page of acknowledgements… I don't know how to begin! So, I'm not sure I will follow a hierarchy of importance. Please, don't get offended if I don't follow the right order or if I forget someone.

The biggest thank-you goes to everyone who has been close to me throughout this adventure. People who never laughed at me with disbelief when I expressed my desire of becoming a writer. On the contrary, they have always encouraged me to try. I know, there is still a long way to go, but this book is a first and very important step towards that direction.

I thank my sister, Stefania, who has always read my work with objectivity. She has never been a fan of the genre; the first romantic novel she has read is mine. The fact that she read it several times, like the Harry Potter series, has given me great satisfaction!

Thank you to Luca because, when my dream began to take off, he was with me. For years he has shared all my doubts and anxieties, but he has never given up his support and belief in me. (You did want public praise for your patience? Here it is!)

Many thanks to Battina, who helped me contain my paranoia for so many years. (They will make you a saint!)

A thanks from my heart to all my virtual friends on Facebook. You have been so sweet and supporting! (A special thanks to Maria – from my hometown – who kindly answered my many rookie questions). And a warm thanks to the girls of my favorite blogs –
La mia
biblioteca romantica
and
Immergiti in un mondo… Rosa!
– who, with their positive comments about my first short stories, have given me the courage to jump in the mix.

Thank to everybody who purchased the first digital version of my book. If I am here now, it's because of you.

A huge big thanks to Newton Compton, especially to Gabriele, Martina and Alessandra, for your trust, patience and availability, and because you taught me a lot.

And thanks also to all those who
didn't
like, accept and sustain me. Perhaps without you, I wouldn't have understood how wonderful it is to take refuge in dreams.

C
ASSIE
R
OCCA
is a writer of Sicilian origin who has lived in Genoa since the age of three. In everyday life she is a child-minder, a job which gives her plenty of ideas for her modern fairy tales.

Aria is the new digital-first fiction imprint from Head of Zeus.

It's Aria's ambition to discover and publish tomorrow's superstars, targeting fiction addicts and readers keen to discover new and exciting authors.

Aria will publish a variety of genres under the commercial fiction umbrella such as women's fiction, crime, thrillers, historical fiction, saga and erotica.

So, whether you're a budding writer looking for a publisher or an avid reader looking for something to escape with – Aria will have something for you.

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