She blew out a breath and her shoulders sagged. “Ever since I met you, you and your family have helped me.”
He scrubbed a hand behind his neck. “What’s wrong with that?” She wasn’t making any sense.
“I came to Sydney to prove to my parents I could take care of myself and not once have I done so. Then when it all went to shit, your family stepped in.”
“We wanted to help.”
“I’m grateful but I can’t let you do it anymore.”
“You’re not going back home, are you?” It would only be a step backward.
She shook her head. “Not yet. I got a job at a café down the road where I’ve been buying my coffee. After talking with the owner, I found out she had a room to rent under her house. It’s cheap and perfect for what I need.”
Ethan wanted to tell her to stop living like a poor person and ask her parents for help. Only that would defeat the purpose of her wanting to make it on her own.
“Stay with me.” It was moving their relationship to the next level and fast, but it felt right in a way he couldn’t explain. All he knew was he liked the idea of waking up with her every day in his bed. It was something he wanted.
She smiled. “Haven’t you listened to what I’ve said? I don’t want you taking care of me. Anyway, I don’t think we’re at that stage. But thank you.”
The emotions pounding in his chest every time he looked at her were telling him he wanted to be at that stage in the relationship. How could his feelings grow so strongly in such a short time?
If he offered for her to stay at his mum’s or Chloe’s place, she’d see it as a handout and shut him down. She had determination and that was another reason he loved—no, he hadn’t reached that stage yet. His pounding heart contradicted him.
Her gaze fell onto his hand. Reaching for it, she examined the broken skin and bruising. “What happened?”
“My hand had an accident with Shaun’s face.” Remembering the cracking noise of his nose filled him with immense satisfaction.
Holly gasped, “Youhithim?”
He nodded and with the frown on her face he was worried she was angry with him.
“I don’t like violence but the jerk deserved it,” she said.
Ethan chuckled with relief. “If the security guards hadn’t stepped in, he would’ve more than a broken nose.”
She held a hand over her shocked mouth. Her eyes danced with delight. “I guess he won’t have any close ups for a while?” she giggled.
And he loved the sound. He wanted to see her smile and laugh more often.
She nudged her shoulder against his. “So, was there lots of blood?”
“He bled like a stuck pig.”
“Excellent. He might think twice about treating another woman that way. I only wish I was the one to do it.”
Ethan laughed. “For someone who doesn’t like violence, you sure are vicious.”
She smirked. “Only when I have to be.”
“I hope I’m never on the receiving end of your temper.” The way she eyed him, he knew she wanted to getviciousin a more fun and with fewer clothes on kind of way.
“I wouldn’t want to ruin your gorgeous face.” Then she placed her palms on his chest and pushed. They landed on the mattress in a tangle of lips, arms and legs.
Chapter 24
The next day, Holly finished her first shift at Bonnie’s Place. Keeping up with customer’s coffee orders was more exhausting and demanding than doing makeup for fussy actors. Who knew there were so many ways to make it? Some were so complicated they needed to come with a manual.
She unlocked the door to the small apartment she’d rented from her boss Bonnie. It wouldn’t pass as fancy accommodation. Luckily, Holly didn’t need much. The one room had a double bed in the corner, and on the opposite side of the room an outdated pale-yellow kitchenette with a counter served as a dining table. A dark brown two-seater sofa and TV was squashed in another corner. The only separate room in the cramped space was a bathroom the size of a broom cupboard. Her walk-in-robe in her old bedroom in Melbourne was twice the size of this whole room.
