FAMOUS by Kahlen Aymes
Caden Carlisle is a world-renowned superstar with good looks, million dollar movie deals and women throwing themselves at him wherever he goes. He has it all… but wants nothing more than a normal life without the paparazzi and glitz.
Brooklyn Holloway is an up and coming starlet with a solid head on her shoulders and her eyes wide open. It’s all about art for her and she isn’t looking to star in blockbuster films. She’s perfectly happy keeping a low profile and doing indie projects with a message.
When fate throws the two of them together on set; both are unprepared for their undeniable connection. Cade is drawn to Brook’s down-to-earth wholesomeness and she can’t help the irresistible pull of his good looks, sense of humor and chivalrous ways… So, when he begins to think he’s in love with her, resisting is next to impossible, despite being committed to someone else.
Only when filming ends and the world’s fascination with celebrity invades their bubble, can they decide if the emotions they felt on set were scripted, or forever.
Excerpt:
I couldn’t tear my eyes away from Cade.
I’d risen, and he was trying to rush through the crowd toward
me, but was having a hard time making his way around all of the people.
Part of me was thankful for that. I felt trapped, like I’d die an absolute
death if I didn’t make an immediate escape.
I needed to get out of there fast, or soon, I was going to be a
sobbing mess. I could feel the misery welling up and threatening to
overflow.
I pushed my way through the crowd toward the other end of the
bar, toward the entrance and away from Cade.
"Brook!" he called. "Brook, wait, please!"
I kept going, my eyes on Nathan a few yards in front of
me. My vision blurred with tears, but I stumbled through the crowd,
pushing my way toward him.
"Brook! Bloody hell! Stop!" Cade was beside me, and grabbed
my arm. "Stop... Just wait a second, please." His voice
lowered as he looked at the tears running down my face, his scent enveloped
me. Finally, I had the courage to meet his eyes but my face crumpled, and
I cried hard.
"Cade, just please, let me go. It's obvious that
coming here tonight was a big mistake." My voice broke, and more tears
slipped from my lashes. I bowed my head when my shoulders began to shake.
I couldn’t stop them from doing that, and it felt humiliating to be standing
here, in the middle of a bar, in a place I’d never been, with a couple of
hundred eyes boring into me… and worse, to witness what I’d just seen.
"Tell me why you're here," he commanded softly, his
finger lifting my chin so I had to look him in the eyes. He looked sad
and anxious. "When I saw you, I couldn't believe my eyes."
His eyes searched my face, trying to read my mind. "I felt
like the earth opened up to swallow me alive."
I tried to speak, but nothing came out. I opened my mouth,
closed it, and then shook my head. "It just… It doesn't matter
now." I tried again to pull my arm free.
"Goddamn it, Brooklyn! Tell me why you're here!" he pleaded, and grabbed my
other arm, which completely prevented me from looking away from his face.
We were both breathing hard; standing motionless; as if there was no one else
in the room.
Finally, I looked away as I struggled for strength to control
the tears in my voice.
Maybe if I tell him the truth, he'll let me
go.
I turned back to him. "I came here to tell you that what
you saw in those photos wasn't real, and that I was ending things with David. That you are who I want to be with." I
started to shake, my face crumpled. Cade took me by the shoulders, and
pulled me tightly to his chest.
"But from the looks of things, you're doing just
fine. It didn't take you long, did it?" A small sob escaped,
as I resumed in earnest. "I thought I was going to surprise you for
your birthday, but it looks like I'm the one getting the big surprise."
I was angry and hurt; my heart shattered into a million shards that
ripped through my flesh and left me bleeding. I renewed my struggles to
get free of him, but he was too strong. He moved me away a little to look
in my eyes, his brow low over his eyes and his mouth tense.
"Brook, what was I supposed to think? You never said you were mine. How was I to
know? Those pictures were like reliving the entire last year as I watched
you with him when I wanted you for myself!"
"After
the way it was between us... the way it felt!
You saw how my heart was breaking when you left. After that, how
could you doubt me? You don't trust me at all."
Teaser:
I felt the walls were
crashing in around me. I tried to push against his chest, but he only
held me tighter, his arms going around my back.
"Go back to your... girlfriend!" I said the
words softly, but inside I was screaming. His eyes were wide, and he was
breathing fast when he looked at my tear stained face
"Brook, this is so fucked up! Please listen to
me. Until twenty seconds ago, I thought you were with David!"
His voice was thick with pain, as he tried to stop my struggles.
My useless struggles quieted, and defeat filled my voice.
"Cade, I beg you, please let me go. Don't make a scene that
neither one of us can afford. We don't need the rags telling the wrong
story to the world. Please, I just gotta get out of here." I
struggled against him again, and this time his arms dropped to his sides.
He stood in front of me, staring in stunned disbelief.
"Please don't follow
me." I turned and ran out to the street.
I’m a single mother of one daughter, Olivia. She’s amazing in every way.
I was born in the Midwestern United States and educated at a private university where I received a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing and Business Administration.
I’ve always been creative with art, music, theater and writing. I decided to write a story as a way to build a network for a business venture. The reader support of my stories and my overwhelming desire to find out where my characters would take me, soon had the writing morphing the business. No one was more shocked than I. When readers began nominating my work for online awards, it took my breath away and only made me love it more. It soon became clear that writing was, and should be, my focus.
No comments:
Post a Comment