Laughter bubbled from Simone, “Yep, that’d do it.”
Holly swallowed hard. Maybe she could’ve handled the situation a little differently. Oh well, too late now. Even so, her interaction with Shaun bothered her.
“Thanks for sticking up for me,” she said.
“Any time. Don’t worry about the things he said. He’s all talk and only thinks of himself. He’s probably standing in front of a mirror as we speak admiring how beautiful he is and already forgotten what happened here.”
She hoped so and planned to avoid Shaun as much as possible.
* * *
Twice Ethan came close to seriously injuring himself. He liked to perform his own stunts and todays were relatively simple. All he needed to do was dive from, what the set department made look like the side of a building, into an open window of another one a couple of metres away. In the first attempt, he missed the window and slammed into the side of the wall. Thankfully it wasn’t really made from solid bricks and he was attached to a cable or he would have dropped five metres to the ground. In the next try, he thought he’d cleared the opening, but his knees hit the windowsill. They’d be black and blue the next day. It was more his pride that was bruised. He never messed up such simple stunts. He knew the reason for his clumsiness. He’d lost his focus. A sexy brunette makeup artist had stolen his attention, and she didn’t even know how much she affected him.
Earlier today, if Holly hadn’t stopped things in the car, he didn’t know if would’ve had the good sense to. Having sex on the side of the road was not his ideal place. He would’ve driven her to the nearest hotel. She needed to be sure if she wanted to take things further and he’d respect her wishes and would do what he promised. Not touch her unless she asked. God it would be hard to keep his hands to himself.
Thinking about Holly caused him to lose focus and every time he was about to do his stunt, she came into his line of sight. Although she stood in the shadows, he still spotted her in the dark and then he’d fumble around like an amateur.
“Take a break while we check the rigging. It’s probably a bit off,” Stan said.
It had nothing to do with the rigging. The only thingoffwas Ethan.
“And you’ve sweated off your makeup. Fix it and be back on set in twenty minutes.”
Ethan sauntered over to Holly and Simone. Holly laughed at something the hairstylist said and the sexy sound arrowed straight into his chest.
“I need you to fix me up.”
Holly’s eyebrows rose.
“Would you like me to clear the set?” Simone snickered.
Holly threw her a dirty look but laughter danced in the Simone’s eyes. “I’m assuming you mean your makeup?”
“I kinda like Simone’s idea better.” He smirked.
Simone fanned her face with her hand. “Boy, it’s getting hot in here. I need to get myself a cold drink. Catch you later.”
“She’ll think something is going on between us.” Holly frowned as Simone left.
“There is.”
“No there’s not!”
He cocked his head to the side and watched uncertainty cross her face. “Whatever you say.”
She folded her arms across her chest and tilted her chin. “Are we fixing up your makeup or standing around chatting?” She pulled a brush from the pouch around her waist.
He’d stand around continuing this playful exchange all day if only his knees didn’t hurt like a bitch. He needed to sit down for a couple of minutes. “Can we do this in the makeup room?” Without waiting for an answer, he turned toward the room. Slightly limping.
“You’re hurt.” Holly put a hand on his shoulder and stopped him.
“My knees are throbbing like hell.”
“I’ll grab an ice pack from first aid and meet you in makeup.”
In the room, empty of hair and makeup crew as they were busy on set, Ethan fell into a chair and massaged the tops of his knees. He better get his shit together fast before he ended up in hospital.
A few minutes later, Holly came rushing in with two icepacks in her hands. She dropped to her knees in front of him and gently pulled up the legs of his pants.Oh fuck!The sight of her head so close to his lap was more than he could bare. All she had to do was flick her gaze a little higher and she’d see how turned on he was right now. Images of his fingers running through her silky hair and guiding her mouth to…” He groaned, stopping himself from finishing the thought. He needed to get himself under control and not think of Holly that way.Yeah right, like that would happen.
