Love on Parade Read online

  Love on Parade

  CAROL MONCADO

  Copyright © 2019 Carol Moncado

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means — for example, electronic, photocopy, recording, for personal or commercial purposes — without written permission of the author(s). The only exception is for brief quotations in printed or electronic reviews.

  This is a work of fiction set in a fictionalized southwest Missouri and a redrawn, fictionalized Europe & Caribbean. Any resemblance to real events or to actual persons, living or dead, is coincidental. Any reference to historical figures, places, or events, whether fictional or actual, is a fictional representation.

  Cover photos:

  Couple: Guas/depositphotos.com

  Building: Steward Johnson

  Author photo: Captivating by Keli, 2010

  First edition, CANDID Publications, 2018

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Letter to Readers

  Acknowledgments

  Excerpt: Small Town Girls Don’t Marry Hollywood Hunks

  About the Author

  Other Books by Carol Moncado

  Chapter 1

  How could people stay sane in a place with so many, well, people?

  At least it wasn’t snowing and hadn’t yet this season. Otherwise, the streets and sidewalks of Manhattan would be even more claustrophobic for a girl who regularly complained about traffic jams caused by tractors.

  Brittany Acevedo sucked in a deep breath full of gas fumes and more than a bit of trash smell. She wasn’t a girl. She was a full-grown woman. A mother. To a seventeen-year-old daughter.

  Who, in just three days, was going to march in the biggest Thanksgiving Day parade in the country.

  Brittany would stand on Sixth Avenue or somewhere along Park Central West and watch as her girl did her thing. Smile. Cheer.

  Probably cry.

  And then pray that, somehow, none of the several million people who would also be there actually touched her while walking back to her hotel.

  She just had to survive until then.

  The crowds flowed around her as she froze in the middle of Times Square. A few cursed at her for being in their way. More than one bumped her, but she had nothing they could have stolen. Everything of value was in the inside pocket of her zipped-up coat.

  The two blocks or so in front of her teemed with people, enough neon lights to make Radiator Springs jealous, and more noise than she heard at home in a week.

  But she wanted to enjoy it. Or at least experience what New York had to offer. Then she could say she’d done it.

  Someone else bumped her from behind, but this time it was hard enough to send her stumbling forward and to her knees.

  “Whoa there.” A gentle hand gripped her elbow, sending a strange warmth flowed through her. “Let’s get you out of this crush of humanity.”

  Brittany didn’t look up but gratefully accepted the stranger’s assistance as she rose to her feet. He wrapped his free arm around her back and ushered her off to the side. Small metal tables and chairs lined the edges, but none were empty.

  “Excuse me.” The man held out his hand to another gentleman. “I see you’re done eating. Would you be so kind as to let us have your table?” He tilted his hand slightly, and the man’s eyes went wide.

  “Sure. Take it.” The two men shook hands and the one left, taking his empty water bottle and flimsy paper plate with pizza crusts with him.

  “Have a seat.” The man with her pulled out a chair and Brittany sank into it.

  “Thank you.” Her shoulders slumped with relief.

  Then it hit her what he’d done, and she finally looked up at him. “Did you just bribe that guy for his table?” She’d never seen anyone do it in person, but she’d watched Friends enough times to know how it was done.

  Mr. Man sat in the seat across from her, stylish overcoat floating as he did. He leaned back and crossed his legs, appearing far more comfortable than any man so good looking had a right to.

  The deep chocolate of his eyes drew her in with their sparkle of mischief. “I might have, but you looked like you needed the chair much worse than he did.”

  “How much did you give him?”

  The chuckle warmed her in a way nothing had since she stepped out of La Guardia. “A gentleman doesn’t rescue a damsel in distress then ask to be reimbursed.” His smile told her he was bemused by the whole thing. “I take it you’re not from around here.”

  Brittany shook her head. “No. I’m pretty sure there are more people in Times Square right now than there are in my hometown ever. Except maybe during tourist season. Then we might win by like four people.” She held out her hand. “I’m Brittany. Thank you for rescuing me. I was a bit overwhelmed.”

  He reached out his gloved hand, taking hers and holding on for a long moment. Even through two layers of leather, Brittany knew what she’d felt the first time he touched her wasn’t a fluke.

  She hadn’t reacted to a man like that in so long that she’d forgotten what it felt like.

  “I’m... Norris.” Had he actually hesitated before saying his name?

  “It was that obvious I’m an out-of-towner, huh?” she asked as he finally released her hand.

  There was that smile again. “A little.” He pulled his phone out and tapped a few times. “Do you like hot chocolate? What do you like on your pizza?”

  “Um, yes. And bacon or hamburger or cheese is fine. Why?”

  He kept typing as she talked then hit send on the text before sliding his phone back in the inner pocket of his trench coat. “Where are you from?”

  She waved a hand. “Oh, a small town in Southwest Missouri. You wouldn’t have heard of it.”

  “I’m familiar with some small towns in Missouri.” He pulled his trench coat slightly more toward the center. He had a three-piece suit on underneath it. That had to help with the cold.

  “We’re near Springfield.” She wouldn’t elaborate further with a stranger. Most wouldn’t have heard of Trumanville, and would forget as soon as they heard it, but there was no point in giving a potential stalker any more information than necessary.

  “My company has business near Springfield next week.” He smirked. “But not Springfield, Missouri.”

  That made Brittany laugh. “There are a lot of Springfields. I heard once that every state has one, but I don’t think it’s actually true.”

  “It’s not. Only thirty-four states have a Springfield. Forty-six have a Riverside, though.”

  “That’s an interesting factoid. I bet you do great at Trivial Pursuit.”

  Norris laughed. “I do okay. I just happened to look that one up for someone a few weeks ago.” He shifted slightly in his seat. “What brings you to our fair city on such a cold weekend?”

  Brittany couldn’t help the smile that crossed her face. “I’m sure it’s all old hat to you New Yorkers, but my daughter was invited to march in the parade on Thursday. She’s seventeen but has only really flown once. I wasn’t about to let her come all this way alone this time of year.”

  The grin seemed truly genuine. “That’s fantastic. I don’t think I’ve ever actually been to the parade. I watch it on television, of course, and I can see part of the route from my apartment, but I’ve never come down to watch it from the street.”

  “Well, you know where I’ll be at five in the morning on Thursday.” Brittany wrapped her arms around herself just thinking about it. “Freezing my nose off
.”

  Norris looked like he was going to say something, but instead someone walked up with two plates of pizza and a drink carrier from a local coffee shop. The man set them down on the table as Norris thanked him. Then the guy just walked away.

  Brittany’s eyes narrowed. “Did you really just have someone bring us pizza and hot chocolate? Is there an app for that?”

  Cole Holmes just smiled, a smile much more confident than he actually felt, especially since he’d given her his middle name. “There’s an app for everything, isn’t there?”

  Brittany’s eyes narrowed. “But you sent a text. It wasn’t an app. I saw you.”

  “That was my assistant. We were discussing a project as we walked when I stopped to help you. I knew he wouldn’t mind getting us something.” He picked up the slice of pizza dripping with grease. “Go ahead. Eat.”

  “You sent your assistant on a personal errand on a Saturday night?” Brittany picked up the pizza, though, practically salivating over it.

  Cole shrugged. “It’s part of his job. He’s well-compensated when he works weekends.” Which was most weekends, though Cole tried to limit his requests most of the time. With the short business week coming up, they’d worked most of Saturday to make up for it.

  “If you’re sure...”

  As he took a big bite of his own slice, Cole nodded.

  Brittany hesitated, then took a bite. Her eyes fluttered closed. “This is every bit as good as I thought it would be. Even better than the New York place in the next town over.” She took another bite, bigger than the first.

  They didn’t talk as they finished off two slices each, along with their hot chocolate.

  Then she pulled out her wallet. “What do I owe you?”

  Cole waved it off. “My treat. Welcome to the Big Apple.”

  She shook her head. “No. I want to pay my own way while I’m here.”

  “You can buy me pizza tomorrow then, when you’re not about to get run over by hordes of manic New Yorkers.”

  “You’re telling me these are New Yorkers?” She raised an eyebrow as she looked around. “And not tourists?”

  “Fine. Many of them are probably tourists out looking for a good time.” He wiped his mouth on the napkin that barely qualified as one-ply. “Now, I would be happy to escort you around Times Square or back to your hotel or any other location you’d like.”

  Her eyes narrowed. “Any location?”

  Cole winced. “Well, no. Any safe location. While the city isn’t as unsafe as you might believe, there are places where you probably shouldn’t go alone. Or with just the two of us.”

  “Fine. How about a walk around Times Square then? I can make it back to my hotel on my own.”

  He’d make sure she returned safely but sensed now wasn’t the time to press the issue. Together, they wandered around the brightly lit square that wasn’t actually square at all. They meandered through the Disney store then the M&M store.

  She stared at the wall of M&Ms as her nose wrinkled adorably. “This isn’t quite what I expected from a giant wall of chocolate.” The tubes contained every color candy in the rainbow, but no chocolate was actually visible.

  Cole laughed. “Do you want a bag?” Did they sell it in bags? Or some other container?

  She stared at a stuffed green M&M Statue of Liberty but shook her head as she walked on.

  “What kind of souvenirs are you looking for?”

  Her face turned red as she picked up a mug.

  “You can tell me,” he coaxed. “I won’t make fun.”

  With a dramatic sigh, Brittany put the mug back. “I really want to go to one of those kitschy New York stores with all the cheesy stuff.”

  Cole chuckled. “We can go there. I wouldn’t recommend the one closest, though. Prices are cheaper away from Times Square.”

  “Okay.” She sounded a bit dubious as they started back down the stairs.

  Once outside in the hustle and bustle, she stayed near the building, a bit out of the way and watched. “There’s not as much traffic as I thought.”

  “Not here.” He explained how traffic was limited in Times Square, something she appreciated.

  And then she yawned.

  He extended his elbow. “Allow me to escort you back to your hotel?”

  Relief covered her features. “That would be nice. Thank you.” She slid her hand through his arm.

  “Where are you staying?” If it was too far, he’d call for his car, but he really didn’t want to do that.

  She closed her eyes for a second. “The Kraz Suites on the... northwest corner of 51st Street and 8th Avenue.”

  He breathed a sigh of relief on her behalf. “I know it. It’s a nice place.” Clean and well-run, too. He wouldn’t call Dean Krazowski a friend, but at least a professional acquaintance.

  “It better be for what I’m paying. It wasn’t in my original holiday budget, but I decided I’d rather stay close to everything and come back to rest occasionally if I want to rather than staying far away but cheaper.”

  Cole nodded. “Good move. You’ll appreciate it on Thursday morning. Depending on where you decide to watch the parade from, you’re only a couple of blocks away.”

  “Exactly.”

  The crowds thinned a bit as they left Times Square. “What else are you planning to do while you’re here?”

  Puffs of white appeared in front of her as she let out a breath. “All the tourist things I can. I think I want to do one of those harbor tours rather than actually go to Liberty and Ellis Islands. I want to go to The Met and wander through Central Park and spend some time at the memorial at the Trade Center.”

  Everything on the list were things Cole found himself wanting to do with her. Except the last one. He still hadn’t been to the museum, but if she wanted to go, he’d go, though he might not tour the whole thing. He hadn’t been there, but as a New Yorker, he’d known more than one person who didn’t survive that day.

  A sobering thought on a night when he’d met a beautiful woman.

  “And, of course, the Friends building.”

  That he could handle. Cole stopped and looked down at her. “Will you allow me to show you my city? Let me be your tour guide?”

  She smiled up at him. “Sure. I’d like that.”

  He’d have to do some fancy footwork to take a few days off work, but something told him it would be worth it.

  Chapter 2

  As she entered the teeming breakfast room, Brittany was surprised to see a familiar face.

  “Norris?”

  It took a second before he looked up. Had he not been truthful about his name? Hush. Her inner skeptic needed to be silenced.

  “Good morning.” That grin made her melt, just a bit.

  “Hi. What are you doing here?” Amid the hustle and bustle of a better-than-decent-but-not-great hotel breakfast.

  “I told you I’d show you around my city, so here I am.”

  “I thought we were meeting at Times Square in an hour.” She glanced at her watch. It was definitely on Eastern time. It changed automatically when she synced it with her phone.

  He shrugged. “I thought I’d meet you here, and we could go for a walk through Central Park. Times Square is the wrong direction. You’ll be walking enough today. I didn’t think you’d want to walk nearly half a mile the wrong direction.”

  Brittany’s eyes narrowed. “You don’t normally think in half miles, do you? You think in blocks.”

  He just gave her the half-smile and sipped his non-hotel coffee. He tilted his head toward the buffet. “Grab yourself something to eat, then we’ll go.”

  After a quick breakfast, Brittany went back to her room to brush her teeth then tapped her foot impatiently while waiting for the elevator. A few minutes later, she tugged on her gloves as she joined Norris outside.

  “Ready to go?” he asked.

  “Is it really close enough to walk?” It looked a lot farther on the map than Times Square.

  “We can or we ca
n take a cab.” He started looking up and down the street for one.

  “Not the subway?”

  Norris froze for a second. “We can take the subway if you’d like. I don’t take it often though.” He pulled his phone out of his pocket and looked for an app.

  Did he really just order the paid version of an app without a second thought? Who did that?

  Someone with enough money to take a cab whenever he wanted or an assistant who would pick up pizza and hot chocolate at the drop of a hat on a Saturday night did that.

  After bribing some guy to give up his table.

  He tapped a few times in the new app on his phone. “Okay. We can take the C train from the 50th Street Station.” He looked up and down the street again. “It’s a block or so that way.” He pointed to the right then offered her his elbow again.

  Who did that?

  But she took it anyway. They walked the block down 8th Avenue to 50th Street then took a left and went down the stairs. Once in the station itself, Brittany bought herself an unlimited rides card good for seven days. “Do you have a card already?” She doubted he did so as soon as he shook his head no, she quickly bought him one then handed it over. “Now we’re even for dinner last night.” Probably more than even but close enough.

  They went through the turnstile and waited for the train to come, talking about a little bit of everything and nothing for the five-minute wait.

  The train wasn’t very full, not at nine on a Sunday morning, and they easily found seats. The ride lasted less than the wait had and in five minutes, they were back out on the street.

  At least she could check subway ride off her bucket list.

  Their first stop in the park was the John Lennon Imagine tribute in Strawberry Fields. The whole area had a bit of a... cemetery vibe. That wasn’t quite the right term but definitely solemn.