“I think the duck’s already dead,” she said. “Ethan, you’re not yourself tonight. Has something happened?”
Giving up on his meal, he pushed the plate aside. A waiter rushed into the room. Ethan waved him away. “Give us a few minutes, please.”
“Yes sir.” And he left through a door Holly assumed led to the kitchen.
The look of foreboding on Ethan’s face caused the little food Holly had eaten to churn in her stomach. “Talk to me. What’s wrong.”
“Nothing’s wrong.” He smiled again with that emotionless smile that dropped quickly. “I’ve been offered a movie role.”
He must be upset because it was another action or romantic comedy flick. “You’re a great actor, it’s only a matter of time when you get the role you want.”
He twisted the wine glass stem with his fingers. “The role is perfect, exactly what I’ve been hoping for and the film is amazing.”
Holly frowned with confusion. “What’s the problem? If it’s what you want, shouldn’t you be celebrating?”
He waved his arm to take in the table setting. “I am.”
“I’ve seen happier people at a funeral,” she said. There was something he wasn’t telling her.
“I have a condition to meet if I want the part.”
“Do you have to shave your lush thick hair? Don’t worry, you’ll still be gorgeous.” She tried to joke and lighten the mood from the tension in the room, but it fell flat.
“The director wants me to have a relationship with the leading actress.”
Holly’s heart sank. This was so much worse than a bald head. “Oh…”
“It’s all for show to attract attention for the movie. It will mean nothing,” he explained.
“What do I do while you’re shooting a movie and promoting it for months?”
“We’ll still be together. We just need to be discreet.”
“Hide me away? To have a relationship with you I need to be out of sight?” Nausea rose to her throat.
Ethan flinched and dropped his elbows on the table. The look he gave her was filled with pain, like he didn’t want to hurt her but was going to anyway. “I want you in my life.”
“You have conditions. My parents wanted me in their lives too but they tied it with conditions from the moment I could walk and talk. I couldn’t be me or live the life I wanted. I’ve finally broken free.”
“This is temporary—six to eight months. We can do this.”
“Who is it?”
“Abigail Matthews.”
Oh, God. She’s stunning.
“What if you refuse to date the actress?” Holly asked.
“I’m not date—”
“To the entire world you will be,” her voice rose a notch in volume. Did he think she’d wanted to share him? Be happy with the few minutes he might have for her after he’s been with another woman? He’d be away for months at a time. There’d be nothing left for her. “What will happen if you don’t do it?” she asked again.
He blew out a long breath. “I won’t get the part.”
A part she knew he’d wanted for years. All the fight left her body and heaviness from the situation landed on her like a boulder. “You’ve already accepted it, haven’t you?” She didn’t really need to ask because it had been written over his face and in the tension of his body from the moment, he’d picked her up for dinner.
He nodded, not quite meeting her gaze. “I signed the contract this morning.”
