“Shaun wants more than drinks with you,” he lowered his voice so the other makeup artists and actors in the room wouldn’t overhear.
“I can handle myself if he tries to cross the line.”
“He’ll try to handleyou,if you’re not careful.” Maybe that’s what she wanted. Who was he to try and dissuade her from anything? He was only trying to inform her what Shaun was like and if she wanted to screw around with him, well… so be it.
“Ethan it’s none of your business who Holly has drinks with,” his mother said as she sidled up to him. He’d already arrived at that conclusion. “Now sit, be quiet and keep still so she can get to work on your face. Holly, do a simple look like you did with Shaun.” His mother gave Holly instructions on what colours to use.
When she had brushes and pots of cosmetics lined on the counter she got to work, wiping and powdering his face without saying a word. The more intricate the work around his eye was getting, the closer she leaned toward him and her breast grazed his shoulder. Taking a step back, she said, “Sorry.”
He cleared his throat. “No worries.”
Holly continued on and he closed his eyes, hoping that with them shut, he didn’t have to see her up close and want to put his mouth on the smooth, sensitive part of her neck. With his eyes closed, images of putting his mouth on more than her neck were vivid and his skin flushed hot.
Five minutes later, Holly asked, “Okay, Nancy, what do you think?”
Ethan shot from the chair like his arse was on fire, not waiting for his mother’s inspection. “It’s fine. I’m due on set.” And raced from the trailer.
* * *
It’s official, today is the best day of Holly’s life. Instead of being homebound on a train to Melbourne, she was on a movie set applying makeup on actors. Something she’d only dreamed of doing but working for her family’s hotels had never given her the opportunity. All the YouTube videos she’d watched over the years had paid off because she didn’t suck. A couple of times Nancy did a slight retouch or told her to add more or less, but overall, she’d loved Holly’s work.
She’d even had her picture taken for a pass that Trudy insisted she needed to have to be on set. It now hung proudly from her neck like she was part of the team and for the two weeks, she would be—she even had the signed paperwork to prove it. If only it could last longer and she didn’t have to go back home.
The worrying thought of the day was Shaun. Why did she have to agree to drinks? She’d promised herself to give men up. His offer to introduce her to people in the business was too good to pass. If she could make some connections maybe she could show her parents, she loved what she was doing and was really good at it. Then, hopefully, they’d reconsider the family obligations which tied her to the hotels.
And what was with Ethan jumping in trying to make her decisions? It sounded like he was jealous. Ridiculous. Why would he be? He knew Shaun, so he was probably trying to warn her of his reputation. That’s the only thing that made sense. Going with Shaun didn’t feel right, she’d have to cancel and figure out how to make her own connections while she had the chance. Hopefully he’d forgotten about the invitation for drinks and moved on to the next woman. Fingers crossed.
“We’ve finished in here for now. We need to go on set and do touch-ups,” Nancy said handing Holly a black, leather pouch. “Fill this with brushes and product.”
A smile split across Holly’s face. “A makeup belt? This day keeps getting better and better,” she sighed with delight as she strapped it around her waist.
Nancy laughed, “It’s just a belt not gold.”
“I’d take this over gold any day.” She had a safe full of it at home. Bracelets, necklaces, rings and none of them as precious as the belt she wore.
They gathered everything they needed and headed outside. Holly had been so absorbed in the work she had forgotten to ask anyone what the movie was about. From her crash course in acting last night, she assumed it had something to do with crime.
The park was once again set up with all kinds of filming equipment. This time in the light of day and not blinded by bright lights and shock of being thrown onto a movie set, Holly took a moment to enjoy her surroundings. Autumn had kissed the leaves of the trees in yellow, copper and red and the crisp foliage scattered on the ground like a multicoloured blanket. Surrounding the barricaded park, commuters rushed to the train station to get to work. A taxi driver honked at a man riding a bike and morning joggers stopped to see what was happening on set.
The crew buzzed around her and Holly drew in a deep satisfying breath of chilled air, she was part of the activity.
Would her name be in the credits at the end of the movie? Hooker number three… Holly Ainsworth. Her parents would be so proud.Yeah right. Or makeup artist… Holly Ainsworth. Nowthatgave her a thrill, though she didn’t think her parents would like that any better than hooker number three. She didn’t want thoughts of her parents bursting her happy bubble and so she shoved them from her mind and soaked up the electric atmosphere around her.
Trudy, clipboard in hand, came bustling by. Her gaze flicked down to the authorisation pass. Holly lifted her chin. “I’m legit.”
The corners of Trudy’s mouth twitched, maybe she didn’t have a stick up her butt after all. “Welcome to the team,” she said and scurried away. She had a habit of doing darting into bustle on set.
Spying Ethan at a table loaded with an assortment of cakes, fruit, fresh sandwiches, muffins, tea and coffee, her heart gave a little pitter-patter. He was so gorgeous, even with the yellow and purple bruises that Flora, one of the other makeup artists, had added on him when she chased him from the trailer. He’d taken off so fast, she hadn’t gotten the chance to do it.
Victoria Martin, who hadn’t yet been in hair and makeup and was still in active wear, sidled up next to him. A manicured hand slid up his arm and this time, Holly’s heart gave a jealous tug. He turned to smile at her. The one she gave in return wasn’t an I’m-happy-to-see-you smile. It was more I-want-to-jump-your-bones. Holly couldn’t blame her, she’d seen the man naked, and she’d jump his bones too if given the chance. No, she stopped the thought in its tracks. She was off men and that reminded her that she needed to find Shaun and cancel their date. Now where was he? She scanned the park.
“Looking for someone?” A deep voice sounded behind her sending a rush of heat over her skin. Turning, she almost collided with Ethan, he stood so close. Wasn’t he only moments ago making googly-eyes at Victoria Martin? Holly glanced at the snack table, but Victoria had gone.
“Just waiting for Nancy to tell me who I need to touch-up.”
“What other hidden talents are you hiding? You’re an actress,” Ethan made a circling motion with his finger around his face. “You’ve never done makeup before and yet here you are helping Mum.”
“I didn’t say I’ve never done makeup before. I practise on myself all the time and on my sister Ruth before I moved to Sydney. I’ve just never done it professionally.”
