“Ever thought about doing it for a living?”
Fiddling with her belt she answered, “Once or twice.” Then pulled a brush from her pouch and got to work touching him up even though there wasn’t a trace of sheen. She needed to keep preoccupied and didn’t want to discuss how working for her family had stopped her from taking it further. Thankfully, Ethan didn’t push for an explanation.
A slight breeze blew a flyaway lock of hair onto her cheek, and he gently brushed it away. The brush froze in mid-air in her hand as their eyes locked for the second time that day. A replay of their kiss came flooding back into her mind.
“Holly, when you’re finished with Ethan, you’re needed back in the makeup room,” Trudy’s voice interrupted them, and they stepped away from each other.
“Cancel your date with Shaun.” Ethan’s eyes narrowed. “You’re too good for him.”
“It’s really not a date.”
Ethan made a disbelieving snorting sound.
“Why do you care?” Again, she could’ve sworn he sounded jealous.
His hot gaze flicked down to her lips.
“Holly!” Trudy interrupted again before he could answer or she could figure out what that look meant. “We haven’t got all day.”
“Gotta run,” Holly said as she stuffed the brushes back in the belt and practically ran in Trudy’s direction.
God. All Ethan needed to do was throw her a heated glance and her good sense went flying out the window.
* * *
For the next few hours, Holly didn’t get time to think about Ethan. Dashing from one actor to another consumed her every moment. Who knew they needed so much attention and had so much shine during takes?
When Nancy told her to take a fifteen-minute break, she sat under a tree free of any staging equipment or busy crew. Her feet and legs were tired from standing for so long, even her arms ached a little. She’d used muscles she didn’t know existed. All the niggles and pains in her body were good because working on set was awesome and she would put up with a lot more if she had to.
From her spot in the shade, she had a good view of the set. She was told it was the last day filming at this location and tomorrow they’d be in a studio. An excited giggle burst from her lips. She was working on a major movie set. She needed to pinch herself to prove she wasn’t dreaming. Unfortunately, this job was temporary so she wanted to experience as much as she could before Jacinta returned.
As she bit into a blueberry muffin taken from the snack table, a door opened on a nearby trailer—which she’d learned belonged to Victoria Martin, and Ethan jogged down the steps with clothes slightly askew and hair messed. The muffin she had taken pleasure in moments ago, turned to ash in her mouth and she struggled to swallow it down a suddenly tight throat.
Oh my god. Of course, he’d gone for a break-in-filming quickie with Victoria. Why would he refuse her invitation? Just because he’d kissed her—an act for Declan—didn’t mean he’d forget his girlfriend. If she’d felt any attraction between Ethan and herself, it was obviously one sided. But the gazes, the soft touch on her face, surely, she hadn’t imagined them? Anyway, even if he did throw a smidgeon of interest her way, he was dating a Hollywood actress and trying to get a bit of action on the side from Holly. She gave herself a forehead slap. She’d had enough of cheating men. Maybe she should try women next. She’d caught Trudy giving her the eye. Or more like the evil eye when Holly didn’t come running the second she called her name. That clipboard made her so bossy.
Finishing her muffin, she made a note to fill her bag with more of the delicious baked goods before work ended. Until she got paid, her measly amount of money needed to last. Sydney was filled with backpacker hostels, hopefully she’d find a cheap one without bed bugs and other nasties to spend the next two weeks.
In her pocket, her phone vibrated with a message. Digging it out she glanced at the screen and did a double take. “What the hell?”
It was a number she hadn’t seen in five months.
Her finger hovered over the screen, hesitation stopping her for a moment from opening the text from her ex, Oliver. Then pulling in a deep breath, she swiped.
Hey, stranger, heard you’re living in Sydney, I’m here for a few days. Would love to catch up. I miss you.
Oliver.
The phone shook in her hand and she quickly shoved it back in her pocket. Anger churned in her gut. Not because she still hurt over the way he’d ripped out her heart. It was how casually he’d texted her out of the blue as if nothing happened and they were old friends. The last words she’d spat at him were “I never want to see you again!” And she’d meant them.
So why now? Why after all these months, did he want to meet? Whatever the reason Holly had no intention of meeting him or returning his text.
Holly once believed Oliver was the love of her life. Handsome, smart, kind and generous. Working for her family’s hotel chain wasn’t so bad because she got to spend every day with her fiancé as his assistant. They were so in love. Well, Holly was. Oliver, not so much. He loved the thought of how marrying the heir to one of the largest hotel chains in the world, Ainsworth Hotels. It would help him climb the corporate ladder and one day make him a wealthy man. In the end, he didn’t need her to land a lucrative position in the company because her parents found him to be more valuable than their own daughter even after what he’d done.
The betrayal by her parents and ex-fiancé had been a stab to the heart with a blunt object. Holly rubbed her chest over the invisible scar. Because even though she couldn’t see the wound, it had cut deep and jagged. Holly would never forget the pain they’d inflicted.
She pulled the phone back out of her pocket and deleted the message. That was part of her life she definitely didn’t want to relive. Besides, she was helping to make a movie.
Chapter 10
