A New York Love Story (8 page)

Clover pictured him in working clothes, dirty with grease and smelling of gasoline, and let out an involuntary moan. She was sure that women would adore him even covered with motor oil!

She shook her head to clear out her thoughts. “Yes, I understand. Honestly, I always appreciate attention in my small intimate world; yet I couldn't stand such an invasion of my privacy. And I probably wouldn't trust anybody, if I were rich and famous.”

She turned her back to the scene on the square and observed him, “Why did you decide to become an actor?”

“It wasn't exactly a deliberate choice. I went to a casting call almost for fun. I was with two friends who had taken an acting class at college with me. So, I began with getting small parts in TV series, then moved on to some more central roles in films. Four years ago I got the main part in a movie that has been very successful. And here I am. Celebrity has become an unstoppable avalanche. It's difficult to maintain any semblance of normality as a public figure, even though I try really hard.”

“Have you ever regretted becoming an actor?”

“Not really. Every step I've taken – right or wrong – has led me to where I am today.”

“But if you weren't so famous, you wouldn't have to hide…”

“True, but I wouldn't be here in New York with you to enjoy this Christmas tradition.” Another dazzling smile.

Clover looked away to give herself time to calm down and return to normal.

“Considering how much you care about the Christmas spirit, I don't know if this is really a good thing or not!” she joked.

“Who knows? Maybe thanks to you, I will regain my childhood enthusiasm for the holidays.”

Mariah Carey's voice suddenly attracted Clover's attention. Her eyes lit up as she sang along softly to
All I Want for Christmas
, swaying to the rhythm of one of her favorite holiday songs.

A few moments later Cade asked, “And what about you? While we were racing to get here, you inundated me with information about the giant tree, the lighting, and the history of this tradition. You didn't tell me anything about you. I only know your last name is O'Brian. Do you have Irish origins?”

“Yes, my grandfather was born in Ireland, but he moved to America when he was quite young. I've never visited Ireland, although I would love to. Do you have anything else you are curious about? I'm not such interesting subject, believe me.”

“Sure, I'm full of curiosity…”

“Actually, I think my life is dull and boring compared to yours.”

“You're kidding! I'm sure that you've had many interesting adventures with – how shall I say – your outspoken character!”

Clover laughed softly, shaking her head. “Frankly, my temper has only brought me lots of disappointments. Not everybody likes to deal with a hot-head like me…”

“Are you fishing for compliments?”

“Well, not exactly the kind of compliments
you're
used to getting… I'm just looking for some sincere admiration, not empty adulation…” Clover answered. “Actually, I
used to
look for it, but I gave up a long time ago!”

Cade didn't have time to reply, since the music and singing had stopped, and the countdown had begun.

“We are almost there!” Clover, full of excitement, took off her coat and threw it on the bed.

“Nice dress.”

Shit! She had taken off her coat without even thinking. She had decided not to show her funky, unglamorous dress to Cade Harrison! She glanced at him, prepared to see a teasing look, but on the contrary, she saw only what she thought was
sincere admiration
.

With a sense of relief, she stared out of the window. “This is my personal tradition. I always wear this particular dress for the Christmas tree lighting. I know it's not a great dress and it's maybe a bit ridiculous, but I'm convinced it brings me good luck.”

Cade interrupted her. “I just said that it's a beautiful dress. Why do you always have to read a negative hidden meaning in my words?”

“I guess it's an old habit. I grew up with lots of little ironic comments and jokes, so I've learned how to anticipate them… but now, don't talk! It starts in fifteen seconds!”

Cade came over and stood behind her. He placed his hands on the window sill and imprisoned her between his arms. “Do you have any other traditions we need to observe?” Now he was teasing her.

Of course he had moved to have a better view of the tree, but Clover was holding her breath, feeling him so close. “Yes! usually I make a wish before the tree is lit, so let me concentrate.”

Yet she was too distracted by the heat of his body to concentrate on anything. She tried to stay absolutely still. But when the crowd began to count the last five numbers in unison, she abandoned herself to the general excitement. She closed her eyes, felt Cade's warm scent enveloping her and instinctively made her secret wish.

I wish that at least once in my life a man like this would want me.

“Three, two, one… Wow!” Clover shouted, her eyes shining like a child's.

Cade was looking at her face instead of the tree. He found it much more interesting. He saw the myriad of lights reflected in Clover's eyes and could feel her genuine joy.

Honestly – when he had offered to drive her to Rockefeller Plaza he wasn't entranced by all those descriptions of the Christmas spirit, etc. etc. But now he began to feel the contagious excitement surrounding him.

When Clover turned and impulsively hugged him, he returned her embrace, as if he had known her forever.

She whispered, “Thank you.”

“No, thank
you
!” he answered sincerely. It had been a long time since he had spent an evening like this.

Cade felt every curve of her delicate body through the soft fabric of her dress. What started as tenderness transformed itself into something different, something more intimate and sensual. Since their first encounter, he had admired the fine features of her face, her big expressive eyes and sweet dimples, yet he hadn't realized how much of a
woman
she was. Now her full breasts against his chest, that mass of silky hair brushing his cheek, and her spicy scent, provoked a series of perturbing thoughts. Her warm breath on his neck gave him shivers.

She must have felt his body's reaction, because she suddenly moved away. She turned back towards the window and said, “I'm sorry. This moment always moves me.”

“Don't apologize… I was pretty moved too.” he said in a slightly suggestive tone.

She seemed to want to laugh now, and Cade immediately relaxed. It was much easier to deal with her when she wasn't embarrassed.

He was so accustomed to women's sexual availability that he almost didn't feel emotions any more when in contact with a female body. But Clover had re-awakened his male instincts.

“Would you like to stay here for the rest of the concert?” he asked.

Clover looked at the square… “No, I think I've seen everything I wanted to. We can go now, although it's a pity to leave this room, after all the money you paid for it!”

“We could use it in a different way…” Cade, amused at Clover's suspicious look, added, “I'm beginning to feel hungry, and you?” he was looking deeply into her eyes.

Clover crossed her arms. “Actually, I do have an appetite, but for
food
.” She made it very clear.

Cade laughed. “You immediately thought I meant something different. Naughty girl! I was thinking of room service…”

“There is a world out there celebrating, and you want to dine in a hotel room!” she avoided his eyes and grabbed her coat. “Let's go.”

Cade, putting on his jacket, asked, “Where would you like to eat?”

“A hotdog at the first street stand would be perfect!”

“You go around the city with a filthy rich actor and you want a hotdog!” Cade didn't hide his surprise.

“Do you have something against hotdogs?”

“No, I adore them. And do you have something against filthy rich actors?”

“Well, even if I did adore them, I wouldn't want to take advantage of them…” she replied with an angelic smile.

Cade felt the impulse to kiss her, but he was – luckily? – stopped by the arrival of the elevator. He decided that keeping talking was probably the least dangerous thing he could do. Leaning his back on the elevator wall, he looked at her, “It's the first time I've met a woman who turns down a dinner in a luxury restaurant.”

“I think you've probably never met one single woman who was able to deny you anything.”

He gave her quizzical look. “So, is this the reason you don't want to have dinner with me? Just to be different?”

Clover opened her coat, revealing the embroidered snowmen on her dress and giggled. “I think I have distinguished myself enough. I don't need to show you anything more.”

Cade felt touched and smiled sweetly. “Look, if it's because of your dress…”

“No, it's not because of my dress, nor am I trying to be polite. Really! It's just that expensive restaurants are not my style.” She stepped out of the elevator. “However, if you really want to pay for my dinner, you can always pay for the hotdogs!” Her dimples suddenly re-appeared.

Cade didn't have time to reply, since the concierge came over to them eagerly. “Can I do anything else for you, Mr Harrison?”

“No, James. Thank you. You have been very helpful. You can tell your daughter I'm very pleased with the treatment you provided us… give her my best.”

“You can do better than that!” Clover grabbed her cell phone and gently pushed Cade to the center of the hall. “Stay still. Look at me and smile.”

“What are you doing?” Cade was puzzled.

“I'm sure James would be a big hit with his daughter, if she found a photo of you with your autograph under the Christmas tree. Isn't that true?” She addressed the perplexed concierge.

“Of course… Lisa would be very excited!”

“Smile, Cade,” she whispered.

Hearing her pronounce his name gave him a thrill and he spontaneously smiled at her.

“Done!” Clover headed to the reception desk. “If you give me your cell number James, I can send you the picture. You should print and frame it. And then you can put Mr Harrison's autograph inside the frame.” She took a pen and a small note pad out of her purse and handed it to Cade. “Come on and co-operate Mr Prince!”

“Why are you doing this?” Cade mumbled, signing the small paper.

“Actually, because this is my job.” Clover sent the photo to the receptionist and handed her business card to him. “If you have any trouble finding the right frame for your daughter, come to Giftland. You'll find everything you need.”

“I don't know how to thank you, Mr Harrison…” James said, while Cade handed him the autograph.

Cade glanced at Clover, saying, “It's not me you should thank, James. I was just obeying orders.”

“You've made my daughter happy, Miss!”

“I hope so!”

Once outside the hotel, Cade said, “So, you really buy gifts for people you don't know. It's your job – you weren't joking!”

“That's right – I'm a personal shopper. I give advice to my clients and help them find the perfect gift. It's what I do for a living, and I have to admit, I have a natural talent for it.”

“Interesting. I imagine it would be very difficult to find a gift for someone like you. Who can possibly compete with Santa Claus?”

“Don't worry! Nobody seems to make the effort to find the appropriate gift for me,” she replied a little sadly, shoving her hands in her pockets.

Cade noticed her woolly hat sticking out of one of her pockets; he put it on her head, his hands lingering for a brief moment on her soft red hair. “I'm sure your relatives and friends feel performance anxiety.”

“I doubt it – I don't have big expectations. I just like to be surprised, but it rarely happens. And I find this bizarre. How can you not get hints about a person who talks freely about what's on her mind all the time?” Clover waved her hand as if to set the matter aside, and Cade had to quickly step back to avoid being hit. “Anyway, I'm very happy that I had that brilliant idea for the concierge's daughter! And, if James had even the slightest intention of telling anyone that he saw you at the hotel with a mysterious woman, we've bought his silence! Don't you think?”

“Wow! Clever girl…” Cade exclaimed, although in the past few hours he hadn't thought – not even for a second – about being recognized…

“A few hours in the company of a famous actor and I'm already thinking like a bodyguard!”

“And I wonder if – after an evening in your company – I should ask my mother to knit sweaters for me embroidered with Santa's sleigh!”

“Please, if this ever happens… call me!” Clover's happy laugh touched Cade deeply somehow.

*

When she saw her dumpy little house appear behind the bend, Clover let out a frustrated sigh. She knew that she wasn't Cinderella and that Cade wasn't a real Prince. She knew she wasn't sitting in a carriage that was about to become a pumpkin, but it felt exactly that way! The wonderful evening she had was coming to an end, and the thought that something like this would never happen again made her heart sink.

She couldn't ever imagine having such a good time. The lighting of the Christmas tree always left her in a euphoric state, but this year it had been much more than this… her memories of the evening would be unforgettable. Watching her favorite event in the company of a famous actor would already have been enough. But if the actor was also gorgeous, simpatico, sexy and kind, the intense emotions she experienced were hard to describe!

Exactly how many women could say they had walked the streets of New York eating hotdogs with a man like Cade Harrison by their side?
Maybe more than she thought. Yet Clover had felt very special anyway, mostly because of the attentive way he treated her. Each and every one of his smiles was a cure for her melancholy side, which she seldom showed, preferring instead to wear her clumsy clown's mask. This man was able to penetrate her protective armor, yet – instead of feeling threatened – Clover felt serene and relaxed in his company.
Curious.