Chapter Fifteen
Lena pulled Ethan’s arm from across his face. He glared up at her from where he lay stretched out on the couch of his trailer.
‘We always knew three dogs was going to be a test,’ she said.
‘Which I failed,’ he replied. Yesterday he’d had to deal with the one thing he most wanted to avoid: a dog-related meltdown in front of the entire crew.
‘You didn’t fail, they put you in an unsafe situation. I spoke to Katherine on the way in. She seems very happy with your performance so far. Called you irrepressibly charming.’
‘Irrepressibly charming, huh?’ He couldn’t stop himself smiling, just a little.
‘I thought that might cheer you up.’ She helped herself to a bottle of water from his fridge. ‘Why isn’t Harry with your minder?’ she asked, side-stepping the little dog.
‘She’s picking him up here.’ Lena shot him a wary look. ‘Production want to organise a pass for her,’ he added, quickly. Because he’d asked them to organise one that morning. Because he’d made up that excuse to see her.
Lena nodded as she filled her glass. ‘We just have to make sure you’re not put into another situation like you were yesterday. I’ve gone through the script and flagged two other scenes that could be an issue for you. We can ask for changes, citing potential injury to the star and the consequential impact on production. You’ll be the irrepressibly charming hero looking out for everyone else.’
He swung his long legs to the floor. ‘I’ve had a bit of a think about it. I don’t think I want any changes.’ He hadn’t done all that work for the first movie just to throw it all away on the sequel. He knew how to work with the dogs, and he knew how to work with his fear – he just had to keep reminding himself of that.
‘It won’t be an issue,’ she said.
‘I don’t want the changes, Lena.’
‘Okay,’ she huffed, her eyes rolling dramatically.
‘Sorry,’ he said. ‘You flew up here for no reason.’
‘It wasn’t for no reason. It shows you have someone keeping an eye on things.’
‘Kind of like a manager would?’ He arched a brow.
‘How many times do we need to go over this? I take care of your image. You need a real manager.’
He pushed up off the couch, towering over her despite her skyscraper heels.
‘That’s bullshit and you know it. You’re the one who pushed me to go for Sit, Stay, Love, and now here I am with top billing on the sequel. My real manager wanted me to sign on for two more Throne movies. Another a year of wearing bearskins and fighting invisible dragons in Estonia. If you don’t want to do it Lena, just tell me. But stop making excuses. Don’t treat me like I’m stupid.’
Her face darkened. They never argued, they never even had heated discussions, and Ethan had never spoken to her so directly. He drew a slightly nervous breath.
‘Sorry,’ he said. ‘I didn’t mean to raise my voice. But I trust you, and that’s the most important thing to me.’
‘Can we argue about this later?’ She grabbed her oversized tote from the couch.
Ethan nodded, his hand automatically going to the bite scar on the back of his arm. It was so faint now that if you didn’t know it was there you probably wouldn’t notice it. But he knew it was there, and his fingers sought it out whenever he was anxious.
Lena’s gaze dipped to his hand, and he quickly let it drop to his side.
‘I can’t believe I’m going to say this,’ she said. ‘But…’ Her tone became uncharacteristically soft. ‘Why don’t you see if Sera will come up for a few days to help you work through the dog stuff?’
For the briefest of seconds Ethan considered it. Having Sera there to support him would make him feel better about everything. Then he caught himself. It was never going to happen between them and he wasn’t even sure that he wanted it to anymore. Sera represented an ideal that he hadn’t known he’d longed for, and he was starting wonder if that was all it ever was – maybe he was holding on to the idea of them because, well, what else did he have? But someone else had Sera’s heart, and it was time he accepted that and got over himself.
‘She’s busy with her own life. She has an animal shelter to run, she can’t just drop everything and come up here.’ He pushed his shoulders back, his chin jutting. ‘I’ll get some rehearsal time put into the schedule for the scenes I need extra prep with. I’ll discuss it with the dog’s trainers and go from there. I’ve got this.’
Lena lifted a brow. ‘Finally, you’ve stopped feeling sorry for yourself.’
‘Oof. Harsh.’ He laughed, then murmured, ‘But fair, I guess.’
‘You’re going to have to talk about what happened to you soon or later,’ she said. ‘And you should do it before someone else does.’
The nausea that thought prompted almost caused him to double over. He’d spent years stuffing down what happened, not wanting to live through it again, not wanting to bare that part of him for all the world to see. ‘Let’s work on later, rather than sooner.’
Her eyes narrowed. She took a deep breath. ‘Tell Steve to call me about the manager thing.’
‘Seriously?’
‘I’m not promising I can do it, but I’ll discuss the possibility with your business manager and then let’s go from there. Now leave me alone so I can go and see Jem and Katherine.’
‘Thank you, Lena.’ He pulled her into a tight hug, lifting her easily off the ground.
Hazel wiped her slightly sweaty palms on the back of her shorts as a production assistant escorted her to see Ethan.
‘Wear that at all times,’ Ellie said, pointing to Hazel’s brand-new crew pass hanging around her neck. ‘Ethan’s in his trailer at the moment. They’re setting up for the first shot of the day. If you need anything, have someone call me.’ She tapped the walkie-talkie on her belt.
‘Thanks,’ Hazel said. ‘This is my first time on a movie set.’ Ellie glanced up at her. She appeared to be in her early twenties and looked as if she’d lifted a lot of weights. Black and grey tattoos covered one of her toned arms.
‘We’re at base camp now,’ she said, ‘where the support crew and offices are situated. That’s hair and make-up, wardrobe, production.’ She pointed out various demountable trailers. They walked past a large tent filled with tables and chairs. ‘Catering,’ she said.
‘How many catering staff are there?’ Hazel peered through the tent flaps.
‘Not sure. Pop in there any time, they have a snack table.’
‘Does Ethan eat with the crew or does he eat in a separate area?’
‘He eats with the crew. Not all actors do. His co-star doesn’t. Ethan does have his own special menu, though. Low carb and no refined sugar. Let me know if you’ll be joining him.’
Hazel’s brows shot up. Low carb and no refined sugar? All she’d fed him was carbs and refined sugar. Why hadn’t he told her he was on some kind of diet?
‘Thanks,’ she said, ‘but I won’t be staying. I’m just picking up his dog.’
‘This is his trailer.’ Ellie pointed to an enormous caravan. ‘I’ll check if it’s cool for you to go in.’
Hazel waited until Ethan popped his head out the door. He dropped a dazzling smile, his dimples armed and dangerous. His spark was back, and it was sparking like crazy.
‘Come on in,’ he said. Then, to the PA, ‘Thanks Ellie. How long until I’m needed?’ Ellie pressed a button on her walkie-talkie, then spoke into it.
‘How long until Ethan?’ A staticky voice came back with, ‘About thirty.’
As Hazel entered the trailer, Harry appeared at her feet, tip-tapping around her excitedly. ‘You ready to go, Harry?’ she asked the eager dog.
‘Welcome to my trailer,’ Ethan said with a flourish and a small bow.
‘It’s bigger than my house.’ She looked around, open-mouthed.
‘That wouldn’t be hard.’ He smirked.
‘Hey!’ She casually whacked him. She wasn’t sure when they’d reached the casual whacking stage, but from the way he laughed she could tell that they were there.
‘Is there another room?’ Hazel pointed to the rear of the trailer.
‘It has a bedroom with an ensuite, including a shower. It’s actually not particularly huge. Some A-listers have double trailers. Like full-on apartments.’
‘But why?’
‘Because they can, I guess. Can I get you anything? I have water, vegetable juice, apple or orange juice, or these mango smoothies catering whip up especially for me. They’re delicious. Or I can make you a coffee or a tea?’
‘Just a water, thanks.’ He held up two bottles, one sparkling, one still. ‘Still is fine,’ she said, laughing. It was as if she’d stepped into another world.
He removed the cap and handed it to her.
‘You should have told me you were on a diet,’ she said. His head tilted like a puppy hearing a squeaky noise. ‘Ellie said you’re on a low carb, no refined sugar diet. So far I’ve fed you spaghetti, muffins and sugar cookies.’
‘And they were all delicious.’ He patted his belly.
‘But why didn’t you tell me?’
‘Because…’ His eyes shone like the clear blue skies, catching hers and making her heart stutter. ‘You made them for me.’
Hazel took a gulp of water, swallowing loudly, her mouth suddenly as dry as the Sahara.
‘Well then.’ She took another gulp to cover the slight crack in her voice. ‘Will you at least tell me next time I make you something if it doesn’t fit into your diet?’
‘I like that there’s going to be a next time.’ He gave her a lopsided grin, his arms folded over his broad chest.
‘Hey, how about we take Harry out,’ he said. I’ve got about twenty minutes to kill. There’s a park right next door. I’ll bring his ball.’
Hazel hesitated. She should probably grab Harry and go. Except that Ethan was practically glowing at her, and she was quite enjoying basking in his warmth.
When they reached the small park, they sat side by side on a swing set, shaded by a stand of tall gum trees. Ethan tossed the ball for Harry as he and Hazel rocked on their swings.
‘So, you say you’re not an A-lister?’ she asked. ‘I would have thought you were.’
‘Why, thank you.’ He smirked. ‘But I reckon I’m probably a B+. Maybe after this one I’ll scrape in as an A.’ His smirk transformed into a wide smile.
Hazel glanced around for something other than the curve of Ethan’s mouth to focus on, zeroing in on Harry, who was not bringing the ball back.
‘You know he doesn’t fetch, right?’ she said.
‘I know. He doesn’t appear to understand the concept. But I live in hope.’
‘You’re happier today.’ She twisted on her swing to face him, swaying back and forth.
‘Back to my always “on”, carelessly smiley flirty self?’ His eyebrow arched. ‘I had a bit of a revelation last night and I’m feeling pretty good about myself.’
‘I assumed you always felt good about yourself.’
‘Are you judging me again, Hazel?’ His lips quirked, and she laughed. ‘So, you and Kevin looked pretty cosy last night.’
‘He doesn’t usually sleep on my bed. Not if I’m in it, or near it, or even in the same room.’
‘Obviously that cat is crazy.’ His voice was low, paved with gravel.
‘I think that’s been well established,’ she said. ‘After all, he likes you.’
‘Ouch.’ His brow lifted and then he laughed again, deep and throaty. ‘Do you want to hang around for a bit? Watch me shoot the next scene?’
‘Will it spoil the first movie?’
‘The one you haven’t watched? Nope.’
‘My sister saw it, if that’s any consolation. She loved it. But then, she does have a huge thing for you.’
‘Your sister has a huge thing for me?’ His tongue slipped over his bottom lip. ‘Shame it doesn’t run in the family,’ he murmured.
Heat whooshed through Hazel like a grass fire on a dry day, sizzling across her skin and smouldering in the base of her belly. She gripped the chains of her swing until her knuckles turned white as her brain scrambled for a response.
Ethan beat her to it, his cheeks dimpling.
‘Oops,’ he said. ‘That was definitely the flirting I promised I wouldn’t do.’
For some reason her scrambling brain decided to say, ‘I suppose I could overlook it. Just this once.’
His gaze intensified, the blue of his eyes deepening. ‘Okay.’
The swish of the warm summer breeze dropped to a whisper, the chorus of bugs lowering their chirps to a hum. Hazel’s eyes locked onto Ethan’s as he rocked on his swing, his knee softly bumping against hers. Back and forth, back and forth, bump, bump, bump. Every soft touch sent a shockwave through her body, an explosion of confusion. She should stop. She should look away. She should not be enjoying this, whatever this was.
‘Make-up want you, Ethan,’ Ellie called from somewhere behind them. Ethan and Hazel spun towards her voice, like a couple of teens busted behind the gym about to make out.
‘Would it be okay if I took a raincheck on watching you work?’ Hazel said. If the tingling across her skin was anything to go by, she figured it was probably a bad idea to spend the afternoon watching Ethan playing movie star.
‘Sure. Of course. Next time.’ There was definitely disappointment in his voice as he gave an overly casual shrug. He pushed the swing away as he stood, and it arced back and hit him square on the arse, sending him stumbling forward.
He turned and looked down at Hazel with a crooked grin. ‘Ethan James. Picture of cool,’ he said, walking away.
Hazel stayed on the swings, watching while Harry sniffed around the trees. She leaned back and pushed off with her feet, getting a little height, enjoying the rush of air across her warmed cheeks and hoping it would blow the fog from her brain. Finally, leaping off the swing, she landed in the dirt with a thud and called out to Harry.
‘Come on little guy, let’s get me home.’ She had a sudden, overwhelming desire to cook.