“Well, I do. I don’t want people thinking I’m working here because we’re having…”
“Sex?” It was adorable how she had a hard time saying the word. What she did to him was far from cute and he couldn’t wait to do it again.
“Just go.” She placed a hand on her hip.
Before she could shove him out of the room, he cupped her behind the head and kissed her so deeply, she melted against him. When they pulled part, the dreamy expression he’d put on her face gave him a burst of satisfaction.
* * *
Two weeks! Good Lord… Rushing back to makeup, Holly imagined what the next few days might be like. Because damn, their first time had been electric. She nearly tripped over her own feet in her rush just thinking about it. It was all going to end when she finished the job so why not make the most of it? A little fun never hurt anyone. Her heart fluttered and she ignored it. There was no way she’d get attached, right?
As she hurried to the makeup room, Ethan walked out wrapping his arms around her. And the fluttering in her heart turned into a strong drumbeat. He held onto her longer and closer than necessary smiling down at her like they were both in on a secret. As she glanced over his shoulder, Nancy stood at the door of the makeup room giving them a knowing look.
“You told your mother?” she whispered. She’d heard of close families—this was too much.
“No. You left a little mark and it needed covering up.” He tapped the side of his neck. “So, she knows we’ve been up to something.”
She gasped, mortified that she’d given him a hickey. Was she back in high school? “Whatever Nancy must think of me can’t be good.” Then realising Ethan’s arms still held her, stepped away.
“She threatened to castrate me if I hurt you.”
“She did? Why?”
Shrugging he said, “She likes you.”
Nancy was worried aboutherfeelings? Why couldn’t her mother have defended herowndaughter like Nancy did for someone she’d recently met? Tears pricked the backs of Holly’s eyes. It wasn’t the time or place to worry about that now. Or ever. Her mother was biologically her mother and didn’t have a maternal bone in her body. Unless you lived your life exactly the way she wanted, like Ruth did, then you got praise. That’s not affection.
Trudy approached them looking at her clipboard. Holly tried leaning towards her to get a peek at what was so important on that damn thing. She lifted it to her chest like Holly was trying to cheat on an exam.
“We’re running late. Victoria’s on set. We need you now,” Trudy said.
“I’ll see you later.” Ethan leaned forward and planted a quick kiss on Holly’s lips. She let out a little surprised squeak at the show of affection in front of his assistant.
Trudy was looking at her clipboard once again oblivious or maybe pretending not to notice.
Ethan left and Holly went back in the makeup room trying to avoid eye contact with Nancy. It was bad enough she’d had sex with her son, and she’d done so at work. Unprofessional.
“If you want to fire me, I understand.”
“Fire you. Why would I do that?” Nancy asked.
“Because of what you must think of me. And to act so unprofessionally at work.”
“What you do in your break is your business and you’re both adults and what you do together is also your business. Just be careful. I love my son, he’s a wonderful man. His relationship status isn’t great. As much as I want to see him settled down, he’s putting all his energy into work. Nothing’s getting in his way.”
“Why are you telling me this?”
“Because I’d hate for you to get your heart broken.” It surprised Holly that Nancy cared so much.
“Oh no, it’s nothing like that, it’s just—” Sex. She stopped herself from blurting out. Holly’s cheeks burned at the near slip. Nancy was becoming a good friend, she often forgot she was Ethan’s mother. “I mean… we… it’s not… Oh God, just shoot me now.” She slapped her hands on her flaming cheeks.
Nancy chuckled, “Just be careful. Now, grab your kit and head off to set for touch-ups.”
Holly stood, collected her gear, grateful to get away from any more embarrassing conversations.
Chapter 18
When filming ended for the day, Holly cleaned her bench space and prepared her area for tomorrow’s shoot. It amazed her how a scene that lasts a couple of minutes on screen took all day or longer to film. It was fascinating to watch Ethan jump from different props while attached to wire in front of a green screen. Although, now knowing what went on behind the scenes, she’d never be able to enjoy a movie the same way again.
