Chapter 15
Nelly
It’s Ethan’s idea to take more couple photos that look official and well-edited to make our entire ruse more believable, so I make an appointment with my friend Josie, the best photographer I know in L.A.
Josie West’s studio is on Benton Way, Silver Lake, and she is just finishing a session with a celebrity couple when Ethan and I arrive. Makeup takes a few minutes, and Josie’s team sets up for our shoot while we’re at it.
The white dress I’m wearing fits perfectly, and its bare shoulders expose my neckline, reminding me of the feel of Ethan’s warm skin there when we hug. My mind replays those moments far too frequently, and I can’t deny the tingles it leaves behind.
“So,” Josie says behind me as she sets down her camera on the dressing table for a bit. “How’s being married?” She smacks my arm playfully.
“Why didn’t you say anything when you two started dating? You didn’t even invite me to the wedding.” Josie pouts a little, but I know she’s not offended because there’s a light smile tugging on the corner of her lips.
“We wanted something quiet. I’m really sorry, Josie, but you’ll be the maid of honor for the large ceremony,” I reply while toying with the ring on my hand.
“I’d better be,” Josie comments before chuckling.
I offer her another smile and she moves on to talking about the concept for the photos we’re about to take.
I glance over to Ethan while she’s talking about relaxing in his arms and letting her work her magic. When his gaze skitters across the room to meet mine, my breath hitches in my throat a little.
These past weeks have revealed more about Ethan than I’ve ever known, and realizing his hurtful past makes me even more doubtful about this fake marriage.
I can’t fall for a man who might not be willing to give love a chance.
When I simply thought of him as a playboy, I could manage the turmoil he caused inside of me. Now, I find myself wanting to learn more about his emotional side and draw as close as I can to it.
“We’re ready,” an assistant yells, and Josie pats my shoulder before heading out of my dressing room. I take one last look in the mirror, then head out to meet Ethan.
He beams once he spots me and adjusts the lapel of his brown suit. The color perfectly complements his creamy skin, and the sweep of his hair to one side exposes the contours of his face.
Ethan takes my hand and links our fingers.
“This is ridiculous,” I whisper as I gaze into his eyes. “We don’t need to pose for a couple of wedding pictures to make it realistic that we’re married.”
“How do I prove I have a wife when there are no photos of her or us together? Doesn’t that sound ridiculous?”
“But …”
He swoops his right arm around my waist and tucks me to his side. “No buts, sweetheart. Let’s just do this.”
I stop protesting as we step in front of the background set out for us. Ethan puts a hand under my chin and draws me to him like we’re about to kiss. In the next pose, he wraps both hands around my waist and presses my torso against his.
Every second I spend so close to him makes the heat waves rushing through me more dangerous. It drowns me, making it harder to breathe or think.
“Okay, one last one of you two kissing,” Josie calls out and winks at me when I shoot her a death glare.
Ethan clears his throat as he angles his head to mine. I slide one hand up his chest, and his brows furrow as his eyes search mine.
My heart thunders and I don’t think I can handle the pressure of being this close to him any longer. Thankfully, Josie’s phone rings before his lips brush over mine, and the sharp sound interrupts our moment.
“Oops, our time’s up, and I’ve got another gig. You two look so great together,” she compliments and smiles at me again before dishing out orders to her team as she leaves the room.
Ethan and I jerk apart, and I brush off the strands of hair clinging to the side of my face.
“I … Uh … I should head to the office. I need to prepare some documents for George. He’s agreed to back me up for the vote.”
“That’s great news.” I take a deep breath to keep my insides steady. “How did you convince him?”
“Told him of my plans to expand. We’d be venturing into a lot more than airplane engines, Nelly. We’re talking trains, cars, and maybe even rockets. We’re working on this together, so if you’re free, we should head in together.”
Spending too much time working closely with him might not be the best idea for me right now.
He’s already so tempting.
“Sure,” I respond even as my head screams a different answer. “This is my company too, so we should work on a proposal together.”
He nods, and we spend the next few seconds staring at each other before he asks. “Lunch? We should eat before heading to the office.”
“I’ve got plans,” I lie with a smile. “I’ll just meet you there later.”
He nods, then tucks his hands into his pockets. Another second ticks away, and neither of us moves. It’s clear we’re both reluctant to leave, but I break out of the spell first.
Minutes after I leave the studio, Tom’s call comes in.
“Hey, Tom.”
He greets me on the other end. We spend the next few minutes discussing the merger and Ethan’s expansion plans before he ends the call. I eat lunch at a private diner on Costway Avenue, then head to the Hart Holdings main office building in West Hollywood. Ethan’s already seated in his office with his laptop in front of him.
“What do you need me for?” I ask, taking off my blazer before flexing my arms. The dress I’m wearing seems like a flimsy excuse when his eyes run over the full length of my body.
“Here,” Ethan finally answers and hands me a document. “I need a proposal for electric cars. I’ve created a list of possible investors and mapped out a detailed plan for you to reference in your draft.”
“Got it,” I say, taking the document off his hands and making myself comfortable on the sofa in his office.
We work in silence for a long time, and I take periodic breaks to massage my temples or flex my arms and shoulders. I catch Ethan watching me when I glance his way.
He’s toying with his pen while leaning back in his chair, and he doesn’t blink even after I catch him staring.
“What?”
He lifts one shoulder in a shrug. “You’re beautiful, Nelly,” he says, and those words steal my breath away.
“Ethan …”
“It’s the truth,” he stops me, then leaves his chair and walks over to where I’m seated. Ethan lowers himself to the center table and strokes my cheek with one hand. His touch makes me gasp, and I inch backward, trying to put some distance between us.
“Your eyes … They’re intoxicating. I can’t stop thinking about them, about how you …” he trails off, and his gaze drops to my lips. “About how you taste,” he finally breathes out. His hoarse voice thickens the air with desire.
“You’re flirting, Ethan,” I reply, doing my best to maintain the lightness in my tone. “It’s against the rules.”
He smirks. “I know,” he admits with a shrug. “But the real fun starts when you dare to bend them a little.”
I smack his arm with the stack of papers next to me, and he pretends to be in pain while clutching his arm and laughing.
“Needed to get you to relax,” he says and leaves my side after that. I can finally breathe once he is far away, and the echo of his compliment refuses to fade.
Ethan takes a call, and I watch him while he’s standing next to his window with his back to me. The square shape of his strong shoulders and back is enough to make me forget what I was working on.
His laughs fill the room, and that tingle settles deep within me. He glances over his shoulder to look at me, and I quickly avert my eyes to my laptop, hoping he didn’t catch me staring.
Time flows by with ease while we work, and soon I doze off on his couch, curled up in a ball with my arms supporting my head. I intend to sleep only for twenty minutes, then get back to work. But when I wake up, I’m in a bed, bundled up in soft sheets.
I jerk off the bed quickly and toss the sheets aside to find that I’m still dressed. My pulse thunders. The rush leaves me flushed, and I plaster both hands to my cheeks.
What happened?
I can’t remember anything after deciding to rest on the couch in his office. I swing my legs off the bed and stare at my bare feet, trying to recall what happened.
It’s dark outside, and the quiet chirp of birds in the night sky outside provides a soothing sound. My blazer and handbag are on the side of the bed, and my heels have been carefully placed in the corner.
Did he carry me in here?
I’m rubbing the back of my neck when a soft knock comes from the door.
“Yes?”
Ethan peeps in from the doorway and then enters the room with a smile. His eyes are a silent invitation as they land on mine. It’s like he’s peeling away the layers shielding my heart from him. I worry it’s only a matter of time before there’s no saving me.
“I made dinner … Thought you’d be famished by the time you got up.”
“How long was I out? Did you carry me in here?” How didn’t I realize I was being carried?
He nods. “You’re pretty heavy,” he teases and laughs when a mortified look crosses my face. “I’m kidding,” he adds after a while. “You were exhausted and fast asleep. Didn’t want to wake you, so I carried you to the car and drove home.”
“Oh,” I gasp and feel a flush burn through me.
“Come … You’ll like what I’ve made.”
“Didn’t know you could cook,” I say as I follow him out of the bedroom. The kitchen smells heavenly, like home. I’m reminded of family dinners with my parents before they passed.
“Wow,” I exclaim after he serves me a plate of grilled chicken with homemade salad, shaved parmesan cheese, and croutons. “You really went all out.”
“Take a bite. Tell me how it tastes. I haven’t cooked in ages.”
Ethan gauges my expression as I cut into the chicken. He’s expectant, and I want to tease him a little, so I make a disgusted face as I swallow.
“Urghh, it’s horrible. I’m sorry.” I reach for my glass of water and gulp it down while devastation crumbles his eagerness.
“Really? I’m so sorry … I’ll order us pizza or anything else. I didn’t think—”
“Got ya!” His brows shoot up to his hairline, and his eyes widen as I burst into a fit of laughter.
“You should see what you look like,” I continue, laughing hysterically as he stares at me.
“It’s not horrible?”
“Are you kidding? It’s delicious. The best chicken I’ve tasted in ages.” I dig into the meal with another full laugh, and Ethan loosens up before laughing too.
“You’re mean.”
“That look on your face just now? So worth it,” I press a palm to my lips again to muffle my chuckle. Time slows while we’re together, and I wish the evening wouldn’t end as we sit there for hours, talking about everything.